INSIDE TRACK MOTORSPORT NEWS I 45

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Georgiana Barbara Thornton
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(Main) 2014 event winner Corvette Racing will be looking to get back into the winner s circle at Bowmanville, ON s Canadian Tire Motorsport Park after Porsche (opposite page) beat them to the

Wally Nesbitt // Photos by Tim McGill & Richard Coburn On 30 previous occasions, IMSA-sanctioned sports cars have brought their championship battles to the four-kilometre Canadian Tire Motorsport

3 (Main) 2014 event winner Corvette Racing will be looking to get back into the winner s circle at Bowmanville, ON s Canadian Tire Motorsport Park after Porsche (opposite page) beat them to the checkered flag in (Below, middle) The Ford GT will make its Canadian debut at the Mobil 1 SportsCar GP. By J. Wally Nesbitt // Photos by Tim McGill & Richard Coburn On 30 previous occasions, IMSA-sanctioned sports cars have brought their championship battles to the four-kilometre Canadian Tire Motorsport Park facility. And rarely, if ever, has the outcome of these endurance contests been a foregone conclusion. Based on all indications, and to the benefit of the Canadian fans, this year s Mobil 1 TM SportsCar Grand Prix should continue that tradition as no one single race team has yet proven to hold a competitive advantage. Round 7 (of 12) of the newly re-branded WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will see all four IMSA divisions, the Prototypes, Prototype Challenge (PC), Grand Touring Le Mans (GTLM) and Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) cars challenge CTMP s ten turns in a two hour, 40 minute scramble for race supremacy. In last year s event, Wayne Taylor Racing, with drivers Jordan and Ricky Taylor, battled power steering issues in their No. 10 Dallara Corvette to outlast, by barely a half-second, the quickly closing No. 31 Action Express Corvette of Dane Cameron and Eric Curran. Over the course of the first four races of this season, the Taylor brothers have recorded one race victory, on the streets of Long Beach, and earned a runner-up finish in the season opening Rolex 24 at Daytona. Over the same period, The No. 31 car has scored a second place finish at Sebring plus a pair of third place results. Adding another element to the Prototype championship mixture has been the Honda/ Ligier marque. Michael Shank Racing s No. 60 was the victor at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, while the No. 2 Tequila Patron Honda/ Ligier swept to victory in the opening two rounds of the year. Toss in the perennially front-running No. 5 Action Express and the No. 90 VisitFlorida.com Corvettes to the list of potential winners, and even the Las Vegas odds-makers would dispute a favourite. And things will most certainly be just as unpredictable in the other IMSA divisions. In the Prototype Challenge class, the No. 85 JDC Miller Oreca team seems to hold a slight advantage over the No. 52 Mathiason Motorsports car and the reigning champion, the No. 54 CORE Autosport entry. The Miller squad has scored two race victories in four attempts, reaching victory lane at Sebring and Long Beach. Still, there is a four-way tie for the points lead with one of those drivers, Vancouver s Misha Goikhberg, firmly in the lead pack. The perennial Canadian favourite Corvette GTLM effort is currently leading their division standings as the Ollie Gavin/ Tommy Milner No. 4 Corvette has topped the scoring charts at Daytona and Sebring, with a second place result at Long Beach. The No. 911 Porsche broke the Corvette winning streak in California while the Ganassi Racing Ford GT scored their first victory in round 4 at Laguna Seca. The GT Daytona class will be a relative unknown entity when it hits the tarmac as this division bypassed the 2015 event. So far this year, in three race appearances class wins have been secured by an Audi (Daytona), a Ferrari (Sebring) and a Porsche (Mazda Raceway). All bets are off when the Daytona class sports cars attack the CTMP track. Continued on page INSIDE TRACK MOTORSPORT NEWS I 47

...Continued from page 47 Canadian content may not be as prevalent as it has been in past years with several hometown drivers moving on to other edndeavours.

