John Heinricy, whose 11 SCCA Runoffs National Championships rank him second among active drivers, will take a step toward #12 when he races the Torvec Chevrolet Corvette C5, prepared by Phoenix Performance Inc., in the June 25-27 June Sprints at the famed Road America road racing circuit at Elkhart Lake, Wis.
The June Sprints weekend of sports car racing, for 55 years, has been one of the Sports Car Club of America’s top events.
The SCCA’s annual Runoffs, which determine the Club’s National Champions, are held at Road America in October. Thus, the Sprints have become a “must do” qualifying event for Runoffs invitation aspirants.
“We need to learn how the Torvec Corvette works with some minor changes that have been made to the race track,” said Phoenix Performance owner Joe Aquilante, of Phoenixville, Pa. “This is a ‘sounding’ or a ‘time check’ to see just where we are against what is likely to be the best field of Corvettes, Vipers and Ferraris that we’ll see until the Runoffs.”
Racing in the Touring 1 class, Heinricy, of Royal Oak, Mich., will qualify Friday, June 25, at 1:55pm ET and Saturday, June 26, at 8am, then race Saturday at 2:40pm.
“I’m now a consultant to Torvec, in Rochester, N.Y.,” said Heinricy, “helping them develop the IsoTorque differential. This fall, the IsoTorque will be available for fifth and sixth generation Corvettes, and the fifth generation Camaros.
“The IsoTorque is designed to help reduce the two biggest problems in many race cars – understeer entering corners, and excess wheelspin leaving them. Last year there was a Torvec differential in the Runoffs-winning T2 class Pontiac Solstice raced by Don Knowles. Now we can see what it does for a Corvette at Road America.”
Heinricy, retired from General Motors with 38 years engineering Corvette and other GM performance vehicles, has a world-wide reputation as a development driver.
The Phoenix Performance team is entering Heinricy and the Torvec Corvette in selected SCCA Nationals prior to the Runoffs. The team won June 6 at New Jersey Motorsports Park. The June Sprints, and a July 9 Double National at Watkins Glen, N.Y., are the final race weekends.
About Phoenix Performance:
Phoenix Performance, Inc., owned by Joe Aquilante, is based in a 32,000 sq. ft. race shop in Phoenixville, PA, 40 miles west of downtown Philadelphia. Phoenix Performance-prepared cars have won 18 SCCA National Club Racing Championships since 1999, two professional series Driver and Manufacturer Championships, and the GM Motorsports Winner’s Circle Award. For more information, call 610-482-0141 or visit www.phoenixperformanceinc.com and www.phoenixperformance.net.
About Torvec:
Torvec is a leader in advanced driveline technology. Torvec’s IsoTorque differential is an evolution in differential design, allowing for maximum traction without interfering with differentiation, resulting in improved performance, handling and safety. Evaluations by four separate racing teams have all shown a reduction in lap times by one second from installing the IsoTorque. The IsoTorque’s fully patented gear design makes this all possible without the need for complex and costly electronics and is good for the life of the vehicle. The IsoTorque is currently being evaluated by several major OEMs and will be available in the fall of 2010 for all C5 – C6 Corvettes and 5th generation Camaros. For more information on Torvec and IsoTorque please visit Torvec.com
About John Heinricy:
John Heinricy has won 11 SCCA Runoffs National Championships. He is now retired from General Motors with 38 years experience engineering Corvette and other GM performance vehicles. Through his business, Heinrocket Inc., Heinricy specializes in vehicle testing and development, high performance driver training, race car development, automotive consultant for engineered solutions, media event planning and execution, and motivational speaking.