Grand-Am
VIR: Toyota preview
Toyota Eyes First Grand Am Daytona Prototype Victory TORRANCE, Calif. (Oct. 2, 2003) - After knocking on the door in recent Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series events, Toyota will be looking for its first-ever Daytona Prototype victory this ...
Published: Oct 3, 2003, 8:58 PM
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Toyota Eyes First Grand Am Daytona Prototype Victory
TORRANCE, Calif. (Oct. 2, 2003) - After knocking on the door in recent Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series events, Toyota will be looking for its first-ever Daytona Prototype victory this weekend in the VIR 400 at Virginia International Raceway.
Two Toyota-powered teams are vying for the distinction of earning Toyota's first victory in the series. The Doran Lista team will be making their third start of the season after finishing third in its debut race at Watkins Glen and qualifying second at the most recent event at Mont Tremblant. Doran Lista is joined in the Toyota ranks by the first-year Cegwa Sports team, which registered a podium finish earlier this season at Watkins Glen. Both teams campaign Toyota Racing Development-prepared 4.35-liter Toyota V8 engines.
"After winning the Indianapolis 500 and earning championships in the Indy Racing League and the CORR off-road series - with another title imminent in the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series - a Daytona Prototype victory would be a great way to crown Toyota's finest season ever in motorsports," said Jim Aust, Toyota vice president of motorsports and the president and CEO of Toyota Racing Development (TRD), U.S.A. "Both Toyota-powered teams have shown their capable of running up front this season, and the Doran Lista team has enjoyed some success in the past at VIR."
A pair of 2002 Grand Am champions will team for the Doran Lista effort. Didier Theys, the 2002 Sports Racing Prototype champion, set the fastest race lap at last year's VIR event on his way to a second-place finish. Bill Auberlen, the 2002 GT class champion, will join him in the Toyota-powered Doran JE4.
Cegwa Sport team owner/driver Darius Grala returns behind the wheel of the OzExe/F1 Boston/Goodyear Toyota. The entry also will feature sponsorship from Danville Toyota in nearby Danville, Va. Grala again will team with sports car veteran R.J. Valentine.
Sunday's VIR 400 will be televised on SPEED Channel at 4 p.m. The VIR 400 is the 11th round of the Grand Am Rolex Series. Media photos and results will be available on the Grand American media-specific website at www.grandamerican.com/media (not for public use).
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