The Little P2 Car that CAN!
Miracle Motorsports dreams of the road to Le Mans
By Margot Orenchuk
Photos courtesy Margot Orenchuk and Jim DeFord
BOWMANVILLE, Ontario (August 7, 2004) -- One of the funniest quotes post-race at Sebring 2004 had to be when Miracle Motorsport’s driver Mike Borkowski confessed he had doubts that they would make it. “I radioed in and said ‘This gearbox is going, how much longer do we have?’ and then I said in disbelief, “SIX AND A HALF HOURS?” Well they made it, and they won! It was the start to what can only be called, well, a miracle season! They sit atop the P2 class heading into Road America, and have big dreams on a very tight budget. One can’t help but sit back and admire this team that truly is everything one thinks about when you think about what racing truly is about; the passion, dedication and love of the sport. Miracle is about all this. And they are proving that you don’t need a million dollar budget to win races (shhh...don’t tell Audi!) Welcome to the little team that Can!

Margot Orenchuk: Tell us about the birth of your team.

John Macaluso: We were originally to be a 2-car effort for the season. I was going to be a part of it. Then, briefly before the start of Sebring, there were some big financial issues happening and basically I was going to be left without a ride at Sebring. So I ultimately had to end up buying this car from him because they really didn’t have the money to do it at that point in time. We were only going to do Sebring and then back out. So I ended up buying the car, and then I had to run out and buy a truck and trailer really fast!

MO: And we were all so stunned by what you managed to accomplish at Sebring!

JM: And so were we! We had kind of taken the car back, they had prepared it up to that point, and it was nowhere near the shape that it is in now. With all the races it’s kind of getting beat up again but overall, like Sebring always is, Sebring truly is an endurance event, even more so than I think the 24 hours of Daytona. I don’t know about Le Mans, I haven’t been there yet, hopefully we are going to win a Championship and go there – that’s our goal. That is the teams’ goal for this year. Which is why I don’t get in the car; it saves us a pit stop, and that costs us a lap, so to sacrifice a bit of driving to keep the Championship on side is more important. Plus these guys are a little bit quicker than I am, as I get older.

MO: So you are a driver/owner?

JM: I’m the driver, owner, whatever!

MO: Do you try to get in the car every weekend?

JM: At least in practice, yes. And I am always scheduled to do it during the race; the race has to come to us. We aren’t always the fastest car out there with the Judd, we have to really use strategy to win these races, and it’s not always about speed. For example, Team Bucknum, every time they do that 3rd driver change, no matter how fast they are on the track, it costs them nearly a lap. We use that kind of information to our advantage. If we have a lead, and it’s not going to change the outcome to the race, if I can get in, I do. It’s not necessary I get in every race. It’s more important I lead the championship. That’s how I feel.

MO: Have you been aggressively looking for sponsorship? Is this something you have to be worried about?

JM: Thankfully, it’s not something we have to do this year. This team came together really quickly. The day that we were loading to go to Sebring, we bumped into Mid-Florida. And they are on again for next year at Sebring and Le Mans (crossing fingers, we hope) if we win an invitation. Just the way this team came together, we are so actively worried about making the car right and work for the rest of the season; we haven’t gone out to chase sponsors. Now as we are this deep into it, we will. Next year we will be starting with Mid-Florida again, and we will see where that goes.

MO: What is it that attracted you to the P2 class? Was it because with the departure of Dyson, the field is so small you had a greater chance of winning the championship?

JM: Well, sadly, and the Audis are wonderful cars, it’s very difficult for anyone to get motivated to go up and challenge the Audi cars. And I don’t think anybody that truly has racing in their blood will tell you they just want to be in the race to be in the race! They want to try to win. When they moved the MGs up, this call looked like an opportunity for teams like ours, that aren’t such huge big budget teams, to go out there and run for a Championship. And with our win at Sebring, and our other win at Lime Rock, it looks like we are doing our thing. And the problem with Audi is you look at Champion Audi – when they race against the Factory Audi, they just weren’t there. So having an Audi is only a piece to the puzzle. I guess we are the little engine that Can! It’s a miracle, isn’t it?

MO: Would it be something you would think about if you win the Championship, to add a 2nd car?

JM: Well, ironically, we may have one by the end of this year.

MO: How did you find your drivers?

JM: Ian has driven for us in the past, in the “other” series. He’s quite quick. Buddy Rice drove for us. He’s such a huge talent; he won at Indy this year. It’s not something I enjoy watching all these young guys driving coming up and doing well, but I’m starting to give them a break! And James also drove for us in the “other series”. Ian was with another team for Sebring, but when they fell by the wayside, we got him for the rest of the year. He thought it was a better team, 2 cars, but sadly, they didn’t win. WE did!

MO: So, ultimately, Le Mans is your goal for this team.

JM: I think you go to every race thinking that you are going to win. But winning Sebring was a life-long professional dream for me. You can say you have won Sears Point race or Mosport race, but to say you have won Sebring, that’s a really huge event. First time as an owner, it’s just huge. Now what’s left for me is Le Mans. If you are a Sports Car Racer, just to go there and drive on that track, where some of the most famous drivers have been, that will fulfill part if the dream. If we will be lucky enough to do well there, just to GO there as Miracle Motorsports will be enough. It’s a huge goal. I think we are well on our way. If we can just finish the rest of these races, I don’t think the field can catch us, and then we will have our invite to Le Mans.

MO: How did you come up with the name Miracle?

JM: Miracle came from when I went into business I really didn’t have the money to do it. Each week was a week-to-week thing if I could make the payroll, it was one of those things that I kept saying “it will be a miracle if I can pull this off” So I called it Miracle. Sort of a pull a rabbit out-of-the-hat.

RFM would like to thank John Macaluso for his time and candour – and what a pleasure it was to speak to him. Follow this Miracle Team for the rest of the season and see if the little team Can!