Rolex 24: Ganassi wins but Brundle was Brilliant! - posted by Formula1Blog

Posted by Negative Camber on Jan 30, 2011 in F1B Op-Ed

Original story: http://www.formula1blog.com/2011/01/30/rolex-24-ganassi-wins-but-brundle-was-brilliant/

I don’t expect Chip Ganassi’s cars to win the Rolex 24 race in Daytona, I respect them when they do win. There is no question that the Ganassi team has the race dialed in and clearly sorted out. The race was marred by a late caution flag for the #90 car suffered a delaminated right rear that exploded shedding car parts all over the track. Scott Pruett was leading at the time with his teammate, Scott Dixon, in the second Ganassi car in second and Joao Barbosa in third.

With four minutes remaining in a fast and furious race, the nerves were high and the green flag waved for a one lap sprint to the checkered flag. Second, third and fourth positions were nose to tail for the restart. In the end, Scott Pruett took the win with Scott Dixon holding off a charging Barbosa for second. The GT class winner was Andy Lally for TRG Porsche.

The victory was a terrific story to be sure but for me, THE story of the 2011 Rolex 24 hour race at Daytona was the return of Martin Brundle with the United Autosports / Michael Shank team. The team brought together owner/driver Zak Brown, Mark Patterson and the two veteran Brit’s, Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell. The team was always in contention and while some teams suffer under the participation of a ProAm driver/owner, Zak Brown was running within touch of the leaders for most of his stints. A testament to his dedication to the United Autosports team and the skill this “owner” has.

While Brown and Patterson held the team in contention, the heavy lifting came from the Brits with Blundell doing a fabulous job of keeping the team at the front and clawing back time with each stint. While Blundell has done a few races over the past several years, he recently did drive for United Autsosports and is used to working with team owners Brown and Dean.

The amazing performance of the race has to go to Martin Brundle who has been driving a microphone for the BBC for the past several years and had not worked with United Autosports before. He pace, aggression and sheer brilliance was a real delight to watch. this retired open-wheel Brit came to the states and humbled many of the NASCAR professional drivers as well as road course legends.



His focus was never in question but some wondered if the F1 commentator was up to the challenge. We interviewed Brundle prior to the race and he seemed as excited as every to come back to Daytona. Brundle pressed hard to make a move on Barbosa on the final lap restart and shot wide into the first corner which ended his chance to make the pass for the podium but no one can take anything away from his brilliant performance.

An endurance race is always a team sport and relying on your mates to not destroy the car, carry out the tactics the team planned and making the best of their stints is a trust that doesn’t come easy. Sometimes owners don’t always make the best drivers but for this team, Brown and his Brits were amazing. It is no different in their FIA GT3 efforts and you can follow them here.

In the old days, a few enthusiasts would form a team and go racing in the Rolex 24 but those days are gone and the professionals have shown up to make the race a different beast. Refreshing then that United Autosports felt that a team owner and three veterans could join Shank racing and nearly reach the podium in an incredibly demanding race. A real feat by anyone’s measure. Congratulations to Zak Brown, Mark Patterson, Mark Blundell and one of the hardest working men in Daytona this weekend, Martin Brundle.



United Autosports Achieves Stunning Fourth Place Finish On Rolex 24 Début As A Mere 3.752 secs Covers Top-Four

·       Mark Patterson takes #23 Riley-Ford in to the lead at one-quarter distance

·       American team fights back into podium contention after mid-race dramas

·       “Stellar” driver line-up cruelly just miss out on top-three finish on “home” soil

Mark Blundell (GB), Zak Brown (USA), Martin Brundle (GB) and Mark Patterson (USA) achieved a magnificent fourth  place finish in the 49^th Rolex 24 At Daytona twice-around-the-clock endurance race In Florida (USA) today (Sunday January 30).

The United Autosports with Michael Shank Racing entry began the prestigious annual race yesterday afternoon from ninth place (1min 40.784secs, 127.163mph) in the 48-car field courtesy of Brundle’s excellent qualifying performance on Thursday afternoon.

The #23 Riley was up to third place three hours in to the race and despite Brundle suffering a slow right rear punctured tire near the end of his second stint, necessitating a slightly earlier than scheduled pit-stop, Patterson led at one-quarter distance (six hours) – Mark heading a race in a DP for the very first time in his seven year GRAND-AM career.

Third-placed Brundle was tagged from behind at the re-start following a caution period in the ninth hour costing around 30secs and slipping to eighth. The 1988 Daytona race winner went on to complete almost a full second “stint” – the team generally opting for single driver “stints” – but was forced to pit prematurely once again after running over a large piece of debris which damaged the nose section necessitating new front bodywork.

Patterson resumed third but approaching mid-distance was punted in to a spin – the culprit receiving a drive-thru penalty – and later pitted for another new front nose section due to splitter damage, a broken “stay” and damaged front brake cooling duct repairs – a legacy from the Brundle incident.

Zak Brown was presented with the Jim Trueman Award after the race

Blundell resumed 10^th but three laps down after a near six minute pit-stop with the Daytona “rookie” subsequently surviving two separate “hits”, Mark placing eighth at the halfway mark before pitting for a third front nose change due to these latest contacts.

The front brake pads were changed at the end of Brown’s stint with the rear pads changed shortly after Patterson had taken over from Brundle – the team taking advantage of the race running under yellow caution flags – ultimately for almost three hours starting shortly before 6am – due to fog which had reduced visibility.

Clever team strategy during “yellows” plus Patterson and Brown – the latter getting the #23 Riley back on the lead lap in his final stint and later awarded the Jim Trueman Award for the top-placed Pro-Am driver – setting consistent and competitive lap times along with their “illustrious” team-mates, allowed Brundle back into fifth place with a little over five hours remaining less than 10secs behind the leader. 

