Terry Borcheller - Laguna Seca preview

record pace

Terry Borcheller will race at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, Calif., this 
week, one of his favorite venues on the American Le Mans Series schedule.  He 
knows the 2.238-mile road course well - he set the ALMS GTS qualifying and 
race-lap records there en route to the class win in 2001.

He acknowledges the Corkscrew, a blind sweeping turn from the highest 
elevation, is the track's defining element.  "There's really nothing like it that 
I've ever experienced," he said.

But he noted the turns before and after the Corkscrew also present a 
challenge:  "It's a technical track.  The left-right complex after the Corkscrew is a 
really technical, fast section.  The corner before the Corkscrew has some 
banking, it doesn't have a lot of runoff and it's really fast.  Typically, the 
problem is that drivers over-slow because it leads up the hill to the Corkscrew, 
and that straight is uphill."

Ferrari finesse

Borcheller, of Phoenix, and Shane Lewis of Jupiter, Fla., will drive the No. 
63 ACEMCO Motorsports Ferrari 360 Modena GT in the Sept. 7 ALMS race at Laguna 
Seca.  The 11-turn track layout rewards precise handling and braking - rather 
than horsepower - which should work in the Ferrari's favor.

"The track has a really good rhythm to it, it's fast and the Corkscrew is 
great," Borcheller said.  "It's not as much of a power track as a lot of them, so 
it should help the Ferrari."

Monterey magic

Borcheller says the track is only one of the attractions in Monterey.  "I 
like the beach, the weather's typically great, it's a really nice area and a 
great time of the year there," he said.  He and his wife Tracy will enjoy a few 
adult days, their first time alone since the 24 Hours of Le Mans race week in 
June.

details

The American Le Mans Series race is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 7, from noon 
to 2:45 pm PT (3 pm to 5:45 pm ET) on the 2.238-mile Laguna Seca Raceway road 
course in Monterey, Calif.  The race will air live on NBC starting 1 pm PT, 4 
pm ET.