Team Seattle-The Heart of Racing drivers Mario Farnbacher and Ian James are ready to take on the newest road racing circuit in the USA at this weekend’s TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Lone Star Le Mans to run at Circuit of the America’s (COTA) Sept. 18-20.
Mario Farnbacher (Ansbach, Germany) and Ian James (Phoenix, Ariz.) will have a little more Porsche under them this weekend. The TUDOR series officials gave the Porsche teams a balance of performance (BOP) adjustment for this weekend that should help with handling and the all-important tire wear. With the BOP change, Farnbacher and James like their chances for success this weekend around the 3.4-mile, 20 turn circuit located east of Austin, Texas.
“We are very happy that Porsche got help BOP wise,” Farnbacher said. “I am looking forward to a more consistent and faster car. This should help us to park the car in front of the podium at the end of the race. It is a pleasure to be on the track. It’s an official FIA racetrack and Formula 1 will be racing there in November so it is a modern circuit. It is definitely one of the highlights of the 2014 season for me. The track has a lot of elevation change. It looks like a fun place to be and I can’t wait to drive the Team Seattle-Heart of Racing Porsche around COTA this weekend.”
James is thankful for the adjustments and looks forward to running a great race track.
“The BOP changes should really help us a lot this weekend and at Petit (Le Mans at Road Atlanta, final race) as well,” James said. “The adjustments should help us with the handling of the Team Seattle-The Heart of Racing Porsche, especially at COTA with its series of S-turns. COTA is a great track. It is billiard table smooth and the newest track that we run on. Hopefully we can get the team and the Team Seattle-The Heart of Racing Porsche back up on the podium.”
Alex Job, team owner, likes the progression of the Team Seattle-Heart of Racing Porsche guys this season.
“We had some early success with a podium finish at Detroit,” Job said. “We have had our ups and downs, but I like the way the team has come together. The combination of having some races under our belt and some more car, thanks to the BOP adjustments, I think Mario and James are ready for a good result this weekend at COTA. Mario will have to learn another new track, but he is a fast study.”