Grand Am 200 at Daytona
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6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Anaheim, CA
Grand Am 200 at Daytona
Fantastic job in Qualifying:
Pos No. Class Pic Drivers Team/Car Time Speed Sponsors
196 ST 6 Farmer / Hart RSR Motorsports / Mini Cooper S 2:07.408 100.590 US Led, Cruise America, Mini USA
198 ST 16 Cattaneo / Trinkler RSR Motorsports / Mini Cooper S 2:08.421 99.796 Cruise America, Thor Motorcoach, Mini USA
195 ST 19 Mirzayan / Sarian RSR Motorsports / Mini Cooper S 2:09.035 99.321 Cruise America, OSGIKEN, Mini USA
Good luck in the race! Race is 1:30EST today.
Pos No. Class Pic Drivers Team/Car Time Speed Sponsors
196 ST 6 Farmer / Hart RSR Motorsports / Mini Cooper S 2:07.408 100.590 US Led, Cruise America, Mini USA
198 ST 16 Cattaneo / Trinkler RSR Motorsports / Mini Cooper S 2:08.421 99.796 Cruise America, Thor Motorcoach, Mini USA
195 ST 19 Mirzayan / Sarian RSR Motorsports / Mini Cooper S 2:09.035 99.321 Cruise America, OSGIKEN, Mini USA
Good luck in the race! Race is 1:30EST today.
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6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,731
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From: Anaheim, CA
Best RSR now is Trinkler in 3rd, 33 laps in.
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,284
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From: Middle Earth
Well done!!! Congratulations to the whole RSR team.
Congrats, Randy. Nice start for the season.
Just curious, how much weight did they add to your cars? Any other "rewards" for doing well last year?
Congrats, Randy. Nice start for the season.
Just curious, how much weight did they add to your cars? Any other "rewards" for doing well last year?
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 781
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From: Stamford, CT, soon St. James, NC
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Coordinator :: RSR Motorsports Forum
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 629
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From: Arizona
195 car's alternator broke, throwing the belt.... Thus a DNF. It was a contender too. We could have put 3 cars in the top 10.
We view the 6 & 7 place finishes as good as a win. The aero disadvantage of the high banks of Daytona is so severe, we ran 2 to 3 seconds off the leader's pace all day. Good strategy and perfect pit stops, won the day.
On to Miami on March 4. We won the pole in Miami last year.
Randy
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 3
From: Orlando, Florida
Sorry we didn't get to see you, Randy. 
The race is on SPEED tomorrow.
There are photos at:
http://libraryofmotoring.info/2011/0...e-grand-am-200
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adevra/...ith/5397236320
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2801032...57625807610923
The race is on SPEED tomorrow.
There are photos at:
http://libraryofmotoring.info/2011/0...e-grand-am-200
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adevra/...ith/5397236320
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2801032...57625807610923
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 3
From: Daytona Beach, Florida
Interview after the race
RSR Motorsports Rises to Challenge, Earns 6th and 7th at Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.--The word "challenging" was heard often in the RSR Motorsports camp as the MINI Cooper S team prepared for the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. Never ones to back down, the team rose to the challenge by earning sixth and seventh in the ST class of Friday's GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race.
Carrying all-new graphics and sponsorship from Cruise America, Thor Motor Coach and US LED, the RSR Motorsports MINI Cooper S entries proved that small can still be mighty, even on the high banks of Daytona.
"Our cars were two seconds off the fastest ST car's pace," notes team owner Randall Smalley. "That's a reflection of the high banks, and Daytona is the toughest track for us all season. Thanks to a great race strategy and flawless pit stops, we were competitive the whole race. I'm thrilled."
Owen Trinkler and Sarah Cattaneo earned the sixth-place finish in the No. 198 RSR Motorsports MINI Cooper S. They were a formidable duo during last year's season finale at Miller Motorsports Park, but even they were surprised with their finish.
"I didn't expect to do so well; we had just been hoping for a top ten," says Cattaneo. "We're looking forward to Homestead in March. I had the pole there last year, so coupled with our sixth at Daytona, it's a real confidence booster."
"It felt good to finish," enthused Trinkler, whose past four appearances at Daytona have ended in retirement. "We got valuable points and got what we needed to get this season started right."
Trinkler also competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, co-driving the No. 63 Team Spencer Mazda RX-8 with Jim Downing, David Murry, Dennis Spencer and Rich Grupp. Despite some early setbacks, the team crossed the finish line 18th in the GT class.
Ron Farmer and Jason Hart made an impressive RSR Motorsports debut, finishing Friday's 2.5-hour race with the seventh spot in ST. Farmer qualified the No. 196 RSR Motorsports US LED MINI Cooper S and drove the first stint.
"We certainly didn't have the goal of a top-ten finish, being at Daytona in a MINI, and facing a lot of firsts. It was my first qualifying and our first race in the car," says Farmer. "To qualify sixth and finish seventh felt great."
"This gives us a big boost. We're still rookies, and we know we still have a lot to learn, but this has raised our expectations," says Hart. "Ron had an outstanding qualifying, using the draft to his advantage, and the crew had flawless pit stops during the race."