With four hours to run Brundle, double “stinting” once more, was third – 47secs down on the leader – Blundell taking over from his fellow former Le Mans 24 Hour race winner and was less than one second behind the leader (#02) when #01 was given a time penalty for a pit infringement.

  

Brundle took over from Blundell and rejoined still third and with 0.75secs covering the top-three with 80mins to run but Martin slipped to fourth place with 65mins remaining, Brundle ultimately taking the checker fourth, a mere 3.752secs behind the winner after 721-laps, 2,563.2-miles – and just 0.75secs behind the third-placed finisher after a final full course caution in the final seven minutes.

Martin also set the #23 Riley’s fastest lap around the 3.56-mile, 12-turn course that utilizes sections of re-surfaced Daytona International Speedway “oval” plus infield section – a 1min 41.549secs (126.205mph) on lap 413 of the race at 5am this morning.

The race, run throughout in dry weather conditions and warm daytime temperatures, featured 23 full course cautions accounting for 125 laps behind the pace car.



#23 Johnnie Walker / UBS / Legends of Motorsports / Just Marketing International / GAC Logistics / Thunderhead / FXI / Luke’s Joint – Riley-Ford

DRIVER ROTATIONS: MBR/MP/MBL/ZB/MBR/MP/MBL/ZB/MBR/MP/MBL/ZB/MBR/MP/MBL/ZB/MBR/MBL

#23 HOURLY POSITIONS: Start Pos 9^th; 1hr 4^th (-18.734s P1 #01); 2hr 6^th (-5.066 P1 #90); 3hr 9^th (-7.933s P1 #55); 4hr 9^th (-98.941s P1 #10); 5hr 7^th (-14.005s P1 #5); 6hr 1^st (+0.592s); 7hr 4^th (-18.851s P1 #01); 8hr 9^th (-76.737s P1 #01); 9hr 7^th (-17.826s P1 #01); 10hr 5^th (-83.062s P1 #01); 11hr 6^th (-67.360s P1 #6); 12hr 8^th (-3 laps, P1 #9); 13hr 8^th (-3 laps P1 #01); 14hr 8^th (-2 laps P1 #01); 15hr 7^th (-2 laps P1 #5); 16hr 7^th (-1 lap P1 #5); 17hr 7^th (1 lap P1 #02); 18hr 7^th (-1 lap P1 #02); 19hr 5^th (-16.370s P1 #02); 20hr 3^rd (-46.180s P1 #02); 21hr 3^rd (-16.739s P1 #01); 22hr 3^rd (-1.620 P1 #02); 23hr 4^th (-6.895s P1 #02); FINISH P4 (3.752s P1 #01).



Mark Blundell (GB). Age: 44. Born: Barnet, England. Lives: Royston, England.

Daytona History: One 24Hr race. Daytona 24Hr: Début 2011. 2011 4^th (Riley-Ford). Other 24Hr races: Le Mans, France (1989, 1990, 1992/1^st, 1995/4^th, 2001, 2002, 2003/2^nd); Spa, Belgium (2010 9^th/3^rd in class).

“We got so close to being on the podium and after the excitement of a top-three result being on the cards, finishing fourth, so close to a podium, is a little deflating. But I think we did a tremendous job and it was a great effort by the team. All four drivers contributed in every way. We turned up here saying that if we could get in to the top-six, that would be a good performance – and we managed fourth, so I guess we should be very happy with ourselves.”

Zak Brown (USA). Age: 39. Born: Los Angeles, California, USA. Lives: Carmel, Indiana, USA.

Daytona History: Four 24Hr races. Daytona 24Hr: Début 1997. Number of Daytona 24Hr race appearances: 5. 1997/8^th o/a, 2^nd GTS, 1999, 2000 (GT), 2010 33^rd/20^th (GT), 2011 4^th (Riley-Ford). Other 24Hr races: BritCar, Silverstone, GB (2^nd o/a, 1^st in class); Spa, Belgium (2010 9^th/3^rd in class).

“Fourth place and to be on the lead lap, fighting for a podium with a chance for us winning on our Daytona début and our first race in the US, is fantastic. The two Marks and Martin did a great job – I couldn’t be happier. Of course it is a little disappointing not to get on the podium when we were a couple of feet away but hey, we’ll take a fourth in this field.”

Martin Brundle (GB). Age: 51. Born: King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England. Lives: Gayton, Norfolk, England.

Daytona History: Three 24Hr races. Daytona 24Hr: Début 1988. Number of Daytona 24Hr race appearances: 3. 1988: 1^st (Jaguar XJR-9); 1990: 2^nd (Jaguar XJR-12); 2011 4^th (Riley-Ford). Other 24Hr races: Le Mans, France (1987, 1988, 1990/1^st, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001; Spa, Belgium (1983, 1984); Willhire, Snetterton, GB (1980/1^st in class).    

“We all put in some pretty amazing stints. We clawed our way into a podium slot but we didn’t quite have enough when it was needed. I made a banzai move at the end but that was more in hope than anything else. I think between us we have done a great job. We have 2 ‘retired pros’ in Mark and I plus 2 Pro-Am drivers up against car line-ups featuring four ‘current’ hot shoes. I’m kind of disappointed but that is typical me of me – I wanted that podium. My goal was a top-10 on the grid and top-five in the race and we achieved both so I think we covered ourselves with a bit of glory and maybe surprised more than a few people.”

Mark Patterson (USA). Age: 59. Born: Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Lives: Bronxville, N.Y., USA. 

