and Brumos Porsche at Montreal Rolex Race

Despite finishing on the podium for the fourth time in the last five Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No 16 events, this past Friday’s Montreal race was a heartbreaker for Darren Law and David Donohue, as their #58 Brumos Porsche Riley ran out of fuel while leading, within sight of the checkered flag. 

The eighth round of the 2008 Grand-Am Rolex season held at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve saw the closest finish in series history as the top three cars finished less than a second apart with the top two separated by only 0.064 seconds.  Law and Donohue’s third place moves them further up the championship points race as they now sit 3rd.The condensed schedule Montreal=2 0race, which was held in conjunction with the NASCAR Nationwide series, allowed for one day of practice sessions followed by Friday qualifying and the race.  Law and Donohue utilized the practice sessions to fullest and were able to turn the second quickest time in the third and final dry practice session before qualifying.As has been the Brumos team’s strategy for the 08 season thus far, Donohue qualified the team’s Porsche Riley Daytona Prototype and placed the car 7th on the grid for the 4:15 pm EST time race. Donohue was immediately able to move forward at the start of the scheduled 200 mi event and by lap nine had worked his way to 3rd.  Donohue was up to 2nd place by lap 18 and then took the lead of the race on lap 20 as the #99 Jon Fogarty driven Gainsco car was forced to pit for a stop and go penalty.A full course caution on lap 22 opened the door for a strategic stop, and Donohue brought the #58 down pit lane on lap 23, handing the car off to Law thirty-nine minutes into the event.   Law left pit lane outside the top five but was c onfident that he had a car that would let him move forward.  Law was able to take 5th place on lap 32 as he got past the #3 of Shane Lewis, and then set his sights on the front four cars.  By lap 57 Law was able to run down the leading #01 car of Memo Rojas, and in a fantastic out-braking maneuver, got by the Lexus Riley to assume the lead of the race.Law held the lead for the remaining laps, successfully fending off the intense pressure of the #23 Alex Job Porsche Riley driven by Joey Hand.  Hand, who ran out of fuel at the start of the last lap, fell back, leaving Law with a substantial lead over the second and third placed cars.  Then, coming onto the front straight within sight of the checkered flag, Law’s #58 sputtered and finally ran out of fuel only feet from the start finish line.  The slow rolling #58 was caught by the #61 of Greg Wilkins and the #16 of Antonio Garcia.  The two cars split Law and set up the thrilling finish that saw Law have to settle for third.Darren Law Quote“It is good to have=2 0the Brumos on the podium again, especially with both the #58 and #59 in the top five, but I can’t really say I’m happy right now.  We had a great race and good strategy. The Brumos team again did an excellent job with the car, and to come up only a couple of feet short, well…  it’s hard to take.  That was probably the most disappointing podium I have had. That’s racing though, and we still have a very competitive package.  We’ll gather it all up and get back at them at Watkins this weekend. “Up NextThe Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No 16 travels next to Watkins Glen for the Crown Royal 200 the weekend of August 7-8.  Log onto grand-am.com for more info on the Watkins and for additional results for last week’s Montreal race.