Tony Dowe joins Godstone Ranch team
The Godstone Ranch Motorsports squad, which is operated by a joint effort between Michael Baughman Racing and the Leighton Reese Performance Group, will hit the track for the first time this weekend at the Roar Before the 24 as the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series prepares for its season opener. This will mark the first time ever that the team’s 2010 Pratt & Miller Corvette C6.R will be on track in what will be not only a shakedown and preparation test but will also give the drivers, engineers and crew a chance to work together and prepare for the grueling 24 hour race.
Godstone Ranch Motorsports will be proudly representing the Texas Heart Institute both on and off the track, gathering the support of the Rolex Sports Car Series community to aid the Institute in its mission to reduce the devastating toll of cardiovascular disease through innovative programs in research, education and improved patient care. For more information on how you can support the Texas Heart Institute please visit www.godstoneranchmotorsports.com.
“I’m really happy about being involved because there are a lot of good people and that always makes the job easier. The lead up to a 24 hour race requires a lot of hard work, I made a number of memos for the drivers already and told them that I am of the “Train hard, fight easy" school, so this test weekend is going to be hard, we have a lot of things to cover and information to gather so that when we go back to the race we are not trashing around like headless chickens.
The object is to win the race, in 1988 was the first time that I went with Jaguar to Daytona and it was our first race as a team and we won it. I always feel that you should always show up at the track with the expectation that you are going to win simply because the people that you’ve involved yourself with should be of a like mind and have the same goals. We have a great group of people in the team so I’m looking forward to go out there and win for the Texas Heart Institute."
“It’s been a long time coming for Tony and I to be able to work together again, I’ve always respected him, his ability to strategize and to work with all the right components of the team is going to be very positive for everybody. He is going to play a very important role in the team and I am very happy that he is part of Godstone Ranch Motorsports.
We got to see the car and get a seat fitting a few weeks ago and I’m definitely excited, even though it’s a new car the team has a lot of experience and track time and I think we’ll be very quick right out of the box. It’s been a long lead up to this test, we’ve been working hard to make sure everybody supports the Texas Heart Institute and now we’ll also be able to get out on the track and show everybody what we can do."
“Things have been a little crazy for me in the off season. A drive fell through and then I was back on the market looking for a job. This opportunity with LRPG for the season and Godstone Ranch Motorsport for the Rolex 24 ended up coming together after the drama, and I am very excited about the possibilities. Obviously I know the team very well and now they can get the job done. I can’t wait to get in the seat of the new Corvette C6 that has been built over the winter. I was at the shop the other day and had a seat fitting and couldn't stop staring at the car. It looks awesome!! When driving a Corvette there is always a lot to live up to. It’s the all American sports car, it’s capable of getting the results, now we just have to get on with it.
The Roar Before the 24 will tell a lot and we definitely have our work cut out. It will be the first time the car hits the track so we have a lot to learn. Tony Dowe has joined the team and with his vast experience and knowledge base I think we will be able to communicate well and get the Vette hooked up. There are three days and we can't afford to miss a beat, especially with how strong the competition is looking. My teammates are new to the car but obviously not all new to the event, so I believe they will gather it up quickly. We all are hungry for the Victory in a few weeks and want to run our best for the Texas Heart Institute and all our supporters."
“I had the chance to go to Minnesota and meet the whole team and also got to see the car coming together. I had a seat fitting and everything felt great, I was very comfortable. I like what I see, it’s a great team, a good group of guys I’m excited to get out there and run up front.
I don’t have specific goals for this weekend, it’s just a matter of getting in the car and getting comfortable with it. I’ve been at Daytona in a car twice before so this time I think I will be a lot more relaxed. Time wise I would be happy if I could get in the top five during the test and just kept working with Tony Dowe and my teammates to improve the car and get it ready for the race."
“First, we all want to see how the shorter frame and increased down force will behave at a high speed track like Daytona. Having Tony Dowe on the box with Leighton and Mike, provides us with an endurance racing brain trust which I think will speed up our learning curve dramatically."
Godstone Motorsports Ranch will be on track for the first time at the Roar Before the 24 on January 8-10. The 48th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona will take place January 30-31 and will be shown LIVE on SPEED. For more information please visit www.godstoneranchmotorsports.com, and www.grand-am.com.