American Le Mans Series - Salt Lake City - Round 4

    TOOELE, UT – July 11  After a car fire claimed the rear end of his #17 Team Falken Tire entry during Saturday morning practice at Miller Motorsports Park, Wolf Henzler, Nürtingen, Germany, knew he and his team would have to work hard to get the car ready for the green flag at the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix.  But hard work is something Henzler knows well; he just returned from claiming victory in the GT Class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans – the world’s most rigorous endurance race.

Henzler watched as teammate Bryan Sellers started morning practice on Saturday for the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón in the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.  After only 3 laps, smoke and flames emerged from the rear of the car.  “We don’t really know what the problem was,” said Wolf.  “The guys just focused on repairing the car as fast as possible – they had to replace so many parts.”

Although the team worked diligently to repair the extensive damage sustained by the Porsche, they were unable to complete the restoration in time for the Qualifying Session later that day.  As a result, the #17 was placed at the back of the 34-car grid.  “Having to rebuild the car really set us back this weekend,” he said.  “We missed both sessions on Saturday including Qualifying, and there was no warm-up when we needed it.”  

Thankfully, the International Motor Sports Association granted the team one lap around the track early Sunday morning – deemed a “Hardship Lap” – so the team could ensure the rebuilt car was fully functional and prepared to race.  “Bryan took the lap, and the car was fine,” said Henzler, “but we lost our race set-up.”

Teammate Sellers began the 2 hour 45 minute race, bringing the car up through the grid and past the slower GT Challenge Class cars.  Lap 25 brought out a full course yellow, and it was time for Henzler to get behind the wheel.  Henzler immediately knew changes were required to get up to speed.  “We made a change every time we came in, and the car got better and better, but missing practice really hurt us.”  

Henzler didn’t let that stop him from charging through the grid.  He maneuvered the #17 Team Falken Tire machine past GT Class competitor Seth Neiman, driving the #44 Flying Lizard Porsche, as well as the #4 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 driven by Oliver Gavin.  As the checkered flag waved, Henzler captured a ninth-place GT Class finish; the incredible result of overtaking seventeen competitors, half of the starting grid.

Henzler will once again take command of the #17 Team Falken Tire Porsche 911 GT3 RSR at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, CT, for the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix, July 23-24.