Children's Tumor Foundation Car Qualifies 5th!

The Number 85 Children's Tumor Foundation Porsche GT3 qualified with the 5th fastest time of GT3 cars putting it throughly in contention for the checkered flag at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Drivers Wolf Henzler of Nürtingen, Germany; Richard Campollo of SantoDomingo, Dominican Republic; Michael Gomez of Madison, Alabama; Daniel Graeff of Miami; and Ron Yarab Jr. of Poland, Ohio, have a strong car in their capable hands this weekend.

After qualifying last night the drivers came out early this morning for a meet and greet with NF Heroes and their families. More than 75 people crowded the Children's Tumor Foundation/Farnbacher Loles Racing garage for their first glimpse of the newly unveiled car. Reactions were anything but muted as the NF Heroes found their names on the car and had photo ops with the drivers.

The race beings tomorrow at 3 pm, we'll have live updates throughout the day and on Sunday. Check back later this evening for pictures from today's festivities.

Win An Autographed Porsche RS Spyder Driving Suit - All Benefit CTF

The Children's Tumor Foundation announced today that they will be auctioning an autographed Penske Racing RS Spyder driving suit signed by Porsche factory drivers Sascha Maassen, Patrick Long, Romain Dumas, Timo Bernhard, and Emmanuel Collard. The auction will be conducted on eBay® with 100% of the proceeds going to the Children's Tumor Foundation Racing4Research program, a program that raises money for neurofibromatosis (NF) research. A genetic disorder, NF affects 1 in every 3,000 births and causes tumors to grow on nerves anywhere in the body. The auction begins at 6:00 p.m. (PST) on January 22nd and closes 10 days later.

The black and yellow Penske Racing Stand21 suit, donated by Porsche AG, is accompanied by Porsche Motorsport posters commemorating the team’s 2008 ALMS championship season. "This driving suit is a must have for die-hard Porsche motorsports collectors and fans," said Jill Beck, Racing4Research Program Coordinator for the Children's Tumor Foundation. "It's a one-of-a-kind authentic piece of racing history. The recent news that Porsche is shuttering their ALMS RS Spyder program for 2009 should make this suit even more collectible to the Porsche racing enthusiast."

The auction is timed to coincide with the 47th running of the 24 Hours At Daytona, January 24-25, 2009. The No. 85 Farnbacher Loles Porsche GT3 Cup car entry will carry the Children's Tumor Foundation logo and colors and will be raising funds during the race for NF research. The team will be competing not just to win our nation's premier automotive endurance race but to help raise both money and awareness of this often devastating disorder.

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.