Dallara
   
   

 

Doran Racing Looking for Third Podium in a Row
On Saturday at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

LEBANON, Ohio, July 7 — Doran Racing hopes to post its third consecutive podium finish when IMSA's Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge series makes its only appearance on foreign soil this year and stages a 2.5-hour race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on Saturday at 1:25 p.m. Eastern time.

The Lebanon, Ohio-based team's #14 Nissan 370Z driven by Brad Jaeger and B.J. Zacharias finished third at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on May 2 and also at Watkins Glen International on June 27. Jaeger, of Charlottesville, Va., and Zacharias, of Cincinnati, would like nothing better than to be standing on the top step of the podium on Saturday after their stints in the #14.

Both the #14 and its sister car, the #41, advertise Nissan's popular GT Academy that develops gamers into race car drivers. Two champions of the Academy, Nick McMillen of Salem, Ore., and Steven Doherty of Plainfield, Ill., will drive the #41. Both will be making their first start at the 2.459-mile, 10-turn road course in Bowmanville, Ontario formerly known as Mosport International Raceway.

Two 45-minute practice sessions are slated for 10:15 a.m. and 1:05 p.m. on Friday before the Grand Sport class qualifies at 5:50 p.m. that same day, which is also Jaeger's birthday. The green flag is scheduled to drop on the race at 1:25 p.m. Saturday. All times are Eastern.

The race will be streamed live on IMSA.com. It will also air at noon Eastern on Sunday, July 19 on Fox Sports 1.

Following the Glen, the next CTSCC event is July 24-25 at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn.

Additional information is available on DoranRacing.com and the team's Facebook page.

Driver pre-race quotes follow:

Brad Jaeger: "We're coming off a great weekend with the podium finish at Watkins Glen. We're definitely carrying a lot of momentum going into Mosport. I don't think the results we got there last year are representative of the potential we have there. Last year we got caught out by a yellow flag that sort of ruined our strategy. If that yellow hadn't come out, we could have been in line for a podium finish. So I have high hopes to get another podium or a top-five finish this weekend.

"I think we'll be quick. We'll just have to stay out of trouble, have good strategy, and be there at the end.

"We'll be qualifying on my birthday. I don't have any big plans for my birthday; hopefully we can save the celebrating for spraying champagne on the podium on Saturday!"

B.J. Zacharias: "I'm looking forward to Mosport. Team prep has really pushed us forward and we now have two podiums in a row with the #14 Doran Nissan Nismo 370Z. We just need to keep 'chopping wood.'

"Mosport is one of the most challenging tracks in North America. There are not a lot of straight-laid passing zones or just hard brake zones. It's all high-speed momentum, and the track surface doesn't provide a lot of grip.

"We had a quick car during the race last year, but we found it was a difficult place to race. If we get a clear track we can be dangerous, so the emphasis is going to be on track position and strategy.

"Brad has a done a marvelous job in qualifying and the opening stint. It really helps the cause when we can start and race in the top spots.

"Kevin has been spot-on with our setup.

"The points are tight right now, and a good weekend of hard-fought digging puts us in the thick of it. But right now we have our sights set on parking our Nissan Nismo 370Z in the winner's circle.

"We are going to really try to get the GT Academy Nissan Nismo #41 car up to speed as quickly as we can too. We would love for both Zs to be up on the podium when the checkered flag falls come Saturday."

Nick McMillen:  "Mosport will again be a new-to-me track when I arrive. This will be my third race with Steve Doherty this season. If we can catch some luck, I believe we have the potential to run at the front.

"We have been unfortunate the last couple races with a faulty alternator at Laguna and then a completely fogged windshield in the rain at Watkins Glen. Our combined pace is quick; we just need things to run smoothly to prove it when it counts. I know we are both determined to find our way to the front of the pack at Mosport and we will be striving for nothing less come race day."

Steven Doherty: "The third time is the charm, right? After two races with some bad luck, the third at Mosport has to be when the luck comes our way. I haven't been to Mosport yet. So this time it will be a learning curve for both Nick and me!

"With long, sweeping (and fast) corners, it looks like the Doran 370Z should be pretty fast. However, there are some long straights where the big V8 cars can catch back up. Again I think the key to success will be long runs. If lady luck swings our way we will be able to run down the heavier cars towards the end of the race.

"Either way I am excited to have some consecutive races now! After only having two races in the last nine months or so, it feels great to be back on the road and getting comfortable with the team and the machine. I'm looking forward to getting a clean race and a clean shot at running up front!"

For more information about the series, see imsa.com.
For more information on Doran Racing, see DoranRacing.com.
The team also has a Facebook page.

 

 
powered by cyberspeed