Krohn Racing / TRG Struggles at VIR
Krohn Racing / TRG drivers Max Papis and Jörg Bergmeister finished eleventh today at the VIR 400 Grand American Rolex Series race. Teammates Tracy Krohn and Nic Jönsson finished twenty-first after dropping out with brake problems.

Jörg Bergmeister started the number 66 Krohn Racing / TRG / Pontiac Riley from the second row. On lap eight Bergmeister had contact with the number four car resulting a flat tire forcing him off the track. By the time he was able to drive through the wet grass on slick tires and pit he had gone down two laps.

On lap 31 Max Papis took over the wheel of the number 66 car and tried to make up as much time as he could. Seven caution periods limited the green flag running and Papis was only able to make up one of the laps.

Teammates Tracy Krohn and Nic Jönsson had a worse day. Krohn started the car from the fifth row and ran consistent lap times, steering clear of the incidents to hand over to Jönsson. Jönsson made his way into the lead on lap 30 and logged more than 16 laps at the front before pitting for fuel. On lap 51 he was going into turn one when the brake pedal went to the floor. The Swede was able to nurse the car around to pit lane, but the repairs were too extensive to perform to complete the race.

Max Papis, #66 Krohn Racing / TRG / Pontiac Riley: “We did all we could do today. Jörg had some bad luck with the tire going down. When I took over the car it was not bad. We were able to run competitive lap times, but we were just too far down to be a factor today.”

Jörg Bergmeister, #66 Krohn Racing / TRG / Pontiac Riley: “I was battling at the front when I had contact with the number four car. The contact knocked the valve stem off of my tire and then I went off of the track. It took me a while to get back onto the track through the wet grass with slick tires. We had a good car, but bad luck.”

Tracy Krohn, #67 Krohn Racing / TRG / Pontiac Riley: “My stint was clean. There were a lot of guys making a lot of bad moves early. I wanted to focus on staying on the track and running consistent laps. Nic was able to lead a lot of laps, we had a good car. The brake failure was tough, I am glad he was able to get it slowed down. We had a winning car today.”

Nic Jönsson, #67 Krohn Racing TRG / Pontiac Riley: “I was going into turn one and got some good initial bite from the brakes and then the pedal went to the floor. I down shifted fast and had to use the transmission to slow the car down. I think it was a master cylinder, those just don’t go bad. We had a good car, I was looking forward to battling with the 01 car for the win.”

Kevin Buckler, team co-owner: "Valve stem, master cylinder a few parts that just don’t break. Tracy had a nice stint and Max proved the speed of the car at the end of the race. We will rebound and plan to be a definite factor at the season finale in Mexico.”

The final round of the Grand American Rolex Series will be run on November 5th at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.

TRG Pontiac GTO.R Drivers Bunting and Lally Take GT Points Lead
Marc Bunting and Andy Lally, behind the wheel of their number 65 TRG / Pontiac GTO.R, finished third today in GT at the VIR 400 Grand American Rolex Series race. With their third place finish, the duo assumed the overall points lead in the GT series. Teammates Jan Magnussen and Paul Edwards finished sixth.

Marc Bunting and Andy Lally came into the race five points down in their quest for the championship. The pair started the race from the GT pole position and were focused on running a clean race, while the crew was fixated on the points battle the entire two-hours-and-forty-minutes. Bunting started the car and ran a clean first stint until going off slightly in turn eight and was shuffled back a few places.

Andy Lally took over the GTO.R and was engaged in a battle with the then-GT- points leading number 80 Porsche. Upon getting by the 80 car, he engaged the number 36 car which stood in the way of the points lead. Lally was able to bide his time and then on the last restart the 36 car slid wide and the Georgia resident was able to pass for third position.

Paul Edwards started the number 64 TRG / Pontiac GTO.R from the fifth row and on lap four he pitted from fifth place. The Californian had noticed smoke coming from the battery box. The crew performed quick work to change the battery and get him back out on the lead lap, but in 19th place. Edwards handed over to Magnussen on lap 46. Seven caution periods took up most of the racing time and the Dane was only able to get the 64 car back up to sixth position.

Marc Bunting, #65 TRG / Pontiac GTO.R: “The track was real green at the beginning, off line was like ice. I got forced off the track early and had to ride it out, losing a couple of positions. These were our first laps all weekend in the dry, so we had to work on the balance a little throughout the race. It is great to take the lead, we have been working hard all season and it will go down to the last race.”

Andy Lally, #65 TRG / Pontiac GTO.R: “We are in the points lead by one going into Mexico. I was battling with about everyone involved in the championship out there today. The 80 car early in my stint for several laps and then the 36 car, I could hardly catch my breath. It was a tough day, I can’t wait to sit on my couch at home and watch this race.”

Paul Edwards, #64 TRG / Pontiac GTO.R: “I smelled something burning and then I saw eight inch flames coming from the battery box. The crew changed it fast and got me back to the fight. The car was good even though there was no grip on the track. Jan did a good job to get us back up to sixth.”

Jan Magnussen, #64 TRG / Pontiac GTO.R: “Paul had some bad luck with the battery early, or I know we would have been competing for the win today. The car was pretty good even though there was no grip on the track. There were a lot of caution periods and not enough green laps to really make up the time. Sixth is not bad for the beginning we had.”

Kevin Buckler, TRG team owner: “Paul and Jan were able to rebound from the early battery issue and post a respectable finish. Marc and Andy did what they had to do today. They ran a smart race, paying close attention to the points fight. I think I am going to print a track map of the Mexico circuit and have them sleep with it under their pillows.”

The final round of the Grand American Rolex Series will be run on November 5 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.