PRESS RELEASE - JLowe Racing Marks "Tremendous Effort" at Millville
August 31, 2008
MILLVILLE, N.J. (Aug. 31, 2008) -- Despite what it might look like on paper, the JLowe Racing team is pleased with its results in Sunday's race at their home track, New Jersey Motorsports Park in New Jersey. Jim Lowe, who started the race in car No. 63 Porsche GT3 said, "We had hoped for something more significant in the win column, but we still had a tremendous weekend and consider it a win for the JLowe and Porsche of the Main partnership introduction."
Lowe said the entire team, including Jim Pace who also drove No. 63, and Johannes van Overbeek and Tim Sugden in the No. 64 Porsche GT3, showed a professional effort. "The factors that led to us to not having better results were mostly out of our control," he said.
From the perspective of the No. 63, Lowe said, "We drove consistently and steady. Neither one of us ever left the blacktop." As Jim Pace took the wheel, he began to experience increased engine temps and had a radiator leak. He had to retire the car just a few minutes from the end of the race.
Due to a defective transponder, the No. 64 driven by van Overbeek and Sugden had to start the race from the back of the grid. "In the morning practice, Johannes was running good enough for a pole time so he was on the same pace as Tim (Sugden)," Lowe said. "He got in the race and started charging up from the back in unbelievable fashion."
Car No. 64 went from 25th place to sixth and then was punted off the road in turn one when it was hit in the rear by a Pontiac. "Obviously with damage to the rear, we lost valuable time taking care of it," Lowe said. "Tim Sugden, who finished the race in the car, drove in his typical expert way but we'd lost a lot of time and came in 12th. It was a tremendous effort."
Sugden himself shared his disappointment. "It's very frustrating. We had a chance of doing exceptionally well-a podium without a doubt." Sugden said the race started as expected and they had a plan of pitting early so they could get out on a clear track. "But there was a crash early," Sugden says, "everyone pitted early, and our plan was thwarted."
When van Overbeek was hit in the No. 64 car, Sugden says, "That was the end of that. There was a lot of damage. Of course, Johannes ran some good laps but we'd already lost a lap and a half. The race was over as far as any good lap. Our attitude was to win that race, and it wasn't a win from that point on."
Lowe says that in spite of how it might look, "It was a great weekend for us. We went from last to sixth to 12th-that shows a tremendous effort. Overall, as far as race results, it's not what I spent my nights dreaming about."
Even so, Lowe was enthusiastic about being on his home track where the JLowe team and Porsche of the Main Line debuted their partnership. "We had in excess of a hundred guests and a big presence on our home track," Lowe said. "There were a lot of people we didn't know wearing our caps and shirts. It's nice to see that already this is something people want to be involved in."
Now, the team is focusing on the January race at Daytona. "From this day on, we're preparing for the 2009 season," Lowe said. Sugden adds, "We'll have a car and lineup quick enough to win, and so everything we do from now on is to prepare for that."
JLowe Racing is a professional sports car racing team established in 2006 by driver/owner Dr. Jim Lowe. Running primarily in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, JLowe Racing fields Porsche GT3 Cup cars running in the GT class of one of the most exciting and competitive professional racing series in the world. With an early history of top-10 and podium finishes, the JLowe Racing team has already established itself as a driving force within the Grand-Am series. To learn more about the team and drivers, visit us at www.jlowe-racing.com.
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August 31, 2008
MILLVILLE, N.J. (Aug. 31, 2008) -- Despite what it might look like on paper, the JLowe Racing team is pleased with its results in Sunday's race at their home track, New Jersey Motorsports Park in New Jersey. Jim Lowe, who started the race in car No. 63 Porsche GT3 said, "We had hoped for something more significant in the win column, but we still had a tremendous weekend and consider it a win for the JLowe and Porsche of the Main partnership introduction."
Lowe said the entire team, including Jim Pace who also drove No. 63, and Johannes van Overbeek and Tim Sugden in the No. 64 Porsche GT3, showed a professional effort. "The factors that led to us to not having better results were mostly out of our control," he said.
From the perspective of the No. 63, Lowe said, "We drove consistently and steady. Neither one of us ever left the blacktop." As Jim Pace took the wheel, he began to experience increased engine temps and had a radiator leak. He had to retire the car just a few minutes from the end of the race.
Due to a defective transponder, the No. 64 driven by van Overbeek and Sugden had to start the race from the back of the grid. "In the morning practice, Johannes was running good enough for a pole time so he was on the same pace as Tim (Sugden)," Lowe said. "He got in the race and started charging up from the back in unbelievable fashion."
Car No. 64 went from 25th place to sixth and then was punted off the road in turn one when it was hit in the rear by a Pontiac. "Obviously with damage to the rear, we lost valuable time taking care of it," Lowe said. "Tim Sugden, who finished the race in the car, drove in his typical expert way but we'd lost a lot of time and came in 12th. It was a tremendous effort."
Sugden himself shared his disappointment. "It's very frustrating. We had a chance of doing exceptionally well-a podium without a doubt." Sugden said the race started as expected and they had a plan of pitting early so they could get out on a clear track. "But there was a crash early," Sugden says, "everyone pitted early, and our plan was thwarted."
When van Overbeek was hit in the No. 64 car, Sugden says, "That was the end of that. There was a lot of damage. Of course, Johannes ran some good laps but we'd already lost a lap and a half. The race was over as far as any good lap. Our attitude was to win that race, and it wasn't a win from that point on."
Lowe says that in spite of how it might look, "It was a great weekend for us. We went from last to sixth to 12th-that shows a tremendous effort. Overall, as far as race results, it's not what I spent my nights dreaming about."
Even so, Lowe was enthusiastic about being on his home track where the JLowe team and Porsche of the Main Line debuted their partnership. "We had in excess of a hundred guests and a big presence on our home track," Lowe said. "There were a lot of people we didn't know wearing our caps and shirts. It's nice to see that already this is something people want to be involved in."
Now, the team is focusing on the January race at Daytona. "From this day on, we're preparing for the 2009 season," Lowe said. Sugden adds, "We'll have a car and lineup quick enough to win, and so everything we do from now on is to prepare for that."
JLowe Racing is a professional sports car racing team established in 2006 by driver/owner Dr. Jim Lowe. Running primarily in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, JLowe Racing fields Porsche GT3 Cup cars running in the GT class of one of the most exciting and competitive professional racing series in the world. With an early history of top-10 and podium finishes, the JLowe Racing team has already established itself as a driving force within the Grand-Am series. To learn more about the team and drivers, visit us at www.jlowe-racing.com.
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