In a collaborative effort by a North Bay sports car team, three drivers rise to challenge America's longest and most difficult sports car race. Tiger Racing/ Bavarian Tuning today announced that it will compete in the sixth running of the NASA 25 Hours at Thunderhill presented by the U.S. Air Force, December 5-6, 2008 in Willows, CA.No stranger to endurance racing, the racing team of Tiger Racing /Bavarian Tuning, will compete in the sixth running of the 25 Hours of Thunderhill along with more than 45 other racing teams for the chance to Endure the 25. The team is comprised of three skilled drivers: Jacques Andres, owner of Bay Bridge Motors, an Oakland-based auto body repair facility; John Larson, team principal and 2004 BMW M3 car owner; Billy Maher, veteran endurance sports car racer; and owner of Bavarian Tuning, Inc., a Santa Rosa-based BMW repair facility. The team also announced that Peter Vinsel will be Director of Race Operations.
Finishing fourth place in class and seventh overall in 2007, this determined local team seeks to achieve a podium finish at this year's lengthy race, it's sixth entry in as many years. Tiger Racing/Bavarian Tuning again will campaign its 2004 BMW M3 race car with its factory 3.2 liter motor. Painted in blue and orange, the M3 received notable attention last year with its comical slogan from a national media company advertisement, "Sorry Roger, you tiger now!"
The field of competitors are made up of six sports car classes, primarily dominated by Mazdas and Hondas, with a sprinkle of Cobras, Porches and BMWs, even a possible Daytona Prototype.
This year Tiger Racing/Bavarian Tuning improved on what they've learned during the last few years to compete its 2004 BMW M3 race car with its factory 3.2 liter motor in the ES Class. The car is now equipped with a new ABS system, new rear wing and improved suspension.
"With the improvements we've made to the car this year, we've got the best chance to compete and we are confident that we can bring home a top finish," said car owner John Larson. "We've improved the down force, the handling and the braking so we can attack each turn with confidence. We've got a great team that has a winning spirit."
"My favorite saying about this race is 'you can't win unless you finish,'" said Jacques Andres, co-driver and owner of Bay Bridge Motors based in Oakland. "This has truly been a collaborative effort among the three drivers with John Larson at the core. Each year that we've challenged this race we've learned something. This year is no exception. I think we have a good chance of winning this thing."
"From what we've learned over the last few years, we are able to improve the car to meet the rigorous demands of this grueling race," said Billy Maher, lead driver for the team and owner of Bavarian Tuning of Santa Rosa. "My summer experience competing in KONI Challenge races and an SCCA regional endurance race has prepared me to compete a higher level. We needed a car that can keep the pace and we have that now."
The ES class of touring car racers are unlimited in the range of speed modifications, but must have adequate safety equipment for their speed potential. In addition to the improvements stated previously, the Tiger Racing/Bavarian Tuning Motorsports BMW M3 has safety roll cage, five-point safety harness for the driver, a larger capacity fuel cell with manual shut-off switch in the cockpit and an automatic fire extinguisher.
The NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill presented by the U.S. Air Force, located in Willows, California, is the longest and most difficult endurance race in the United States. Sanctioned by NASA, the National Auto Sport Association, as 'the most severe endurance race on the planet,' the 25 Hours of Thunderhill delivers on that promise. With the race scheduled in December, the weather can and has wreaked havoc on the racing conditions. The large fields, nonstop action and prestige of the event attract top teams and drivers from across the country to compete in this race. Separated into six different classes by potential, there is racing from the green flag to the checkered everywhere on the track. The 25-Hours of Thunderhill takes place at Thunderhill Raceway Park, one hour north of Sacramento in the Willows foothills.
The field of competitors are made up of six sports car classes, primarily dominated by Mazdas and Hondas, with a sprinkle of Cobras, Porches and BMWs, even a possible Daytona Prototype.
This year Tiger Racing/Bavarian Tuning improved on what they've learned during the last few years to compete its 2004 BMW M3 race car with its factory 3.2 liter motor in the ES Class. The car is now equipped with a new ABS system, new rear wing and improved suspension.
"With the improvements we've made to the car this year, we've got the best chance to compete and we are confident that we can bring home a top finish," said car owner John Larson. "We've improved the down force, the handling and the braking so we can attack each turn with confidence. We've got a great team that has a winning spirit."
"My favorite saying about this race is 'you can't win unless you finish,'" said Jacques Andres, co-driver and owner of Bay Bridge Motors based in Oakland. "This has truly been a collaborative effort among the three drivers with John Larson at the core. Each year that we've challenged this race we've learned something. This year is no exception. I think we have a good chance of winning this thing."
"From what we've learned over the last few years, we are able to improve the car to meet the rigorous demands of this grueling race," said Billy Maher, lead driver for the team and owner of Bavarian Tuning of Santa Rosa. "My summer experience competing in KONI Challenge races and an SCCA regional endurance race has prepared me to compete a higher level. We needed a car that can keep the pace and we have that now."
The ES class of touring car racers are unlimited in the range of speed modifications, but must have adequate safety equipment for their speed potential. In addition to the improvements stated previously, the Tiger Racing/Bavarian Tuning Motorsports BMW M3 has safety roll cage, five-point safety harness for the driver, a larger capacity fuel cell with manual shut-off switch in the cockpit and an automatic fire extinguisher.
The NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill presented by the U.S. Air Force, located in Willows, California, is the longest and most difficult endurance race in the United States. Sanctioned by NASA, the National Auto Sport Association, as 'the most severe endurance race on the planet,' the 25 Hours of Thunderhill delivers on that promise. With the race scheduled in December, the weather can and has wreaked havoc on the racing conditions. The large fields, nonstop action and prestige of the event attract top teams and drivers from across the country to compete in this race. Separated into six different classes by potential, there is racing from the green flag to the checkered everywhere on the track. The 25-Hours of Thunderhill takes place at Thunderhill Raceway Park, one hour north of Sacramento in the Willows foothills.