Daytona History: Eight 24Hr races. Daytona 24Hr: Début 2004. Number of Daytona 24Hr race appearances: 8. (2004 38^th/13^th SGS, 2005 23^rd/14^th (DP), 2006/2^nd (DP), 2007/9^th (DP), 2008/6^th (DP), 2009 41^st/16^th (DP), 2010/7^th (DP), 2011 4^th (Riley-Ford). Other 24Hr races: Spa, Belgium (2009 17^th o/a, 2010 10^th/4^th in class).   

“I had some great stints, particularly the one in the fog, sticking at 60mph for what seemed like an eternity was fantastic fun! The team brought us back in to the race with great strategy. These two Formula 1 drivers in our team really demonstrated their competitiveness and helped Zak and I play our part.”

Mike Shank (USA), Team Owner of Michael Shank Racing:

“We had a great time. Martin almost grabbed P2 on that last move. Both he and Mark still have plenty of gas in their tanks while Zak and Mark drove stellar races. If you consider we were down multiple laps and came back in to contention that has to be a pretty cool achievement for the #23 car.”

Richard Dean (GB), Managing Director & Co-Owner of United Autosports:

“It was United Autosports’ second 24 hour race and I’ve a similar feeling immediately after this race to how I felt [in our first one] at Spa. I can’t help feeling disappointed again. Before the start here we would have taken fourth place for sure but having led and been in contention for a podium for much of the race, it hurts a little. I’m a little fed up of being so close but taking the positives, it’s another result for the team to build on. If we keep focused that elusive first race win is bound to happen – soon!”

United Autosports Switches Focus To Double European Campaign With Audi R8 LMS Sports Cars



United Autosports’ 2011 FIA GT3 European Championship line-up at Daytona (l-r): Matt Bell, Zak Brown, Joe Osborne and Mark Patterson



While further GRAND-AM race outings are a possibility, United Autosports now switches its attention to preparing for a hectic, closely fought season of GT racing in Europe. A brace of Audi R8 LMS GT3 class sports cars will bid for honors in both the FIA GT3 European and British GT Championships this year.

In addition to the 12 (FIA) and 14 (BGT) races, the England-based team plans to compete in the 24 Hours of Spa (Belgium) and the Macau GT races again – a program supported by Draper Tools. A concerted test program is scheduled to begin in two weeks time. 

British duo Joe Osborne and Matt Bell, both interested spectators at Daytona this weekend, together with Brown and Patterson, will be at Navarra (Spain) over February 15-16 with all three of its Audi R8 LMS cars marking Osborne’s first run in an Audi. Meanwhile United Autosports’ British GT duo of John Bintcliffe and Jay Palmer will have their first runs in an R8 LMS at Silverstone (England) on March 4.

Joe Osborne (GB). Age: 21. Lives: Olney nr Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England:

“It’s been three months since I signed to drive for United Autosports and to have the first test just two weeks or so away is a fantastic feeling. It’s my first time driving an Audi and first time at Navaara – I can’t wait to get out there – I’m so, so excited about the season ahead.”

Matt Bell (GB). Age: 21. Lives: Barningham nr Richmond, North Yorkshire, England:

“I’m very much looking forward to the test especially considering I last drove the Audi in October – I’ve never wanted Christmas to come and go so fast in my life! I’ve a very busy year ahead contesting two championships so it’s vital I prepare properly for what is only my second full season of motor racing. My first race is on Easter Monday so we’ll be packing in plenty of testing in the next couple of months.”

Riley DP

Roush-Yates prepared V8 Ford 5 liter modular engine, 4 cam, 4 valve, producing over 500hp. Rear-wheel-drive. Continental Tires. Weight: 2275lbs; 5 gears, paddle-shift gearbox. The Riley Technologies MK XXII is the most successful Daytona Prototype of all time.

Audi R8 LMS

V10 5.2-liter engine, 4 valves per cylinder, petrol direct injection, emission control by two racing catalytic converters, rear-wheel-drive, traction control (ASR), sequential pneumatic activated 6-speed sport gearbox with shift-paddles, Audi Space Frame (ASF) made of aluminum with bolted steel roll-cage, carbon-fiber composite/aluminum bodywork. Limitation at 8500rpm for every gear. Developed by Audi Sport with cooperation from quattro GmbH.  

United Autosports

Co-owned by Zak Brown and Richard Dean, the US-owned, UK-based team was formed in 2010 and contested the FIA GT3 European Championship with a brace of Audi R8 LMS sports cars. Also competed in 24 Hours of Spa (finishing third & fourth in GT3 class on team’s 24 race début), Intercontinental Le Mans Cup at Zhuhai, China (third in GTC) and Macau (third GT Cup). Competes in the 2011 FIA GT3 European and Avon Tyres British GT Championships plus 24 Hours of Spa and Macau.

Michael Shank Racing

Since moving full-time to the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, Pataskala, Ohio-based Michael Shank Racing has taken three overall wins and 19 podium results, including second overall in the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona as well as monopolizing the front row for the 2008 Rolex 24.

* Comprehensive Blundell, Brown, Brundle and Patterson biographies plus team profiles on United Autosports and Michael Shank Racing are available to download from the United Autosports website www.unitedautosports.com/pdf/daytona_presskit.pdf.

* Editorial Copyright free photographs from Daytona are available on www.flickr.com/unitedautosports.

* Driver interviews (.MP3 format) can be downloaded from www.unitedautosports.com/press.cfm 

United Autosports Entry To Start Rolex 24 At Daytona From Fifth Row

·       1988 Daytona race winner Martin Brundle sets ninth fastest time in qualifying

·       Foundations laid for a successful “home” race début for American team

The United Autosports with Michael Shank Racing entry starts the 49^th Rolex 24 At Daytona in Florida (USA) tomorrow (Saturday January 29, 3.30pm local) from the fifth row of the 49-car grid.

