Mid-Ohio: B-K Motorsports preview

Mid-Ohio the Next Stop for B-K Motorsports

Lexington, Ohio -- Following a disappointing run in last weekend's American Le Mans Series race at Lime Rock Park, B-K Motorsports is hoping to turn their luck around this Saturday in the Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio. Drivers Ben Devlin and Gerardo Bonilla come charged up to the Buckeye State, ready to steer the team's No. 8 BP Lola B07/46 Mazda around one of North America's classic sports car racing venues.

The 13-turn, 2.25-mile Mid Ohio Sports Car Course has been a driver and fan favorite for many years. The team also has fond memories of the track as it was the site of their first Series win in 2005. But a lot has changed since then, and both Devlin and Bonilla are confident that their solid runs earlier this season can be repeated here this weekend.

"Mid-Ohio is really suited for our BP Lola Mazda," Bonilla said. "There's a lot to like at this circuit because it's a more of a technical one. It's a real thinking track, a lot like what Lime Rock has now become with the new chicanes. But Mid-Ohio has even more variety. It's a technical track, but you have to be very precise with your steering and with your throttle inputs. You can find time by making very small adjustments to your driving. That rewards drivers that think and take a lot of notes. It has a great variety of corners too. Some are slow, some are medium and others are really fast with some good straightaway distance."

The Mazda MZR-R-powered prototype completed a successful test here a few weeks back, confirming the potential of the LMP2 machine on the circuit. With luck hopefully back on their side, the Wisconsin-based team will be looking to add to their top-10 overall finish record this season. The Mazdaspeed-supported entry came home seventh overall in the streets of St. Petersburg, followed up by 10th and ninth place overall finishes at Long Beach and Salt Lake City. Mid-Ohio could very well produce an even better result, something everyone is hoping for.

"We had a great test here a few weeks back, so hopefully we can apply that and move ourselves up the grid sheet," said John Doonan, Manager, Motorsports Team Development for Mazda. "We were very encouraged by the results we saw at Mid-Ohio. Given the conditions are the same, we should have a really great run this weekend."

The American Le Mans Series Acura Sports Car Challenge is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 19 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. NBC Sports will televise the race from noon to 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 20. XM Satellite Radio will air the race from 5 to 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 20. American Le Mans Radio will have live coverage onamericanlemans.com, which also will feature IMSA's Live Timing & Scoring.

-credit: bk