Jim Bell, ex-lead engineer on the silver ACEMCO Saleen S7R's that raced Corvette in 2005/2006, announced a new team venture with business guy, Michael Fux, to race a GT1 DBR9 for the entire 2008 ALMS season under the Bell Motorsports banner.
We are unsure how much factory support the Miami-based team will get [hopefully, at least a can of black paint for those wheels!]. Among the Bell drivers @ the Sebring test were Antonio Garcia who drove for Team Modena at Sebring last year [...ahh, he brought his own wheels. Now, we get it!] and open-wheel standouts Jaime Camara & Chapman Ducote.
Full-season drivers, other program details, and sponsors will be announced at a later date [ie. when the checks clear!].
Welcome to ALMS. Good luck. Now, get behind the yellow cars, kind of like where the Saleens were....
So, let's compare some Sebring lap times to see if we got any competition this year:
1:58.442 Bell [2008]
1:58.241 -Qual, Race- 158:511 - Team Modena [2007]
1:57.061 -Q, R- 1:57.012 - CR #3 [2007]
1:57.480 -Q, R- 1:57.143 - CR #4 [2007]
2 days testing, a collector car, new team....OK, Bell Motorsports, maybe not THAT far behind in line....
--- Shishi Ryoshin from unknown on 01.30.08 at 9:05am
Thats Dialed, competition = a smile on my face :)
--- ride250s from Iowa on 01.30.08 at 1:21am
agreed. What Ive found funny is that the Astons been on track since monday, getting faster and faster on Yokohama tires (Michelins for first 2 test), I go here to see what BBV has to say about their competition, and theres no posting about it! All I find its that I can paint my own C6R....though that is fun...
--- JT from CA on 01.30.08 at 7:24pm
If you want to read about competition you better look in the archives cuz there hasn't been "good" competition since 2006... We are just happy to have this competition announced so we can't start talkin too much smack yet ;)
--- ride250s from Iowa on 01.30.08 at 8:10pm
Well, theres good Competition now, and for a team to switch to Yokohoma Tires for their GT1, and have their first shake down at Sebring and post a 1:58 with those noob tires...Id say GT1 is going to be very nice this season...
--- JT from CA on 02.01.08 at 2:25am
Just got back from Sebring, it was nice to see the Peugeot measure up to the Audi. Congratulations to Bell Motorsports to field the Aston Martin for 2008. Thanks ALMS, the racing in 2008 will be more exiting than ever.
--- johnnyoooo from Rochester N.Y. on 02.03.08 at 3:59am
Nice site!
--- Nikolet from unknown on 03.18.08 at 9:18am
Nice site!
--- Nikolet from unknown on 03.18.08 at 11:08am
Last comment: Nice site! --- Nikolet from unknown on 03.18.08 at 11:08am
Nice site!
--- Nikolet from unknown on 03.18.08 at 11:08am