Martin Brundle (GB) commendably set the ninth fastest time in the solitary 15mins qualifying session on Thursday afternoon, stopping the clock at 1min 40.784secs, an average speed of 127.163mph around the 3.56-mile, 12-turn course utilizing sections of the recently re-paved Daytona International Speedway “oval” plus infield section.

Brundle, along with co-drivers Mark Blundell (GB), Zak Brown (USA) and Mark Patterson (USA) have spent the last two days fine tuning their Riley-Ford Daytona Prototype during the four practice sessions the quartet participated in with the aim of marking American-owned United Autosports’ maiden race on “home soil” a successful one.

The team installed a new engine and various other components, as scheduled, overnight in preparation for the race which ran a distance of almost 2,700-miles last year and at an average speed of over 110mph.

Sponsorship for United Autosports’ maiden North American foray, the opening round of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, includes Johnnie Walker, UBS, Legends of Motorsports, Just Marketing International, GAC Logistics, Thunderhead, FXI and Luke’s Joint.

Mark Blundell (GB). Age: 44. Born: Barnet, England. Lives: Royston, England.

Daytona History: None. Daytona 24Hr: Début. Other 24Hr races: Le Mans, France (1989, 1990, 1992/1^st, 1995/4^th, 2001, 2002, 2003/2^nd); Spa, Belgium (2010/3^rd in class).

“Overall we’re all happy considering our level of experience with the DP car. Progress has been good over the past couple of days covering off everything we needed to. Martin did a great job in qualifying. Night running went well on Thursday evening. We’ve made our scheduled engine change overnight in readiness for the race and missed this morning’s session just finishing off our final preparations. We’ll scrub in our tires in the last session today. I can feel the pressure building.”

Zak Brown (USA). Age: 39. Born: Los Angeles, California, USA. Lives: Carmel, Indiana, USA.

Daytona History: Four 24Hr races. Daytona 24Hr: Début 1997. Number of Daytona 24Hr race appearances: 4. 1997/8^th o/a, 2^nd GTS, 1999, 2000 (GT), 2010 33^rd/20^th (GT). Other 24Hr races: BritCar, Silverstone, GB (2^nd o/a, 1^st in class); Spa, Belgium (2010/3^rd in class).

“I’m pleased with the way the week has gone so far. Martin and the team did a great job in qualifying. The practice sessions over the last two days have shown we should have good race pace which could put us in contention for a podium but whatever, it’ll be a 24 hour sprint race involving around 15 DPs! We just need to do our job and keep the car in one piece. We have a stellar driver line-up but that applies to the entire field. The weather forecast looks good but the track action will definitely be hot. I’m very excited about United Autosports contesting its first ‘home’ race in the States having last year raced throughout Europe and in Asia in our maiden season.”

Martin Brundle (GB). Age: 51. Born: King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England. Lives: Gayton, Norfolk, England.

Daytona History: Two 24Hr races. Daytona 24Hr: Début 1988. Number of Daytona 24Hr race appearances: 2. 1988: 1^st (Jaguar XJR-9); 1990: 2^nd (Jaguar XJR-12); Last raced at Daytona 1990. Other 24Hr races: Le Mans, France (1987, 1988, 1990/1^st, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001; Spa, Belgium (1983, 1984); Willhire, Snetterton, GB (1980/1^st in class).    

“I was pleased and very satisfied with my qualifying performance. We’d targeted a top-10 place and I was P9, less than seven tenths of a second off ‘pole’. The top-10 is very close and there is more time to come from the car and myself. The guys ahead of me are all regularly competing – either in GRAND-AM, other sportscar categories or IndyCar so I have to be happy. I’m still a little rusty and that was my first ever qualifying run in a DP. I’m very excited about the race. Our car is working very well in race trim and is especially good under braking – we’re right on the pace. We’ve set the car up as a ‘raceable’ car.”

Mark Patterson (USA). Age: 59. Born: Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Lives: Bronxville, N.Y., USA. 

Daytona History: Seven 24Hr races. Daytona 24Hr: Début 2004. Number of Daytona 24Hr race appearances: 7. (2004 38^th/13^th SGS, 2005 23^rd/14^th (DP), 2006/2^nd (DP), 2007/9^th (DP), 2008/6^th (DP), 2009 41^st/16^th (DP), 2010/7^th (DP). Other 24Hr races: Spa, Belgium (2009 17^th o/a, 2010/4^th in class).   

“The race build-up has been good with the team completely gelling. We’ve been out in daylight and for night practice. All four drivers are comfortable and relaxed in all conditions. We’ve got ourselves a very stable and ‘drivable’ car and I’m very optimistic we can achieve a good result come Sunday afternoon. The first time I came here to Daytona I didn’t really understand the ‘power’ of the Rolex 24 but I think I’m pretty much up to speed with it now as I prepare for my eighth Rolex!”

Mike Shank (USA), Team Owner of Michael Shank Racing:

“I’m very happy with the way the United Autosports association has worked out. It’s a great example the way a partnership can work. The field is very, very tight, but the #23 Riley-Ford has been on the pace and improved its times throughout while Martin qualified superbly. Dale has done a great job engineering the car.”

