Newly crowned 2010 NARRA Viper Racing League Competition Coupe Champion Steve Loudin has attributed most of his championship winning success to his coach, Australian sportscar star Tom Drewer.
Upon receiving his Championship trophy Loudin called Drewer up to the podium to share the award. “I couldn’t have done it without my coach Tom Drewer, who has pushed me and my driving to a new level throughout the season”, said Loudin. “I have the utmost respect for Tom, and he is wise beyond his years. He is an amazing instructor, and anyone who is lucky enough to utilize him will see great results. I look forward to next year. I just hope he isn’t snatched up by one of the big guys!”
The Tricel Honeycomb Racing driver clinched the championship in a climatic and drama-filled final round of the Viper Racing League at Nevada’s Spring Mountain circuit, in which he had to endure downpours and desert heat.
Set to the backdrop of Nevada’s Death Valley and the Spring Mountain Range, from which the circuit takes its name, the VRL race coincided with the final round of the Dodge Viper Cup and NARRA’s Viper Days Performance Driving School...
Drewer, who has won sports car championships both in America and Australia was equally thrilled with Loudin’s win. “It’s almost as good as winning from the drivers’ seat! I’m extremely proud of Steve. He’s had a fantastic season and he thoroughly deserves this Championship. And he did it in real style this weekend, gaining class pole position and race win.”
The championship had come down to the wire, with only a few points separating Steve, his arch rival Tom Antonelli and Cathy Stout leading into the final round. With all the competitors feeling the pressure, Drewer put an equal amount of effort into managing Loudin’s mental focus as well as extracting the speed and performance required to win.
“I had set out a stringent program to maximize the five sessions leading up to qualifying, to keep Steve’s mind on his own progression and not that of his competitors.”
However that strategy changed with the onset of heavy rain.
“It was then about managing risk versus reward, but I felt it was very important for Steve to go out and continue to explore the circuit, which was new to him, in the changing conditions– especially as rain looked a possibility all weekend. We were not leaving anything to chance and to preserve our allocated rain tires for the more important sessions, we grooved slicks to give us extra track time.”
Unfortunately the difficult conditions caught fellow championship contender Tom Antonelli by surprise when he ventured out on to drying circuit. His championship hopes came to an abrupt end when he came unstuck navigating standing water leading onto the pit straight. Antonelli’s Competition Coupe hit the inside wall and the damage sustained was severe enough to end his weekend.
“The rivalry between Tom and Steve is only matched by their camaraderie. Steve was so devastated the Championship had in-effect been decided by a cruel blow, rather than a straight fight, that he was actually in tears for Tom. The respect and friendship these two guys have is amazing considering how hard they battle it out on the track. It’s what NARRA’s Viper Racing League is all about.
The pressure on both of them was immense and when it comes down to the wire its about who remains calm and collected. Continuing to head out in the wet had its element of risk but I thought we may also gain a mental edge over Tom, who sat most of the sessions out. It was a shame as I was looking forward to a ‘battle royal’ on the racetrack, just as it’s been all year. But hat’s off to Steve who has produced the results all year.
I have coached Steve at numerous events this year and each time we’ve won the majority of the races and the weekend, all at circuits I’d never driven around which is certainly makes it more of a challenge from a coaching stand-point, but something I thrive at.
It’s been particularly rewarding to extract the most out of him. For me his drive at Pocono, earlier in the year, was the standout of the season. I was pushing him so hard from the sidelines and he responded, keeping his focus and delivering lap after lap within a tenth or two. And let’s not forget that amazing reverse grid start, coming off the back to pass all but one of the entire field into the first corner. But it’s just one of the many examples of why he deserves this championship so much.
It’s been fantastic to see Steve become a stronger driver throughout the year and I’m very proud to have been involved in his personal development and his Championship win.”
Drewer integral to Loudin’s Championship.
Drewer a front page star of the Greenville News.
Australian Tom Drewer stars on the front cover of the Greenville News after attending Michelin's Motorsports on Main event in downtown Greenville, South Carolina featuring the American Le Mans Series.
Drewer, along with fellow ALMS drivers Ian James and Benjamin Leuenberger helped Dr Don Panoz show the new Abruzzi 'Spirit of Le Mans' for the first time publicly on US soil. The car was unveiled to the media at the Le Mans 24 Hour in France earlier this year.
