Rate this article:
Greenlight Andretti Green Danica Patrick 1st Win 2008
This is a replica of the racecar used during the 2008 Japan race in which she won her first race ever!
Our Price: 1/18th Scale - $45.95 ($41.36 Member)
Ducati Red Team Logo Hat
100% cotton. Embroidered. Adjustable strap.
Our Price: $36.00 ($32.40 Member)
Formula 1 2009 Calendar
Every month is accompanied by a superb action shot from the 2008 season, with essential information about the sport.
Our Price: $16.95 ($15.26 Member)
Written by:
Marshall Pruett
10/03/2008 - 09:24 PM
Braselton, GA
Eric van de Poele and Mimmo Schiatarella claimed the second-ever ALMS race, the 3hr race at Road Atlanta in 1999. A decade later, the racing has only gotten more fierce and diverse. » More Photos
In our latest ‘Memories’ feature we take a look back at the 1999 3hr ALMS race at Road Atlanta, the second race ever held by the Series.
The day was ruled by Belgian Eric van de Poele and his co-driver, Italian Mimmo Schiatarella in their unique Rafanelli Riley-Judd V10.
van de Poele, still racing in the ALMS today with the Risi/Krohn Ferrari GT2 team, recalled many fond memories of his first win in the Series.
“Yes indeed. I think that we did stay a long time as the only privateer team who won a ALMS race. I remember that I had some duties for the Nissan Le Mans team at Le Castellet in preparation of the Le Mans race, so, I could not attempt to be there before the warm-up. So I had a special driver meeting on my own and jumped straight into the car for the warm-up! Mimmo did a fantastic qualifying and put the car on pole but we had to start from the last row because the rear wing was a fraction of fraction too high. I did the fastest lap during the warm-up and we had a perfect car for the race.”
For a driver that’s seen the ALMS in its first days to what it has become today, his nostalgia for the old days is tempered with an appreciation for positive evolution of the ALMS. “Of course all the organization is growing up and is better today, but on the track the competition was very strong and we had not a domination from one team or another one. The Works BMW team was there that year, as was Panoz, the Risi Ferrari Team, Dyson, Field, Porsches, etc.”
With the Rafanelli team as a top privateer entrant, van de Poele appreciated the warm environment and hard work the dedicated staff put in to deliver his success.. “They had a very Italian spirit. It was a very small team; maybe 10 people, with incredible motivation -- family team, and a "Commendatore" named Gabriele Rafanelli with a great communicative enthusiasm.
van de Peole raced in the very first Petit Le Mans in 1999. Eleven years later, he's still competing at the event! (Photo: Courtesy of Krohn Racing) » More Photos
“Also, I had a huge accident at Le Mans that year which kept me off the tracks for three months. When I did my first set of laps back at Atlanta in the Fall at Petit Le Mans , I will never forget when I came back in the pits with all the team in front of me waving, sharing and applauding. I had wet eyes because my rehab was very strong and hard. I wanted so hard to be back at that race that I won the previous year, and all team knew that perfectly!”
At a time when Dyson Racing had won numerous races with a riley-Ford combination, Rafanelli took an unusual path by mating the screaming V10 Judd engine to a Riley, and with great effect.
“I had a lot of talks during the winter with Gabriele about the combination of the Riley & Scott with the Judd Engine. I knew Judd from F1 when I drove for Brabham & Tyrrell, and I finally convinced him to keep his R&S-BMW and switch to Judd. We had our first test
“We drove also with the Yokohama tires and support, even if it was not the best at that time compare to Michelin or Pirelli. We managed to adapted properly the car to the Yokos, and it did work very well. So, we were a bit like "David and Goliath" against the factory teams.”
After such a memorable win with a memorably named co-driver, Eric says he doesn’t see nearly enough of Mimmo these days. “I saw him last year at Monza, but unfortunately he is not driving anymore and it's a shame. We had fantastic time together and he was extremely talented. I'm sure he will come back one day so, ..."Please Mimmo, come back! We miss you!"
Click Here to watch ALMS Memories, Road Atlanta 1999 #1
Click Here to watch ALMS Memories, Road Atlanta 1999 #2
Click Here to watch ALMS Memories, Road Atlanta 1999 #3
Click Here to watch ALMS Memories, Road Atlanta 1999 #4
Click Here to watch ALMS Memories, Road Atlanta 1999 #5
Click Here to watch ALMS Memories, Road Atlanta 1999 #6
Petit Le Mans powered by the Totally New MAZDA6 is the 10th round of the 2008 American Le Mans Series. The 1,000-mile/10-hour race is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. Saturday, October 4 from Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga. SPEED will televise the race live with online video available from 1 to 6:30 p.m. ET on americanlemans.com. XM Satellite Radio will air live race coverage throughout the day on XM Channel 166.
View All Comments
- Press Releases | Advertising | Jobs | Feedback | FAQ | Terms & Conditions | Privacy | Site Map
Fox Sports | FUEL TV | FX Network | FOXReality | National Geographic | IGN | AskMen | BeliefNet -
The Online Motorsports Authority© Copyright 2008 Speed Channel, Inc. All Rights Reserved.