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.”
