Category Archives: Phoenix Racing

SRRT heads to Barber

Subaru’s factory road race team is looking forward to competing in this weekend’s twisty yet flowing track configuration which will play host to round 3 of the 2011 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series. The Subaru Road Racing Team (SRRT) prepares and races a 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 4-door model in the series for Subaru of America, Inc.  The team’s two drivers see the April 8-9 race at Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham, Ala., as a great opportunity to post a result after this year’s earlier rounds.
 
“Handling is going to be a key factor at Barber,” said SRRT co-driver Andrew Aquilante, Chester Springs, Pa. “We had our Subaru as high as fifth in the running order last year. Because of all the tight turns on this track, ultimate horsepower isn’t the total solution that it is at, say, Daytona. Here, you need a car that handles well, and that’s Subaru’s ace-in-the-hole.”
 
Bret Spaude, co-driver, agrees.  “Andrew and I are focused on exploiting our strengths. We are looking forward to Barber”.
 
“Our Subaru and the Barber track’s configuration were made for each other,” said Joe Aquilante, owner of Phoenix Performance of Phoenixville, Pa., where the team’s cars are prepped and tuned.
 
“It’s a tight and twisting track, but with no issues during the race, this can be an excellent weekend to show the capabilities of Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system will help our car accelerate out of the corners.”

SRRT starts year off right

After a solid finish coming away from the first round of the 2011 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series at Daytona International Speedway, the Subaru Road Racing Team (SRRT) is eager to build upon that result at Homestead-Miami Speedway which will host the next round on March 4-5.
 
At Homestead, SRRT co-drivers Andrew Aquilante, Chester Springs, Pa., and Bret Spaude, Bushnell, Fla., face a 2.3-mile combination banked oval speedway and twisting infield road course for the 2.5-hour race. Daytona’s road racing configuration length is 3.56 miles; the extra running room makes a Grand Sports class race lap at Daytona about 13 miles per hour faster than a Homestead lap.
 
“That’s a good equalizer for the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI race car,” said Joe Aquilante, owner of Phoenix Performance of Phoenixville, Pa., where the team’s cars are built and tuned.
 
“Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system will help our car accelerate out of the corners, and since the banking is flatter, our handling advantage should come into play more,” he said.
 
“Even with our testing, we’re still tweaking the chassis and suspension settings after every practice session,” added Andrew Aquilante, who, along with team Crew Chief Kurt Omensetter, oversees the pre race prep of the 2011 WRX STI. “We’re in the mode where small changes can mean a lot in lap times and top speed, so we are focusing on details.”

SRRT leaves Daytona Pleased

Subaru Road Racing Team (SRRT) drivers Andrew Aquilante and Bret Spaude took the first green flag of the 2011 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series season in 17th grid position within the 32-car Grand Sport field, but climbed to 13th by race finish after two-and-a-half hours of running on historic Daytona International Speedway.
Unlike the NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers who use only the 2.5-mile high-banked oval, the sports cars racing this weekend use a 3.56-mile combination of the oval and the infield road course.
Spaude, of Bushnell, Fla., qualified the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 17th quickest, and drove the first 29 laps of the 60-lap race, climbing as high as seventh place. He turned over the controls to co-driver Andrew Aquilante, Chester Springs, Pa., who left the pits in 15th place, then proceeded to work around six full-course caution sessions to earn his finishing spot.
The SRRT Subaru Impreza is race-prepared and tuned by Phoenix Performance of Phoenixville, Pa.
Team owner Joe Aquilante was enthused by the finish. “I would have liked to have seen the race end under green flag conditions,” he said, “for the sake of all the drivers who have worked so hard to get to where they were – especially our staff. Our new Impreza WRX STI was flawless all weekend, and our lap times reflected what we learned here three weeks ago in the pre-season testing. For us to come away with a 13th place at Daytona against V8-powered cars such as BMW M3s, Camaros and Mustangs, we’re pleased.
“Brett and AJ did an excellent driving job by not getting caught up in the mistakes made by other drivers,” Aquilante added.
James Han, Motorsports Marketing Manager for Subaru of America, Inc. added, “The 2011 4-door STI sports model has logged a solid result here at Daytona, and our driver’s average lap times were easily four-plus seconds quicker than at this same track last year.  The team performed quick pit stops and driver changes plus our race strategy proved to be the correct one.  And our Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system afforded us better handling and traction in the infield’s numerous turns than most other cars.”
Spaude steadily moved forward during his 29 laps behind the wheel, even though he had to temper his enthusiasm for seven laps of following behind the safety car in the races opening 10 laps. He had climbed to seventh place by the time he pitted.
Four subsequent safety car sessions prevented Andrew Aquilante from cracking the top 10 of the Grand Sports class running order.
“I have to hand it to Andrew, who was in charge of the building of this new car over the offseason, and to one of the real Phoenix Performance shop veterans, Kurt Omensetter, our Crew Chief. Our Subaru ran quicker today than it was in the pre-season testing,” added Joe Aquilante.

