Celebrate History and Drive Lung Cancer Off The Planet

On Sunday, October 16, 2011, the UCSF Thoracic Oncology Program and the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation host the exclusive Porsche Race Car Classic at the Quail Lodge, in Carmel, California in collaboration with Porsche AG and Porsche Cars North America. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Thoracic Oncology Program and the Foundation.

From Le Mans to Sebring to Riverside, the cars that made Porsche the most revered name in racing are coming to The Quail. Purpose-built race cars and production cars with significant race histories from Porsche’s break-out era are coming together for a day of appreciation and celebration. Gmünds, Glöcklers, 550s, 550As, 718s, 718/2s, 804s, 904s, 356 Coupes, Speedsters, Convertible Ds, Elva Porsches, Dreikantschabers, Dolphins, and Poopers. You name it. If it raced between 1950 and 1965 it’ll be here.

While honoring Porsche’s on-track victories you will also be helping to fight lung cancer. Lung cancer kills more people each year than the other major cancers combined and yet it’s the least funded. All net proceeds from ticket sales as well as sponsor contributions will go directly to two world-class organizations, the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and the UCSF Thoracic Oncology Program, to aid in their fight to drive lung cancer off the planet.

None of this would be possible without the generous support of Porsche Cars North America and Porsche AG, and more than 3,500 attendees are expected – including special guests and celebrities.

A Note From Steve Heinrichs – Event Organizer:
“The Porsche Race Car Classic is a unique event in several ways. I think it is fairly clear to most folks that the cars at the event will be very special and that nothing quite like this event has been held before or is likely to be held again. Once-in-a-lifetime, I like to say.

The event is also unique in that, unlike most all other car events, we really intend to raise significant money to “make a difference” by helping to fund lung cancer research. Specifically, we hope to “net” $2,000,000 that will be given equally to the UCSF Thoracic Oncology Program and the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation.

Our reasons for raising money for lung cancer research are multifold. Many in the Porsche community, and in the potential ticket buyer base, are directly or indirectly touched by lung cancer. More than 225,000 people in the U.S. alone were diagnosed with lung cancer last year and nearly 160,000 Americans died of the deadly disease. That’s more than a jumbo jet a day. Lung cancer causes more deaths than the other six top cancer killers combined. Moreover, survival rates, five years after diagnosis, are stuck at about 20% while (thankfully) survival rates for breast cancer and prostate cancer are in the mid-90% level.

To achieve our goals, we set the ticket price at $400 per person. That’s the same price that’s charged for “The Quail” – a comparable car event which happens each August at the Quail Lodge. The food, beverages, setting, and ambience will be similar. There is a difference however: $350 of your ticket price is tax deductible (for U.S. taxpayers).

Those who attend the Porsche Race Car Classic will have an unparalleled Porsche experience. The food, wine, and camaraderie will be wonderful. The opportunity to meet “Pilots” of the era will be extraordinary. The “silver cars” will most all be seen here and nowhere else. And, along with this, there is the priceless opportunity to help save a few lives.”

Join us in celebrating Porsche’s glorious racing history while feasting on local gourmet specialties and sipping heavenly wines from thirty leading wineries. Your all-inclusive ticket also entitles you to commemorative gifts.

Mark the date, October 16, 2011, and be there when the vintage Porsche racers gather at the Quail Lodge. To purchase tickets click here.

Note: All are invited to attend the Porsche Race Car Classic. $350 of the $400 Ticket Price is tax deductable (U.S. Taxpayers)
Cars included by invitation only. Please contact Car Coordinator Carolyn Clary-Macy, at Carolyn.Clary-Macy@ucsfmedctr.org

Please join us.

And This Is Only A Sample Of What’s To Come…

Hurley Haywood, five-time winner of the 24-Hours of Daytona sitting on the Brumos Porsche Copenhagen sponsored 962 at Rennsport I

ATLANTA – For the Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV taking place at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway in October, it’s both the men and machines that are expected to draw one of the largest crowds in track history. And, if early sign-ups are any indication, both elements will not disappoint.

