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Proto-Auto Commences Lola Testing for 2008 Season
Proto-Auto completed the first Lola Daytona Prototype
chassis test for the customer Krohn Racing this week.
Representatives from Proto-Auto, Lola
Cars and Krohn Racing conducted initial testing with a brief and
successful shakedown at Road Atlanta. The operation then moved to
Savannah for testing. Proto-Auto, a partnership of Krohn Racing and Lola
Cars, is the official constructor of the Lola chassis. The newly
designed chassis, with a CRD-prepared Pontiac engine, performed well at
the Savannah test, completing over 100 laps with one hundred percent
reliability during the first day of testing.
TRACY W. KROHN, Krohn Racing Team
Owner/No. 75 Driver: “In Miami, Martin Birrane and I proudly announced
this program. Since then, our groups have worked together, with our
suppliers, to produce an excellent vehicle. Martin and I are very
grateful to everybody for the hard work that has gone into this program.
Track testing is just another step in the process of producing a winning
car and meeting the expectations of our potential customers.”
MARTIN BIRRANE, Executive Chairman, Lola
Group: “I’ve kept in touch with the progress at the track and am
delighted with the updates I’ve been receiving. I’m sure the Lola will
be a fine reward for the outstanding effort that has been made in
producing the car. I’m looking forward to working closely with Tracy
Krohn and his team in 2008 and beyond. I anticipate an exciting start
for our new partnership at Daytona next month.”
NIC JONSSON, 2008 Krohn Racing No. 76
Driver: “We shook the car down yesterday for four laps to make sure
everything fired up while we were in Atlanta. Then we loaded her up and
came to Savannah and started off this morning. Actually we haven’t had
any problems. We’ve been collecting data and doing laps. I think we have
done 109 laps today, over 200 miles, I believe. That’s pretty good for
the very first time a new car hits the track. We haven’t had any real
mechanical issues. We’ve just made small adjustments -- things like
driver comfort. We’ve been validating the car’s systems successfully.
We’re going to try to get some more data tomorrow and try some things
aerodynamically, springs, stuff like that, and see how the car reacts to
different changes.”
RICARDO ZONTA, 2008 Krohn Racing No. 76
Driver: “It was very nice to drive the new car. Everything went very
well today at the test. I think the team felt very positive. The car is
very sensitive and anything we change you can feel. It is a lot easier
to work on the car like this, when you change something and feel the
difference.”
DAVID BROWN, Krohn Racing Team Manager
and Engineer: “I think we have made a solid start with the test program.
It’s obviously the beginning of our experience with the car. Between now
and the first race we have a lot of work to do, but we’re enjoying the
challenge. We feel we’re up to the task of making a good car.”
ANDREW BURSTON, Lola Lead Design Engineer
of the Lola Daytona Prototype: “The testing has surpassed expectations.
Although we have many small things to do, we have not met with any
unexpected items. I am encouraged by the performance of the car and the
feedback from the drivers. The group’s expertise and enthusiasm, I
believe, will ensure the success of the program.” Daytona Test Days will
be held at Daytona International Speedway on January 4-6, 2008, with the
46th Annual Rolex 24 At Daytona scheduled for January 26-27, 2008
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