Ken Dobson and Butch Leitzinger piloted the #52 Quest Software/ Aviation Gin Oreca FLM09 around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s roller coaster 11-turn, 2.238-mile layout during a two-hour test session before this weekend’s American Le Mans Monterey Presented by Patrón six-hour endurance race. After logging 40 laps, the #52 was scored P2 in the LMPC American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón class, a mere 0.85 seconds behind the eventual P1 car. While not a part of the official race weekend, today’s test was crucial for the Fresno, CA based team as track and weather conditions were a near perfect match to Saturday’s forecast. Dobson, a former Monterey resident and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca driving school instructor, is always thrilled to compete at his home track.
“Taking a win in a professional race at Laguna has always been a dream of mine,” Dobson said. “We got into some trouble early in the race here last year that kept us out of contention, but we still learned a lot and I think that it shows now that we’re back and are running so well. We’re one of the few cars that will only use two drivers, however, so I’ve been training everyday, really hitting the gym hard to be ready for when the team needs me to stay out for those grueling double, possibly triple stints. But it’ll be worth it, especially now that we have Quest Software on the car as the primary sponsor with an all new livery. Everyone is really motivated to give those guys the extra effort they deserve and I’m looking to put in the drive of my life this Saturday for them.”
For Leitzinger, today’s dusty track conditions were yet another tricky variable the team will have to overcome to stand on the top step of the podium this Saturday.
“Laguna used to have these tall curbs that kept the cars in the track, but ever since they knocked those down to accommodate the motorcycles, every half-dropped wheel kicks up sand into the racing line,” Leitzinger explained. “It makes it a bit slippery out there, but it’s nothing we can’t handle, just something to be mindful of. Really, this track is so great, its just an amazing layout that truly rewards you when you can put a good lap together. And with just the two of us in the car this weekend, we’ll have to put a lot of good laps in to stay competitive here. There are plenty of fast cars out there, but as today’s test shows, we can run with any of them so I’m expecting another fantastic race with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports.”
PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Team Principal, Bobby Oergel, is cautiously optimistic after today’s successful test : “Today’s test is giving us a lot to look forward to as the top three cars were all really close to each other,” Oergel said. “I think we’re going to see a real slugfest out there with all the top teams swapping fast laps in practice and really digging in for tomorrow’s qualifying session. Obviously it’s great to lead those and we’ll definitely be racing for the top spot, but Saturday is a six-hour endurance event on one of the world’s most physical tracks. Add in the fact that the race starts during the middle of the day and goes into the darkness without a lot of track lighting and the precarious situations really start to add up. So although we’ll be pushing as hard as we can to get an edge on the competition, we also realize that Laguna is a chess match and that you need to save your best moves for the end.”
Source : PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports