Testing report
Grand-Am
Two-day test for Automatic Racing CTSCC at Barber
Automatic Racing and Invisible Glass Prepare for GRAND-AM’s Southern Swing
Edited: Apr 2, 2013, 8:19 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
ORLANDO, Fla.—Automatic Racing prepared for next weekend’s GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race with a two-day test at Barber Motorsports Park. The test was an opportunity to get the No. 99 Invisible Glass BMW M3 set up for Barber’s new track surface, and a warm-up for GRAND-AM’s two rounds in March.
Co-drivers Rob Ecklin and Steve Phillips handled the driving during the test, and each of them were quick to declare the test a success. “The test went very well. The combination of car and drivers is much improved!” Ecklin says. “The balance on the car right now is really well suited for Barber. It’s very predictable, it’s coming off the corners well, and it seems to adapt well to that tight configuration.”
#99 Automatic Racing BMW M3 Coupe: Rob Ecklin Jr., Steven Phillips
Photo by: Covy Moore
Phillips adds, “We had a great two days at Barber. It really culminated at the end of the second day and showed that we accomplished a lot. We haven’t had a chance to get two back-to-back days like that, so it was a successful effort. Automatic always puts us in a great car, and they do fantastic preparation.”
That preparation will be key next Saturday, April 6, when the 2.5-hour race starts at 4:00 p.m. CT. The track surface at Barber was recently recut, and the result is faster lap times. Paired with 59 entries on the 2.3-mile track, having the right setup and running a clean race will be vital.
After Barber, Automatic Racing will have less than two weeks before heading to Road Atlanta for round four of the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. It will mark the track debut for both the series and the No. 99 Invisible Glass M3.
The test went very well. The combination of car and drivers is much improved!
Rob Ecklin
Phillips, who lives in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, has competed in SCCA, NASA and Mustang Challenge events at Road Atlanta. When he returns with Automatic Racing, he will have family and friends there to cheer him on.
“Road Atlanta is a great mixture of elevation changes, straight-line speed and high speed cornering. You’ve got a little bit of everything. We hope to have a great spectator turnout so we can put on a good show for the fans with the Invisible Glass M3,” says Phillips.
Automatic Racing
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Valiante set to sub for Negri at Michael Shank Racing
Next article Brumos team takes on extra challenge at Barber Motorsports Park
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Steve Phillips
Aston Martin Racing partners with Hasselblad for 2014
WEC
WEC
Aston Martin Racing partners with Hasselblad for 2014
Phillips, Ecklin make CTSCC Sebring debut with Automatic Racing
IMSA
IMSA
Phillips, Ecklin make CTSCC Sebring debut with Automatic Racing
BILSTEIN and Aston Martin Racing agree a long-term technology partnership
WEC
WEC
BILSTEIN and Aston Martin Racing agree a long-term technology partnership
More from
Automatic Racing
Deep field, deep storylines as Pirelli World Challenge heads for Mid-Ohio
SRO America
SRO America
Mid-Ohio
Deep field, deep storylines as Pirelli World Challenge heads for Mid-Ohio
SCCA Pirelli World Challenge GT, GT-A, and GTS teams head to Detroit for a double
SRO America
SRO America
SCCA Pirelli World Challenge GT, GT-A, and GTS teams head to Detroit for a double
TUDOR Championship teams test at Watkins Glen
IMSA
IMSA
TUDOR Championship teams test at Watkins Glen
Latest news
Toprak Razgatlioglu to miss the rest MotoGP season due to shoulder injury
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
44 min
Toprak Razgatlioglu to miss the rest MotoGP season due to shoulder injury
MotoGP teams told Qatar Grand Prix expected to go ahead
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
1 h
MotoGP teams told Qatar Grand Prix expected to go ahead
Honda confirms Diogo Moreira for factory team in 2027; David Alonso heads to LCR
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP 2 h
Honda confirms Diogo Moreira for factory team in 2027; David Alonso heads to LCR
Vincent Biard: “The Maserati GT2 was thrilling in 2026; next year we want continuity and progress”
Sponsored
Sponsored
Portimão
2 h
Vincent Biard: “The Maserati GT2 was thrilling in 2026; next year we want continuity and progress”
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe