North Bay's Tiger Racing heads to challenge America's longest and most difficult sports car race
SANTA ROSA, CA — For the sixth year in a row, a North Bay sports car team will challenge America's longest and most difficult sports car race. Tiger Racing/Bavarian Tuning announced that it will compete in the sixth running of the NASA 25 Hours at Thunderhill presented by Mothers® Polishes • Waxes • Cleaners on December 5 and 6, 2008 in Willows, CA.
Competing with 18 other BMW teams and more than 55 other racing teams, Tiger Racing/Bavarian Tuning looks to improve its previous performance in the 2004 BMW M3. New to the team this year is Tony Colicchio, owner of TC Designs in Milpitas, Ca.. Adding to the driver line-up are John Larson, team principal and M3 car owner; and Billy Maher, veteran endurance sports car racer; and owner of Bavarian Tuning, Inc., a Santa Rosa-based BMW repair facility. Returning as Director of Race Operations will be Peter Vinsel.
Finishing on the podium just once is five years, Tiger Racing/Bavarian Tuning is determined to achieve a podium finish at this year's lengthy race. Tiger Racing/Bavarian Tuning again will campaign its 2004 BMW M3 race car with its factory 3.2 liter motor in the ES class of competitors.
The field of competitors are made up of six sports car classes, primarily dominated by Acuras, Hondas and Mazdas. BMWs, Cobras, Mitsubishis, Porches, and Scions.
"As a team owner, I'm excited to be back in the mix this year and equally excited to have Tony aboard," said John Larson, owner of Tiger Racing. "Tony brings a fresh perspective to our team. This year I think we have our best chance to do well. The BMW M3 is amazing and our team is as good as its ever been, with a special thanks to Billy Maher for all his long hours. I look forward to a great effort."
"We have rebuilt the entire car this year and improved our ABS system with a new power steering system that will make the driving effort so much easier especially during the later hours of the race," said Billy Maher, owner of Bavarian Tuning of Santa Rosa. "We've focused on our suspension set up and it is where we want it to be. I think we can earn a podium finish. The team is strong and all our members are seasoned endurance crew members."
"I am really honored to be a part of the Tiger Racing Team," said Tony Colicchio, owner of TC Designs in Milpitas, Ca. " The race will be a tough event and a lot of hours, but I am looking forward to the competition and a podium finish for the team."
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 2009 25 Hours of Thunderhill presented by Mothers® Polishes • Waxes • Cleaners will commence its sixth annual run on December 5th at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, CA. A traditional feature event on the NASA calendar, this race is a season highlight for endurance racing teams from all over the world. Presently, more than 70 teams are registered for the longest closed course road race in North America. 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 and should result in intense competition for the big win. The 25 Hours of Thunderhill takes place at Thunderhill Raceway Park, one hour north of Sacramento in the Willows foothills.
