Watkins Glen: Farnbacher Loles Racing preview

Farnbacher Loles Racing enters three Porsches for Watkins Glen

After three podium positions in the last two races, the Farnbacher Loles Racing team has the right momentum heading into the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen. Leh Keen and Dirk Werner will split the driving duties in their #87 Porsche GT3 Cup while Eric Lux gets his regular season co-driver back, German Porsche ace Wolf Henzler in the #86 Porsche. At Watkins Glen, Steve Johnson and Dave Lacey will be back driving the #88 with well-known road racer Jack Baldwin joining them for the six-hour endurance race.

Coming off a third place finish at Laguna Seca, and a win at Thunderbolt, Keen of Charleston, SC and Werner of Kissenbruck, Germany are now only one point out of the Championship lead. Keen likes the legendary Watkins Glen circuit, "I love the area around the Glen and the scenery... its nice, almost like a little vacation - so relaxed in the mountains and by the lake. The track is awesome of course, with many challenging corners to keep you on your toes. It might be my favorite race of the year! I've won The 6 hours of the Glen (co-driving with Wolf Henzler and Cory Friedman in 2005), so it's always nice to come back to a place you have stood atop the podium. Usually a lap starts at the start/finish line - but to me a Lap at the Glen doesn't start until your climbing the uphill esses, flat to the floor and come out the other end in 5th gear and ready for 6, to reach the ultimate top speed down the long straight! I think we have a good opportunity to be leading the championship at the end of this race."

Lux of Jacksonville, FL. is also very much in the hunt with 105 points. "I'm looking forward to racing with Wolf again and the whole Farnbacher Loles team. I spent 18 years living 100 miles to the West, so Watkins Glen is like a home track for me, and one of my favorites on the circuit. I would like to personally thank Wheel Enhancement for joining us as our newest sponsor. I'm hoping the weather will be in our favor so we can bring home a podium finish for them and the team."

After last week's podium finish with co-driver Dirk Werner in the very difficult Nurburgring 24 Hours, Henzler too, is glad to be back in the #86. "I'm happy to be back in Grand-Am for the Six Hours of The Glen and happy to support Eric in the Championship. I have had good races on that track especially in the wet (winning the class in horrendous conditions in 2005). Therefore I hope there will be some rain during the race."

Back in the US, Dirk Werner is focused on the race. "The 6 Hours of The Glen are always great for a driver because of the beautiful track, and you can drive a lot. It will be exciting to see, how the balance of performance will be between the cars in GT. We know that the Mazdas and Pontiacs will be fast, but our Porsches will be well-prepared, and if we are close to the front by the end of the race, Leh and I will give everything we have to win."

Johnson of Bristol, VA and Lacey of Toronto, Canada took the next three races off after a seventh place finish at Daytona in January. Joined by Jack Baldwin for the race this year, the drivers are looking for a good result at the Glen where they had a top 10 finish in 2008.

-credit: FarnbacherLoles.com