Subaru Road Racing Team Looks Good for 2011

Yep, you guessed it- this one was buried in my inbox also. 

The Subaru Road Racing Team completed a successful test at Homestead Florida on Nov 30 and Dec 1, 2010, fielding a brand new 2011 STI prepared to Grand American Grand Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge specs. The team competes in the Grand Sports Class, against V-8 powered BMW M3’s, Ford Mustangs, Chevrolet Camaros and Dodge Challenger. In addition, the class includes Porsche 997’s and Caymens.

23 year old Team drivers Bret Spaude and Andrew Aquilante put the team’s new 2011 Impreza WRX STI through its initial shakedown and then high speed runs, with spectacular success!! “The car ran flawlessly” Aquilante commented “and as we dialed in the handling, it kept getting faster and more competitive” Ultimately, Aquilante set the fastest time of all of the Grand Sports cars, with Spaude and team engineering manager John Heinricy not far behind in their turns behind the wheel..

The new STI is based on the 2011 4 door model.

Heinricy’s IsoTorque Phoenix Performance Corvette Ready for SCCA Runoffs

Corvette vs. Ferrari vs. Dodge Viper battle highlights annual event –                                                                                               
 
In six of the seven times John Heinricy raced a Chevrolet Corvette in the Sports Car Club of America’s prestigious National Championship Runoffs, he has won his class in the Club’s most-prestigious event.
 
National Champion Scott Tucker defends his 2009 title this year with a Ferrari, but Heinricy has returned to the T1 class with the IsoTorque Phoenix Performance Corvette C6 to challenge both Tucker, and John Buttermore, who finished third in 2009 in a Corvette, but who has now armed himself with a 10-cylinder Dodge Viper.
 
Joe Aquilante’s Phoenix Performance LLC., group from Phoenixville, Pa., built the IsoTorque Corvette C6 for Heinricy, updating it to 2010 LS3 Grand Sports specifications.
 
The Runoffs, held on the legendary 4.048-mile Road America circuit near Elkhart Lake, Wis., have qualifying al this week. The Touring 1 class race will take the green flag at 9:30am ET on Sunday, Sept. 26.
 
The weekend’s events will be broadcast live on the internet at www.Speedcasttv.com, including the T-1 race Sunday at 9:30am ET
 
Heinricy, of Holly, MI, is a retired General Motors executive, whose name has long been associated with ultra-high performance cars, notably Corvettes. In 241 professional sports car races since 1984, he has raced a GM-powered car 239 of those races.
 
His 11 Runoffs wins, the most of all active SCCA drivers, came in race-prepared Corvettes, Camaros, Firebirds and Cobalts, and in four Runoffs classes. He also has two Road America wins in pro series races.
 
Heinricy did a Runoffs tuneup weekend at Road America’s famous June Sprints weekend, winning the T-1 class.
 
“This championship-winning program is the result of a good blend of top-shelf car preparation by the Phoenix Performance crew, hopefully my driving experience and skill, and technical and financial support from Torvec – the manufacturer of the IsoTorque differential we use,” Heinricy said.
 
Heinricy is a consultant to Torvec, in Rochester, N.Y., helping the company develop the IsoTorque differential, which will be available in the first quarter of 2011 for fifth and sixth generation Corvettes, and an application for fifth generation Camaros.
 
 
The Phoenix Performance/IsoTorque Corvette project also receives technical and product assistance, from Hoosier Tire, Rockland Standard Gear, Ron Davis Racing Radiators, ARP fasteners, CCW wheels, SKF Wheel Bearings, Brembo brakes, Hawk brake pads, and GMPartshouse.com.
 
“The car itself isn’t the only component vital to giving yourself the best odds for the Runoffs,” Heinricy said. “Road America has many 90-degree turns with heavy braking going into them from high speeds. Without the best wheel bearings, brake components and tires, you’re short-changing yourself and your team.”
 

Subaru Road Racing Team Optimistic Heading to Quebec

Team Travels to Penultimate Series Event on 2010 Schedule –

This weekend’s penultimate race in the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series, is unique because of the distinction as the only event of the season to take place in Canada, and is the only one held on public streets.
 