Drewer, who completed a successful test in the Panoz Team PTG Esperante GT2 last year, has been test driving the new Abruzzi road car.
Drewer honoured with Granton T. Harrison Memorial Trophy.
The Sporting Car Club of South Australia has honoured one of their own, young Australian sports car star Tom Drewer for outstanding achievement in competition.
The trophy was named after Sporting Car Club of South Australia Granton Harrison whom raced the likes of Sir Jack Brabham. Previous winners include 1993 British Formula Ford Champion and V8 Supercar driver Russell Ingall. Tom Drewer’s father Mike, instrumental to his son’s success and a long time member of the SCCSA, accepted the award.
In a letter to club members Drewer said of winning the award, “It is very humbling for my achievements to be recognized by the Sporting Car Club alongside other drivers such as Russell Ingall...
"To leave everything behind in Australia to take on the American Le Mans Sports Car Scene was both the hardest and easiest decision to make. Spraying champagne on top of the podium at famous venues such as Sebring, Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca make all the sacrifices and challenges of being overseas and pursuing my dream of racing at Le Mans all worth it.
There is nothing like looking down to see the Australian flag next to your name as you climb into the cockpit to take on some of the best up-and-coming talent in the world.
When I’m racing I am racing for everyone back home. Every fastest lap, pole position and podium, and the 2008 IMSA Lites Championship, has been fuelled by the thoughts, wishes and support of those back home.
I can think of no better example of this than the 2008 Utah Grand Prix weekend when I did a Skype video link-up from the airport to the supporters’ dinner held at the clubrooms. The packed clubrooms cheered me on to set a IMSA Lites 2 track-lap record that still stands, first in class and an unprecedented 2nd overall.
To know that my car driving career started with the Sporting Car Club of SA, competing in Hillclimbs at Collingrove and the State Championships at Mallala in a Formula Vee, makes me a very proud member. To be recognized by my club and my peers is extremely special and I look forward to being able to re-unite and have a beer with you when I’m back in Adelaide.”
Drewer returns to his home in Australia in late November to spend Christmas with his family and prepare for the 2011 season.
Drewer flies in from USA to race in Australian Formula 3 Drivers Championship.
American based Tom Drewer is to race for the R-Tek Formula 3 team in the Australian Drivers Championship at Phillip Island this weekend. (May 1-2).
It will be Drewer’s first race in a Formula 3 open-wheeler with the former Adelaide driver in his third year in the USA concentrating on driving prototype sports cars in the IMSA American Le Mans Series.
In his first season (2008) in the USA Drewer won the IMSA Lites 2 Championship with ten victories, eleven pole positions and five lap records.
Last year he competed in a Panoz Elan L1 sports prototype and finished seventh in the senior title chase with ten top 10 finishes, a pole position, and a podium finish in the last race of the series to his credit.
As a result of his successes Drewer has been rewarded with successful tests in an Oreca Courage Formula Le Mans LMPC prototype sports car and the Panoz Team PTG Esperante GT2 machine.
Two weeks ago he also successfully drove for the APR team in the world racing debut of the VW Golf Mk 6 GTI at Barber Motorsport Park in Birmingham, Alabama USA.
The event was a two and half hour endurance race as part of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge for production based cars.
Commenting from the USA today on his ‘Down Under drive’ Drewer said:
"It’s only a brief visit back to Australia, but its fantastic that Ian Richards from R-Tek has given me the opportunity to race a Formula 3 Dallara in the Australian Drivers Championship. The decision was only made today and I will barely make it to Phillip Island in time to jump in the car!
The drive has also come with support from Daily Planet and James Rosenberg from Gawler Farm Machinery, who of course supports another South Aussie driver Tim Slade in the V8 Supercar Championship.
Ian Richards is a great race engineer and a friend of my father Mike, and I am really thrilled to be driving one of his cars.
Not having driven a F3 car before, we will just see how it goes.
I have certainly raced plenty of high down force cars on the ultra fast North American circuits such as Road Atlanta, Miller Motorsport Park, Laguna Seca, and Mosport in Canada, so I guess that experience and the nature of the Phillip Island layout should help, but as with every new car it will be a steep learning curve particularly with no testing".
