gahjeen
01-30-2007, 05:57 PM
<TABLE id=Table5 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle>IT'S BACK TO WORK FOR TAFEL RACING<!--ENDTITLE--></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left><!--IMAGE1--><TABLE cellSpacing=3 width="24%" align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>http://www.americanlemans.com/News/NewsImages/1302007155243312_Image1_Thumb.JPG
</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff height=15>Tafel Racing's No. 71 Porsche 997 RSR was the fastest GT2 car at last week's Winter Test at Sebring.
</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#005daa height=14>Click here for Hi-Res (http://www.americanlemans.com/News/NewsImages/1302007155243312_Image1.JPG)
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--ENDIMAGE1--><!--INTRODUCTION-->For a first-year effort in the American Le Mans Series, Tafel Racing had an extraordinary week at Sebring last week for the Series' three-day test session. The Cumming, GA-based team posted the fastest time among all GT2 cars during the week with one of its new Porsche 997 RSR racers, both of which will contest the full season beginning with the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 17.<!--ENDINTRODUCTION-->
<!--SECTION1-->"We have a long list of things to do in order to get the car to where we would like to be," said Tony Dowe, team technical director. "(Testing) was reasonably OK. We have a sensible list of things to look at the next time we test. It's not a million items but it's also not one page.
"Because of the testing regulations, we won't be on the track before Sebring. So we'll test on rigs and dynos," he added. "There are a lot of little reliability items that are OK for a two-hour, 45-minute race. We need to see how that relates and carries over to a 12-hour race."
Apart from the two-car effort in the American Le Mans Series, there also is a matter of participating in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. The program already has the green light.
"I'm looking at the invite from the ACO on my desk in front of me," Dowe said. "We plan to be there. It's an entire program in itself."<!--ENDSECTION1-->
<!--IMAGE2--><TABLE cellSpacing=3 width="24%" align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>http://www.americanlemans.com/News/NewsImages/130200716334312_Image2_Thumb.JPG
</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff height=15>The van der Steur Racing Radical SR9-AER will test in late February at Summit Point in preparation for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#005daa height=14>Click here for Hi-Res (http://www.americanlemans.com/News/NewsImages/130200716334312_Image2.JPG)
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--ENDIMAGE2--><!--SECTION2-->AROUND THE PADDOCK: Rahal Letterman Racing has scheduled a two-day test at Sebring on February 19 and 21 for its new Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. The famed organization, which is making its Series debut in GT2, received the car January 18. Ralf Kelleners and Tom Milner will drive the car for the full season with Bell Microproducts as the team's main sponsor. ? The van der Steur Racing Radical SR9-AER will hit the track in late February for a three-day test at Summit Point Raceway near Washington, D.C. Team owner Gunnar van der Steur is anticipating a schedule of 10 Series events for 2007, starting at Sebring.<!--ENDSECTION2-->
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff height=15>Tafel Racing's No. 71 Porsche 997 RSR was the fastest GT2 car at last week's Winter Test at Sebring.
</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#005daa height=14>Click here for Hi-Res (http://www.americanlemans.com/News/NewsImages/1302007155243312_Image1.JPG)
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--ENDIMAGE1--><!--INTRODUCTION-->For a first-year effort in the American Le Mans Series, Tafel Racing had an extraordinary week at Sebring last week for the Series' three-day test session. The Cumming, GA-based team posted the fastest time among all GT2 cars during the week with one of its new Porsche 997 RSR racers, both of which will contest the full season beginning with the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 17.<!--ENDINTRODUCTION-->
<!--SECTION1-->"We have a long list of things to do in order to get the car to where we would like to be," said Tony Dowe, team technical director. "(Testing) was reasonably OK. We have a sensible list of things to look at the next time we test. It's not a million items but it's also not one page.
"Because of the testing regulations, we won't be on the track before Sebring. So we'll test on rigs and dynos," he added. "There are a lot of little reliability items that are OK for a two-hour, 45-minute race. We need to see how that relates and carries over to a 12-hour race."
Apart from the two-car effort in the American Le Mans Series, there also is a matter of participating in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. The program already has the green light.
"I'm looking at the invite from the ACO on my desk in front of me," Dowe said. "We plan to be there. It's an entire program in itself."<!--ENDSECTION1-->
<!--IMAGE2--><TABLE cellSpacing=3 width="24%" align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>http://www.americanlemans.com/News/NewsImages/130200716334312_Image2_Thumb.JPG
</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff height=15>The van der Steur Racing Radical SR9-AER will test in late February at Summit Point in preparation for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#005daa height=14>Click here for Hi-Res (http://www.americanlemans.com/News/NewsImages/130200716334312_Image2.JPG)
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--ENDIMAGE2--><!--SECTION2-->AROUND THE PADDOCK: Rahal Letterman Racing has scheduled a two-day test at Sebring on February 19 and 21 for its new Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. The famed organization, which is making its Series debut in GT2, received the car January 18. Ralf Kelleners and Tom Milner will drive the car for the full season with Bell Microproducts as the team's main sponsor. ? The van der Steur Racing Radical SR9-AER will hit the track in late February for a three-day test at Summit Point Raceway near Washington, D.C. Team owner Gunnar van der Steur is anticipating a schedule of 10 Series events for 2007, starting at Sebring.<!--ENDSECTION2-->
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