2011 Baltimore Grand Prix

Baltimore Racing Development had originally designed a 2.4 mile street course through downtown Baltimore for the Grand Prix.  There was a bit of skepticism and questioning as to the overall length and need for two hairpin U turns.  The original design had a U turn on Light Street and another on Russell.  The Russell Street U turn has been eliminated in favor of a much faster, sweeping right hand-er from Lee Street onto Russell heading north bound.  The new lay out additionally, will provide for more seating with better views!  Camden Yards will also now be inside of the track offering even more exciting activities.  A great view of the new design can be seen here… http://baltimoregrandprix.com/track/

In addition to an improved track design, Baltimore Racing Development, the City of Baltimore and the Indy Racing League have decided to host the Baltimore Grand Prix on Labor Day weekend.  September 2-4 of 2011 will be the inaugural weekend of the Baltimore Grand Prix!  This was the originally selected weekend upon which to host the Grand Prix but due to conflicting schedules between the Ravens and Orioles, we were unable to solidify the date.  As it turns out however, we’re very excited to be able to have the event on this weekend.  The event is anticipated to attract fans and families from all over.  By hosting the race on this long, travel-friendly weekend, more people will have the opportunity to enjoy this once a year festival.

We’re all very excited about these two annoucements and are confident they are for the best!

This coming weekend the ALMS takes on the 4 mile, 14 turn circuit at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin!  It’s the 7th race on the 2010 schedule, has been on the schedule since 2002 and promises record speeds!

Jason

jschiavone@baltimoregp.com

www.baltimoregrandprix.com

This past weekend the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course was host to one of the most exciting weekends of racing yet!  With World Challenge, ALMS and IndyCar all racing throughout the weekend, this was an event not to be missed.  Hotels were sold out months in advance so if you didn’t make your reservation back in spring…you were camping!

The LMP Castrol/Mazda of Dyson Racing claimed it’s first overall and class victory this weekend.  The team has had opportunities in previous races but seemed plagued with mechanical failures.  They made the move to Dunlop tires from, the perhaps more common, Michelins for the 2010 season; first overall ALMS victory for Dunlop as well – nice job!  Even more interestingly, the car was running on isobutanol; a flammable liquid organic biofuel of greater energy density than ethanol making it more efficient and better for the environment.  So you can win races and be green…congratulations!!

As motivating as it is to hear about the use of biofuels in racing, the victory for Dyson came by only half a second! - that’s exciting.  Just as thrilling was the fantastic GT field as usual.  After a long hard fought race with some close calls and an accident or two, it was the #62 Risi Ferrari in 1st and #5 Corvette in 2nd.  Excellent driving and pit-work by both teams. 

The class victory moves the Risi Competizione Ferraris into a 1st place tie in the Manufacturer’s and Team Championships with BMW.  The win also places Melo and Bruni of Risi in 2nd in the Driver’s Championship; 3 points ahead of Auberlen and Milner of BMW and 8 points behind Long and Berg of the ever consistent Flying Lizard Porshces.  With Corvette Racing by no means out of contention and Jaguar continuing to build, the season is far from over.  Expect more action in up-coming round 7 at the 4 mile circuit of Road America, August 20-22!

Jason

Jschiavone@baltimoregp.com

www.baltimoregrandprix.com

The American Le Mans Series and IndyCar will both be at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge this weekend!  It’ll be the 6th race of the season on the ALMS schedule and the 12th on the schedule for Indy. 

The ALMS race has 34 cars set to take the grid; 13 GT cars.  With the Manufacturer and Team Championships on the line, it promises to be an exciting event!  Porsche regained the lead at Limerock but the BMW’s were right there.  Still looking for their first class victory, this could be the race for Auberlen and Milner or Mueller and Hand; both BMW teams were looking good last race.  The Flying Lizards however, seem to have consistency on their side and won’t reliquish first with out a strong effort.  You never know what will happen; it could just as easily be the F-430s or Corvettes and that’s what makes this so much fun to watch!

In Formula 1, Mark Weber was able to hang on to 1st at the Hungarian Grand Prix; last race before the summer break.  This win leaves him in 1st place in the Driver’s Championship and RBR-Renault in 1st in the Team Championship.  They’ll have a few weeks off before heading to Belgium.   

Jason

jschiavone@baltimoregp.com

www.baltimoregrandprix.com

After only a handful of laps it seemed one crash after another maintained much of the Indy race under the caution flag.  By all means, it was a thrill to watch when they were racing but after the third crash I felt like these guys either needed to get a better grip on this course or take it down notch. 

Dario Franchitti, last years winner in Toronto, one of the best and favorites, managed to navigate through the traffic from 5th up to 1st.  I thought for sure he’d maintain the lead from there.  He pitted in though, followed by Will Power right on his heels, who’s pit crew you got to hand it to.  Will, also a great driver and points leader, was amazingly able to beat Dario out of pit lane….excellent team work.  Great time! 

I spent most of the race watching from either pit lane or our seats, right behind.  The sensation you get when the cars haul#@* out of there, … it just never gets old. 

There was an SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge race late Saturday afternoon that was fantastic!  I was able to chat with Scott Bove and Bob Wildberger of SCCA Pro Racing (great guys) before the race.  They were able to get us a couple seats in the pace car leading the field out which was a great opportunity to see the track from the driver’s perspective.

  (lining up for the pace lap!)

So Bob’s behind the wheel and we’re flying down the back straight heading for turn 3.  It’s a sharp right that’s a bit deceiving; it appears you’re going to continue straight or even towards the left when all of sudden you dive into a sharp, off camber, decreasing-radius right.  With a little brake management, and the pro, Bob is, we successfully negotiated the turn.   However, I accurately predicted then, that if there was going to be any rubbing or crashes in the following races, this is where it was going to happen.  So…yeah, looks like I’m psychic!

It was a great weekend of racing and we look forward to seeing Indy and hopefully the World Challenge series in Baltimore next season!  (full album of weekend pictures on Facebook)

This weekend Indy heads up to Edmonton while the American Le Mans Series goes to Lime Rock for the NorthEast Grand Prix.  There’s in the neighborhood of 31 to 34 entries scheduled to take the field at Lime Rock which isn’t as strong as some of the other races but still pretty good with much at stake.

Jason

jschiavone@baltimoregp.com

www.baltimoregrandprix.com

IndyCar heads to Toronto for the 4th street race, 10th overall, of the 2010 season.  Street racing, like road courses, while maybe not as mentally taxing on drivers, certainly showcases technical skills and, in my opinion, who the best drivers really are.  Two weekends ago was the first of a stretch of 5 road/street courses.  These courses present huge challenges and difficulty for some drivers while others coming from road course-type backgrounds revel in the opportunity to move up in points positioning.  Street races are as thrilling as they come; Toronto is no exception, nor will be the Baltimore Grand Prix. 

We’re excited to make the trip up to Toronto anticipating much of the same field from Watkins Glen two weekends ago…

I’m sure the World Cup Championship game was on top of the list for many spectators this past Sunday but was anyone able to see BMW take 2nd and 4th in the ALMS GT class at Utah?  Beating out Porsche and Corvette, only the Ferrari was faster this go around.  Congrats to the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team on taking the lead in the ALMS GT Manufacturers Championship!  Bill Auberlen, Tommy Milner…well done.  Exciting stuff and strong field!

Jason

jschiavone@baltimoregp.com

www.baltimoregrandprix.com