The Australian Drivers Championship is Australia’s premier open-wheel category and attracts a diverse group of competitors from around the world including the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and China.
Drewer to work on Golf game. (Motorsport eNews)
Tom Drewer will make his debut in the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge this weekend... (Article appearing in the April 2 edition of Australian Motorsport eNews).
To continue reading article click on image.
Tom Drewer to make international racing debut of new Mk6 VW GTI with APR at Barber.
Australian racing star Tom Drewer, has been selected to drive in the historic international racing debut of the 6th generation Volkswagen GTI for the VW DriverGear supported APR Motorsport team.
Drewer will drive in Round 3 of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, a 2 hour 30 minute endurance race, at the Barber Motorsport Park, Alabama (April 8-10).
Held as part of the 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Alabama the weekend Drewer will join fellow Australian’s Ryan Briscoe and Will Power to be yet another Aussie competing.
"I feel very honored to be given the responsibility of the world racing debut of the new Mk6 Volkswagen Golf GTI,” he said.
The race will also be Drewer’s first in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and his first for the Alabama based APR Motorsport, the competition arm of the highly regarded aftermarket performance product company APR.
“You could say I’ve been thrown into the deep end- there are many firsts this weekend. It will be the first race for the new VW Mk6 GTI, my first time with APR, my first race at Barber, and my first weekend in the
Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. Hopefully we can add another first to the list by the end of the weekend.”
But while a rookie to series, Tom has no shortage of experience behind the wheel, or that of a Volkswagen. Prior to heading to North America Drewer sampled the high horsepower of the Australian Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series while also competing in light-weight high down-force prototypes as the factory driver for West Race Cars Australia.
Drewer won the 2007 Thundersports Sports Car Championship and was offered a drive by West in the American IMSA Prototype Lites Series, where he dominated the Lites 2 category winning 10 from 12 races and the 2008 Championship. Last year, 2009, Drewer competed in the Prototype Lites 1 category and successfully tested both the American Le Mans Series Challenge car (LMPC) and a Panoz GT2 car. However, it was in the beginning of his career when Drewer found his love for VW’s.
“I’m an absolute Volkswagen junkie, so it is a dream come true to be able to represent VW and APR. I think it all started because my father’s Australian Formula 2 racecar used a Golf engine. Back in Australia I even used to proudly wear the VW logo on top of my go-kart helmet because I love the ‘dub’ that much.
For my first road car I bought a Golf - a 1976 Mk1 - which my father and I worked pretty heavily, installing a 16v engine out of a later model GTI. I hill-climbed that car, and when it was time for my first true racing car we bought a Super Vee (VW powered open-wheeler), so I’m really going back to my roots this weekend.”
And that he is. To support his early racing Drewer worked for an Australian APR agent, German Auto, in South Australia. For the record, Drewer won the Under 2000cc Road Registered category at the 2001 South Australian Hillclimb Championships in his 1976 VW Golf Mk1, was 2002 South Australian Super Vee Rookie of the Year and the 2003 FVASA Super Vee Drivers’ Champion.
“I enjoyed great success in Volkswagens so I’m hoping I can continue the trend for APR and VW DriverGear in the new Mk6 GTI.”
Jeff Mishtawy, Director of Motorsport for APR, shared his sentiments on having Tom join the team, “I’m really proud to have signed him. Tom has driven such a large variety of cars and has so much experience; I’m looking forward to working with him on the car. Having a driver of his calibre providing feedback to a brand new car is an absolutely ideal situation, and I’m sure we’ll show that with our pace in April.”
Drewer’s APR VW Golf will run in what is know as the ST (Street Tuner) category competing against a field including Honda Civic SI, BMW 328i, Mazda MX-5, Mazda Rx-8, Kia Forte Koup, Chevrolet Cobalt SS, and Mini Cooper S.
Sharing the car with Drewer is APR Motorsport team principal Stephen Hooks. With both Drewer and Hooks behind the wheel it will be a historic debut for the Mk6 GTI as it’s taken on track by two drivers with a deep history with Volkswagen products.
