View Full Version : Alex Job Racing Ready to Defend Titles in 2005


gaijin
01-24-2005, 07:56 AM
Alex Job Racing Ready to Defend Titles in 2005 and Take on Le Mans

Tavares, Florida - Alex Job Racing is preparing to defend their 2004 American Le Mans Series GT class driver's and team titles as the Porsche factory supported team. The team, which will test at the 3.7-mile, 17-turn Sebring International Raceway next week, will also be going after their seventh GT class victory at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Mar. 19 and possibly a second Le Mans win.

The team will return with their familiar number 23 Alex Job Racing/Porsche 911 GT3 RSR for reigning 2004 American Le Mans Series GT driver's champion Timo Bernhard. Romain Dumas will be coming over from the number 24 car to partner the defending champ.

In 2004 Bernhard posted victories at Sebring, Infineon Raceway, Mosport, Road America and Road Atlanta. Dumas posted victories at Portland and Laguna Seca, while driving his AJR Porsche to four pole positions in as many attempts at Lime Rock, Infineon Raceway, Portland and Road Atlanta.

"We are looking forward to having Timo and Romain back in the factory entry; they will be a tough pair to beat," said Alex Job, owner Alex Job Racing. "It will be our goal to have them be co-champions of the GT2 class this year. We are close to having the budget in place to run two drivers in the number 24 car for the full season as a privateer entry. The team has spent the off season replacing the tub on one car and refreshing both cars. We are hopeful to have everything in place by the test at Sebring February 1st. Once again the GT2 class will be the most competitive on the track and each of the Porsche teams has improved its driver lineup and cars for this year."

Since winning the GT class in 2003 at Le Mans with Peterson Motorsport, Alex Job has always planned to return to Le Sarthe. "Le Mans is the Super Bowl of our sport. It is always a budgeted item for us, but we just haven't been able to put it together. We are as close as we ever have been to going back to Le Mans, this time as our own effort."

"I am glad that I will be staying with Alex Job for the 2005 season," said Timo Bernhard. "We have a solid base in the team, this will be my fourth full season with the guys and I am looking forward to the challenge of defending the championship. Although the GT2 class will be quite strong in 2005, I think we have a pretty good chance of winning it again. I met Romain in 2003 at Petit Le Mans and we won the first time we drove together. Last year he was in the number 24 car and has a full ALMS season with the team and knowledge of all the tracks. So I think we will be a very strong pairing. Our goal is clear -win the ALMS GT2 championship again!"

"I am very happy to drive with Timo for the 2005 ALMS season," said Romain Dumas. "Every driver wants to win races and this situation puts us in a very good position to repeat as champions. Last year I had to learn the tracks and get to know the team. This year we will be able to tune the car for maximum performance and go to each track with a lot of knowledge and then we just have to win. Alex Job and the crew always have a car that is fast and dependable. I am looking forward to Sebring and to try to win one of the most famous events in endurance racing."

Porsche racing stalwart Sascha Maassen will rejoin the team as the third driver at Sebring. Maassen remains the winningest driver in ALMS history and will try to help lead the team to an unprecedented seventh Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring victory in the ALMS opening race in March.

spinti
01-24-2005, 09:39 AM
I'm a team member. BTW, Alex owns a A4.

s4wood
01-24-2005, 10:13 AM
<center><img src="http://www.alexjobracing.com/images/team_04.jpg"></center><p>Cat is out of the bag now... :-)

spinti
01-24-2005, 10:41 AM
I met you back in '99 when you came up to Seattle, when I was still there. Remember the A4.org days? About 50 of us. You and my buddy Christian always making good posts.

Krisko
01-24-2005, 10:59 AM
I'll be there in April, can't wait.

spinti
01-24-2005, 11:17 AM

s4wood
01-24-2005, 11:57 AM
The Alex Job Racing website showed me where to find you.

A4.org...what the heck is that? Its weird..I have visited the audi crew in lots of places...Austin TX, Denver/Boulder CO, Houston TX or was it Dallas TX? even Chicago. I came to Seattle? Where did we meet? I haven't been taking my memory pills lately. I have been to Seattle lots of times...just not in the past 3-4 years.

spinti
01-24-2005, 12:32 PM
I'm sure it was you?! Pyramid Alehouse near the Mariners basball field.

I see you have the very "rare" color red on you '90 miata, like mine.

s4wood
01-24-2005, 12:49 PM
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/665/e30racecar_004.jpg"></center><p>I stopped there on the way to the airport with my friend/coworker Jim.

Yes, that is a very rare color for a miata....looks almost RED. You played with it yet...or still building?. Are you over at specmiata.net ever? My handle there is Steve-90...Mine is getting a new clutch as we speak..my 3-4 shift was slipping REALLY badly. Talk about a money pit...I have about 18K in the miata so far...some of it just fixing stuff..but still...I am also getting some small refinements to pass the tech nazis at NASA Norcal..so I can race there too. Suggestion on the SM stuff...miss a qualify session one race...and then start at the back of the pack...it is a frickin blast to start from back there. :-)

BTW, I know Johannes van Overbeek..your competition in Porsche-land. He is the one that told me to take off this huge wing off my old BMW...(see pic)..and maybe I could get another 3-4 mph down the straight at Thunderhill. :-)

Take care...

spinti
01-24-2005, 02:30 PM
Qualified 43 out of 57, finished 32 out of 55 in the first race and 23 out of 51 in the second race at Sebring long course. I don't think I have that much $ into mine. I'll send you an e-mail on my miata story.

Johannes is an excellent driver on a team with big $. They push us hard, which is good.

You're kidding about the "what's A4.org?" right?

s4wood
01-24-2005, 03:09 PM
Yes, I am kidding..I was here during the early days of Jet's A4 Pages...

My best was starting at 61st place (didn't qualify) ...I got up to 27th or 29th (this was at Laguna). My last race at Laguna..I stunk..my car was not handling well at all. After that I changed my alignment..with about 1/16" total toe "in" the rear now..and I feel way more stable. I did Laguna last monday and felt pretty good. My best at Laguna is a 1:53.4...the front runner, this last Laguna race...actually did a 1:47.9 lap...sheesh, that is fast for a SM car there. I qualified bad for the double race on one day event...55th qualify..they put me in that position both races...I think I got to 44th one race...and only 47th in the other. Very bad showing for me.

Let me know if you have any pressing questions about what the western coast SM drivers are doing.

spinti
01-24-2005, 03:41 PM
that runs the same weekend as the ALMS race at Laguna? I always go and check that race when we are there.

Yes, I hit the spec miata site often. Never have to post since there is usually 5 to 6 responses by the time I look at it. Excellent site.

s4wood
01-24-2005, 05:00 PM
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/665/alms_smracenov2004_001.jpg"></center><p>
Pic of my daughter amusing herself in my car...in the background was Eddie Lawson and his gokarts...he was across the aisle from me.<ul><li><a href="http://www.sfrscca.org/Results/20041017/race2_results.html">Link to race results...race #1 (Laguna - ALMS weekend)</a></li></ul>

spinti
01-24-2005, 07:25 PM
my daughter with my helmet. We were watching my in car camera footage.

Steve Sherwood
01-24-2005, 07:37 PM
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/5/e30after05a.jpg"></center><p>Yes, I have two UIDs here at AW.

Krisko
01-26-2005, 08:40 AM
Well, except for winning of course!