But the two entrants from north of the 49th parallel that are certain to catch the attention of the Canadian race fans are the Ganassi Racing Ford Eco- Boost GT cars co-driven by Dirk Muller and Joey

67 Ford GT recorded the first win for the marque at Laguna Seca and the team would like nothing better than to repeat that success at the car s sole Canadian appearance.

4 ...Continued from page 47 Canadian content may not be as prevalent as it has been in past years with several hometown drivers moving on to other edndeavours. However, such competitors as Chris Cumming, Misha Goikhberg, Mark Wilkins, Bruno Spengler and Kyle Marcelli have proudly carried the Maple Leaf onto the podium this year. But the two entrants from north of the 49th parallel that are certain to catch the attention of the Canadian race fans are the Ganassi Racing Ford Eco- Boost GT cars co-driven by Dirk Muller and Joey Hand (No. 66) and teammates Richard Westbrook and Ryan Briscoe (No. 67). Designed, built and tested by Markham, ON s Multimatic Motorsports, the No. 67 Ford GT recorded the first win for the marque at Laguna Seca and the team would like nothing better than to repeat that success at the car s sole Canadian appearance. Even the most casual of race fans will identify the profile of the new car with its legendary predecessor, the GT-40 cars that dominated at Le Mans in the mid-1960s. It is obvious that Sunday s Mobil 1 WeatherTech SportsCar Grand Prix will be the weekend s headlining event, but with three days of track time available, the race organizers have filled the schedule with an equally appealing lineup of supporting contests. The Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge is guaranteed to provide 150 minutes of door-handle-to-doorhandle action with (hopefully) Toronto s own Scott Maxwell leading the Grand Sport parade aboard his No. 15 Ford Shelby GT350. Other Canadian drivers to watch for include Winnipeg s Daniel Burkett, Cameron Cassels, local resident James Vance and former Prototype winner Michael Valiante. The Cooper Tires Prototype Lites series is the development division for the WeatherTech championship, as is the IMSA Porsche GT3 Challenge presented by Yokohama. Both of these divisions will enjoy multiple race appearances over the July 7-10 race weekend, as will the Mazda MX-5 Cup series. Canada s newest racing attraction, the Nissan Micra Cup, is in its sophomore season of operation, and large fields, close racing action and frantic finishes have become the norm for this spec division. Making its Canadian Tire Motorsport Park debut as their 2016 season winds down, there may be a certain element of desperation creeping into some of the championship chasers. The best part of any Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix weekend is that the entertainment is not limited to the track. The CTMP Marketplace will be in full swing, offering a wide variety of souvenirs and collectibles, and food vendors will provide fare that will satisfy even the most discriminating of palates. Add in the open paddock access and the almost-mandatory, pre-race grid walk, and the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix will leave each and every attendee satisfied. Few motorsports facilities can boast the racing heritage enjoyed by CTMP, and the 2016 Mobil 1 Sports- Car Grand Prix will most certainly add another chapter to that long and storied history. Building on its legacy of being for the fans, the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix will certainly do just that, providing race goers with a weekend not soon forgotten. 48 I

(Main) Wayne Taylor Racing won the 2015 Mobil 1 Sports- Car Grand Prix at Canadian

Action Express (below, left) and Rolex 24 and Sebring 12 Hours winners Patron

in its Ford Mustang GT350RC on their home track.

5 (Main) Wayne Taylor Racing won the 2015 Mobil 1 Sports- Car Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and is among the favourites to win again at the 2016 event. Action Express (below, left) and Rolex 24 and Sebring 12 Hours winners Patron Racing (below, middle) are a pair of strong teams who could unseat the defending overall race winners. (Above) Markham, ON-based Multimatic Motorsports will be looking for another win in its Ford Mustang GT350RC on their home track. (Top) Corvette Racing engineers and driver Antonio Garcia watch the 2015 Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix from the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park pit lane. INSIDE TRACK MOTORSPORT NEWS I 49

By J. Wally Nesbitt // Photos Courtesy Ed Moody On June 24, 1961, Stirling Moss piloted his pale green Lotus 19 to victory in the inaugural Players 200 sports car race held on the newly opened