Drewer summed it up; “My fist car was Golf, and so is my next. I’m returning to where it all began, behind the wheel of a Volkswagen GTI. I can’t wait!”
New helmet design for 2010.
I decided it was time to get a little more patriotic with my helmet design for this year, but it still features some butterflies from last year.
The roundel is based on the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) roundel (My grandfather Jack Waye who built and raced his own racing cars, the Waye 500 and the Holway sportscar, few Catalinas in the war)...
However I've replaced the blue outer ring with two red rings. This pays homage to the double lined 'L' on Nikki Lauda's helmet, who sponsored my early Karting career via his airline Lauda Air.
The top and bottom bands with red stripes picks up on the Union Jack in the Australian flag and is suggestive of Nigel Mansell's helmet, who's fighting spirit and "always be good to your mum" advice I will always live by.
To go with the red and white of the Union Jack, on the back there is the Southern Cross star formation, also on the Australian flag, over my 'TD' logo.
Finally the top of my helmet is donned by swarming butterflies. This is a personal message of strength and transformation for a very good friend of mine, and it's the same design as the tattoo on her belly.
Drewer and Hooks to debut new MK6 VW GTi for VW DriverGear and APR. (APR Motorsport)
APR Motorsport Signs Australian Tom Drewer and Announces the Return of Stephen Hooks to Grand Am to Drive New MK6 VW GTi in its International Racing Debut at Barber Motorsports Park.
APR Motorsport presents Australian racing star Tom Drewer and the return of Stephen Hooks to Grand Am to drive in the historic international racing debut of the VW DriverGear MK6 Volkswagen GTi. Drewer and Hooks will drive in Round 3 of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, a 2 hour 30 minute endurance race, at Barber Motorsports Park, Alabama (April 8-10).
APR Motorsport returns to Barber, the team’s home track, after last year’s win in the #171 MK5 GTi driven by Ian Baas and MESCO Rookie of the Year Josh Hurley. Ian has moved up in class to pilot APR Motorsport’s Audi S4 in Grand Sport for the 2010 season. Josh Hurley returns with new co-driver Kevin Stadtlander, now in the VW DriverGear #181 MK5 GTi, to fight for the win alongside team mates Tom Drewer and Stephen Hooks in the new MK6 GTi and Mike Sweeney and Mike Halpin who return last year’s winning #171 GTi...
After a nearly 10 year hiatus from professional racing, Stephen Hooks, President and CEO of APR, LLC, returns to Grand Am for the unveiling of the new GTi. Stephen last appeared in 2001 in a now 3 generations old Audi S4 which he drove in the Grand Am Cup, the predecessor to the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. When asked about why he has been missing in action for so long, Stephen replied, “The last 10 years have been a time in my life where I have focused heavily on the restructuring and further development of APR, LLC. We have seen our staff grow tremendously, we’ve built a brand new purpose built engineering facility, rapidly expanded our road going car product line, increased our distribution to over 40 countries and 250 retailers and most recently, began 2 new race teams. I’ve never lost my passion for driving and I am thankful for the opportunity to return with more resources, more talent and more support.” Stephen has participated in several tests the last couple of years with APR Motorsport and is a primary provider of feedback to the technical staff regarding the cars’ performance. Stephen’s typical race day activities include team strategy however, the upcoming event at Barber finds him behind the wheel with a perfect opportunity to for a good showing with co-driver Tom Drewer. The entire APR Motorsport Team is excited for Stephen as it’s obvious from his testing laps he’s never lost his edge.
"I feel very honored to be given the responsibility of the world racing debut of the new MK6 Volkswagen GTi along with Stephen,” Tom Drewer said.
The race will also be Drewer’s first in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and his first for the Alabama based APR Motorsport, the competition arm of the highly regarded aftermarket performance product company APR. “You could say I’ve been thrown into the deep end- there are many firsts this weekend. It will be the first race for the new VW MK6 GTi, my first time with APR, my first race at Barber, and my first weekend in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. Hopefully we can add another first to the list by the end of the weekend.”