Richard Dean (GB), Managing Director & Co-Owner of United Autosports:

“We’ve consistently improved our times as the days have progressed which is very encouraging and I believe our race pace will be the same. Qualifying in the top-10 has been a great performance considering the experience, or rather lack of it, that both Mark [Blundell] and Martin, and Zak for that matter who is racing a DP for the first time, have of this type of car combined with the limited amount of time they’ve had behind the wheel. When we came here for the test at the beginning of the month, we were 2-3secs off the pace to begin with but finished up a little over a second off the fastest time. Here we are after qualifying less than seven tenths of a second away. The race should be good.”

Rolex 24 At Daytona Television Coverage:

Saturday, Jan. 22: (F/X) Grand Am: 24 Hours at Daytona Preview 11pm.

Sunday, Jan. 23: (SPEED) Grand Am: 24 Hours at Daytona Preview 8pm.

Saturday, Jan. 29: (SPEED) Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona (The Start) 3-10pm. (Live)

Saturday, Jan. 29: (Eurosport 2) Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona (The Start) 8.30pm (UK time)

Saturday, Jan. 29: (Eurosport 2) Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona 10.15pm (UK time)

Sunday, Jan. 30: (SPEED) Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona (The Finish) 9am-4pm (Live)

Sunday, Jan 30: (Eurosport 2) Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona (The Finish) 6.45pm (UK time).

Rolex 24 At Daytona Live timing:

Practice, Qualifying & Race at: http://www.grand-am.com/

Riley DP

Roush-Yates prepared V8 Ford 5 liter modular engine, 4 cam, 4 valve, producing over 500hp. Rear-wheel-drive. Continental Tires. Weight: 2275lbs; 5 gears, paddle-shift gearbox. The Riley Technologies MK XXII is the most successful Daytona Prototype of all time.

United Autosports

Co-owned by Zak Brown and Richard Dean, the US-owned, UK-based team was formed in 2010 and contested the FIA GT3 European Championship with a brace of Audi R8 LMS sports cars. Also competed in 24 Hours of Spa (finishing third & fourth in GT3 class on team’s 24 race début), Intercontinental Le Mans Cup at Zhuhai, China (third in GTC) and Macau (third GT Cup). Competes in the 2011 FIA GT3 European and Avon Tyres British GT Championships plus 24 Hours of Spa and Macau.

Michael Shank Racing

Since moving full-time to the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, Pataskala, Ohio-based Michael Shank Racing has taken three overall wins and 19 podium results, including second overall in the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona as well as monopolizing the front row for the 2008 Rolex 24.

* Comprehensive Blundell, Brown, Brundle and Patterson biographies plus team profiles on United Autosports and Michael Shank Racing are available to download from the United Autosports website at www.unitedautosports.com/pdf/daytona_presskit.pdf.

* Editorial Copyright free photographs from the test, practice & qualifying are available on www.flickr.com/unitedautosports.

* Post “Roar Before 24”, race previews and post qualifying driver interviews (.MP3 format) can be downloaded from www.unitedautosports.com/press.cfm while post Race interviews will be available on Sunday evening.

* Television footage downloads: For information on content, contact Jillian Brooks, NASCAR Media Group 704-726-8625 or jbrooks@nascar.com For information on use, contact Helen Pardee, GRAND-AM Road Racing (386) 682-8008 or hpardee@grand-am.com For technical assistance or information during the feed:   877-842-9288   Pin# 644158

Saturday, January 29      5-5.30pm & 9.30-10pm (EST)

Sunday, January 30          5:00-5:30pm (EST)

 

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United Autosports Aiming For Rolex 24 At Daytona Race Honors On US Début

• Second 24 hour race for American-owned team – first race in North America
• Stellar driver line-up for United Autosports with Michael Shank Racing entry

Mark Blundell (GB), Zak Brown (USA), Martin Brundle (GB) and Mark Patterson (USA) contest the 49th Rolex 24 At Daytona in Florida (USA) over January 29-30 – North America's only twice-around-the-clock sports car race which marks the maiden race on "home soil" for the American-owned United Autosports team.

The Anglo-American quartet race a Riley-Ford Daytona Prototype at the legendary Daytona International Speedway located 60-miles north of Orlando, the historic race staged on a 3.56-mile, 12-turn course utilizing sections of the recently re-paved DIS "oval" plus infield section.

United Autosports was formed last year to compete primarily in the FIA GT3 European Championship with a brace of Audi R8 LMS GT3 class sports cars operated out of a raceshop in England and has joined forces with GRAND-AM regular entrant Michael Shank Racing for its first race on US soil.

United Autosports Chairman and Co-Owner Zak Brown is no stranger to the Rolex 24 At Daytona but races a DP for the first time while fellow American Mark Patterson is a "veteran" of eight Rolex 24 events having finished second in 2006.

1988 Daytona 24 Hour race winner Martin Brundle is contesting his first international sportscar race since finishing third in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 10 years ago – a race the Englishman won in 1990. Brundle, who also finished second at Daytona in '90 – his only other Rolex 24 entry – shares a racecar for the very first time in his lengthy and illustrious career with fellow former 24 Hours of Le Mans race winner and Grand Prix Formula One ace Mark Blundell who set the #23 Riley's fastest lap (1min 40.904secs) at the "Roar Before the 24" earlier this month (January 9) – Mark's first ever visit to the Daytona facility. Brundle set a personal fastest within a hundredth of a second of Blundell's time with Brown and Patterson also on the pace.

Sponsorship for United Autosports' maiden North American foray, the opening round of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, includes Johnnie Walker, UBS, Legends of Motorsports, Just Marketing International, GAC Logistics, Thunderhead, FXI and Luke's Joint.

Mark Blundell (GB). Age: 44. Born: Barnet, England. Lives: Royston, England.
Daytona History: None. Daytona 24Hr: Début. Other 24Hr races: Le Mans, France (1989, 1990, 1992/1st, 1995/4th, 2001, 2002, 2003/2nd); Spa, Belgium (2010/3rd in class).

