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Tom Drewer has won class in his first attempt at the One Lap of America (The Advertiser)

2011-05-13T18:52:00.000-07:00

Tom Drewer has won class in his first attempt at the One Lap of America, week-long event which has its origins in the Cannonball Run of the 1970s. Article appearing in the South Australian newspaper, The Advertiser, on May 13, 2011. Click image to view entire article.

Drewer wins class in Cannonball Run successor, One Lap of America.

2011-05-09T09:03:00.000-07:00

Australian international sports car star Tom Drewer has won the Vintage Foreign class in his first ever attempt at the gruelling week-long Tire Rack One Lap of America, an event that has its origins with the infamous Cannonball Run of the early 70s (immortalised by movies Cannonball Run and The Gumball Rally).

75 cars including works entries from Roush Performance, MazdaSpeed, Dodge, BMW Performance Driving School and TopSpeed Motorsports started the week long competition billed as “the toughest 8 days of racing featuring the fastest street-legal cars on America's most challenging racetracks!”.

Teams covered over 5000 miles with no support crews, beginning in South Bend, Indiana (near Chicago) down the East Coast to New Orleans and back.

Multi-disciplinary competition stages including time-trials, autocross and drag-racing were held at Grissom Air Force Base, the BMW Performance Center test-track and circuits scattered down America’s East Coast including the famed Daytona International Speedway (home of NASCAR’s Daytona 500 and the Rolex 24 At Daytona sports car race).

Drewer finished with 10 class wins and 5 top fifteen outright results to take the Vintage Foreign class win and 21st outright with co-driver Joe Browne. Continues...

Commenting on the win Drewer said;

“This was quite a special win. Many people take years to win class in One Lap and I’ve done it in my first attempt!

Not only was this event one of the most grueling and challenging I’ve ever competed in, but it was extremely satisfying to win in an unfamiliar car on many unfamiliar tracks.

The level of competition was very high and I’m proud that we took Joe’s home-built 944 and mixed it up with the factory efforts and big budget teams.

One Lap of America is something every true driver should do.”

Notable drivers in the event included overall winner, and Le Mans and Rolex regular, Leh Keen (TopSpeed Motorsports Nissan GT-R), World Challenge Mazda factory drivers Charles Espenlaub and Jason Saini and Grand-Am Roush drivers Billy Johnson and Jack Roush Jr.

Drewer secured a last minute drive in the Corvette LS-1 V8 powered Porsche 944 co-driven by Joe Browne after originally planning to drive with Steve Loudin in a SRT Magnum.

Having never stepped into the car prior to the first competition stage, Drewer showed his class and versatility by finishing 13th outright on the wet skid pad, out pacing both Roush entries and eventual winner, Leh Keen.

Commenting further on the event Drewer said;

“This has been an amazing week. I thought the event was all over before it had even started, and then I got the call from Joe [Browne], owner of the Porsche 944.

I’d never driven on a skid pad, let alone a wet one. And my first time driving the Porsche was out to the event. Our first result set the tone for the week, and immediately I knew if we kept it all together, and on the black-stuff, we might be in with a shot.

Summit Point was my first laps in the car on a circuit. Luckily I’d been to Summit testing the American Le Mans Panoz GT2 car so it was a case of feeling out the balance of the Porsche. But we had to tread carefully through this event– both front wheels were literally shooting out flames and molten brake material.

We managed the brakes at Carolina Motorsports Park too, and although I was first in class in the morning session, my teammate suffered from the fading brakes and had a spin costing us valuable points and dropping us to second in class points.

It was a worrying sign but we made a 3 hour detour on the transit between Summit and BMW to pick up new brake pads. With no time to change them we pulled into Daytona with the sound of metal on metal.

Daytona was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I was determined to make up for Joe’s spin with my first ever laps around Daytona, and I pushed hard– flat through the banking and braking as late as I could into 1 and carrying as much speed as I could through the bus-stop.

With all the factory and high horsepower efforts I was surprised to see we were so far up in the standings, 15th overall.

