Rolex 24: Johansson Matthews Racing starts from second row at Daytona
5 February 2000
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
The Reynard 2KQ Sportscar will take to the track tomorrow for its debut
race with Johansson Matthews Racing in the Rolex 24 hours of Daytona and
will start this famed event in fourth place, the second row of the
80-car grid.
Reynard Motorsport launched the 2KQ sportscar in October 1999, to take on the challenge of endurance racing events in USA and Europe. Johansson Matthews Racing took delivery of their new 2KQ in November 1999 and have undertaken an extensive testing programme over the winter months in readiness for this event. Stefan Johansson, one of the four drivers piloting the #36 Judd Reynard 2KQ, is looking forward to the long race, saying, "As always at Daytona, there's never enough practice time. As our car is so new it would have been beneficial to have a little extra. However, we've been chipping away at improving the car and we'll be doing our best out there tomorrow. We hope we've covered our bases, but you can't tell until the race."
Jim Matthews, co-partner in the team with Stefan Johansson adds, "It's been a lot of hard work to get ready for this weekend, so all credit to the crew for getting us this far. I'm very proud of how John Wickham (Team Manager), Stefan and I have pulled an excellent group of people together. It's not only a new chassis, but a new team too. We haven't had as much preparation time as we would have liked, but we've been working through our race set up programme and are now looking forward to the race tomorrow."
The driver line-up is completed by young Brit, Guy Smith and Californian racer, Memo Gidley, who will be driving their first 24 hour event. Guy Smith comments, "Although I haven't had much practice time here (at Daytona), I'm really looking forward to the race tomorrow. I hadn't driven the track before this weekend, I've never driven a 24 hour race and I haven't been in a night race. So there's plenty of new challenges for me here. The banking isn't a problem, as I've driven ovals in Indy Lights, although passing 3 or 4 cars at the same time on the high banking is exhilirating. We had night practice yesterday, so I managed to get a few laps under the flood lights. At first it's difficult to find your apexes, but with plenty of hours of darkness in the race, it won't be long before I get used to it. The sheer amount of cars on the track is also quite new to me. It's a bit like driving on the M25 on a busy day, but with everyone going over 150 miles an hour."
Memo Gidley, adds, "Like Guy, I've not driven this track before, not raced in a 24 hour event, and not raced at night. Yesterday was my first run in the Reynard 2KQ and I'm very impressed. It suits my style as it feels like a Formula car with bodywork and reacts quickly. I had a few practice laps in the evening - it was pretty wild! For the first five laps I didn't know where I was going, but then I found my reference points and settled in to it. Although I haven't experienced this steep banking before it's not a problem, with the car on 100% throttle, and it's very stable. Physically I'm ready for the event, but I'm sure it's going to be tough mentally, especially when we'll be lapping cars so quickly."
Mark Smithson, Sales & Marketing Director, Reynard Motorsport, comments on the debut of the 2KQ,"Johansson Matthews Racing have done a great job. They have an enviable line-up of drivers with Stefan and Jim being experienced long distance racers, and Guy and Memo - the young guns, with big appetites for the race and the will to win. The Reynard 2KQ has a very tough test ahead. A 24 hour race is not the ideal starting point for a new car's racing career, but I'm sure the team will give it their best. The car has a bright future ahead and it's already had a great start, with a second row grid position for the race tomorrow.
Text Provided by Alison Hill
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