"All of the set-up work was completed at the test with all drivers having good input and the team doing a tremendous job. Going through data with Richard [Dean] was also very helpful as even with our levels of experience, you never stop learning.

Our car is capable of qualifying in the top-six if we get everything right and have a little luck but I will be happy with a top-10 place on the grid. Then if we can finish in the top-six I think we will have done a tremendous job. The field is ultra-competitive. We are running with current Indy Car drivers including Indy Car Champions and Indy 500 winners plus NASCAR multiple champions. There are top flight cars, top flight teams and top flight drivers. We are not going to kid ourselves but we do have a chance of getting a result. Whoever can carve through the traffic the quickest and the safest is in with a good chance of a top result."


Zak Brown (USA). Age: 39. Born: Los Angeles, California, USA. Lives: Carmel, Indiana, USA.
Daytona History: Four 24Hr races. Daytona 24Hr: Début 1997. Number of Daytona 24Hr race appearances: 4. 1997/8th o/a, 2nd GTS, 1999, 2000 (GT), 2010 33rd/20th (GT). Other 24Hr races: BritCar, Silverstone, GB (2nd o/a, 1st in class); Spa, Belgium (2010/3rd in class).

"As Chairman of an American team, I'm hugely excited to have United Autosports racing on 'home' soil in the biggest endurance race in the States. And to do it with two ex-Formula One drivers, both of whom have previously won at Le Mans, and in a car that is capable of a top result, makes it all the more special so it is a big moment for United Autosports.

Our first objective is to finish but there is no reason why we cannot achieve a top result. We have just got to stay out of the pits, stay out of trouble, don't do anything stupid and don't self inflict ourselves with any wounds. If we do that, I think we can pull off a great result."

Martin Brundle (GB). Age: 51. Born: King's Lynn, Norfolk, England. Lives: Gayton, Norfolk, England.Daytona History: Two 24Hr races. Daytona 24Hr: Début 1988. Number of Daytona 24Hr race appearances: 2. 1988: 1st (Jaguar XJR-9); 1990: 2nd (Jaguar XJR-12); Last raced at Daytona 1990. Other 24Hr races: Le Mans, France (1987, 1988, 1990/1st, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001; Spa, Belgium (1983, 1984); Willhire, Snetterton, GB (1980/1st in class).

"We won't be the fastest out there so we have got to be the smartest and stay out of trouble, stay out of the pits and see how far we get. If we've managed that come Sunday morning then we could be looking at a good result. If you look at the line-ups in the race, the drivers are young pros at the highest levels of motorsport. Many of these guys are doing this week in week out, year in, year out. They know this race, they know the track.

It'll be tremendous fun, if not a tiring experience remembering what it was like for me in 1988 and '90 but I'm really looking forward to the race weekend."

Mark Patterson (USA). Age: 59. Born: Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Lives: Bronxville, N.Y., USA.
Daytona History: Seven 24Hr races. Daytona 24Hr: Début 2004. Number of Daytona 24Hr race appearances: 7. (2004 38th/13th SGS, 2005 23rd/14th (DP), 2006/2nd (DP), 2007/9th (DP), 2008/6th (DP), 2009 41st/16th (DP), 2010/7th (DP). Other 24Hr races: Spa, Belgium (2009 17th o/a, 2010/4th in class).

"There is tremendous quality in terms of drivers and teams. Staying out of the garage wins you this race and that's what it's all about. The two class racing [DP & GT] in GRAND-AM obviously adds spice in terms of lapping slower traffic – it's important to pace yourself in making the pass on these slower cars. Zak, Mark and I did Spa together last summer while working with Martin is a blast.

I hope we can do well. We have got some good competition even from within the Michael Shank Racing team with all three teams having a great opportunity for a top-six result."


Mike Shank (USA), Team Owner of Michael Shank Racing:

"After the Daytona test, we know what our pace is and what we need to do during the race. A big thing is not making mistakes and staying out of trouble and these guys all understand that fully with all of them experienced in 24 hour races."

Richard Dean (GB), Managing Director & Co-Owner of United Autosports:

"Mike [Shank] knows the GRAND-AM Series inside out and his guys know the car inside out so my role is more an over-seeing one. Listening over the radio and checking the computers so that I can pass on information to our drivers at change-over for example. When a driver gets out of the car I will be able to give him details about the stint. Normally I am much more hands on but this is nevertheless interesting for me. I've competed in the Rolex having attended the race with my Dad when I was a school kid – it's legendary."


Rolex 24 At Daytona – Provisional Timetable
Thursday, January 27
10-11.30am Practice
1.30-2.30pm Practice
3.45-4pm Qualifying (Daytona Prototypes)
6.30-8.30pm Practice

Friday, January 28
9-9.45am Practice
11am-12pm Practice

Saturday, January 29
12.15pm Driver autograph session
2.15pm Grid opens
3pm Pre-race ceremonies/ All cars on the grid
3.30pm START – 49th Rolex 24 At Daytona

Sunday, January 30
3.30pm FINISH – 49th Rolex 24 At Daytona

Rolex 24 At Daytona Television Coverage:
Saturday, Jan. 22: (F/X) Grand Am: 24 Hours at Daytona Preview 11pm.
Sunday, Jan. 23: (SPEED) Grand Am: 24 Hours at Daytona Preview 8pm.
Saturday, Jan. 29: (SPEED) Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona (The Start) 3-10pm. (Live)
Saturday, Jan. 29: (Eurosport 2) Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona (The Start) 8.30pm (UK time)
Saturday, Jan. 29: (Eurosport 2) Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona 10.15pm (UK time)
Sunday, Jan. 30: (SPEED) Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona (The Finish) 9am-4pm (Live)
Sunday, Jan 30: (Eurosport 2) Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona (The Finish) 6.45pm (UK time).