The long nights of transit started to wear on me after Daytona, but with the great result I knew we could claw our way back to first. We had a couple of nights with only 2 hours sleep. Honestly being able to pull the helmet for the competition time-trials was a relief because you stopped focussing on how tired you were, the headaches, the deliriousness.

Joe had an epic performance at the drag strip and I pushed hard on the remaining circuits. It was a case of analyzing new tracks and balancing risk and reward. We dominated the remaining events, consistently bringing home top 15 overall results. But because of that spin at CMP we were behind in the points right up to the second to last day.

At Autobahn, again I just tried to extract as much as I could out of my self on two new tracks in what was still a relatively unfamiliar car. Two more class wins and top fifteen results finally gave us the buffer we needed, and all we had to do back at the Tire Rack skidpad on the final day was cruise to seal the deal.

This has been epic. While it’s not a conventional race, it’s a very special event. The level of competition and the camaraderie is outstanding, and I’ve just added another six US circuits to the CV.”

Drewer’s team mate, Joe Browne, added;

“Tom is a world-class racer. It was his first one-lap and he pulled it off with style and grace, driving fast on the track and safely on the road. We were lucky to get him on the team.

It’s been my dream to win class on One Lap and I couldn’t have done it without him.”

###

History of the Cannonball Run and the TIRE RACK One Lap of America.

Devised by Brock Yates, the then senior editor of Car and Driver Magazine, the Cannonball, or ‘Cannonball Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash’ was a “flat out, no-holds-barred race” from New York City to Redondo Beach, California with competitors navigating US highways at speeds well in excess of the posted limits. With safety advocates hot on his heels, and a realisation it was only time before he might end up before a grand jury, Yates ended the event and turned his attention to immortalising the Cannonball by writing the screen play for Cannonball Run (1976). However, the best representation of the original event is possibly The Gumball Rally (1976).

In the 1980s Yates created a “kinder, gentler” successor, in which competitors weren’t required to speed. The Cannonball One Lap of America was born. Beginning as an endurance rally with points given for following precise instructions, the event began to take on more and speed events at the competitors’ requests. In 1992 the event found its current format, near 24 hour driving each day with competition stages held as time-trials on race tracks throughout the United States.

Learn more at www.onelapofamerica.com

Drewer to drive USA Cannonball Run successor.

2011-04-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

US based Australian racing driver Tom Drewer is to compete in this year’s TIRE RACK One Lap of America event (April 30 to May 7), an event that has its origins with the infamous Cannonball Run of the early 70s (immortalised by movies Cannonball Run and The Gumball Rally).

The event is billed as “the toughest 8 days of racing featuring the fastest street-legal cars on America's most challenging racetracks!”

Competition time-trial stages are held at Grissom Air Force Base, the BMW Performance Center test-track and circuits scattered down America’s East Coast including the famed Daytona International Speedway (home of NASCAR’s Daytona 500 and the Rolex 24 At Daytona sportscar race).

Driving for almost 24 hours each day, competitors are given just enough time to transport between stages, enduring a week covering over 5000 miles from Chicago down to New Orleans and back, with no support crews.

Essentially confined to their car for days on-end, competitors “battle fatigue, weather, traffic and the demands of high-speed competition with both unknown amateurs and seasoned professional drivers like Parnelli Jones, Price Cobb, John Buffum, Elliot Forbes Robinson and Hurley Haywood.”

Drewer, an American IMSA Prototype Lites Champion, is set to drive with Joe Browne in a modified 1987 Porsche 944 fitted with a Chevrolet Corvette LS-1 engine. Nicknamed ‘Ex Puppy’ because its engine transplant means it can now “run with the big dogs”, the 944 now has around 400hp (A stock 944 has 152hp).

Until early this week Drewer was co-driving with Steve Loudin in a 4260 pound, 425 horsepower Dodge Magnum SRT8 automatic station wagon. However due to a family emergency Loudin withdrew his entry. Drewer coached Loudin to victory in last year’s Viper Racing League Championship, and amongst his own driving commitments continues to coach Loudin in his 2011 US GT Championship campaign.

