by Mechanical at VIR
Brumos Porsche Riley Daytona Prototype drivers Darren Law of Pheonix, Arizona and David Donohue of Malvern, Pennsylvania, again showed competitive form in this past weekend’s Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 at VIRginia International Raceway by qualifying third in the 19 car DP class field. A mechanical issue early in the scheduled 2 hour 45 minute race put the #58 behind the wall for several laps however, and despite returning to the event later in the race, the Brumos squad would see the Law / Donohue duo finish 19th in class.
The #58 Brumos Porsche Riley was comfortably in the top 10 in each of the three practice sessions held before the Sunday afternoon race. Qualifying saw David Donohue hustle the Brumos to the 5th quickest time in the session on a 1:43.801 lap of the twisty elevation filled 3.27-mile natural road course. However, technical infractions found on two cars ahead of the 58 elevated Donohue to 3rd on the grid, making it the third consecutive top three qualifying run for the Brumos this year.
Donohue took the start amidst clear and dry conditions following a light rain shower in the morning. Donohue reported problems shortly after ten laps of the race had been completed and was eventually forced to take the car behind the wall and to the garage to address the problems. The #58 Brumos squad quickly went to work, and despite going several laps down and to the back of the DP field, were able to get the Porsche Riley back into the event.
Law and Donohue both took trouble free stints behind the wheel following the earlier problems, with Law bringing the #58 entry to the checkered flag with 43 of the race’s 77 laps completed.
"It seems like we’re just having a tough time catching a break," remarked a somewhat dejected Law after the race. "We’ve got some good speed, and we’ve been pretty quick at every track we’ve been to this year, but we’re having a hard time putting the whole thing together. The guys did a great job getting the 58 back on track today, and I'm glad I got some race laps in the car. We’re just going to have to roll with it right now, and hopefully some of the speed we’ve been able to show will translate to some solid finishes and maybe even a win this year."
Be sure to log onto grand-am.com for more complete results information on the Mexico City event as well as for info on upcoming Grand-Am races.
Darren’s next run in the #58 Brumos Porsche Riley will be at Laguna Seca the weekend of May 16-17 for the Monterey Festival of Speed. Law will then take a quick flight east for the ALMS Utah Grand Prix with the Flying Lizard Motorsports LMGT2 team the following day.