6 By J. Wally Nesbitt // Photos Courtesy Ed Moody On June 24, 1961, Stirling Moss piloted his pale green Lotus 19 to victory in the inaugural Players 200 sports car race held on the newly opened Mosport Park racetrack. Besting 18 competitors, including fourth place finisher Ludwig Heimrath and fellow Canadians Francis Bradley and Oliver Clubine, Moss completed the 40 lap event at an average speed of miles per hour ( km/h). Following his initial appearance on the mile Bowmanville, ON-area circuit, Moss proclaimed that no driver could hope to beat a one-minute, 30 second lap around the challenging, ten turn track. While Sir Stirling would ultimately be proven wrong in his lap time predictions, his appearance in that initial contest would begin a tradition of world-class sports car competition that continues to this day. Over the past 55 racing seasons, CTMP has hosted events for the Group 7 Sports Cars (more commonly known as Can-Am), the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA Camel GT Series. In 1999, then-owner of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Dr. Don Panoz, envisioned a resurgence of North American sports car racing, and utilizing the same basic rules package as employed by the Automobile Club de L Ouest (ACO), the organizers of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, created the American Le Mans Series. With his obvious business association to the then-called Mosport Raceway, it came as no surprise when the track was awarded the sole Canadian date on the ALMS calendar. As the series grew and prospered, it attracted the attention of many serious sponsors. The CTMP date in particular became the race of choice for the backing of Mobil 1, the oil company becoming the title sponsor in 2006 and continuing this association to the present, the annual event branded as the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix. Since its inception, the American Le Mans Series has gone through several changes related to its class designations, with up to five distinct divisions competing on the track at one time, all in pursuit of individual victory. Naturally, the highperformance, high-speed Prototypes have been the primary race day attraction, but the production-based GT machinery has often provided equally exciting, inter-class racing. In 1999, the American Le Mans Series made its CTMP debut for the Grand Prix of Mosport with 35 cars in attendance, 18 of those Prototypes. Included in the LMP ranks were a pair of BMW V-12 cars fresh from their victory in the Le Mans classic at la Sarthe, five Ferrari 333SPs, several Riley and Scott Lolas, and a pair of odd-looking Panoz LMP-01 roadsters. In Saturday s qualifying session, Panoz driver Jan Magnussen secured the pole position with a time of 1 minute, seconds, just I

seconds faster than his Panoz teammate David Brabham. That qualifying effort translated into the overall victory for the Magnussen/ Johnny O Connell duo.

Beretta would duplicate his GT win one year later, but there was a dramatic changing of the guard in Prototypes as the North American series was introduced to the all-conquering Audi R8.

s circle, the marque eventually rolling up eight consecutive ALMS LMP class championships.