Just a glance at the guest list reveals names that are well entrenched in Porsche Motorsport history.  How about (in no particular order) Vic Elford, who won the Monte Carlo Rally and scored Porsche first overall win at the 24 Hours of Daytona – on back-to-back weekends; James Weaver, Porsche 962 driver for Dyson Racing – Daytona and Sebring winner; Gijs van Lennep, Dutch Porsche 917 and 911 driver – won Le Mans with Helmut Marko and the last Targa Florio with Herbert Mueller; Chip Robinson – IMSA champion with Al Holbert in a Porsche 962; George Follmer – took Penske Porsche 917 to Can-Am championship; Dan Gurney – scored Porsche’s first successes in Formula 1; and Hurley Haywood, most successful Porsche endurance driver with wins at Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans; and that’s just a sample.  More than 50 drivers of similar stature have already said “yes” to Porsche’s invitation for the October 14 – 16, 2011 Rennsport event, and the rest of the names will be announced as the event gets closer.

And it’s not just drivers that made their Porsche race cars famous.  Attendees will include Norbert Singer, recently-retired Porsche Motorsport engineer, known as the father of the Porsche 962; Hans Mezger, who headed up the Porsche Motorsport racing engine function from his Dan Gurney F1 motors through the 917, 935, 962 and McLaren F1 engine; and Alwin Springer, former Vasek Polak 917 crew member who later built engines at his company Andial and served as president of Porsche Motorsports North America.

Norbert Singer, Porsche Factory Engineer involved with all 16 Porsche Le Mans victories (left) talking to Derek Bell, five-time winner of Le Mans at Rennsport I

And then there are the race cars.  How about Carlos de Quesada – a Rolex 24 winner himself in 2004 in a Porsche – bringing his 1980 Porsche 935 K3 – the 1980 Sebring overall winner driven by Dick Barbour and John Fitzpatrick (and, by the way, both drivers will be at Rennsport as well); early Porsche 911 race cars like the 1967 2.0-liter 911T entered by David Alvarado – both a Daytona and Sebring class winner; a rare Porsche 906 driven by such Porsche luminaries as Monterey’s own Don Wester, Milt Minter, and Bob Kirby (entered by Dann Boeschen; 1989 Porsche 962C driven at Le Mans by the father and son team of Derek Bell/Justin Bell (entered by Jimmy Castle, Jr. – Derek also plans to attend); or the one of the more recent Porsche championship winners – the Petersen/White Lightning Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (996) which took Joerg Bergmeister to the ALMS title with Patrick Long.  Joerg, Patrick, and the rest of the current Porsche factory drivers, will all attend Rennsport.

More cars?  The 1961 Porsche RS61 driven by Herbert Mueller to the 1963 European Hillclimb Championship (entered by Stanley Gold); 1979 Porsche 935 of John Paul, Sr./John Paul, Jr. (entered by Steve Goldin); 1968 Porsche 908K works car driven by Vic Elford and Jochen Neerpasche (entered by Cameron Healy); 1967 Porsche 910 driven to second in class finish at Sebring by Hans Herrmann and Jo Sieffert (entered by Thors Johnson); and even a 1958 Porsche Speedster/1600 cc – went to the SCCA National championships 33 years in a row – has 55,000 race miles on it (entered by Ernest Nagamatsu).

And, with over 200 cars already entered – and the list above only scratches the surface – Porsche is waiting for some of the large collectors – the Collier Collection, Brumos Racing, Gunnar Racing and even the Porsche factory museum – to announce which cars they are bringing to the event.

In addition to the already full Rennsport Reunion IV weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the Porsche Race Car Classic, an exclusive display of more than 180 of Porsche’s silver race cars from the 1950’s and early 60’s will be held on the lawns of the nearby Quail Lodge in Carmel on Sunday, October 16.

The Race Car Classic will provide a unique experience for the true connoisseur. Set in the serene Quail Lodge in the lovely part of the Monterey Peninsula, each extraordinary car will tell its own fascinating story of how it all began. Explains Steve Heinrichs, producer of the Porsche Race Car Classic, “this once-in-a-lifetime gathering of vintage Porsche race cars solely from Porsche’s break-out era of 1950-1965 will raise critical funding to directly support lung cancer research. We’ll have Gmünds, Glöcklers, 550s, 718s, 804s, 904s, 356s, Abarths and more – in numbers and provenance never before seen.”

