Rolex 24 of Daytona, February 2007

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"We're very happy with that qualifying time," Lacey said. "I think a lot of guys in the GT class went to a qualifying setup, but that hasn't been our strategy for the weekend. We're trying to get a good race setup that's driveable for everybody on the team. We started the day with a fairly harsh front end and we softened that up quite a bit to make the car a bit more compliant. We're happy with the time, we've got a good race car, the new motor package is excellent and the team is coming together really well."

Doncaster Racing also moved ahead in the first six hours. Race starter Dave Lacey, Greg Wilkins, Lance David Arnold, Tom Papadopoulos and Johnny Mowlem alternated stints, taking the No. 17 MineStar Tim Hortons Porsche 911 GT Cup car from 10th to fifth.

Dave Lacey: "I'm thrilled with the way the weekend's going so far. We had a great start. The whole race has been caution-free, which is highly unusual. It's been great running for us - this really playys to our strength because our drivers are so consistent in their times. The car is very sound mechanically; we were one of the last GT cars to pit under the fuel window."

Tom Papadopoulos: "This feels absolutely wonderful! I hope it's this good at the 23rd hour, so we can go even faster. It feels perfect."

Veterans of the Rolex 24 At Daytona know a lot can happen during the night hours. The Doncaster Racing car lost a lap to the pace car during a caution period at 9h25, but regained track position to move up to third after 12 hours. Lance David Arnold, Tom Papadopoulos, Johnny Mowlem, Dave Lacey and Greg Wilkins continued to alternate driving stints.

Lance David Arnold: "I'm driving consistently and that's important for the first part of the race. We're in a good position, we have good speed, so we'll see what happens in the night."

Doncaster Racing led the GT class during the third quarter of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, but the team's No. 17 MineStar Tim Hortons Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car was then slowed by a water hose leak, forcing a 13-minute garage stop that dropped the team back 10 laps. At the 18-hour mark, the team was ninth in class as Dave Lacey, Greg Wilkins, Lance David Arnold, Tom Papadopoulos and Johnny Mowlem worked to regain lost track position.

Dave Lacey: "The car was handling so well in the wet, but we always had an issue. The first issue we had was we had no windshield wipers; the windshield wiper had snagged on the tear-away. It was very difficult to see � I missed the turn-in a couple of times and I spun once. Butt the car was just really, really hooked up, I felt very confident in the wet. But it started to dry out and we were rolling in drier weather than I anticipated. The car was a real handful. It was fun, but it wasn't very fast."

Greg Wilkins: "The race for the GT car had gone remarkably well. It was really our best effort at competing for a win. Even though we've been on the podium a couple of times before, this race we were on the pace and we were running and able to stay in the lead. So it was really disappointing to have a small, little mechanical problem put us behind the wall. The record books won't look that impressive, but for awhile the run looked really strong."

Doncaster Racing posted a solid start to the season, leading the GT class during the second half of the race and finishing eighth. Season drivers Dave Lacey and Greg Wilkins were joined by Lance David Arnold, Johnny Mowlem and Tom Papadopoulos for the race. With two previous class podiums at the Rolex 24, the No. 17 MineStar Tim Hortons Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car was a strong contender for the class victory until a coolant hose leak and a throttle cable problem put the top step out of reach.

John Lacey, Doncaster Racing partner: "I'm a little disappointed. We obviously had the strongest car out there all day and one simple rubber water hose burst in the middle and took us out. But the crew did a fantastic job and we worked hard to get back in it. We're in 20th place � overall � in both classes and we're the junior class. So with 19 cars in front of you and 49 behind you, you've got to take your hat off to the crew and drivers."

Dave Lacey: "It's unfortunate the rad hose really let us down. Other than that, the car was unbelievable, the stops were absolutely terrific, the guys worked very well together as a team. Lance did a terrific job in the middle of the night in the rain and I was really surprised by Tom's pace � he did a terrific job as a new guy to the team. Gregg is a journeyman, he just keeps going around, he stays out of trouble. I'm thrilled with the effort, but the result is a little bit disappointing. I think we had a podium car and we got let down by a 50-cent piece."

Johnny Mowlem: "The Doncaster team put together a fantastic car. Twice we worked our way right back to the front and were leading when we had a small problem with a large effect. Obviously, I'm very disappointed right now that we didn't win because we had the car to win, but I'm so very pleased for the team that we made it to the finish."

Greg Wilkins: "It's great to finish a 24-hour race, regardless of where you finish. Just getting to the end is a great accomplishment. Finishing eighth [in GT] and 20th overall is huge for the team. We would have easily been on the podium if we didn't have that little part break in the 16th hour. I think the team did a fantastic job. For AIM to bring both the GT car and the prototype to the 24 Hours of Daytona for the first time and have the GT car finish eighth and the prototype finish fifth just is unbelievable. That should go in the record books."

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