“I thought my One Lap had ended before it had even begun. Steve was heartbroken, as was I, that we could no longer compete. I know it was tough for him to withdraw, and my thoughts are with him and his family.

But it’s fantastic to be given the opportunity by Joe. I had a 944 Turbo road car back in Australia, so I know them well, albeit not with 400 horses under the bonnet!

The Cannonball events became instant legends and it’s going to be special to take part in its successor, the One Lap of America.”

The TIRE RACK One Lap of America begins Saturday April 30 near Chicago, Illinois and ends the following Saturday, May 7.

History of the Cannonball Run and the TIRE RACK One Lap of America.

Devised by Brock Yates, the then senior editor of Car and Driver Magazine, the Cannonball, or ‘Cannonball Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash’ was a “flat out, no-holds-barred race” from New York City to Redondo Beach, California with competitors navigating US highways at speeds well in excess of the posted limits.

With safety advocates hot on his heels, and a realization it was only time before he might end up before a grand jury, Yates ended the event and turned his attention to immortalizing the Cannonball by writing the screen play for Cannonball Run (1976). However, the best representation of the original event is possibly The Gumball Rally (1976).

In the 1980s Yates created a “kinder, gentler” successor, in which competitors weren’t required to speed. The Cannonball One Lap of America was born. Beginning as an endurance rally with points given for following precise instructions, the event began to take on more and speed events at the competitors’ requests.

In 1992 the event found its current format, near 24 hour driving each day with competition stages held as time-trials on race tracks throughout the United States.

Learn more at www.onelapofamerica.com

About Tom Drewer.

Drewer has been touted as one of Australia’s future Le Mans winners by respected motorsport commentator and cartoonist, John ‘Stonie’ Stoneham.

In his first year of North American competition Australian Tom Drewer dominated IMSA Lites 2 in 2008, taking the Championship with 11 pole positions, 10 wins, setting 5 lap records, all on unfamiliar circuits.

This gave Tom back-to-back Championships across the Pacific after he took the Australian Thundersports Sports Car Championship for West Race Cars in 2007. Drewer’s driving duties were split in 2007 with seats in both the Fujitsu V8 and V8 Giant Supercar Series, the feeder categories to Australia's premier motor racing series, V8 Supercars.

Drewer made his transition to cars in 2002, driving Formula Vees and winning the FVASA Drivers’ Championship, after a stellar karting career beginning at age 7 and once backed by triple World Champion Nikki Lauda’s airline, Lauda-Air.

Australia’s AutoAction magazine named Drewer ‘Best Overseas Rookie’ in their 2008 annual awards while prestigious Wheels magazine put Drewer in their ‘Hot Half Dozen Watch List’ for 2009.

Last year, 2010, Drewer was asked to make the world debut of the new Volkswagen GTI by American works team APR Motorsports. He also drove a Formula 3 car for the first time at Philip Island, finishing second in the National Class for R-Tek Motorsports. He was also awarded the coveted ‘Granton T. Harrison Memorial Trophy’ by the Sporting Car Club of South Australia.

Learn more at www.tomdrewer.com

Drewer integral to Loudin’s Championship.

2010-10-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

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 a front page star of the Greenville News.

2010-09-24T20:22:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-09-05T10:35:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-04-26T20:56:00.000-07:00

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)

2010-04-06T18:26:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-04-02T18:19:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-04-02T16:02:00.000-07:00

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)

2010-04-02T16:00:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-01-31T21:00:00.000-08:00

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.

2010-01-20T22:08:00.000-08:00

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.

Winner Drewer still does it tough. (The Advertiser)

2009-12-29T16:56:00.000-08:00

Article appearing in The Advertiser newspaper upon Tom Drewer's return to his birthplace of Adelaide, Australia.

"Motorsport is tough going if you don't have access to the big dollars. Just ask Tom Drewer.

Drewer, now, 24, took the plunge and sold everything in Adelaide to take his CV showing a few minor category national titles to the US where he got into IMSA Lites at the start of 2008..."

Click on image to read entire article.

