Wolf Henzler to drive #85 CTF Porsche GT3

Farnbacher Loles Racing will continue its strong association with Porsche in 2009. The team will again support six Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 GT-class Porsche 911 GT3 machines at the season-opening Rolex 24 of Daytona on Jan. 24 - 25. The initial lineup includes drivers from nine countries and five continents.

Porsche factory driver Wolf Henzler of Nürtingen, Germany, and Richard Westbrook of London, England, will do double duty in the 24-hour race. They are both slated to drive the No. 87 Porsche GT3 with Werner and Leh Keen of Charleston, S.C. Henzler will also drive the No. 85 Farnbacher Loles/Children's Tumor Foundation Porsche GT3 with Michael Gomez of Madison, Ala., Daniel Graeff of Miami and Ron Yarab Jr. of Poland, Ohio. Westbrook will also team with Steve Johnson of Bristol, Va., Dave Lacey of Toronto (born in Durban, South Africa) and Robert Nearn of London, England, in the No. 88 Porsche GT3.

2009 Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona to test doctors’ endurance but not resolve

Two doctors will take to the road on January 24, at the Daytona International Speedway to raise funds and awareness for their patients, children with a rare genetic disorder. Ron Yarab, Jr. M.D., of Poland, Ohio, a physical medicine and rehab physician and Michael Gomez, M.D., of Madison, Alabama, a child psychiatrist, have both worked with children affected by neurofibromatosis (NF) and will raise funds for their cause through a unique fundraising campaign founded by the Children’s Tumor Foundation (www.ctf.org).

“As a child psychiatrist, I have assisted children who have struggled with genetic disorders, including Neurofibromatosis,” said Gomez. “When I learned of the opportunity to increase awareness for the Children's Tumor Foundation via my passion of auto racing, my support was without hesitation or reservation.”

The doctors will be splitting time with two additional teammates as they drive the Farnbacher Loles Racing #85 Children’s Tumor Foundation Porsche GT3 at the 47th running of the Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona, the nation’s premier automotive endurance race. Each lap the team completes will raise money pledged by donors to the Children’s Tumor Foundation’s Racing4Research program, a program that raises money for clinical trials of potential NF drug treatments.

“The endurance aspect of the race is similar to the endurance aspect of leading a life with neurofibromatosis,” said George Orfanakos, CTF Executive Director. “After 24 straight hours of racing the cars are often very beat up and very run down. The Children’s Tumor Foundation is competing in a race to prevent children from suffering the potentially devastating effects that a lifetime of neurofibromatosis can have on the body and these doctors are helping make sure we win the race. ”

This is the third year of the Racing4Research program that in its first two years raised $150,000. This year the Foundation hopes the program will match the total of the first two years, which would allow the funding of more than 10 separate clinical trials.

Race Recap

After leading much of the race the 86 car suffered some transmission difficulties but the 87 car stepped up and completed 646 laps to finish in the 8th place position in the GT class! Below are the race results for the three CTF cars that competed in the race. More photos and reflections to come.

POS	NO.	CLASS	CLASS POS.	DRIVER	TEAM/CAR	LAPS	BEST LAP	(#)	AVG MPH	SPONSORS
18	87	GT	8	Bernhard / Ehret / Farnbacher / Werner	Farnbacher Loles / Porsche GT3 Cup	646	1:51.791	7	95.779	Farnbacher Loles Motorsports
22	88	GT	12	Curran / Kaffer / Lacey / Stippler / Wilkins	Farnbacher Loles / Porsche GT3 Cup	637	1:52.293	7	94.331	Farnbacher Loles Motorsports
33	86	GT	19	Bergmeister / Henzler / Keen / Lux / Maassen	Farnbacher Loles / Porsche GT3 Cup	580	1:51.658	40	85.947	Farnbacher Loles Motorsports

Images

5:30 Update

The 88 car has been pulled in after hitting a wall. The 86 car has been leading for the last 25 laps or so but now sits in third place with the 87 still trailing by several laps. More updates and photos from this morning to come (hopefully - internet connections aren't what they used to be).

Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona Update

The 88 car has lost its front left headlight but is still running well. Earlier the 88 and 86 ran side by side for several minutes (more likely several seconds but it was very exciting). We are approaching the two and a half hour mark and the first driver changes were made about twenty minutes ago.

The 86 car is currently running in third with the 87 and 88 cars trailing about a lap behind the leaders. In speaking with crew members earlier today the primary concern in the early running was to maintain a good speed without putting undo pressure on the car. We will see if the strategy pays off as the day goes on.

Engines Ready?

Hello and welcome to the Racing4Research Live Blog from the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. We're about a half an hour away from the start of the race on an overcast day here in Central Florida. The cars have been move to the grid and many fans are now out on the track taking pictures and milling about.

Earlier today staff and volunteers from the Children's Tumor Foundation convened at the CTF/Farnbacher Loles garages to meet the drivers and have a first-hand look at the 86, 87 & 88 cars that will compete in todays race.

Three-year-old Jesse Markland starred as photographers and videographers filmed him sitting in the driver's seat of the 86 car that bears a decal proclaiming it the NF Hero Jesse Markland Car.

Check in regularly throughout the day as we Race4Research to find treatment and a cure for neurofibromatosis.

Visit This Blog for Live Updates on the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona

Starting on Saturday, January 26.