While the cars are by invitation, the event itself is open to the general public. Special guests, celebrities, and era pilots will be on hand, and fine wines and gourmet specialties will be on the menu. Importantly, all net proceeds from the event will directly support lung cancer research.

For more information on the Porsche Race Car Classic or to purchase tickets visit www.porscheracecarclassic.com or contact Mr. Heinrichs at 775-691-2217.

The Porsche Race Car Classic will focus on the beginnings of Porsche’s motorsports history while Rennsport Reunion IV will offer plenty of excitement, noise and on-track racing action by Porsche’s ever more powerful race cars from the late Sixties up to today.

Text/Photos courtesy Porsche Cars North America, Porsche Race Car Classic Poster courtesy of PRCC

New Study By Market Research Institute J.D. Power

Stuttgart. The Porsche 911 reaffirms its top quality: according to the latest “Initial Quality Study” by the renowned American market research institute J.D. Power, the internationally much in demand sports car from Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is the best vehicle of a European manufacturer.

Based on detailed surveys of more than 73,000 car buyers, the Initial Quality Study examined the level of satisfaction with vehicle quality in the first three months after delivery of a new car. A total of 234 car models (model year: 2011) were evaluated according to 228 criteria. They included entirely different categories – for example “driving experience” or “engine and transmission”. The second-best European car after the Porsche 911 was the Porsche Panamera Gran Turismo, which has been produced at the state-of-the-art plant in Leipzig since 2009.

“Increasing complexity in automotive technology and rising customer demands concerning premium vehicles represent a great challenge. Porsche is not only tackling this challenge, it is also continuously setting new standards in this respect”, says Stefan Knirsch, Head of Corporate Quality at the sports car manufacturer.

International Experts’ Conference At Leipzig Plant Deliberates On Future Programs

Stuttgart/Leipzig. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is girding itself for tomorrow’s challenges with a forward-looking quality strategy. The growth in vehicle production, an increasingly diverse model range and technical complexity, innovative drive concepts and discerning customers’ individual expectations of premium sports cars require the continuous development of all quality criteria. That is the goal of the international quality conference for which 150 experts from the sports car manufacturer’s development, production, purchasing and worldwide sales areas are meeting at Porsche’s ultramodern Leipzig plant.

“The degree of transparency of our customised lean production processes is one of the primary guarantors of our sporty vehicles’ extraordinary product quality”, said Wolfgang Leimgruber, Porsche AG Board of Management Member for Production and Logistics. Porsche production methods are constantly being refined within a continuous improvement process, collectively by all employees. They are held up as an example in expert circles worldwide – and are even transferable to totally different industries. Mr Leimgruber said: “The highly efficient Porsche principle gives us the flexibility to deliver on our customers’ many and varied individual equipment preferences while at the same time not merely maintaining quality levels but enhancing them. This cannot be taken for granted in the industry.”

The Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer does however depend on reliable partners. “The only way in which we can reliably achieve our objectives is if we and our suppliers adhere to the same jointly determined rigorous principles. That is why we believe in long-term partners we can cultivate and develop close ties with. At the end of the day quality does not stop at the factory gate”, explains Mr Leimgruber.

Dr. Stefan Knirsch, Director of the Corporate Quality department is pursuing a holistic approach with his strategy: “For us a perfect and fascinating product goes without saying. But that is far from being the whole story. Of all people, customers who purchase a high value vehicle expect premium quality in all aspects. Only if each customer care experience is perfect; before, during and very long after purchase as well, can brand quality achieve its full credibility.”

This is why Knirsch rigorously ties all parts of the company into a quality concept with uniform standards and objectives. He does though value individual solutions when it comes to delivery: “We engage with our customers’ different cultural needs with an empathy that rivals the precision with which, for example, we tailor our sports cars to extreme climatic differences in our more than 110 markets around the world. That too is quality.”

