Terry Borcheller - Road Atlanta preview

home faith

 

Terry Borcheller has good reason to enjoy racing at Road Atlanta in
Braselton, Ga., the site of the next American Le Mans Series race. The 2001
ALMS GTS champion likes the track and the area so much, he moved his family
from Phoenix to nearby Gainesville, Ga.

 

In 1983, Borcheller was one race from the World Karting Association national
championship, but he needed both a win for himself and a DNF for the series
points leader. Road Atlanta was the lucky charm and it happened, giving him
his first championship. He followed with a major win at Road Atlanta in the
1990 Skip Barber Invitational race, against the best drivers from all of the
series divisions.

 

In 2001, he found himself in a similar situation, this time in the ALMS.
When misfortune befell the powerful Corvette team, Borcheller came from
behind to win the GTS championship, his fourth professional title in as many
years. He has since added two more championships.

 

"Road Atlanta has really been a pivotal track for championships for me," he
acknowledged. "I believe in luck, but I think sometimes it's more divine
intervention!"

 

pro and con

 

With its challenging elevation changes and turns, the 2.54-mile Road Atlanta
road course can be a driver's dream or a nightmare.

 

"I enjoy the race track. It has a good rhythm to it if you're fortunate to
get in a car with a lot of power and good downforce in it. It's a really fun
track," Borcheller said. "It depends on how well the car is working. If the
car is working well, there are a lot of fun spots. But if the car is not
working well, those same spots are the worst parts of the track."

 

new and improved

 

Borcheller will drive the No. 63 ACEMCO Motorsports Saleen S7R in the April
17 race at Road Atlanta, sharing the wheel with Johnny Mowlem of London,
England. The pair have reason for optimism, with extensive development work
on the car since the season-opening race at Sebring (Fla.) International
Raceway last month.

 

"The team has just worked really hard to try to better the car and the
effort from Sebring. I think we learned a lot," Borcheller said. "The team
has been working on a new rear wing and a new shock package, and the engine
management system is new." 

 

team time

 

"It's pretty cool that we're having two races at Road Atlanta this year. I
know the spring race is a lot different from the Petit Le Mans, but it's
great to be so close to my house," Borcheller said. "We'll have the team
over one evening for dinner. It's always hard on a race weekend – something
always seems to come up, but we'll try to get them there. Every time we've
planned it, it's never worked, so I'll just wait 'til we get to the track
and tell them, 'Tonight, you're coming over!'"

 

welcome

 

Borcheller will enjoy the support of friends and fans from his home town of
Crystal River, Fla.; Destin, Fla.; Phoenix and several cities in Georgia,
including Gainesville, during the Road Atlanta race weekend. He extends a
warm welcome to all of them.

 

details (ET)

 

The Road Atlanta ALMS race is scheduled for Sunday, April 17 from noon to
2:45 pm on the 2.54-mile Road Atlanta road course in Braselton, Ga. The race
will be telecast live on CBS Sports from 1 pm to 3 pm. The ALMS Radio Web
and live timing/scoring will be available through the weekend at
americanlemans.com.

 

online

 

tborcheller.com