SCC: Terry Borcheller's 2005 season review

Terry Borcheller enjoyed another fast season in 2005. Although the results didn't match his previous run to six professional sports-car championships, he still notched four pole positions, one track record and seven podium finishes.

Borcheller, of Gainesville, Ga., competed in 26 races in three series, driving a Saleen S7R in the American Le Mans Series GT1 class, Pontiac-powered Doran JE4 and Riley Mk XI race cars in the Rolex Sports Car Series DP class and both a BMW M3 and a Nissan 350Z in the Grand-Am Cup GS class.

His strongest results were in the American Le Mans Series, where he finished third in GT1 behind the championship Corvette team. He earned two pole positions, one with a record qualifying lap at Laguna Seca Raceway, led three races and scored six podium finishes. His Rolex Series results included a pole position, race lead and podium finish. He added another pole position in Grand-Am Cup and led two of the three races he contested.

His personal highlights? "In the ALMS, the poles, especially the last one at Laguna over the factory Aston Martins and the factory Corvette team. Also, at Road Atlanta, we basically went from last to first on track. We were a lap down so we weren't credited as being first, but we drove by every car in our class. In the Rolex Series, the last race in the Doran, getting the pole was huge."

Borcheller noted the strong calibre of drivers and entrants made wins and championships more elusive this year, but he welcomes the competition.

"The competition level and the rise of fan attendance for sports-car racing has gone off the charts. It's been a great thing for everybody, but it's extremely more competitive," he said. "It's going to require a top-drawer effort to be able to win races and championships. I'm looking forward to trying to find that connection over the winter, and hopefully going into next season with the best opportunity to win -- not only races, but a championship -- and also give my sponsors the most and best exposure."

One thing is certain -- Borcheller will stay in sports-car racing: "This is where I've built my career. People ask me where I want to go from here, but I'm doing exactly what I want to be doing."

thanks

Borcheller offered mega-thanks to the personal sponsors who supported him all season -- K&N Performance Filters, Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, Bell Helmets and Alpinestars.

-Sylvia Proudfoot