Off To A Strong Start…

Stuttgart. A strong race premiere for the further-developed Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid. With “Version 2.0” of the innovative hybrid race car from Weissach, Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany), Marco Holzer (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA) finished round two of the Nürburgring Long Distance Championship in eleventh position. The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Manthey Racing with Porsche factory pilots Timo Bernhard (Germany), Romain Dumas (France) as well as Manthey pilot Lucas Luhr (Switzerland) secured second place.

The race meeting for the 911 GT3 R Hybrid was part of intensive preparations for the Nürburgring 24 hour race in June. “We’re well within our time plan and are making good progress with the 2011 version,” says Hartmut Kristen, Head of Motorsport at Porsche. “At an endurance test and one other outing as part of the Nürburgring Long Distance Championship we will gain additional data so that we are well prepared for the Eifel marathon.”

Priority in the further development over winter was placed on increasing efficiency. For this, the weight of the vehicle, including the hybrid components, was reduced from 1,350 to 1,300 kilograms. The weight of the hybrid components was reduced by 20 percent through targeted optimisation. The general hybrid layout was adopted from the 2010 model.

The output of both electric motors in the portal axle increased from 60 to 75 kilowatts each. For seconds at a time, pilots now have about 200 hp more at their disposal with the 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0, which equals ca. 23 kW (32 hp) of additional conventional power per Nordschleife lap. Depending on the programming, this electrical power is automatically activated through use of the throttle pedal. Moreover, hybrid pilots can manually call up this extra power, for instance when overtaking.

With the portal axle driving the front wheels, the four-litre, now 465 hp six-cylinder boxer engine, which drives the rear axle, was reduced in power and optimised with respect to fuel consumption.

“In many aspects, version 2.0 of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid is a completely new car,” says Joerg Bergmeister. “It’s always a good sign when a new car reaches the finish line at its first race outing.”

The yellow and green Porsche 911 GT3 R of Manthey Racing also drove a trouble-free race. Separated by 33.6 seconds from the winning Mercedes, Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Lucas Luhr brought home second place. The trio were unanimous: “Our car ran like clockwork. Over the entire race we were involved in many spirited two-way fights and that was huge fun.”

At the wheel of their Porsche 911 GT3, the All-German driver line-up, Georg Weiss, Oliver Kainz and Michael Jacobs saw the flag in seventh position. Ninth place was occupied by the 911 GT3 R of Jochen Krumbach (Germany), Marc Gindorf (Monaco) and Philipp Wlazik (Germany).

The Targa Tasmania is a tarmac-based rally event held on the island state of Tasmania, Australia, annually since 1992. The event takes its name from the world-famous Targa Florio, the stellar event held on the island of Sicily. The competition concept is drawn directly from the best features of the Mille Miglia, the Coupe des Alpes and the Tour de Corse. We think it’s a very cool event. In 2011, Porsche Sent Walter Rohrl and (original from 30 years ago) co-driver Christian Geistdoerfer “down under” in their ‘81 911SC Rally Car. These videos are divided into legs 1-5.

Get some popcorn and enjoy!

Le Mans Series, Le Castellet tests, France

Stuttgart. Reliability is also the key in the extensively remodified Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. The two official test days of the Le Mans Series on the Paul Ricard circuit in southern France ran completely without any problems – only the biting cold, strong winds and at times damp track hampered the work. “The weather conditions prevented us from doing everything on our program, but the first impressions of the new car are very good,” said Porsche works driver Marc Lieb (Germany) on behalf of all 911-pilots. “So we’re feeling confident about the upcoming season.” Lieb and his factory driver teammate Richard Lietz (Austria) will again make a bid to defend their GT title.

(left-to-right) The Matmut, Felbermayer, And Prospeed Driver Squads

Alongside Lieb/Lietz driving for the German Felbermayr-Proton squad, further top pairings prepare themselves for the new season on the 5.791 kilometre race track. A new duo, Marco Holzer (Germany) and seasoned campaigner Marc Goossens (Belgium), conducted tests for the Belgian Equipe ProSpeed Competition. At the wheel of the 2011 version of the 911 GT3 RSR fielded by IMSA Performance Matmut was the new regular pairing with two works drivers Wolf Henzler (Germany) and Patrick Pilet (France). And in another 911 GT3 RSR (2010 version) of the French IMSA team is the new driver line-up with owner Raymond Narac and Nicolas Armindo (both France).