Subaru Road Racing Team’s driver pairing of Andrew Aquilante and Bret Spaude plans to be one of the top “street fighters” in Friday’s race  at  Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, with their 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STI in the Grand Sports class.
 
Aquilante, of Chester Springs, Pa., and Spaude, of Bushnell, Fla., are an enthusiastic and talented pair of 22-year olds who are now looking for their fourth top-10 finish in the closing chapters of this 2010 season.
 
“Preparing the all-wheel drive Subaru Impreza for the Grand Sports class this year has been a technical eye-opener,” said Joe Aquilante, owner of Phoenix Performance of Phoenixville, Pa., which prepares the team’s Grand Sports class 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STI.
 
“Our most-recent race in New Jersey was another solid outing for us and helped put some of the earlier, challenging events further into our proverbial rear-view mirror.
 
“This weekend, with the superb handling of the Subaru Impreza, its all-wheel-drive capabilities to help ‘dig’ its way out of all the turns on this 1.521-mile track, and the turbocharged engine’s power to pull us down the straightaways, we should be in good shape.”
 
The race is round nine of 10 in the season, and will take the green flag Friday at 7pm ET.
 
Added James Han, motorsports marketing manager for Subaru of America, Inc., “Prior to kicking off this campaign, Joe and I conceded that the 2010 season would represent a developmental year with a new driver in Bret [Spaude] and applying the performance capabilities of the Subaru Impreza WRX STI in the GS class after a successful string of seasons in ST [class].”   “The team has persevered through some challenging results, and I’m confident that we’ve made some positive headway.”
 

Subaru Road Racing Team Battles to 13th Place Finish

Subaru Road Racing Team (SRRT) drivers Andrew Aquilante, from Chester Springs, Pa., and Bret Spaude, from Bushnell, Fl., finished 13th in Saturday’s 2.5-hour GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series races at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
 
Held on the 2.258-mile, 15-turn circuit, and from a 15th place qualifying position, only 0..765 seconds off the pole, Spaude and Aquilante raced their 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STI to as high as seventh place in the 29-car Grand Sport field.
 
The race was round seven of 10 in the season for the Subaru Impreza WRX STI, race-prepared and tuned by Phoenix Performance of Phoenixville, Pa.
 
The race’s progress in its first half was marred by incidents which five times in the first half of the race had the field under control of the safety car, and there were green flag segments as brief as of three and four laps.
 
“We were very pleased with the mechanical reliability that we have been getting from the STI, especially in the high temperatures, and continue to work on adding more power and speed” said Phoenix Performance owner Joe Aquilante.

The next GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series event on the calendar, another 2.5-hour race, is scheduled for July 17, at New Jersey Motorsports Park, near Millville, N.J.
 
The Mid-Ohio race will be televised on SPEED TV to air June 26 at 1pm ET.
 
Sponsors for SRRT include Subaru Of America, Inc., Subaru Tecnica International (STI), Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT), Ron Davis Racing Radiators, Hawk Brakes, freeM of America, VAC Motorsports, Automotive Racing Products, Rockland Standard Gear, Quarter Master, Ecutek, Lista, Rotary Lifts, Cusco, Carbonetic, Hella, and Perrin.
 

 
 

Subaru Road Racing Team Eager for Mid-Ohio Return

Subaru Road Racing Team Eager for Mid-Ohio Return
 
– Team has won twice at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course –

Phoenixville, PA. – June 16, 2010
 
Subaru Road Racing Team (SRRT) drivers Andrew Aquilante and Bret Spaude are looking forward to an upswing in the team’s fortune as the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series races this Saturday at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, site of two of the team’s past wins (2007, 2008).
 
The 2 1/2-hour race on the 2.258-mile circuit near Lexington, Ohio, is round seven of 10 in the season, and will take the green flag at 1:15pm.
 
Driving a Grand Sports class 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STI race-prepared and tuned by Phoenix Performance of Phoenixville, Pa., co-drivers Andrew Aquilante of Phoenixville, and Bret Spaude, of Bushnell, Fla., have logged a season’s best fifth place at Lime Rock, Conn. Both drivers are looking to capitalize on the continual car development that has been the focus of the team this year.
 
“I raced at Mid-Ohio a half dozen times in my karting career,” Spaude said. “I’ve done a lot of WKA Grand Nationals here and won three or four of them.” Spaude has also won an SCCA National Championship in a car built by Phoenix Performance.
 
