BOWMANVILLE, ONT., CAN (July 22, 2012) - Lotus Alex Job Racing (AJR) took the next step in the development of the Evora GT at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (formerly Mosport International Raceway) for the American Le Mans Series Mobil 1 Grand Prix of Mosport today finishing with another solid ninth-place run.
The team competed the full weekend without any major problems and goes away with another binder full of data. Lotus AJR drivers Bill Sweedler (Westport, Conn.) and Townsend Bell (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) were able to feel, for the first time this year, how the Evora GT reacts on high-speed turns aerodynamically. Team engineer, Greg Fordahl, was toying with dive planes all weekend trying to find that happy balance the drivers were searching for around the fast 2.4-mile, 10 turn Canadian Tire Motorsport Park circuit.
"Once again we did maximum laps and took another step in the development of this very promising car," Sweedler said. "As we go to every track that is new to this car we are coming up with more items to improve the handling and overall performance. This week it was aero balance. The guys are doing a great job developing the car and making all the adjustments on the fly. We are getting there, slowly."
Bell is also encouraged by the improvements and dedication of the team.
"Another good weekend for us," Bell said. "We are getting faster. It is a lot of work for a ninth-place finish. We ran as high as sixth and were able to be respectable, while running what is essentially a test program on TV. The Lotus AJR guys are doing everything they can to keep improving, but we are in the heart of the season with races every two weeks, and that makes things tough. We know what our goals are for the season, and we are right on pace with the development of the car."
Team principal, Alex Job, ticked another item off the to-do list this weekend.
"We had the guys working on the high speed aero balance of the car this weekend," Job said. "What we did and did not do this weekend will pay small dividends when we go to Mid-Ohio and Road America. I am hoping all of this is leading up to a much better car come Petit Le Mans in October. Bill and Townsend are sticking to the plan and providing good feedback to keep improving. That is what we need at this phase of the program."
The team will travel to central Ohio for the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge to be run Aug. 2-4.
Alex Job Racing is one of the most successful teams in sports car racing. The team's resume includes: ALMS GT series championships in 2004, 2003, 2002; a record 22 consecutive ALMS GT pole positions; two-time 24-Hour of Le Mans GT class winners; Eight 12-hour of Sebring wins in 2012, 2010, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1999 and 1995.
The ALMS GT Class is production-based, moderately-modified two-wheel drive race cars comprise the GT class - BMW M3, Corvette C6.R, Ferrari F458 GT, Ford GT-R, Jaguar XKR GT, Lotus Evora and Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. The GT cars share many similarities to their showroom brands. With top speeds of up to 180 mph, these elite GTs produce between 450-500 horsepower and have a minimum weight of 1,145 kilograms (2,480 pounds). All GT race cars have green Leader Light System race position lights and green car numbers.
Motegi Racing is a supporter of driver Townsend Bell and the Lotus Alex Job Racing team.