The Prospeed Entry Out On Course

This season, the previous GT2 class is divided into two, with a professional and an amateur class. While the three professional Porsche combinations compete in the newly-founded GTE Pro class with the further-developed 911, Narac and Armindo start in the GTE Am class. In this category, none of the latest cars are allowed and, in compliance with the regulations, one professional driver at the most is permitted per vehicle. With this, racing enthusiasts should also get a chance to win races in their class and to become champion.

Marc Lieb Prepares For The Season

In the extensive further developments of the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, priority was given to the newly designed aerodynamics at the front and rear as well as changes to the suspension kinematics and engine. Clearly visible on the 911 GT3 RSR are the modifications to the front of the 2011 version. A new front lip provides higher down-force at the front axle. The front wheels are now wider with the rims growing from 11 to 12 inches giving additional grip and less of an understeering tendency.

“Such a test with a further developed and, in our case, brand new car should be ap-proached gradually,” explains Marc Lieb. “Are we going in the right direction? Can we use what we learned last year or do we have to rethink everything?” Lietz added: “The changes are quite noticeable. Above all, the turn-in has improved drastically. The 911 is now much more agile. All in all, it was about working towards finding a basis set-up for the races.”

Richard Lietz Focuses On The Upcoming Season

Patrick Pilet was also totally satisfied with the 2011-version of the 911 GT3 RSR: “For me, the greatest difference compared to last year’s car is the improved stability when you drive over the track boundaries. This will mostly help us on circuits where there are many kerbs and not as flat as ones like Paul Ricard.” The IMSA Perform-ance teammate Wolf Henzler stated: “For today’s second test day we made some changes to the kinematics because the car had a slight oversteer yesterday. It was a move in the right direction, but a little too much. Obviously, there is a lot to learn about the modified car in order to get the best out of it.”

Marco Holzer was highly satisfied. Despite the test days focussing more on complet-ing a programme rather than lap time comparisons, the 22-year-old newcomer in the works driver squad was feeling very proud at being the fastest Porsche driver on day one. “The new aerodynamics at the front provides more grip at the front axle,” said the former Porsche-Junior, “and that suits me.”

And another happy driver was Nicolas Armindo, who switched to the international Le Mans Series after claiming the championship title of the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland last season. The Frenchman enthused: “The 911 GT3 RSR has more downforce than my Cup-911, and this makes driving even more fun. I’m absolutely over the moon that Porsche and Raymond Narac have given me this chance.” The French team fields a car in each of the GTE Pro und GTE Am classes this season, giving the squad the chance to win races and titles in both classes.

The Matmut Entry Logging Test Laps In Preparation

Facts And Figures - This Is The Le Mans Series

Contested for the first time in 2004, the Le Mans Series (LMS) is open for sports prototypes and GT vehicles. The regulations are based on the rules of the Le Mans 24 hour race. Five six-hour races are contested this season throughout Europe.

GTE Pro class: This most popular class amongst car manufacturers (previously known as the GT2 class) is traditionally the best supported: Slightly modified stan-dard sports cars with up to 460 hp and a minimum weight of 1,145 kilograms (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 RSR).

GTE Am class: Like the GTE Pro, but the regulations dictate that each vehicle must have one professional driver at the most.

LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 750 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilo-grams (petrol engines) or 930 kilograms (diesel engines).

LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with ca. 440 hp and an 825 kg minimum weight.

FLM class: Prototype brand trophy series for the ORECA FLM 09.

All race cars start together but are classified separately according to the class. Points are only allocated for placings in each class. Championship titles are awarded for drivers, manufacturers and teams in all five classes. In 2010, Porsche clinched all three titles in the GT2 class. In 2009 and last year, Porsche works drivers Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz won the GT2 driver’s title, with the team title going to Felbermayr-Proton. In 2008, Porsche won all titles in the LMP2 class.

