03.09.2003 CARE PRODRIVE FERRARI TEAM LOOKING FORWARD TO LAGUNA SECA AFTER VICTORY LAST TIME OUT
Hot on the heels of its GTS victory in Road America, the Care Racing sponsored and supported Prodrive Ferrari team now heads for one of the US’s most challenging road circuits, the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Every team member is ready to play his part in renewing the battle with GM’s Corvette Racing team, a competitive element of the American Le Mans Series which has captured the attention of racing fans around the world.
The team, fresh from a week’s rest and relaxation with their families back in the UK, is particularly looking forward to returning to California as this track was the venue for its debut American Le Mans Series win this time last year. It also means that, for the first time since Road Atlanta, all four drivers, Brabham, Enge, Kox and Magnussen, will be competing on familiar ground and all running time will be spent concentrating on achieving the optimum set up for the 6 litre, V12 engined Prodrive Ferrari 550 Maranello.
Built on a former US Army base, the 2.238 mile Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is challenging for drivers and engineers alike, with its 11 turns and many ups and downs. The famous Corkscrew turn, a steep drop away over a blind 90-degree left-hand bend that immediately sweeps away to the right, is one of the highlights here and an awesome place to watch the drivers in action. Every driver loves visiting the facility as it promises good racing, not to mention the Californian weather and the cosmopolitan Monterey nightlife!
Dutch driver Peter Kox, who with Tomas Enge claimed the top step of the 2002 GTS podium, comments: “We’ve got with a bit more experience going into this race which is good for us. I’m under no illusions though that it will be difficult, with very strong competition who always do their homework well. It won’t be easy, but it will help that we know the circuit so we can attack from the very beginning of the weekend. I like the track, despite the dust, and we go there with more confidence than we did at Road America which is an advantage.”
