|
 |
|
|
|
|
JDX Racing Claims Fourth At Season Opener
JDX Racing rallied in the closing stages of the grueling Sebring 12 Hour endurance classic, the opening round of the 2013 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron, to score a hard fought fourth place finish in a deep GTC field of cars.
|
|
|
Jan Heylen started the race after qualifying the black and gold liveried Hertz Porsche GT3 Cup car 6th in the GTC class. Early in his first stint, Jan ran in a comfortable third place, before having to pit a few laps early to replace a flat spotted tire. Following that strong opening stint, he was able to relax during the heat of the day, while his co-drivers ran in the top five most of the afternoon. Jan was then was put back to work for one long stint during the final three hours of the race.
Jan Heylen said, “It’s been a great experience so far with the JDX / Hertz team. They have done a great job preparing for the 12 Hour. I’m really impressed with the reliability of the Porsche - we managed to keep the car out of trouble and we had a fast car. I think we are all a little disappointed in the results, we all came to Sebring for the race win. Grabbing a fourth place finish was good for Championship points and I am looking forward to getting to Long Beach”.
Co-drivers Mike Hedlund and Jon Fogarty took over driving duties from about high noon until about 8 pm and managed to weave through the GTC field placing the JDX Racing, #11 Porsche first in class at the halfway point of the race. The team took the opportunity to pit again under a full course caution and during that period ran into some delays with a brake change, forcing the car down a lap to the class leaders - a lap which the team was not able to recover in the final four hours of the race.
“I’m pretty pleased with my overall performance at Sebring. During one of my stints we lost the rear wicker, and the car was pretty loose. I managed to keep the car at pace until I handed the car off to Jon. We had a tough break on one of the stops with the brakes that caused us to go down a lap, it’s racing, it happens. We finished the race with a really fast car, which was our strategy all along. We are really anxious to get to Long Beach and show the true potential of our team”, said Mike Hedlund.
Jon Fogarty managed his way back up to eighth before handing the car over to Jan Heylen to finish the race with a double stint. Jan wheeled the car around the 3.74 mile course in the dark, gradually making up the lost time, while keeping the car out of trouble. Jan got a lap back late in the eleventh hour and pushed the field right to the drop of the checkered flag claiming fourth place, even picking up a position on the final lap of racing.
“The 12hr is a race that every sports car driver wants to run, and it was great to do it with such a top notch organization in JDX Racing. Coming away with 4th place points is very respectable and I believe Mike and Jan will be able to move forward in the Championship between now and Petit, where I am excited to be rejoining the team”, said Jon Fogarty.
“The 12hr Sebring race is grueling on the team, drivers and the car. Mike, Jan and Jon drove a great and mistake free race - which is much easier said than done at Sebring. It’s not the result we were looking for, but all things considered it’s a good start in competing for a Series Championship. A fourth place finish at Sebring gives us solid momentum to start our 2013 season - momentum which we are happy to take onto Long Beach”, Harrison Brix, team Co-Owner.
The green flag for Round 2 flies at 7:30 pm est on Saturday, April, 20th for the Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series at Long Beach. Live coverage streaming on ESPN.com begins at 7:15 pm est. A race replay will be broadcast on ABC Sunday, April, 21st at 1 pm est.
PaddockTalk Perspective
|
|
|
| |
|
