Alex Job Racing (AJR) is ready for the 50thAnniversary GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series Rolex 24 At Daytona, Jan. 28-29, 2012.
The Florida-based team has been busy putting the finishing touches on their two entries for the 50th running of the historic race to be run at the World Center of Racing. The No. 23 WeatherTech/Alex Job Racing Porsche will have drivers Cooper MacNeil, Butch Leitzinger, Emmanuel Collard and Porsche factory driver, Marco Holzer; and the No. 24 McKenna Porsche/Battery Tender/Kensington/Koss Stereophones/Alex Job Racing GT3 Cup will be driven by Michael Avenatti, Bob Faieta, Bill Sweedler, Fred Poordad, and Cort Wagner.
The No. 23 WeatherTech/Alex Job Racing Porsche had two strong tests in preparation for the big race this weekend. The 23 guys were the fastest Porsche at the Roar test three weeks ago and also put in quality miles at Daytona in December. The team of four has experience, is in shape and is ready to win.
“With it being the 50th anniversary of the 24 at Daytona, I really want to do well,” MacNeil said. “Before the race I like to be both physically and mentally prepared. I make sure that I’m healthy and in shape. After each stint it is extremely important to sleep. Sometimes it’s hard to fall asleep, but it is necessary. My goal for the race is to go fast and make sure I hand the car off to the next driver in one piece. The last time my dad did an endurance race with the AJR team, they were at the 12 hours of Sebring in 1999. They finished second. The goal is to one-up my dad! I drove at the 24 last year and had a rough race. I am confident this year’s run will turn out much better. This past year I won with Alex in the Porsche, I won with the Risi team in the Ferrari, and I won with Fall-Line in the BMW. It was a great year and I am looking forward to this year.”
“For the 24 hour, I try to get something to eat as soon as I get out of the car, and then get back to the R.V. to lie down,” Leitzinger said. “I can usually get in a couple of hours of sleep before I have to go again. It’s not really much of a sleep, but at least it gives your eyes a chance to rest. I started coming to the Daytona 24 in 1985, working as a crewman for my Dad’s (Bob) team. The first 24 that I drove was in 1988 with my Dad, and my brother, Chuck Kurtz. We had a pretty horrible race, losing about two hours for various repairs, but we still finished fifth. Although everyone calls this a 24-hour sprint race, you still have to keep something in reserve, and be ready for the unexpected, because any time lost due to damage is going to put you out of contention.”
The No. 24 McKenna Porsche/Battery Tender/Koss Stereophones/Alex Job Racing GT3 drivers Avenatti, Faieta, Sweedler, Poordad, and Wagner are ready for the twice around the clock race. Each has prepared their body, have faith in the AJR prepared Porsche and share similar goals.
“Alex Job Racing does the most important job in a 24-hour race – preparation,” Sweedler said. “Alex and the team have had amazing success in endurance racing around the world. They have the experience and dedication to make sure that the car has the best odds for a trouble-free race. As a driver, I’m focused on running trouble free, one lap at a time. It’s a long race and the team that makes the least mistakes will have a chance for a Rolex in the end! With Battery Tender as our sponsor all the drivers on our team will be charged and ready during their stints.”
“As far as prep for the 24, I take physical conditioning very serious,” Faieta said. “I train everyday doing uphill mountain-bike rides with my wife. We do an eight-mile steep uphill ride and spend about an hour a day in the gym. We have modified our diets the past two months and am at my target weight of 150 lbs. Once we arrive in Florida, I will start a hydration regimen leading up to the race. My personal plan for the 24 is to give 110% for my team and support them in any way I can. We will have a conservative approach in the beginning and turn it up on Sunday. Our goal is a podium finish. We have the best in the business in Alex Job Racing and should have a great run.”
“I physically prepare by running 15 miles per week, core workouts focusing on shoulders and abdomen and neck,” Poordad said. “Shifter karts also help me to stay in shape. Mentally, watch a lot of film, review data, get plenty of sleep and remain focused! I will eat after my driving stint, and then try to sleep for two to-two-and-a-half hours, and then back to the pits to start focusing on the next stint. My personal goals are to bring the car back safely after each stint, run consistently and take what the track gives me. I want us to have a strong showing and aim for a top-10 finish. Stay out of the pits and out of trouble!”
“This is about the 15th time I have run this race; I’ve won it with Alex, have finished second twice, third once, and fifth twice,” Wagner said. “My training consists of a lot of high rep weight training versus lower reps and higher weight throughout the rest of the year. I take up my cardio about 30%, so I am doing about an hour of high interval intermittent training five days a week now. The key to the 24 hour is to be able to unplug when you are not on deck or when you get out of the car after a stint. It’s paramount that you get out of the pits, take off the wet suit, get something to replenish the electrolytes, get some nourishment, shower, get a rub down and or just put some ear plugs in and check out. Lay down and rest, close the eyes, and save your energy for the next stint. So many people get caught up in the hype of the event, which I do too, as it’s incredibly exciting and really an amazing race, but you have to force yourself to detach from the happening and rest. The goal is to win. I am only going to win, otherwise I would stay home. That’s why I am with Alex Job Racing.”
Team owner, Alex Job, knows that the race begins in the shop. His crew has meticulously prepared the two Porsches and is ready to put them in the hands of his nine drivers.
“We have done all the work we can in the shop, now it is time to put them on the track,” Job said. “We will take a conservative approach at the Rolex 24 practices this weekend. The drivers will all get a lot of time in the cars and get comfortable with the track and the traffic. If we think we have a shot at the pole we will go for it. That is a nice one to get because qualifying is on Thursday and you have two days of bragging rights for your drivers, sponsor, crew and Porsche.”
Alex Job Racing is one of the most successful teams in sports car racing with 39 wins, including a 1999 Rolex 24 GT Class win. This record is supported by 46 pole positions and 84 podium finishes. The team has won three championships (GT in 2002, 2003 and 2004) complimented by their two GT class wins at Le Mans. The team also boasts seven Sebring 12-hour wins.
The GRAND-AM category suits one of the most popular factory produced racing cars in the world, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Developed for Porsche’s one-make series around the world, the new version of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is based on the road-going 911 GT3 RS. The power unit featured in the new 911 GT3 Cup is largely identical to the production engine of the 911 GT3 RS with the same output of 450 bhp and the same maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm.
Source: Alex Job Racing
