Alex Job Racing - Laguna Seca Preview

Alex Job doesn't want to win a championship this season - he wants four!  
With a strong season in the American Le Mans Series GT class, Alex Job Racing 
is closing on team and driver titles after already helping Porsche clinch the 
manufacturer championship.  The team's tire supplier, Michelin, is just one 
point from repeating as GT tire champion.

"We've won both the driver and manufacturer championships before, but we 
haven't won the team championship," Job said.  "Due to technicalities in the 
past, AJR has finished second several times, so it is on top of the list of 
goals to achieve this year."

Alex Job Racing leads The Racer's Group in GT team points, 170 to 152, with a 
potential 80 points to be won in the final three races of the season.  The 
team's drivers are first through fourth in driver standings, with Sascha 
Maassen leading (163), followed by his co-driver, Lucas Luhr (162) and 
teammates Timo Bernhard (139) and Jörg Bergmeister (138).  They are chasing a 
potential 86 points, including bonus points for the top class qualifier and 
the driver who logs the most time in each race car.

The team has set a tough target in the driver championship - to take the top 
four positions, with two drivers tied for first and two tied for third.  
"This sport is a mandatory two-driver format," Job explained.  "Both drivers 
have performed equally to achieve the championship and they should share in a 
co-championship."

getting there

Alex Job Racing strategists Mike Evans and Axel Hohl have a double challenge 
trying to ensure both race wins and championships.  Evans uses the point for 
most time in the car to try to equalize driver points, but he notes an extra 
pit stop for a driver change can be risky.

"Early in the year, I was leary about doing things to get that point at the 
cost of jeopardizing a win," he explained.  "Every time you shut the car off 
you take a chance it won't start, so every time you do an extra pitstop 
you're taking a gamble."

Evans said the ideal scenario would have the drivers in each car separated by 
one point going into the final race.  He hopes to set the stage during the 
Sept. 22 ALMS race on the 2.238-mile Laguna Seca Raceway road course in 
Monterey, Calif.  Lucas Luhr and Sascha Maassen will drive the No. 23 McKenna 
Xybernaut Porsche and Timo Bernhard and Jörg Bergmeister will alternate in 
the No. 22 Porsche.  

The strategy is complex, but Evans noted, "It's a whole lot easier when you 
have the best drivers and the best cars."