But while a rookie to the series, Tom has no shortage of experience behind the wheel, or that of a Volkswagen. Prior to heading to North America Drewer sampled the high horsepower of the Australian Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series while also competing in light-weight high down-force prototypes as the factory driver for West Race Cars Australia. Drewer won the 2007 Thundersports Sports Car Championship and was offered a drive by West in the American IMSA Prototype Lites Series, where he dominated the Lites 2 category winning 10 from 12 races and the 2008 Championship. Last year, 2009, Drewer competed in the Prototype Lites 1 category and successfully tested both the American Le Mans Series Challenge car (LMPC) and a Panoz GT2 car. However, it was in the beginning of his career when Drewer found his love for VW’s.
“I’m an absolute Volkswagen junkie, so it is a dream come true to be able to represent VW and APR. I think it all started because my father’s Australian Formula 2 racecar used a Golf engine. Back in Australia I even used to proudly wear the VW logo on top of my go-kart helmet because I love ‘dubs’ that much.
For my first road car I bought a GTi - a 1976 Mk1 - which my father and I modified pretty heavily, installing a 16v engine out of a later model GTi. I hill-climbed that car, and when it was time for my first true racing car we bought a Super Vee (VW powered open-wheeler), so I’m really going back to my roots this weekend.”
And that he is. To support his early racing Drewer worked for an Australian APR agent, German Auto, in South Australia. For the record, Drewer won the Under 2000cc Road Registered category at the 2001 South Australian Hillclimb Championships in his 1976 VW GTi Mk1, was 2002 South Australian Super Vee Rookie of the Year and the 2003 FVASA Super Vee Drivers’ Champion.
“I enjoyed great success in Volkswagens so I’m hoping I can continue the trend for APR and VW DriverGear in the new MK6 GTI.”
Jeff Mishtawy, Director of Motorsport for APR, shared his sentiments on having Tom join the team, “I’m really proud to have signed him. Tom has driven such a large variety of cars and has so much experience; I’m looking forward to working with him on the car. Having a driver of his calibre providing feedback to a brand new car is an absolutely ideal situation, and I’m sure we’ll show that with our pace in April.”
Drewer’s APR VW GTi will run in what is known as the ST (Street Tuner) category competing against a field including Honda Civic SI, BMW 328i, Mazda MX-5, Mazda Rx-8, Kia Forte Koup, Chevrolet Cobalt SS, and Mini Cooper S.
Sharing the car with Drewer is APR Motorsport team principal Stephen Hooks. With both Drewer and Hooks behind the wheel, it will be a historic debut for the MK6 GTi as it’s taken on track by two drivers with a deep history with Volkswagen products.
Drewer summed it up; “My fist car was GTi, and so is my next. I’m returning to where it all began, behind the wheel of a Volkswagen GTi. I can’t wait!”
More airwaves for Drewer.
Tom Drewer has made another radio appearance before returning to the USA, this time on Adelaide's FiveAA station with host Sean Perry.
Drewer discussed his "apprenticeship" in America over last two years racing in the IMSA Prototype Lites series and his 2010 plans to make the jump to the American Le Mans Series.
Drewer and Drewer star on Radio Hotlap.
Australian Le Mans hopeful Tom Drewer has made a guest appearance on Australia’s Radio Hotlap with father Mike Drewer.
Drewer and Drewer were the stars off the show, episode 140 of the ever popular Podcast produced in Tom’s home-town, Adelaide, South Australia.
Radio Hotlap is a “light-hearted look at the world of motor racing, gadgets and bbq’s, aussie style”, says host John Hart, “and neither of the Drewer’s suffered food-poisoning from the teppanyaki so it was a great night.”
In the episode, which covers the week that was in motorsport, Tom Drewer discusses his last two years of racing in America and his quest to be Australia’s next Le Mans Winner, while host ‘JP’ delves into Mike’s past, bringing up his days racing Australian Formula 2 at the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Like many of today’s young racers of the future, Drewer comes from a long-line of racing pedigree. His father Mike raced Formula 2 and won a Clubman sports car Drivers’ Championship and the Phillip Island Endeavour Cup in Formula 2. Tom’s grand father, Jack Waye also raced and built his own cars, the Holway sportscar and the Waye 500 openwheeler.
Drewer returns to America early February to continue his quest to become Australia’s next Le Mans winner.
Listen to Drewer and Drewer on Radio Hotlap by clicking here.