7 seconds faster than his Panoz teammate David Brabham. That qualifying effort translated into the overall victory for the Magnussen/ Johnny O Connell duo. At the same time, the GT class victory was claimed by Olivier Beretta and David Donohue aboard their Viper GTS-R. Beretta would duplicate his GT win one year later, but there was a dramatic changing of the guard in Prototypes as the North American series was introduced to the all-conquering Audi R8. For the next four years ( ) the Audi R8 carried such notable drivers as Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen, Rinaldo Dindo Capello, Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner into the CTMP winner s circle, the marque eventually rolling up eight consecutive ALMS LMP class championships. The driving tandem of Butch Leitzinger and James Weaver snapped the Audi winning streak by commandeering their Dyson Racing MG-Lola to back-to-back LMP1 wins (2004/ 05), but in 2006, the German make would once again return to CTMP s victory lane. Aboard the refined Audi R10 TDI, Dindo Capello and Allan McNish took the overall and LMP1 class victories in 2006 and With new teammate Emanuele Pirro joining him for the 2008 campaign, Capello returned to the Ontario facility and in a breathtaking display of nerve and talent, shattered the qualifying lap record, circulating the four-kilometre circuit in a time of 1m, s, averaging km/h. Unfortunately for Capello, it was Lucas Luhr and Marco Werner in the Audi sister car who ascended to the top step of the podium at the drop of the checkered flag. In 2009, the Audi factory cut back on its North America racing appearances, and their all-powerful Prototypes would not be seen again on the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park track. Replacing them in the winner s circle that year were David Brabham and Scott Sharp, drivers of the Hillcroft Racing Acura ARX-02a. In 2010, another dominating streak commenced, as the Muscle Milk Pickett Racing team, led by Klaus Graf forged to the front. Teamed with Romain Dumas, Graf helped guide the Porsche RS-Spyder into victory lane in 2010, but for the next season, the Pickett team opted to enter an Aston Martin Lola in the Canadian race, and with new running mate Lucas Luhr, he repeated his race success in The Graf/ Luhr duo concluded a four year sweep of the LMP class by earning the Mobil 1 Trophy in 2012 and Somehow undeservingly relegated to almost an afterthought, over the same 15 year span, the GT cars were engaged in their own ontrack wars around the dauntingly high-speed CTMP circuit. The Beretta/ Wendlinger Viper repeated as GT class champions in 2000, but a new marque and a new and talented Canadian driver were quickly charging to the fore. Following a runner-up GT finish in 2000, Mississauga, ON s Ron Fellows and teammate Johnny O Connell began a three year victory streak in their yellow C5-R Corvette. The success of the Chevrolets at CTMP continued for another two years, although it was Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta in the No. 4 Corvette taking top spot over the Fellows/ O Connell duo. In 2006, the streak was temporarily halted as Pedro Lamy and Stephane Sarrazin snatched the GT class victory in an Aston Martin, but the Corvette squad, with O Connell and Jan Magnussen at the controls of the new C6.R race car, went on to claim the next three consecutive CTMP victories. Over the final four years of the American Le Mans Series appearances at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, the GT race winners would alternate between Corvette (2010), Jorg Bergmeister and Pat Long in the Flying Lizard Porsche 997 (2011) and the Scott Sharp/ Johannes van Overbeek Ferrari 458 Italia (2012), before the Corvette brand returned to the front with Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner earning the victor s laurels in the final appearance of the ALMS GT division at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The 2014 edition of the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix opened a new chapter in the sports car racing history book of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. During the preceding season, the American Le Mans Series and the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series announced that they would combine forces, now known as the IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship, who put on a nail-biter of a race in Whatever the name, Canadian racing fans may rest assured that the on-track performances will remain at the same level as that of its high-calibre predecessor, and that Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix will be the place to continue the remarkable history of Canadian sports car competition. (Main) David Hobbs and Graham Hill battle at the 1967 Canadian Grand Prix. (Right) CTMP has tested the limits of some of the most successful racers of all time, including Bruce McLaren, driving in the Can-Am series, and NASCAR stars Dale Jarrett and Benny Parsons. INSIDE TRACK MOTORSPORT NEWS I 51

Photos courtesy Richard Coburn (inset) // McLaren Media Centre (main) Mobil 1 engine oils have long been the lubricant of choice for race teams competing in the most demanding and popular motorsports

Mobil 1 s history in motorsport dates back to the early 1970s, competing in rallying; however their involvement in racing became more official in 1978 through sponsorship of the Williams Formula 1

