SCC: Terry Borcheller - on the go in 2003

Terry Borcheller is ready for another busy race season, potentially taking him to 34 races in four countries this year. The Phoenix driver will again compete in the Rolex Sports Car Series and the Grand-Am Cup. He also hopes to contest a full ...

Terry Borcheller is ready for another busy race season, potentially taking him to 34 races in four countries this year. The Phoenix driver will again compete in the Rolex Sports Car Series and the Grand-Am Cup. He also hopes to contest a full season in the American Le Mans Series plus the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Rolex 24

He'll start the charge this week, with the Rolex 24 at Daytona - first race in the Rolex Sports Car Series - driving the new No. 54 Doran JE 4 Daytona Prototype for Bell Motorsports. Borcheller won the SRPII class in the 2002 Rolex 24 en route to the Rolex Series SRPII driver championship, his fifth professional title in as many years. He hopes to repeat his success this year in the top prototype class.

Borcheller and car owner Forest Barber of Fort Worth, Tex., will drive the Doran in Rolex Series competition this year. They'll have the added talent of co-drivers Christian Fittipaldi of Brazil and Didier Theys of Belgium for the 24-hour Daytona race.

Fittipaldi has enjoyed three seasons in the Formula One World Championship, victories in the CART Championship Series and a second-place finish in the Indianapolis 500. He will switch to stock cars this year, driving for Petty Enterprises. Theys capped a long list of firsts with the 2002 Rolex Series SRP driver championship. He has won the Rolex 24 race twice.

Bell Motorsports and Doran Racing will combine forces for the Daytona race, under the direction of team manager Kevin Doran. Bell Motorsports won three road-racing championships in 1998 and '99 and finished second in the 2001 Rolex Series GT class. Kevin Doran won his fourth Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2002.

and more

Borcheller will fine-tune his Daytona strategy with the first Grand-Am Cup race of the season. He'll drive the No. 54 Bell Motorsports GS2 BMW M3 with Forest Barber. The two combined for two victories in 2002. Barber also won world and national offshore titles in 1997, '98 and '99, and set the 1999 U.I.M. offshore open-class speed record.

"I am really looking forward to seeing the new Doran and also seeing the work that's been done on the GS2 car. The drawings I've seen of the Doran look unbelievably great. I cannot wait to see the car," Borcheller said. "I'm excited to be racing with Didier and Christian, that's going to be fun. I'm ready to go racing, ready to win some races!"

the business of racing

Although his intense race schedule leaves little free time, Borcheller has added a significant business component to his race program. After working hard to secure personal support and sponsorship, he wants to make sure his corporate partners get maximum return on their investment.

In addition to featuring his sponsor logos on his driver suit, helmet and personal items, Borcheller has negotiated agreements with his teams to carry the colors of his primary personal sponsor, K&N Performance Filters, on his race cars.

He is also supporting his sponsors with media and fan services. A new website will include Borcheller's race schedule, race highlights, photos, sponsor information and a personal insights section about his work with Motorsports Ministries and Phoenix high schools. In addition, he has contracted Sylvia Proudfoot to provide media services and Denis Tanney for photographic work.

"It has been a busy off-season in every direction," Borcheller noted. "Physically getting ready for the race and, from a business standpoint, getting all the contracts and proposals - it has been extremely busy. I'm definitely ready to get back to racing!"

details

The Grand-Am Cup season-opener is set for Jan. 31 and the Rolex 24 at Daytona for Feb. 1 and 2, both on the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway road course in Daytona Beach, Fla. SPEED Channel will televise 16 hours of the Rolex 24, on Saturday, Feb. 1 from 12:30 pm to 9 pm and Sunday, Feb. 2 from 6 am to 1:30 pm ET. The Grand-Am Cup race will air on SPEED Channel on Saturday, Feb. 8 from noon to 1 pm ET.