15.08.2003 SHANE LEWIS & ACEMCO PREPARED FOR MOSPORT DESPITE HORSEPOWER DISADVANTAGE
Florida’s Shane Lewis will attempt to maintain his presence on the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) podium with Sunday’s Grand Prix of Mosport here at Mosport International Raceway. However, the 2.459 mile, 10-turn configuration of the track presents special obstacles for Lewis’ return to the top-three in the No. 63 ACEMCO Automotive/ Yokohama Tires Ferrari 360 GT Modena.
The Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada-circuit has one of the longest straightaways on the ALMS schedule magnifying the ACEMCO Ferrari’s present horsepower deficit to the race-prepared Porsche 911 GT3 RS that makes up much of the GT class. Lewis’ presence at ACEMCO Motorsports has helped to propel the Michigan-based effort to all-time high finishes in the ALMS including the team’s first podium finish at the most recent race, held at Le Circuit Trois-Rivières. The third-place, earned with co-driver Terry Borcheller of Phoenix, Arizona, upped the team’s previous best when Lewis led them to a fifth at Road Atlanta earlier in the season. Lewis, who was also a part of the team’s debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans guiding the effort to the class lead at the race’s midpoint, will again drive with Borcheller in the silver and yellow Ferrari this weekend.
“We’ve
had some pretty decent success with the ACEMCO team thus far but, as a
driver, you always want more,” Lewis reflected on the season to this point.
“I think this team has more in it and the car has some more development
potential as well. Right now we can’t take advantage of everything the
360 has to offer but, as a team, we are working on that. Unfortunately,
a track like Mosport plays against what we do have going for us with this
car. The backstraight is going to annihilate us. We just don’t have the
horsepower to keep-up with the Porsches or the gear options to hang with
the Risi Ferrari. But, I can promise you we’re going to drive every lap
as hard as it can be driven.”
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