Rolex 24 At Daytona Live timing:
Practice, Qualifying & Race at: http://www.grand-am.com/

Sole British-based “official customer” Audi team makes Autosport International Show début

Left to right: Joe Osborne, Matt Bell, United Autosports Co-Owner Richard Dean, Draper Tools’ Ray Kirby,

Jay Palmer and John Bintcliffe.

Thousands of visitors attended the annual motorsport show held at the National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham (England) last weekend (January 13-16) which saw United Autosports display both of its Audi R8 LMS sports cars.

After a voyage of over 15,000 miles which began in late October after the FIA GT3 European Championship finalé at Zolder (Belgium) for the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup race in Zhuhai (China) and the Macau GT Cup race, its brace of Audi GT3 class sports cars only arrived back at its raceshop near Leeds (England) on January 8.

United Autosports Co-Owner Richard Dean was present along with a number of its GT driver squad including Matt Bell, John Bintcliffe, Jay Palmer and Joe Osborne with Daytona duo Blundell and Brundle also in attendance during the course of the four-day show.

One R8 LMS was on display in the foyer of the nearby Hilton Metropole with the other on the Motors TV stand. A brand new Audi R8 LMS is expected to arrive at the United Autosports raceshop later this month with the team’s first test of the season scheduled for Navarra (Spain) over February 14-15 in which Audi Sport UK’s ex-British Touring Car Championship race winner Bintcliffe plus Palmer and Osborne will all get behind the wheel of the V10, 5.2-liter engined Audi for the first time.

United Autosports will enter a brace of Audi R8 LMS sports cars in the FIA GT3 European and British GT Championships this year.

• See a gallery of images from the Show here: www.flickr.com/unitedautosports

United Autosports Completes Successful Rolex 24 At Daytona Test Weekend

· Daytona "rookie" Mark Blundell sets #23's quickest lap at "Roar Before the Rolex 24" official three-day test
· Discovery Channel to produce TV program on United Autosports' first foray in North America
· Audi's sole British-based "official customer" team displays R8 LMS GT3 sports cars at Autosport International this week

United Autosports concluded a successful three-day official test at the "Roar Before the Rolex 24" today (Sunday January 9) in advance of the 49th running of the world famous Daytona race later this month.

The United Autosports with Michael Shank Racing entered Riley Daytona Prototype completed a total of over 300 laps around the challenging 3.56-mile, 12-turn combined speedway road course.

All four drivers, Mark Blundell (GB), Zak Brown (USA), Martin Brundle (GB) and Mark Patterson (USA), were present to prepare for this year's Rolex 24 At Daytona that is staged over January 29-30.

1988 Daytona 24 Hour race victor Brundle returned to the famous Florida venue for the first time since finishing second in 1990. Meanwhile fellow former 24 Hours of Le Mans race winner and Grand Prix Formula One ace Blundell turned his first ever laps at Daytona.

Zak Brown, Chairman & Co-Owner of United Autosports, was driving a DP for only the second time – the first-time at Daytona – while fellow American Mark Patterson prepared for his eighth Rolex 24 – his seventh driving a DP having finished second in 2006.

Blundell set the fastest lap for the #23 Riley – a 1min 40.904secs, an average speed of 127.011mph – for the sixth fastest time on Sunday morning and 13th fastest combined time over the entire test. Brundle set a personal fastest, also on Sunday morning, within a hundredth of a second of his former Grand Prix team-mate. The team enjoyed a trouble-free test and concentrated on finding a comfortable, consistent car set-up for North America's only twice-around-the-clock sports car race as opposed to outright qualifying pace with all four drivers regularly setting competitive lap times.

The test featured eight timed sessions, all staged in dry, sunny if sometimes breezy and cool weather conditions, amounting to 705 minutes of track time for the 50-car field on the recently re-paved Speedway. Race week on-track action begins on Thursday January 27 for the opening round of the 2011 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series Presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16.

Sponsors for United Autosports' maiden race in North America include Johnnie Walker, UBS AG, Legends of Motorsports, Just Marketing International, GAC Logistics, Thunderhead Communications, FXI and Luke's Joint.

Discovery Channel To Follow United Autosports' Progress At Rolex 24
A TV crew from Discovery Channel's How Do They Do It? will follow the team's exploits over the Daytona race weekend and broadcast the program this summer. It is one of the world's most popular technology shows and is broadcast to over 150 countries (over 1.25 billion subscribers) in Asia, Australasia, Europe, North and South America plus South Africa.

Autosport International, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham (England)
Zak Brown and Richard Dean take part in a Grand-Am Press Conference in Concourse Suite 25 on Thursday January 13 (11am). Meanwhile Joe Osborne, John Bintcliffe and Jay Palmer, who make their respective débuts for United Autosports in the FIA GT3 European (Osborne) and Avon Tyres British GT Championships (Bintcliffe & Palmer) driving an Audi R8 LMS, will also be in attendance at the annual show along with fellow Briton Matt Bell, who contests his second FIA GT3 season for United Autosports and also the BGT this season.

Joe, John, Jay and Matt will be on the Motors TV Stand (Hall 20, 6765) on Thursday at 3.45pm for a photoshoot & interview opportunity. The following day (Friday January 14), Brown and Dean are joined by Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell on the Sunoco Stand (Hall 6, Stand 6565) at 2.30-3.30pm for an informal Press Call and autograph session alongside a Crown Royal Daytona Prototype. Ross Kaiser, winner of the Sunoco Daytona Challenge, will also be in attendance.