8 Photos courtesy Richard Coburn (inset) // McLaren Media Centre (main) Mobil 1 engine oils have long been the lubricant of choice for race teams competing in the most demanding and popular motorsports series across the globe. Mobil 1 s history in motorsport dates back to the early 1970s, competing in rallying; however their involvement in racing became more official in 1978 through sponsorship of the Williams Formula 1 team and the 1987 sponsorship of Rusty Wallace s No. 27 car in NASCAR. From that time, the presence of Mobil 1 on racetracks and circuits has grown by global proportions. Today, Mobil 1 synthetic oil is relied on for its ability to deliver exceptional engine performance and protection even under the most extreme conditions. Automotive technicians, race car drivers, team owners and the world s leading automotive manufacturers can all testify to the advanced technology delivered by Mobil 1 lubricants. They enjoy a long association with many of the world's most popular and successful race teams, including McLaren- Honda in Formula 1, Stewart-Haas Racing s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, and many others such as Porsche Motorsport, where Mobil 1 is the Official Partner in global cooperation of all works-supported activities, all international Carrera Cups and the title partnership of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup the world s fastest one-make series. Mobil 1 is also the Official Motor Oil of NASCAR and contributes to the growth of grassroots initiatives all around the world. WHY CHOOSE SYNTHETICS? Synthetic lubricants such as Mobil 1 can provide a variety of benefits that help keep your equipment running at optimal performance for years to come. To understand synthetic oils, let s look first at the origins of all oils, particularly motor oils. Conventional oils come from crude oil that is pumped from the ground. Crude oil is made up of a complex mixture of molecules that form chains and rings of different sizes and shapes. Long chains of carbon atoms produce a thick, viscous fluid that flows slowly. Shorter chains produce fluid that flows more readily. BENEFITS OF SYNTHETICS In an oil refinery, crude oil is separated into various fractions. These become the basis for lubricating oils and fuels. Thick tangled masses of carbon chains become asphaltic materials used in roofing tar and roadwork. Very short chains and ring compounds of carbon are volatile and can be refined to produce gasoline and other products. All motor oils are made up of base oils and additives. In general, fully synthetic motor oils contain non-conventional, high-performance fluids. Synthetic blends usually use some non-conventional, high-performance fluids in combination with conventional oil. To meet the demanding requirements of today's specifications (and our customers' expectations), Mobil 1 uses highperformance fluids, including polyalphaolefins (PAOs), along with a proprietary system of additives. Each Mobil 1 viscosity grade uses a unique combination of synthetic fluids and selected additives in order to tailor the viscosity grade to its specific application. Imperial Oil offers a wide range of synthetic lubricants, from compressor oils to greases, that can help meet the critical or severe needs of your equipment. WHAT CAN SYNTHETICS DO FOR YOU? WHAT CAN SYNTHETICS DO FOR YOU? Synthetic lubricants work where mineral oils reach their limits, solve specific lubrication problems (e.g. to enable an under-designed machine to operate properly) and provide enhanced cost and/or performance (e.g. longer drain intervals and less downtime). Key factors in your decision are the severity of service, any special requirements and safety or environmental concerns. Imperial Oil's line of synthetic lubricants, marketed mainly under the Mobil brand, can provide longer oil drains. Thanks to their superior oxidation stability, synthetic oils can last considerably longer than mineral lubricants. You'll spend less time changing lubricants and less money on used-oil disposal. Oxidation stability also reduces the risk of harmful deposits on components. That means fewer shutdowns for equipment maintenance and cleaning. 52 I

9 ENERGY SAVINGS Compared to mineral oils, whose molecules come in assorted shapes and sizes, synthetic-oil molecules are relatively uniform. When they move against each other, it creates less heat and friction. The cooler operating temperature is easier on oil and equipment. Reducing friction can also significantly save energy, further easing your costs of operation. SEVERE-SERVICE PROTECTION Synthetics are ideal for applications involving shock loads or other severe conditions. Unlike mineral oils, which often fail to stand up against extreme pressure, synthetics retain their structure - along with their ability to lubricate and guard against wear. That can save labour, lubricant and equipment - and lower the risk of lost protection due to breakdown. SAFE OPERATION IN EXTREME CONDITIONS Synthetic oils are free of wax, which can solidify at low temperatures and make mineral oils resistant to flow. Worried about extreme heat? Synthetics resist the oxidation that causes some oils to leave deposits. That can save you money on repairs and keep your production running smoothly. INSIDE TRACK MOTORSPORT NEWS I 53

RACEDAY VIEWING GUIDE 52 ND ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA

RACEDAY VIEWING GUIDE 52 ND ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA JANUARY 24-26, 2014 2014 SCHEDULE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 January 24-26 Daytona International Speedway March 14-15 Sebring International Raceway