CORE autosport 1-2 at Mosport, looking forward to Mid-Ohio

CORE autosport is ready to build upon its team records in the Le Mans Prototype Challenge (LMPC) class and enhance its driver and team points lead in this weekend’s Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge American Le Mans Series (ALMS) event.

The team comes off of a roller-coaster race at Mosport International Raceway where the team finished one-two in class – with the #06 Excel Consultants / Composite Resources ORECA FLM09 of Ricardo Gonzalez and Gunnar Jeannette in first, followed by the sister #05 Bayshore Recycling / Composite Resources car driven by team founder Jon Bennett and Frankie Montecalvo.

With the Mosport finish, CORE autosport scored another ALMS record as the first LMPC team to finish one-two in the history of the class.  This is the second record for the team, as they were the first LMPC team to score a multiple-team podium finish at the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring in March 2011.

Both Ricardo Gonzalez and Gunnar Jeannette scored podium results in the LMPC class at the corresponding event last year – Gonzalez finishing second on his class debut with Luis Diaz while Jeannette was third with Elton Julian. Frankie Montecalvo also made his LMPC class debut at Mid-Ohio in 2010.

The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a 2.258-mile 13-turn track known for its epic battles in many disciplines, including IndyCars and motorcycles.  The Lexington, Ohio race course features multiple elevation changes, challenging corner combinations and limited passing zones.

Qualifying for the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge will be aired live on ESPN3.com on Friday, August 5 at 2:20 p.m. EST, with live race coverage on ESPN3.com on Saturday, August 6 at 3:15 p.m. EST.  ESPN2 will televise a tape-delayed highlight of the event on Sunday, August 7 at 10 p.m. EST.

International viewers can see the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport live on MotorsTV, Fox Sports Middle East and Fox Latin America Networks.  Live radio broadcasts are available at www.americanlemans.com.

Gunnar Jeannette
“Coming off of Mosport, I must say that it went pretty well – we may have been lacking a little bit in ultimate pace for the weekend but we ran a good and clean race.  It’s all about staying out of trouble with all of the classes on the track at the same time.  I’d rather be lucky than good any day and that race was a combination of both.
“Mid-Ohio is a very fun track to drive, very challenging especially in ALMS because of the multi-class racing out there.  It’s going to be different than Mosport because it is a bit slower, but Mid-Ohio is a rollercoaster track.  It’s constant elevation and direction changes.  You crest a hill when turning and don’t have an ability to see where you’re going, heading downhill while turning and the car is loaded up.  One corner leads to another which leads to another.
“With so many directional changes that have to happen at once, combined with multi-class racing it’s going to be quite a challenge out there.
“Comfort and adaptability will be key at Mid-Ohio, and we’re approaching it with a good, solid car and effort.”

Ricardo Gonzalez
“I'm very excited to go back to Mid-Ohio.
"That's where I had my first LMPC race last year and finished second, so I'm really looking forward to going back and standing one step higher in the podium. 
“The track at Mid-Ohio is very challenging, the elevation changes and all the different types of corners make it a very technical and physical track, but we are very prepared and I know we'll have a good car as always.
“Coming off a one-two finish at Mosport, obviously the momentum of CORE autosport is very high right now.
"Everybody is doing a great job and things only get better and better. 
“Our priority is the championship and we need to keep focusing on being consistent and scoring points, but obviously we wouldn't mind winning a bunch more of these races either!”

Jon Bennett
"Mid-Ohio is an important race for us to continue our chase for the championship in the LMPC class. 
“We're looking forward to building upon our success from Mosport. That was an amazing result which was a great surprise because the troubles we found ourselves in early in the race
"The team is really excited to try to extend our streak of podium finishes for both cars.
"Frankie and I are ready to challenge for the top step of the podium for the first time this season.
"Gunnar and Ricardo are doing a great job leading the driver's championship and I'm thrilled for the team to be back in front in the team's title as well. The competition out there is very strong and we know we have to keep working extremely hard."

Frankie Montecalvo
“Our previous race at Mosport was wild and unexpected – when Jon came in for an unscheduled stop I didn’t even have my helmet on for a driver change.  But we drove as hard as we could and thanks to some luck and a great car we ended up on the podium.
“Mid-Ohio was the first track I ever raced in an LMPC car (2010).  It’s actually a track I really like because it’s so technical.  It’s not a high speed track like Mosport, but it’s one of the most challenging tracks due to the elevation changes which can unsettle the car.  It’s a lot of fun.
“What’s also a lot of fun with the LMPC class is that every team is now stepping up to the plate.  It’s a very tight class with close competition because the cars are pretty much the same.  It’s all about the driver and the exact setup of the cars.  We’re still learning as a team but we’ll do well.”

