The first season of the championship began a short five months ago in May. The field was extremely competitive and at the end of the first weekend, JL Racing finished midpack and realized there was a lot of room for improvement. A goal was set to finish in the top ten for the year. Throughout the following race weekends, the suspension was overhauled, new brakes installed and aerodynamics improved.
As the team began to move up the point standings, the last two months were entirely focused on the engine with extensive dyno time and increased testing. The team then began to regularly place within the top ten. The month of September has seen all the hard work pay off, with a huge win at the BEMC Indian Summer War Bonnet three hour endurance race. The final weekend of racing saw the team finally claim fifth position in the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship.
Team Manager and Driver, John Lockhart summed up the season: "We made some changes with the team at the beginning of the season and all the hard work started to pay off as we just kept on progressing throughout the season. Fifth place in the championship is a great result for us. The Saab 93 had excellent performance and every weekend we found more speed through our hard work and development." He also added: "We are very fortunate to be partnered with Saab Canada. Their support has allowed us to develop the 93 to where we are now very competitive in Canada's most prestigious race series. We will continue the relationship in 2008, expand to two cars and look to improve our position on the podium."
The high finish in the standings caps a season of Saab motorsport development that will stand the team in good stead for the 2008 race season where new circuits and an increasingly competitive field will raise the bar yet again. The team is already looking to develop two new Saab 93 race cars based on key data collection from the current season and will continue the Saab heritage of performance innovation.
About JL Racing
JL Racing is one of Canada's premier sport sedan racing teams. Formed in 2000 by three Canadians, the team competes in top-rate, competitive, professional racing. In 2006, JL Racing formed a partnership with Saab Canada to race and showcase Canada's only Saab 93 race car. The team has made headlines several times with a first race, first place finish and subsequent podium finishes in the Saab 93. Photo gallery, video reports and more on www.jlracing.net .
From Jason Sharpe for Phil Reilly – JL Racing
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