Text & Photos Courtesy Porsche AG

Stuttgart. Porsche’s success story at the Daytona 24 hour race continues. At the 49th running of the long distance classic in Florida, the sports cars from Zuffenhausen celebrated an impressive double victory. Porsche works driver Wolf Henzler (Germany) won the strongly-supported GT class with his American teammates Andy Lally, Spencer Pumpelly, Steven Bertheau and Brendan Gaughan at the wheel of TRG Racing’s Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Despite starting from the back of the grid, they finished the race one lap clear of the Paul Miller Racing squad with Bryce Miller, Tim Sugden, Bryan Sellers and Rob Bell. For Porsche as the most successful manufacturer in the history of this race, this marked the 73rd class win.

TRG Racing's #67 Porsche GT3 Enroute To A Class Victory

“I’m thrilled to have won such a fabulous race for the second time since 2005,” said Wolf Henzler. “It was very tough fighting our way through the field. But our car was perfectly prepared and we were able to maintain our quick pace from start to finish.” For the Porsche factory pilot, this was his third straight win at a 24 hour race after Le Mans and Spa.

Magnus Racing's #44 Porsche GT3 In Pits During The 24hr Classic

Porsche works drivers Richard Lietz (Austria) and Marco Holzer (Germany), sharing driving duties with Americans Craig Stanton and John Potter in the 911 GT3 Cup of Magnus Racing, made the start of the 2011 motorsport season perfect for Porsche with fourth place. After leading the field with the Brumos-Porsche, works driver Marc Lieb and his American teammates Hurley Haywood, Leh Keen and Andrew Davis lost positions during the night after an off-excursion damaged the radiator. After a dramatic start and a gripping race, thick fog brought out the safety car for a good two and half hours in the early morning. The pilots put in an impressive charge and profited from the speed and reliability of the 911 GT3 Cup to clinch fifth.

Brumos Racing's #59 Porsche GT3 With Hurley Haywood Behind The Wheel

“Our Porsche 911 GT3 Cup ran perfectly,” said Marc Lieb. “We had a good chance to win. But in such a top-class field you simply can’t afford any lengthy repairs in the pits,” Richard Lietz: “As the old saying goes: A miss is as good as a mile. Still, we can be happy with fourth.” His teammate Marco Holzer agreed: “My second Daytona race went much better than my first last year. So my aim for 2012 is clear: I’m after the podium.”

Flying Lizards' #45 Daytona Prototype (DP) Entry

Porsche works driver Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) provided the first highlight on the Daytona International Speedway. After claiming pole position with his strong performance and a new lap record, he pulled clear of his rivals at the start of the race. With the Porsche-Riley, the overall Daytona winner from 2003 built up his advantage to 16 seconds by lap 27 before the first pit stop, and in the meantime turned the fastest lap of the race. His works driver teammate Patrick Long (USA) was running in second place when he handed the Flying Lizard Motorsports’ Daytona prototype powered by the Porsche six-cylinder engine over to Seth Neiman (USA). After just a few laps, in an attempt to avoid a spinning competitor in front of him, Neiman left the track and damaged the underbody and radiator. The team lost 19 laps through essential repairs. Ninety minutes before the flag, an oil cap on the left side of the engine came loose and the leaking oil caught fire. Repairs at this late stage made little sense.

“We were completely satisfied with the performance of our car over the entire weekend,” said Joerg Bergmeister. “We clinched pole position and turned the fastest race lap. Unfortunately, we lost a great deal of time early on in the race. At the end a fire caused by leaking oil signalled an early retirement for us.” Patrick Long said: “To now, Flying Lizard has had no experience with the Daytona prototype. Still, everyone became familiar with it very quickly. It’s just a shame that they couldn’t reap the rewards for all their hard work at the end.”

Action Express Racing's #9 Daytona Prototype (DP) Enroute To 3rd Place

In the overall classification, the best placed Porsche-Riley finished third with Joao Barbosa (Portugal), Christian Fittipaldi (Brazil), Max Papis (Italy) as well as Americans Terry Borcheller and JC France. The power-unit of the Daytona prototype fielded by Action Express Racing was a privately-developed eight-cylinder engine based on the Porsche Cayenne. The sister car, which had led on and off over the distance, saw the chequered flag in ninth place.