Mark Blundell (GB). Age: 44. Born: Barnet, England. Lives: Royston, England.
Daytona History: None. Daytona 24Hr: Début. Other 24Hr races: Le Mans, France (1989, 1990, 1992/1st, 1995/4th, 2001, 2002, 2003/2nd); Spa, Belgium (2010/3rd in class).


"I drove in to the Speedway for the first time in my life on Thursday morning and it was an awesome sight – let's face it the venue and race is known worldwide. I drove on 'ovals' in my Indycar career and I never found it to be a big deal but the banking here at Daytona is over 30 degrees. Problems can arise coming off the banking in to the infield section which makes life interesting. There are no references at Turn 1 while the high-speed chicane, called the 'bus-stop', can also be tricky due to the same problem, but after three-days, I've gradually got to know my way around and I now feel comfortable. The #23 Riley worked well and I firmly believe our race prospects are promising. I've not contested the Rolex 24 previously but having raced and been successful in 24 hour races at Le Mans, and at Spa with United Autosports last year, it's all about working towards the race as opposed to one lap 'fliers' in that the car is useable and predicable for all four drivers for the entire duration."

Zak Brown (USA). Age: 39. Born: Los Angeles, California, USA. Lives: Carmel, Indiana, USA.
Daytona History: Four 24Hr races. Daytona 24Hr: Début 1997. Number of Daytona 24Hr race appearances: 4. 1997/8th o/a, 2nd GTS, 1999, 2000 (GT), 2010 33rd/20th (GT). Other 24Hr races: BritCar, Silverstone, GB (2nd o/a, 1st in class); Spa, Belgium (2010/3rd in class).

"This is only the second time I've driven a DP [Daytona Prototype] and the first time here at Daytona and I've driven within my personal limits. All four drivers are up to speed while crucially the team gelled over the test days and so to summarize, everything went very well. Our Riley was competitive in each session, we didn't have any major issues, so I'm very happy. We won't be the fastest car in the race and we didn't spend the last three days trying to achieve putting in the ultimate one lap but our pace is nevertheless good. We also had a lot of fun, with plenty of banter from Mark [Blundell] and Martin, which is great."

Martin Brundle (GB). Age: 51. Born: King's Lynn, Norfolk, England. Lives: Gayton, Norfolk, England.
Daytona History: Two 24Hr races. Daytona 24Hr: Début 1988. Number of Daytona 24Hr race appearances: 2. 1988: 1st (Jaguar XJR-9); 1990: 2nd (Jaguar XJR-12); Last raced at Daytona 1990. Other 24Hr races: Le Mans, France (1987, 1988, 1990/1st, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001; Spa, Belgium (1983, 1984); Willhire, Snetterton, GB (1980/1st in class).

"Pulling on my race suit, putting on my helmet, and jumping in a race car again, I did feel a little anxious. It's 10 years really since I raced professionally and so it's natural to have self doubts initially. But once out on to the track, everything comes back to you, it's natural – just like swimming or riding a bike, you never forget how to do it. I quickly shook off the rust and dropped back in to the groove. We progressively improved the car between us each day and my times came down. It was the first time I'd driven a DP and nothing was a big surprise to me. They don't have much downforce and are much heavier than a Formula One car for example but I was pleasantly surprised. The last time I was here was in 1990 and the track is now in great condition in terms of the quality of the surface, kerbs and run-off areas – the entire venue looks a million dollars."

Mark Patterson (USA). Age: 59. Born: Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Lives: Bronxville, N.Y., USA. 

Daytona History: Seven 24Hr races. Daytona 24Hr: Début 2004. Number of Daytona 24Hr race appearances: 7. (2004 38th/13th SGS, 2005 23rd/14th (DP), 2006/2nd (DP), 2007/9th (DP), 2008/6th (DP), 2009 41st/16th (DP), 2010/7th (DP). Other 24Hr races: Spa, Belgium (2009 17th o/a, 2010/4th in class).

"We made excellent progress over the three days to the point that we have a real good, fast race car. I've been with Michael Shank Racing for a number of years in GRAND-AM and I believe this test has shown Zak and Richard made a great choice to run with them in conjunction with United Autosports. We possibly made slower progress than other teams but peaked on Sunday at exactly the right time. Mark, Martin and I all set out best times of the test on the final day and that is exactly what you want. I've already learnt a lot from Mark, who I worked with at Spa with the Audi R8 LMS, and Martin, over the past three days – they are ultra, ultra competitive guys. But also the nice thing is that we're all gleaning little bits from each other and consequently improving the car and our own individual performances."

Mike Shank (USA), Team Owner of Michael Shank Racing:
"I am very pleased with the progress of car #23 at the test. It has been a very good team effort. All four drivers worked with engineer Dale Wise with the assistance of Richard [Dean]. After three days they all got hooked up pretty good and everyone has integrated very well and very quickly."

Richard Dean (GB), Managing Director & Co-Owner of United Autosports:
"It's been a very good test. We made progress each day, possibly more than any other DP car. Mark {Blundell] and Martin still know how to drive a race car, both turned in class performances and set times very close to each other on Sunday morning. They were totally focused. Mark [Patterson] continues to surprise me with the impressive times he turns in while Zak, who unfortunately missed today [Sunday] due to a previously organized business meeting, drove very, very well considering his lack of DP experience. I'm very excited about our race prospects."

* Lots of photographs from the test are available on www.flickr.com/unitedautosports

* Follow regular updates from United Autosports at www.facebook.com/pages/United-Autosports/10150125792055534 or
Twitter: @unitedautosport