Alton, VA May 14

In racing you win some and you lose some. The often-heard term “That’s Racing” can be heard being uttered from many a racer on any given race weekend.

Running relatively trouble free the last two seasons, the Flatoutracing/iCarp team sponsored by Hankook Tires USA finally ran out of luck this past weekend at VIR. Even more disappointing was the way in which the race weekend started out.

Racing on Hankook Tires’ new Ventus Z214 tires at VIR for the first time, ITA driver Jon Kofod was able to qualify 2nd behind MARRS 1 winner, Kirk Dohne (Nissan 240 SX) despite only getting a lap or two free of heavy traffic. Only a few tenths separated the top four ITA runners of Dohne, Kofod, Gregg Ginsberg (Honda CRX Si) and Rickey Thompson (Mazda RX7). This would set the grid for Saturday’s combined MARRS/SARRC ITA race.

“The tires felt awesome from the start. By the fourth or fifth corner I knew we were on pace and the car would be fast. In most cases you have to compromise setup for specific parts of a given course, but from the third lap on I realized that the car was doing everything I wanted it to on the entire course. It was the most balanced set up I’ve had for quite some time and the Hankook Z214’s were simply amazing,” noted Kofod.

“I came away from qualifying feeling very confident that with less traffic there was at least another second and half on the table for afternoon qualifying (which would set Sunday’s race grid).”  But afternoon qualifying never materialized as Kofod struggled with a steering issue and was a full six seconds off the pace and going off course multiple times.

Something in the steering was either broke or bent. Kofod couldn’t get the car to turn in and back in the pits something was causing the car to go out of alignment continually. After checking the axles, differential/transmission, and suspension parts it was discovered that the steering had a terminal failure and the Kofod was unable to race on Saturday or Sunday.

This leaves the team in a very tough position in the MARRS title hunt with two DNF’s but Kofod is confident that the new Hankook Z214’s will lead to a competitive return at MARRS IV in one months time at Summit Point.

“I would like to thank Hankook Tires and Kevin McDonald for getting us the Ventus Z214’s in time for VIR. The Ventus Z214’s completely eliminated the small gap we experienced at the MARRS I races and I am fully confident that we have the fastest car and the best tires on the grid for MARRS IV” notes Kofod.

In addition to Hankook Tires USA, the team wishes to thanks sponsor’s Guident Technologies Inc. of Herndon Va and Curry’s Auto Service, Inc. of Northern Virginia.