May 22, 2008Subaru Team to Defend Lime Rock Park Win in KONI ST
PHOENXVILLE, Pa. (May 20, 2008) - Four months have passed since the opening round of the Grand-Am KONI Challenge road racing season, more than sufficient time for the Subaru Road Racing Team to hone their Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Spec. B Sedans, prepared by ICY/Phoenix, and refocus on the details that contributed to winning their first race as a KONI series team in 2007, at Lime Rock Park, Conn., site of Saturday's second round of the 2008 season.
"We operate as a team," emphasized Joe Aquilante, Phoenixville, Pa., who is co-principal of ICY/Phoenix with Dave Rosenblum, Langhorne, Pa. "No one team member is greater than the sum of its parts. Both Dave and I, our crew, and all our drivers - we've all won races and championships. The main difference between now and a year ago is that the level of competition has measurably progressed forward. To their credit, Grand-Am has been vigilant in maintaining competitive parity within each class, which translates to exciting racing for teams and fans."
The Subaru Road Racing Team's driver lineup at the Lime Rock round comprises 2007's Lime Rock Street Tuner class race winners, Kris Skavnes of Sparta, N.J., racing on his home track with Chuck Hemmingson of Des Moines, Iowa. The second entry is 20-year old Andrew Aquilante of Chester Springs, Pa., paired with Don Knowles of Pittsboro, N.C., a four-time National Champion, winner of 35 professional endurance races and a world record 14 24-hour races.
"Don has been a huge help, assisting Chuck and the team in our unending process to continually develop and fine-tune our Subaru Legacy race cars," added Aquilante. "Don was racing and winning at Lime Rock 15 years before Andrew was born. Over the years he has given back to the sport by taking many younger drivers under his wing and showing them the bigger-picture in racing."
A series record 50 cars are entered in the Street Tuner class, which will feature a stand-alone race for the only time this year. "The KONI Challenge series has come to the point in its impressive growth that the margin for errors decreases at each race. To know we've won races in a series this competitive is a good attitude-adjuster for all of us. We've done it before, and always have to believe we can do it again, "noted Rosenblum.
The Subaru team and in-class competitors will practice Friday, May 23. They qualify and race Saturday at 3 p.m. ET for 2 1/2 hours. The race is televised by SPEED TV and will air May 31 at 8 p.m. ET.
The Subaru Road Racing Team is proudly sponsored by Subaru of America, Inc., Subaru Tecnica International (STi), Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT), Automotive Racing Products, Lista, Rotary Lifts, JRZ, EcuTek, Perrin, Cusco, Carbonetic, Hawk Brakes, Quarter Master Industries, Disc Brakes Australia (DBA), Mac Tools, Hella, VedaloHD and Racing Radios. The cars are prepared by ICY/Phoenix.
About ICY/Phoenix
Based in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, ICY/Phoenix is a collaborative partnership between Dave Rosenblum (ICY Racing) and Joe Aquilante (Phoenix Performance) which boasts over 70 years of cumulative racing experience. This organization represents the factory Subaru effort as the Subaru Road Racing Team (SRRT) in the 2008 Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series. The team's 4000 sq. ft. race shop is located approximately 35 miles west of downtown Philadelphia. Drivers Chuck Hemmingson, Dave Rosenblum, Kristian Skavnes and Andrew Aquilante and Don Knowles will pilot two Legacy 2.5 GT spec.B race cars. Last season, ICY/Phoenix celebrated a winning year, finishing the season with one pole position and two ST Class wins in six races. For more information about the team and the cars, go to www.ICYRacing.com or call Dave Rosenblum at (215) 801-7827, or Joe Aquilante at (610) 482-0141.