02/08/2007Riegel Tuning Debuts 2004 Porsche GT-3 Cup.   
At this year's Rexall Champ Car Grand Prix of Edmonton, The Northern Alberta Sports Car Club celebrated its 50th anniversary with an invitational GT race. The race was a no contact, sportsman format which included vintage cars to full blown 750 hp+ GT-1 race cars. Riegel Tuning brought a 2004 Porsche GT-3 Cup. Yes, the factory-built, 390 hp, 2774 lbs. Supercup spec GT-3 Cup race car with the backing of Total-R Insulation Solutions. The Riegel Tuning crew got down to business with the second fastest times in sessions one and two. It would be hard to find any more speed from the Cup car before the qualifying race, as the car had arrived from California only a week before the race and there was no time to test and try different set up formats. The qualifying race saw a heated battle between the 390 hp Porsche and the 2005 750+ hp GT-1 Corvette, the Corvette spun twice and the Porsche held the lead twice, back and forth it went, the GT-3 faster through technical turns and the GT-1 showed it's might on the straights. Unfortunately for the Riegel Tuning camp a twice-lapped, back-marker turned into the Porsche and contacted the back of the front fender and driver’s door causing the front left tire to rub and smoke under braking. The decision to park the car for the remaining four laps of the Q race was painful... but not worth the risk of more damage caused by a blown tire. So, the stage was set, a battle from 20th starting position to somewhere up front. A clean race up to the 30 minute mark of the 50 minute race was slowed with a full-course yellow. This was thrown under mysterious circumstance as there were no crashes or debris on the race track, and as quickly as the track went green it went back to full yellow due to two cars crashing out. With close to 15 minutes left the checkered was thrown under full course yellow with GT-3 in fourth place. Without much to celebrate about, the Riegel Tuning team reflected on the weekend, what the team did right and what the team did wrong. It was hard work, new car, new track, 20th place to fourth in 30 green racing minutes of a 50 minute race. There was far more positives than negatives from this race week-end and the team will work harder to be better. The Total-R/Riegel Tuning team: Driver: Hima Maher Crew:
The next race is in Calgary at Race City Motorsport Park for the Western Canadian GT Championship on Aug 11 & 12. Join the Riegel Tuning Team for Sport car and Exotic car lapping on the evening of Saturday, August, 11 from 5 PM onwards. Call 255 6787 to sign up. |
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