CORE autosport wins Long Beach

Gunnar Jeannette and Ricardo Gonzalez not only win LMPC class but finish 3rd overall at the American Le Mans race in Long Beach!  CORE autosport is only competing in their second ALMS race, yet has already racked up 3 podiums in LMPC and our first win!!

Gunnar Jeannette leads Practice in LMPC class at Long Beach

CORE autosport car #06 of Gunnar Jeannette and Ricardo Gonzalez topped the LMPC time sheets in this morning's practice at Long Beach, CA.  Jeannette's lap of 1:19.089 put him third overall behind the two LMP1 cars. 

Take a lap with Gunnar Jeannett around Long Beach.  Gunnar narrates the first lap then lets you listen to the sounds of his race car for lap 2!

Gunnar Jeannette lapping Long Beach

CORE autosport Takes Two Podium Positions at 12 Hours of Sebring

Sebring, FL March 20, 2011 – In their maiden outing in the American Le Mans Series, CORE autosport took two podium positions in the LMPC class at the historic 12 Hours of Sebring. Jon Bennett, Ryan Dalziel and Frankie Montecalvo finished second in class followed by the second CORE autosport team of Gunnar Jeannette, Ricardo Gonzalez and Rudy Junco. Driving the Bayshore Recycling/Composite Resources Oreca #005, the combination of Bennett, Dalziel and Montecalvo were 44 seconds behind the lead LMPC car after 12 hours of racing, making for a dramatic finish. The Excel Consultants/Composite Resources team in car #006 of Jeannette, Gonzalez and Junco had a power steering problem that put them in the garage for about 20 minutes. Their drive through the field to clinch third place added to the excitement.

 

“For our first race in the series we are extremely happy to have both cars on the podium”, said Jon Bennett, founder of CORE autosport. “We came here hoping to establish our team as a force to be reckoned with, and I think we accomplished that”.

 

 

“This was a great way to start the 2011 season”, said Morgan Brady, Team Manager. “We want to thank our corporate sponsors, Bayshore Recycling, Excel Consultants Composite Resources for a great race”.

 

Bayshore Recycling Corp (BRC) brings together advanced recovery of materials through recycling and sustainable operations powered by renewable energy. When build-out is completed, Bayshore will operate 100% green businesses powered by 100% renewable energy. Bayshore currently operates five different recycling businesses in Woodbridge Township, NJ making the company one of the largest recyclers in the Northeast. Services include: recycling concrete, asphalt, brick, block into aggregate materials; remediation of petroleum contaminated soils; materials recovery of mixed construction debris; full-service metals recycling; and acceptance of dredge material at their barge terminal. Bayshore’s Eco-Complex and Energy Campus was affectionately coined the “Mega-Mall of Recycling” by NJ Environmental Commissioner Lisa Jackson who now services President Obama as USEPA Administrator. www.bayshorerecycling.com

 

 

 

“Excel Consultants is a leader in the industry in Mexico and it is very important that they partner with other high level organizations internationally. In the high-profile world of the American Le Mans Series there are a lot of opportunities to develop new business relationships and partnerships that are beneficial for all the sponsors involved. We all know how difficult it is to find funding for motorsports and we are very fortunate to have companies like Excel, Cooper Gay and Rainmaker Group supporting us. It’s also great to be part of a series that creates an environment where it’s easy to embrace and grow these relationships”, said Ricardo Gonzalez, driver of car #6.

 

Excel Consultants was born with the mission of designing and implementing fiscal strategies that allow companies a better development and resource management. Excel is made up of a professional, highly capable crew, where innovation, pro-activity and service quality is the base of our competitive ideology. At Excel Consultants the legal, fiscal safety and tranquility of our clients is guaranteed. This is based upon the objective of searching the development of innovative solutions that bring measurable and real business results. This has made Excel a market leader in Mexico. Excel has an extensive portfolio of solutions that bring solid savings and benefits to your company. Excel is the only fiscal law firm in Mexico that brings to you, wherever you are, whatever you do, these exclusive benefits.

 

 

Composite Resources, Inc. is an award-winning organization focused on the precision, design, prototype and manufacturing of advanced composite material solutions. Composite Resources helps their clients leverage composite materials to create lighter, stronger and more durable solutions for Military, Aerospace, Automotive, Industrial and Medical applications. At Composite Resources, product development using materials like Carbon Fiber, Kevlar, Nomex and a wide variety of process methods has established them as one of the leading, privately held composite engineering/manufacturing companies in the United States. Composite Resources has attained ISO 9001:2008 certification and AS9100B certification for the aerospace industry. www.composite-resources.com

Gunnar Jeannette onboard Video

Great Article by John Dagys of SPEEDtv

Take a look at this article just released on SPEEDtv regarding CORE autosport.

Bennett/Montecalvo lead LMPC time sheet at Sebring Test

CORE autosport currently top the time sheet in this morning's test session at Sebring.  The Bennett/Montecalvo car leads the LMPC class with a lot of time left in the session.