After a solid start for Chris Sarian in the No. 195 RSR Motorsports MINI Cooper S, he and co-driver VJ Mirzayan had to retire with an alternator problem at the halfway point of the race.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.--The word "challenging" was heard often in the RSR Motorsports camp as the MINI Cooper S team prepared for the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. Never ones to back down, the team rose to the challenge by earning sixth and seventh in the ST class of Friday's GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race.
Carrying all-new graphics and sponsorship from Cruise America, Thor Motor Coach and US LED, the RSR Motorsports MINI Cooper S entries proved that small can still be mighty, even on the high banks of Daytona.
"Our cars were two seconds off the fastest ST car's pace," notes team owner Randall Smalley. "That's a reflection of the high banks, and Daytona is the toughest track for us all season. Thanks to a great race strategy and flawless pit stops, we were competitive the whole race. I'm thrilled."
Owen Trinkler and Sarah Cattaneo earned the sixth-place finish in the No. 198 RSR Motorsports MINI Cooper S. They were a formidable duo during last year's season finale at Miller Motorsports Park, but even they were surprised with their finish.
"I didn't expect to do so well; we had just been hoping for a top ten," says Cattaneo. "We're looking forward to Homestead in March. I had the pole there last year, so coupled with our sixth at Daytona, it's a real confidence booster."
"It felt good to finish," enthused Trinkler, whose past four appearances at Daytona have ended in retirement. "We got valuable points and got what we needed to get this season started right."
Trinkler also competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, co-driving the No. 63 Team Spencer Mazda RX-8 with Jim Downing, David Murry, Dennis Spencer and Rich Grupp. Despite some early setbacks, the team crossed the finish line 18th in the GT class.
Ron Farmer and Jason Hart made an impressive RSR Motorsports debut, finishing Friday's 2.5-hour race with the seventh spot in ST. Farmer qualified the No. 196 RSR Motorsports US LED MINI Cooper S and drove the first stint.
"We certainly didn't have the goal of a top-ten finish, being at Daytona in a MINI, and facing a lot of firsts. It was my first qualifying and our first race in the car," says Farmer. "To qualify sixth and finish seventh felt great."
"This gives us a big boost. We're still rookies, and we know we still have a lot to learn, but this has raised our expectations," says Hart. "Ron had an outstanding qualifying, using the draft to his advantage, and the crew had flawless pit stops during the race."
After a solid start for Chris Sarian in the No. 195 RSR Motorsports MINI Cooper S, he and co-driver VJ Mirzayan had to retire with an alternator problem at the halfway point of the race.
Coordinator :: Dynamic MiNi Collective
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 377
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From: Peoria, AZ
Yeah, what was with that? I don't understand how the team that won 2 of the last 3 races of 2010 and finished on the podium in the other, gets basically zero commentary and coverage, especially when the Minis 6th and 7th place finishes are such a great start to the year on a track that has been tough in the past.
Great job again to everyone at RSR!
Great job again to everyone at RSR!
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 3
From: Daytona Beach, Florida
The Mini's did a great race
The ST class started with 42 cars, When you consider that there are Porsche's, BMW's, Kia's, Mazda's VW's among others entered in this class the Mini Coopers coming in 6th. & 7th. was not as good as 1 & 2 but still very good.
I would really like to know how many GT class cars came in in back of the Mini Coopers.
The very long streights were the Mini Cooper's downfall. They just do not have the top end speed but sure do have the cornering and acceleration coming out of the turns.
http://s410.photobucket.com/albums/p.../Rolex%202011/
Click this to see my Photobucket Photographs.
I would really like to know how many GT class cars came in in back of the Mini Coopers.
The very long streights were the Mini Cooper's downfall. They just do not have the top end speed but sure do have the cornering and acceleration coming out of the turns.
http://s410.photobucket.com/albums/p.../Rolex%202011/
Click this to see my Photobucket Photographs.
Last edited by ronnie948; Feb 6, 2011 at 08:53 AM.
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 3
From: Daytona Beach, Florida
The TV people need to learn
The TV people always feature the first ten or so cars. They just can't believe that there are fans that would like to see more of a race then the first three cars. The WRC does the same sort of coverage as well as just about all race's you see on TV.
It would be nice to see the whole field covered once in a while but you know that will never happen because we watch the race anyway.
To me personally. I like the ST Class much better then the GT class because the GT class drivers always seem to be crashing or running into each other. The ST class seems to just have better drivers.
GT class 33 cars (Almost all of the wrecks)
ST Class 42 cars ( Almost none of the wrecks)
I'm glad I was at the Speedway to see the Challenge in real time because The TV coverage was awful.
It would be nice to see the whole field covered once in a while but you know that will never happen because we watch the race anyway.
To me personally. I like the ST Class much better then the GT class because the GT class drivers always seem to be crashing or running into each other. The ST class seems to just have better drivers.
GT class 33 cars (Almost all of the wrecks)
ST Class 42 cars ( Almost none of the wrecks)
I'm glad I was at the Speedway to see the Challenge in real time because The TV coverage was awful.
Hey MINI!!! Step up to the plate & show a little love for team RSR.
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,446
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From: L.A ca
Factoring in production costs I would think between 3.5 and 4 mill for the one spot .