“We know it’ll be a challenge on the front stretch and the back straight at Mid-Ohio,” said AJ Aquilante, of Chester Springs, Pa. “But I feel the ‘esses’ plus ‘Thunder Valley’ and all the way back to the starting line, we have the pace over anybody because of Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.”
 
Aquilante added, “Our team’s 2007 and 2008 wins at Mid-Ohio with our third place in last year’s Street Tuner class race, show the Subaru Road Racing Team can win.”
 
The Subaru Road Racing Team’s two wins at Mid-Ohio were partially attributable to tactical pit stop timing along with rain showers at times during both races, proving a sizable advantage with the benefit of having the Subaru symmetrical AWD system.
         
“If there was a nice summer thunderstorm about halfway through the race Saturday, just enough to make the track wet but not bother the fans, it wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen to us,” Andrew Aquilante said, in a playfully wicked tone of voice.
 
“Barring any mishaps, and on a track where we’re right at home, we can focus on refining our race strategy and leveraging our efforts in car development,” said Joe Aquilante.
 
Added James Han, motorsports marketing manager for Subaru of America, Inc., “Mid-Ohio really rewards a well-balanced car and poses a challenging drive.  That said, we have proven the team management is adept at timing strategic pit stops.  Adding our core Subaru technologies, which include the Subaru symmetrical AWD system and boxer engine, we should be in good position come the end of the race.”
 
The race will be televised by SPEED TV to air June 26 at 1pm.
 
Sponsors for SRRT include Subaru Of America, Inc., Subaru Tecnica International (STI), Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT), Ron Davis Racing Radiators, Hawk Brakes, freeM of America, VAC Motorsports, Automotive Racing Products, Rockland Standard Gear, Quarter Master, Ecutek, Lista, Rotary Lifts, Cusco, Carbonetic, Hella, and Perrin.
 
About SRRT Phoenix LLC
SRRT Phoenix LLC represents Subaru of America Inc.’s  road racing effort in the 10-round GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series and is owned and managed by Joe Aquilante of Phoenix Performance, LLC. The team’s 32,000 sq. ft. facility is in Phoenixville, Pa., 40 miles west of Philadelphia, PA. Team drivers Andrew Aquilante and Bret Spaude race a Subaru Impreza WRX STI in the Grand Sport class.

 
 

Subaru Road Racing Team Ready for Season’s Midway Race

Subaru Road Racing Team (SRRT) drivers Andrew Aquilante and Bret Spaude are entered to compete in this weekend’s fifth round of the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge at the Lime Rock Park racing circuit scheduled Saturday at 3pm ET, as the series hits the halfway point of its 2010 road racing season.
Aquilante, of Phoenixville, Pa., and Spaude, Bushnell, Fla., a pair of 22-year olds, will race SRRT’s Impreza WRX STI, race-prepared and tuned by Phoenix Performance in Phoenixville, Pa.  Based on the core technologies found in every Subaru model, the team’s race car sports the Subaru Symmetrical AWD System as well as a horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder engine which is turbocharged in the performance-oriented WRX and STI trims levels.
“We’ve been racing a Subaru Legacy 2.5GT spec.B in the Street Tuner class at Lime Rock for the past three years and have worked up to the Grand Sports class, which is the top rung of the class ladder,” said Aquilante. “The team has been extracting a little more power from a very similar engine, but places us in a different league as far as the cars we compete against.
“Lime Rock is a personal favorite as far as tracks go. It has a long front straight where horsepower is paramount and some uphill-and-downhill twisty parts where our Subaru’s all-wheel-drive ability should give us an advantage,” he said.
“This will be Andrew’s third year of racing a Subaru at Lime Rock, but Bret’s first,” noted Joe Aquilante. “You’d think that would be a problem, but the way AJ and Bret share information and help each other, it isn’t.  Plus, Bret raced here last year in the ST class and knows the track. The two most recent rounds saw us get caught up as casualties in race crashes caused by other drivers,” he added. “Those unfortunate results have pretty much taken us out of any realistic championship aspirations, so we’re now focusing on winning individual races.”
Behind AJ and Bret, as always, are SRRT crew chief Kurt Omensetter, an 22-year veteran of Joe Aquilante’s racing programs, and multi-time professional road racing champion John Heinricy as the team’s technical director and racing-on-the-fly strategist and tactician.
Practice on the 1.53-mile layout is Friday at 11:20am and 2pm, with qualifying at 4:05pm. The race will be Saturday at 3pm for 2 ½ hours. It will be televised to air later on SPEED-TV.