Rain Pilve of Tallinn, Estonia competed at Watkins Glen International racetrack on June 21-23, 2002 co-driving a GS 1 Corvette with Jimmy McAndrew of Ocean Ridge, Florida. This was Rain's first time at the Glen since 1997 when he competed in a Sports Toyota Race. Rain showed his high degree of professionalism by climbing into a totally new car and within 15 laps becoming comfortable and lapping competitively. Rain commented that initially the car felt soft, but handling improved after the shocks and springs were stiffened. Nestled among rolling hills in the heart of the New York wine country, the Watkins Glen International Race course is a beautiful setting richly steeped in sports car racing history. From 1961 until 1980, the 3.38 mile track was the host for the Formula 1 races in the USA.
Additionally, it has been the site of all levels of sports cars racing sponsored by NASCAR, SCCA, IMSA, Can-Am and car clubs.
The Sports Car Grand Prix weekend included a wide variety of cars, classes and race distances. The highlight of the weekend was the Rolex Six Hours of the Glen on Sunday. This endurance race includes the purpose built Sports Racing Prototypes (SRP) similar to the cars in the open class at Le Mans. It also included the GTS, GT and AGT for production based cars extensively modified for racing. Although practice and qualifying are run in separate sessions for faster SRP and SRP 11 cars, during the six hour race they all run together.
Adding spice to the weekend was the Ferrari Challenge bringing together the top Ferrari teams in the United States in a closely controlled class. These are basically stock Ferrari cars whose track modification consisted of driver safety items like roll cage, 5-point harness and the removal of all interior items not needed on the track. Brakes are from the GT 40 race car but the engines are completely stock. These are sealed by the factory for use specifically in this series. So confident is the factory in the quality of its stock engine that no modifications are allowed. This is perhaps one of the key reasons why Ferrari is considered the ultimate sports car.
The Grand Am series in which Rain was driving consisted of two 250 mile races, with a three hour time limit. The first was for the Sports Touring (ST) which has two subclasses depending on modifications. The ST 1 cars lap at 2:14 or about 90 MPH. The ST 11 cars lap at 2:22 or about 86 MPH. The faster Grand Sport 1 cars lap at about 2:03 or 99 MPH while the GS 11 cars lap at 2:09 or about 95 MPH. Pilve and McAndrew piloted the 955 GS 1 Corvette, prepared by Gilbert Racing which also had the #25 Porsche GT3 piloted by Pobst, Gilbert and Brune. The finely prepared red Porsche is a contender for winning the GS 1 race.
Race day on Saturday was hot and humid with a potential for thundershowers in the afternoon. This was a concern because the first Grand Am race for Sports Touring cars was scheduled to start at 2:15 and the second for Grand Sports at 5:45. The first Grand Am race ran very cleanly with only two yellow flags, the race ending when 74 laps (250 miles) had been completed. The Grand Sports car race began a little ahead of schedule because of the early finish for the Sports Touring cars.
The GS starting grid had the 925 Porsche of Pobst/Gilbert/Brune in third place while the #55 Corvette of Pilve/McAndrew was in 26th place. After a single warm up lap the green flag dropped and the race was on. However a major accident during the second lap involving three cars resulted in a full course yellow. No sooner had the race restarted and run for a few laps when there was another major wreck and again the safety car came out and collected the field. The yellow flag came out three more times for a total of 15 laps. Because of attrition and pit stops, the #25 Porsche was in third and the 95 5 Corvette was in 11th place.
During the first half of the race, the #55 Corvette was piloted by Jimmy McAndrew whose race plan was to have the car in the top fifteen and lapping at about 2:13. McAndrew's race plan was upset when he ran out of fuel at turn 9 due to a miscalculation of consumption. This had him sit for 15 minutes while he waited for a crewman to bring him gas from the pits. Once refuelled, McAndrew went to the pits for additional fuel and a driver change putting Pilve in charge.
It was growing dark when Pilve ventured out on the track. After adjusting to the car, Rain had to adjust to the conditions of the track which had grown quite slippery after 5 and a half hours of racing. Due to the unscheduled stoppage by running out of gas, the 455 Corvette was no longer in contention and Rain was under no pressure to gain position. He motored smoothly around the track made slick by the rubber and racing fluids from the ears. Working for consistency Rain circulated at about 2:13 which is about 91 MPH. The end of the race which was going to called because of time turned out to be very exciting. Following a late full-course yellow which brought out the safety car and collected the field, all of the front running cars where again bunched together. Leading was the 911 Corvette of Goad/Powell, followed by the 976 Porsche of Maxwell/Empringham and the 4 01 Porsche of Marshal/Law. Immediately following just one lap down in fifth place was the 925 Porsche of Pobst/Gilbert/Brune. When the race was restarted, the Corvette charged ahead, followed closely by the two Porsches. Right behind the pack was the 925 Porsche trying to get into the lead lap. Pobst drove valiantly reeling in #01 and 476 to put himself behind 411. Finally getting past #11 Corvette, #25 was finally on the lead lap.
Meanwhile the #11 Corvette and #76 Porsche traded the lead a few times. Going into the final lap, the 476 Porsche was ahead with the #11 Corvette next to him. The fans were on their feet cheering the competitors, excited that after three hours, the race would be decided by a sprint to the finish coming out of the last turn. The #76 Porsche held the line and would not yield to the 11 Corvette who went wide at turn 11 into the front straight. The 976 Porsche of Maxwell/Empringham took the checkered flag by two seconds over the 411 Corvette of Goad/Powell.
The 955 Corvette of Pilve/McAndrew finished 28th, 13 laps down with a best lap of 02:12.240 or 92 MPH. Although running out of fuel put them out of contention, Gilbert Racing and James McAndrew were impressed with Rain's skill and professionalism. In spite of the disappointment, James McAndrew thought that "they should do it again."
Rain Pilve Returns to Watkins Glen
Archived Articles | 30 Jul 2002 | Agu EtsEWR
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