Terry Borcheller - Rolex 24 preview

Rolex return

 

Terry Borcheller and Bell Motorsports/Feeds the Need will return to Daytona
International Speedway as the defending race winners in the biggest event of
the Rolex Sports Car Series season – the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Borcheller, of
Gainesville, Ga., will again drive the No. 54 Pontiac-powered Doran JE4 in
the 24-hour endurance classic. His co-drivers will be Forest Barber of Fort
Worth, Texas, Christian Fittipaldi of Biscayne Bay, Fla., Ralf Kelleners of
Germany and Paul Tracy of Las Vegas.

 

Borcheller doesn't feel pressure from last year's victory. Instead, he said,
it's a bonus for his corporate partners and those of the team. "We're going
into it with so many teams and drivers, being last year's race winner is
great because we're getting a lot of attention for Kodak, K&N Performance
Filters and all of my sponsors."

 

He also noted the driver lineup is a fan favorite: "I heard Speed Channel
did a pole about why people watch the Rolex 24 and Paul Tracy got 75 per
cent of the votes!"

 

pace to win

 

After winning the 2003 Rolex Sports Car Series driver championship and the
2004 Rolex 24 At Daytona, Borcheller knows what it takes to win. But
outright speed isn't the only answer.

 

"It comes down to having a car that's competitive; you've got to be close
enough to maintain a pace that is comparable with the leaders. That holds
true for the chassis, engine setup, team and drivers," he said. "I don't
think you need the lead, just run a pace where you can stay within a lap of
the leaders. It's a matter of staying completely out of trouble and really
thinking about conserving the car until Sunday morning. Then you evaluate
the pace you need to set. If you're leading and you have cars behind you,
then it's time to go racing,  take chances and go for it."

 

busy week

 

Borcheller is testing the No. 63 ACEMCO Motorsports Saleen S7R at Sebring
International Raceway from Jan 31 to Feb. 2, following a successful test
with the team's new Michelin tires in late January. He will then head to
Daytona Beach, Fla., for the Rolex 24 event week, starting with practice and
qualifying on Feb. 3 and culminating with the race Feb. 5 and 6, all on the
3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway infield road course.

 

details (ET)

 

The Rolex 24 At Daytona is scheduled to start at noon on Saturday, Feb. 5
and end at noon on Sunday, Feb. 6, on the 3.56-mile Daytona International
Speedway infield road course in Daytona Beach, Fla. The race will be
televised live on pee Channel from noon to 7 pm and from 8 pm to 11 pm on
Saturday, Feb. 5, and from 8 am to 12:30 pm on Sunday, Feb. 6. Borcheller's
Doran will carry an in-car camera to give viewers an inside look at all the
action.

 

Live timing/scoring and audio commentary will be available at
grandamerican.com.