change made all the difference at Portland, giving Andy Wallace and Johnny Herbert
the power they needed to take the fight to the competition. And that they did
brilliantly, netting Champion Racing its second ALMS podium finish with a fine
third place finish. Champion's privateer Audi R8 had languished during practice
and qualifying, managing no better than fifth-fastest in all sessions, running
the same motor the R8 was delivered with in February. The Portland race day warmup
saw both Champion drivers quite happy with the expected power from the fresh 3.6-liter
twin-turbo.
As Andy Wallace had qualified the car at the most recent race at Sears Point,
Johnny Herbert - who joked afterwards that "Andy had finally stepped aside
and let ME have a go at it"- qualified the car and thus started the 2hr45min
race and drove a double-stint. Herbert quickly put his R8 right in the thick of
things up front, and challenged strongly as the usually-perfect Audi factory team
cars both faltered with grip and gearbox problems.
Herbert pitted from second place about 45minutes from the end, handing over to
Wallace, who would carry on to the finish. Unfortunately, a rare pitlane penalty
(two persons assisting in driver change) cost a 20second hold in the pits before
Wallace was allowed to leave the pits, and Wallace had his work cut out for him.
As Wallace fought with the second Panoz for fourth, the leading Audi pitted with
failing gearbox electricals, going two laps down and out of contention. Shortly
after, the second Panoz had a big spin entering the Festival Curves, putting itself
out of contention and handing Wallace third place, which he maintained while charging
the lead Panoz-Audi duo hard right up till the checkers.
Portland marks a long-awaited return to the Podium for the Champion R8 team, almost
five months after their first Podium finish (3rd) at the Sebring 12 Hours in March.
The ALMS circus now heads East and North across the border, to Mosport for Round
Five.
Portland Top Three Finishers:
1. David Brabham, Australia; Jan Magnussen, Denmark; Panoz LMP-1
2. Frank Biela, Germany; Emanuele Pirro, Italy; Audi R8
3. Johnny Herbert, England; Andy Wallace, England; Audi R8
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Herbert and Wallace enjoy Champion's second ALMS podium