“Again this year, Porsche teams have made an indelible mark on the Daytona 24 hour race,” summarised Porsche’s Head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen. “The double victory in the GT class was well earned. My big compliments for the professional preparation. Flying Lizard Motorsports also gave a sensational performance at their Daytona campaign.”

Daytona Raceway

Race result

Overall classification

1. Pruett/Rojas/Rahal/Hand (USA/MEX/USA/USA), BMW-Riley (DP), 720 laps

2. Dixon/Franchitti/Montoya/MacMurray (NZ/GB/COL/USA), BMW-Riley (DP), 720

3. Barbosa/Borcheller/France/Papis/Fittipaldi (P/USA/USA/I/BRA), Porsche-Riley (DP), 720

GT class

1. Henzler/Lally/Pumpelly/Gaughan/Bertheau (D/USA/USA/USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 685 laps

2. Miller/Sellers/Bell/Sugden (USA/USA/USA/GB), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 684

3. Espenlaub/Foster/Dempsey/Long (USA/USA/USA/USA), Mazda, 681

4. Lietz/Holzer/Stanton/Potter (A/D/USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 675

5. Lieb/Haywood/Keen/Davis (D/USA/USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 673

6. Tremblay/Edwards/Christodoulou/Bomarito (USA/USA/GB/USA), Mazda, 670

Daytona. The very mention of the name is enough to provoke the average race driver to think in terms such as: “strength, stamina, determination, and above all, commitment.”  Craig Stanton has all that covered. Stanton is starting in third position in the Magnus Racing #44 Porsche GT3 in this weekends’ running of the Rolex Daytona 24 Hour endurance event. To prepare himself for this grueling event, Stanton has developed an extreme physical/mental conditioning program – some people would call this insane…others will acknowledge this level of effort as crucial to success.

Craig Stanton’s workout on Wednesday, January 19 started at 6am at the Long Beach Rowing Association’s weight room in Marine Stadium near Belmont Shores in Long Beach, California, for about two and a half hours of weight work.

Magnus Racings' Craig Stanton is Physically And Mentally Ready For This Weekends' Race

It ended twenty-four hours later when he returned to the LBRA’s dock to row for a couple of hours on the tidal waters of the Long Beach Marina.

As part of his preparations for the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Stanton puts himself through a simulated 24 hour torture test every year ten days before the green flag drops in Daytona. His goal is to replicate the periods of workload and recovery that a driver experiences over the 24 hour race – including the lack of sleep which can prove to be a real physical and mental drain towards the end of the event.

To help him keep his intensity and motivation up, he recruits friends to join him for a workout or two throughout the day. High on his priorities are eating and hydrating well enough to keep his energy up, while resting enough to recover between each session.

Here is a breakdown of the Craig Stanton Daytona Mega Workout:

6:00 AM – 9:00 AM - Circuit and weight training, with a variety of weights, medicine balls, pull-ups, pushups, stability exercises, and presses. All are done with little recovery to keep heart rate up.

BREAKFAST – A plate of raisin toast, fruits, vegetables, and egg whites. Craig also augments each meal with Recoverite from Hammer Nutrition, which accelerates the recovery process.

10:30 AM – 12:30 PM –  Rowing in a two man boat with friend. The two rowed approximately eight miles in the Long Beach Marina.

LUNCH – After eating a sweet potato and two waffles with almond butter, Craig went to Wahoo’s and powered down some Chicken Tacos with rice and beans.

3:30 PM – 5:30 PM – Craig and Magnus PR guy Efrain Olivares jumped on their road bikes and went for a 31 mile bike ride. The two averaged around 19 mph with some major head and crosswinds.

DINNER – Craig’s wife, Joy, made a dinner of turkey burgers, a large salad, and cauliflower. Craig also downed some more Recoverite.

9:30 PM – 11:30 PM – Craig jumped back on his bike and went for another two hour bike ride, with the bike decked out in lights to deal with the dark. Riding at night presents similar challenges to racing at night, even though Daytona International Speedway is extremely well lit.

MIDNIGHT SNACK – Oats, tree bark, and some soy, and a cup of coffee.

