Monday, January 08, 2007

Don Bell Tests at Daytona in preparation for the 45th Rolex 24 Hour Race

Robin Osborne

Don Bell, Larry Bowman, Shawn Price and Lance Willsey took to the track last week in their new 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car in preparation for the upcoming Rolex 24 Hour at Daytona on January 27, 28. A field of 68 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Cars tested for three days, the final test session where driver lineups and teams were finalized.

2007 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car

Don, Larry, Shawn and Lance are driving as part of a four car effort by Farnbacher Loles. Their fastest lap time, a 1:52:818, was recorded in the fifth test session Friday afternoon. Farnbacher Loles Technical Director Horst Farnbacher was pleased with the weekend. “The test was great. Other than slight issues with the tires, the cars ran smoothly. We came in here trying to find the best setup for the cars and are close.”

Overall, the Farnbacher Loles team posted four of the ten fastest times over the weekend, and the team as a whole is looking to transfer their success into a great Rolex 24 at Daytona in three weeks.

Don and team return to Daytona (3.56 mile road course) the week of January 22 for practice and qualifying. The green flag will drop at 1:30 PM on Saturday the 27th for the 45th time. The Daytona paddock was “chocked full” of star drivers including AJ Allmendinger, Alex Tagliani, Christian Fittipaldi, Boris Said, Butch Leitzinger, Helio Castroneves, Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Vasser, Jimmie Johnson, JJ Lehto, Juan Pablo Montoya, Katherine Legge, Max Angelelli, Paul Tracy, Romain Dumas, Sascha Maassen, Sam Hornish Jr, Scott Pruett, Scott Sharp, Tony Stewart, Wally and Paul Dallenbach and many many more.

Don, while piloting the AT&T # 01 Spice GTP Camel Lights car in 1987, drove to victories at the 24 Hour at Daytona, Road Atlanta, Riverside, Mid-Ohio, San Antonio and Laguna Seca. Shawn Price, Savvion President and CEO, is also a veteran competitor winning the 24 Hour at Daytona in 2005 as a co-driver of the #71 Farnbacher Racing Porsche GT3 Cup car. Bell Micro Racing will host its first Relationship Sales Event at Daytona with 100 guests on hand to enjoy a full 24 hours of Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car racing at its best!