Mid-Ohio: B-K Motorsport - ALMS spotlight

B-K EAGER TO RECLAIM VICTORY AT MID-OHIO

Former Mid-Ohio winner B-K Motorsports is eagerly awaiting the Acura Sports Car Challenge at the 2.25-mile, 13-turn central Ohio road course this weekend. The team hopes to repeat its 2005 LMP2 victory with a newer, more competitive race package underpinned by a Lola chassis and a newly engineered Mazda MZR-R engine.

"The major differences are power steering and paddle shifting, which are great driver luxuries that we didn't have before in the Courage," said Bach, who won at Mid-Ohio with Guy Cosmo in a rotary-powered Courage two years ago. "We also have a lot more horsepower than we did previously. The Lola can get away with a lot more because it has a lot more downforce. So it's a lot more drivable, user-friendly type of car. We're a little bit lighter weight this year compared to last year when we were a little bit overweight.

"So those things all being said, it's just a nicer car to drive, a lot more competitive and a lot quicker for us," he added. "I think it's going to be very competitive for the next few races."

All that's left, it seems, is a trouble-free race. Bach and Ben Devlin have shown themselves to be contenders in what is the deepest and most competitive P2 class in Series history with entries from Porsche and Acura. Small issues and untimely fortunes have kept the team from reaching the podium so far.

"We know if we get everything right and put everything together, we can have a great finish," Bach said. "So it's good to see, but the little frustrations of things coming undone and not finishing because of small wiring issues and other things like that come along, but you've got to expect that with a brand new car. We definitely have got the potential of going up on the podium and doing well if we get our act together and get everything to settle in and finish the race, which I think we're more than capable of doing now this far into the season."

The next round of the American Le Mans Series is the Acura Sports Car Challenge, scheduled for 3:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 21 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The race will be broadcast live on XM Satellite Radio's Sports Nation Channel and American Le Mans Radio via americanlemans.com, which also will feature IMSA's Live Timing & Scoring. CBS Sports will broadcast the race from 2 to 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 22.

-credit: alms