3:30 AM – 5:00AM – Instead of exercise, Craig jumped on the racing simulator he has set up in his garage. His nephew, Drew, had set some fast times on BAJA: Edge of Control that Craig would attempt to match. The simulator would test Craig’s mental clarity and concentration levels after nearly 24 hours of workouts and a lack of sleep similar to what you have around sunrise at the Rolex 24.

7:00 AM – 9:30 AM – Craig and wife Joy – who herself is a competitive rower – returned to the LBRA’s docks for one final workout. Although it exceeded the twenty-four hour timetable that he had set for the workout, it allowed Craig the chance to assess his fitness with a workload greater than he would experience in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The workout not only allows Craig to physically prepare for the 24 hour contest, it also reminds him of several elements of competing in the race that often crop up.

“There’s stuff that comes up during the workout that reminds me of other things I need to keep in mind for the 24 hour,” said Stanton. “Because the recovery between stints is so critical, I need to plan to have all of my food and drinks ready right when I get out of the car to maximize the time I spend resting. But things always come up – we have a long yellow, or a long pit stop to fix damage, I end up talking to the crew or doing an interview – and this can eat up a lot of time and throw off your rhythm. Minimizing the distractions is one of the hardest parts of these endurance races.”

This year, teamed with Magnus Racing’s John Potter and Porsche factory drivers Marco Holzer and Richard Lietz, Stanton is the best prepared he’s ever been for Daytona.

“I feel great and we have a really strong team,” he said. “I can’t wait to get this race started!”

As the Fittest Man in Motorsports, it is the insanity such as this that lets Craig be as fast behind the wheel of the no. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup at 3:30 PM on Sunday as he was at 3:30 PM on Saturday.

For more information about Magnus Racing and Craig Stanton, visitwww.magnusracing.com, or follow them on facebook.com/magnusracing and twitter.com/magnusracing.

January 24, 2011 (Salt Lake City, Utah) One year removed from their GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 debut, Magnus Racing is returning to the famed Florida endurance classic with a clear goal for the team’s drivers to return home with a Rolex Daytona Cosmograph on their wrists.

In the 2010 edition of the race, the team overcame several hurdles in the first few hours, falling to seventeenth in the GT class. With the crew working tirelessly to keep the no. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup going, the team rallied through the night and through the next day to finish a strong fifth.

After a successful test at the Roar Before the 24, Magnus Racing’s John Potter, residing in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Craig Stanton, from Long Beach, California, will be joined by Porsche factory drivers Marco Holzer, from Germany, and Richard Lietz, from Austria. Lietz competed in last year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona with Magnus Racing, and was with at the wheel when the no. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup took the checkered flag in fifth position.  Holzer, recently named as a Porsche factory driver, is making his second appearance at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The 24-year-old German teamed with Potter and Stanton in the 2009 race.

Potter, Magnus Racing’s team owner, is thrilled with the progress that the team made in its first season and with the momentum that it carries to Daytona after a successful winter of testing and development with its new 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

“It was really gratifying that Porsche thought enough of our program to entrust us with two of their factory drivers” said Potter. “We’ve been very happy with our new Porsche and have been focused on the testing and development of the car. I think we have a very, very strong package thanks to our partnership with Porsche.  Their cars always do well in any endurance contest, and we know how well Craig, Marco, and Richard can do in these twenty-four hour races.”

Stanton, whose preparation for the race involved a twenty-four hour workout session, is enthused at participating in his twelfth Rolex 24 at Daytona.

“I’ve never been so excited about heading to Daytona for the 24 Hour,” said Stanton. “This is the strongest lineup and best team I have been a part of yet. We were really happy with our test at Daytona and with how dialed in we are with the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. I’m really looking forward to racing with Marco and Richard again. Both are great guys who will definitely help John and me, and they’re some of the fastest guys around.”

Fans of Magnus Racing will be able to interact directly with the team throughout the Rolex 24 at Daytona via the team’s Live Blog, which will be available at www.magnusracing.com. Fans will be able to ask questions and that the team’s staff and drivers will answer throughout the entire 24 hour contest.

More information about Magnus Racing can be found at www.magnusracing.com. Any organization interested in learning more about how to be involved with one of the most unique and visible teams in the Grand-American Rolex Sports Car Series can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com

Photos by Regis Lefebure.

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