Lime Rock: B-K Motorsports preview

B-K Motorsports Rested and Recharged for Lime Rock

Saukville, Wis. -- With the early summer eight-week break over, it's back to business for B-K Motorsports as American Le Mans Series competitors roll into the newly renovated Lime Rock Park this weekend for the Northeast Grand Prix. The fifth round of the 11-race championship marks the start of a long summer stretch of races, and the team's No. 8 BP Lola B07/46 Mazda is primed and ready to attack.

B-K Motorsports hasn't stood still since the last round at Miller Motorsports Park, as drivers Ben Devlin and Gerardo Bonilla have been busy developing the Lola-Mazda's package while other teams were off competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After completing multiple test days, the Yokohama-shod LMP2 prototype should be in good form for the upcoming stretch of races. It will be a grueling run that will take them across the country, with five events scheduled over the next eight weeks.

"Our team is constantly growing stronger," Bonilla said. "We've been very busy developing our BP Lola Mazda package during the 24 Hours of Le Mans break. This doesn't come easy, as its never just one particular area, rather its the effort of every department stepping up, including us drivers. The new configuration at Lime Rock will be a fun technical exercise. The busy summer stretch may be tough, but it's a great elixir that satisfies our need to be racers. I'm looking forward to it!"

Devlin, meanwhile, took time out to compete at Le Mans, making his first start in the twice-around-the-clock French classic. He achieved his goal of finishing the race, coming home sixth in LMP2 aboard a British-entered Radical SR9. With the one-off race now behind him, Devlin has shifted his sole focus back to the B-K Motorsports program.

"It was very short notice to do Le Mans, but it was a great experience for me," Devlin said. "To finish sixth was more than anyone could have asked for. It was a very good run. We learned a lot from that and we can bring some of that forward. Hopefully we can be there with Mazda and B-K together in the future."

This weekend, Devlin and Bonilla will steer the BP Lola Mazda around Lime Rock's brand-new "Optional" circuit layout, part of a $5 million upgrade and repaving project at the Northwestern Connecticut circuit. The 31-day overhaul of the facility was completed late last week. Track officials have stated that the upgraded 1.51-mile, 10-turn course will most certainly bring a new lap record.

With strong results in the last three races behind them, B-K Motorsports is as confident as ever to carry that momentum to Lime Rock, a place which traditionally has suited the lighter and more nimble prototypes. LMP2 cars swept the first four finishing positions overall last year, which bodes well for the team's Mazda MZR-R-powered Lola in this year's two-hour and 45-minute race.

"The B-K team has been working very hard since the last event in Salt Lake," said John Doonan, Manager, Motorsports Team Development for Mazda. "The team and their partners have done multiple test days both on and off the track. Lime Rock, with all the development that has gone on there, will be an interesting event for everyone in the field. All of us at Mazda are looking forward to some strong results in this upcoming stretch of races."

The American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix is race is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 12 at Lime Rock Park. SPEED will televise the race from noon to 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 13. XM Satellite Radio will air the event live on XM Sports Nation Channel 144. Additional live coverage from American Le Mans Radio and IMSA's Live Timing & Scoring also will be available at americanlemans.com.

-credit: bk