RFM Front Page News

TORONTO, Canada (July 9, 2005) – Timo Glock comes to Rocketsports Racing this year officially classed as a rookie, but the driver of the No. 8 DHL Global Mail car is by no means a beginner in open wheel racing. In 2004 he was the test driver for Jordan in Formula One and actually had four race starts with them. And although he spends the first half-hour at every track learning his way around the turns, he won’t have that problem in Montreal – his first Formula One race start was there, when he replaced Giorgio Pantano in the No. 19 for the Canadian Grand Prix weekend and became one of very few who have come out of their debut F1 race with points. Timo is looking forward to going back to Montreal for that reason, along with the next race in Edmonton, new to the Champ Car calendar this year, which will be a ‘blank slate’ for everyone.

Meanwhile there’s the matter of a race in Toronto to run, and Friday was not a good day for Glock. “We had technical problems all day,” he said, “first the gearbox in the morning, and then we lost a valve spring and had to change the engine in the afternoon. Last night in going over the car we found a mistake in the setup that was preventing us from getting the car moving forward – I was 1 ½ seconds slower than everyone else and it was hard to learn anything. But now we have solved that problem and we know we’re going in the right direction – I have a lot of ground to make up but I think we can look for a top 8 in qualifying today.”

Although he hasn’t had much time on the track yet, Timo thinks the Toronto track is fun to drive on, likening it to Monaco in its tight, twisty configuration. “It’s a bumpy track,” he said, “with a lot of changes from concrete to asphalt, and I really enjoyed the time I have had on the track so far. It’s especially fun to race in front of so many fans! I was very happy to see so many fans here on Friday, and I’m looking forward to racing in front of a big crowd of Canadian fans.”

Comparisons are invidious, but the differences between Formula One and Champ Cars have been remarked upon by all the drivers who have gone back and forth, and Timo agreed with them all. “I like the Champ Car way much better,” he said positively. “Formula One could learn a lot from the Champ Car people! The fans recognize us and stop us to talk and to get autographs, to wish us luck and welcome us – it’s a lot like the DTM in Germany, in that way. The fans are the most important thing to a race driver, and I love the chance to meet people and have them know I’m not just a helmet in the car.”

And it’s not only the fans who are more sociable and approachable in Champ Cars, he added. The other drivers have been welcoming, too. “Justin Wilson, Cristiano da Matta, my fellow Formula One drivers,” he remembered, “but not only them – A.J. Allmendinger, Paul Tracy, Jimmy Vasser, all the drivers took the time to say ‘Welcome to Champ Cars, we’re glad you’re here, happy to have you join us.’ You don’t get that in Formula One.”

To add to the Welcome Timo atmosphere this weekend, Timo is joined by six members of the Timo Glock Fan Club, including his father Karl who is making his first visit to Toronto this weekend. Look for them in their distinctive yellow shirts in and around the Rocketsports paddock this weekend!

Timo’s main experience is in open wheel cars, but he’s had a few races in the Porsche Supercup series in Europe too. In 2004 he ran one race at the Nürburgring, which he remembered as being both great fun and a special challenge. “I was used to the paddle shifting in Formula One,” he said with a chuckle, demonstrating with a wiggle of both thumbs, “and that car had the regular shifter! It took me a little time to come to terms with that. I started in P6; fell back to 13th and worked my way back up to finish in P6 – a very good result for that race.”

This year he looks forward to returning to Europe for a Porsche Supercup race in Hockenheim, the site of his greatest triumph in racing. “The track was wet and everybody else went out on rain tires,” he related with obvious relish. “We had a bad qualifying and were starting from 19th on the grid. I had heard that the rain was supposed to stop during the race, and I am very good in the rain, so I elected to go out on slicks. At first I was pretty far back but then we had a safety car come out and bunch us up – when it went green again I fell back about 30 seconds – but I moved up to 6th place. Then in the last five laps the track was nearly dry and I took four of the cars, got the last one on the last lap and won the race!” He sat back in satisfaction and concluded, “When I’m home I watch that race again – it was my greatest race ever!” Consequently, the news that there is a very small chance the weather system just south of the Great Lakes may bring a bit of rain tomorrow was very good news to him.

“I love to race in the rain,” he said positively. “I have never had one of these cars in the rain, but I think I will do well if it happens.”

Finally I asked him if he had any ambitions regarding any non-open-wheel car. “Mr. Gentilozzi has told me,” he said, ”that I might get a chance to race in a Trans Am car. It will depend on the schedule – they have 3 races in 3 weeks – but he said I might get to drive in Elkhart Lake (Road America) and I know I would enjoy that if it happens.”

Timo Glock may have had a rocky beginning to the weekend, but it has not affected his determination to get in the car and give the fans a good race to watch. He’s very much looking forward to Final Qualifying this afternoon and a great race tomorrow – and to catching Andrew Ranger (currently 4 points ahead) in the race for Rookie of the Year. Look forward to a great 2005 season watching Timo Glock move forward on a race track near you.