The World Stage. (AutoAction)

2009-12-16T17:03:00.000-08:00

Phillip Mahoney sums up the year in racing for Aussies around the world, including Tom Drewer, for Australian Auto Action magazine's 2009 Racer of the Year Awards.

"Last season Tom Drewer dominated the IMSA Lites 2 class and progressed to the Lites 1 class for this season..."

Click on image to read article.

Drewer speaks French for Endurance-Info.com

2009-11-02T10:01:00.000-08:00

Well, not quite, but Laurent Mercier from the French based Endurance-Info.com recently interviewed (and translated) Drewer about his past, 2009 and beyond. If you do speak the language of love you can read the article in its entirety by clicking here.

"Malgré son jeune âge de 24 ans, Tom Drewer s'est déjà forgé un nom en sport automobile. Né à Adélaïde, l'Australien réside dorénavant à Athens (Georgie). Soutenu par Nikki Lauda, via Lauda-Air dès ses débuts en karting, Tom a ensuite poursuivi en V8 Supercar avant de partir pour les Etats-Unis afin de poursuivre sa carrière avec un but ultime : les 24 Heures du Mans..."

"A ce titre, il reçoit les conseils avisés de Vern Schuppan (ancien vainqueur de l'épreuve). L'an passé il s'oriente vers le championnat IMSA Lites L2, qui se déroule durant les meetings American Le Mans Series. Résultat de la saison : douze courses et dix victoires. Le titre de champion en poche, il passe cette année à l'échelon supérieur où il décroche plusieurs beaux résultats. A l'i ssue de la m anche de Road Atlanta, Tom s'est essayé à la Formula Le Mans en vue de la saison prochaine, avec les débuts de la catégorie LMPC dans la série américaine Le Mans..." To view and read the fhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifull article .

Passionate and Quick - The Hallmarks of a Future Star. (FeedMeSportsCars.com)

2009-10-29T17:50:00.000-07:00

See article written by Sam Tickell.
"When one thinks about Australian Champion drivers trying to make it overseas, you think of Mark Webber, Casey Stoner, David Brabham and soon you will be thinking of Adelaide native, Tom Drewer.

Drewer burst onto the international scene in 2008 when he left his career as an up-and-coming advertising artist to chase his dream of becoming a professional racecar driver – a sportscar driver at that.

He races with success in Australia before his move to the USA, winning the Thundersports title in a West WR1000 and proving handy in saloon car races..."

To read full article .
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Drewer coaches 007 to victory at Daytona.

2009-10-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

“I’ve actually never been to that circuit,” said Drewer as he answered the phone call from Steve Loudin about coaching him around the Daytona International Speedway road course.

But that’s been typical for Australia’s Tom Drewer who has only been racing in America for two years. In 2008 every circuit he ventured to with the American Le Mans Series’ IMSA Lites category was brand new to the young up and coming Aussie, and this year Drewer had another two new circuits to deal with.

“I love racing here in America. They’re not just new circuits to me. They’re the circuits I’ve always dreamed of racing at; Sebring, Laguna Seca, Road Atlanta, and I won and got track records at all of them last year. This year I put the Lites 1 on pole with the fastest lap of the weekend at New Jersey, first time there.

So I didn’t mind taking on the challenge to learn Daytona, and make sure Steve got the most out of his weekend. The biggest Challenge was I wouldn’t actually ever be driving the track. The closest I got was sitting in the passenger seat.”

But that didn’t seem to sway Drewer who coached Steve Loudin and his gold ‘007 Bond’ Tricel Honeycomb Dodge Viper Competition Coupe to all three victories, in class, during the event...

“It was fantastic to work with Steve and get the most out of him and the 007 Viper around probably the most famous circuit in North America.

I tell you, I think everyone says the same four-letter word when you drive out of the tunnel into the infield of Daytona for the first time. The banking is amazingly steep. I have a newfound respect for those NASCAR boys. Those turns are rather bumpy and a lot narrower than they look on TV.

Steve did a tremendous job. I have a few procedures I like to do, to learn a new circuit and Steve used those to quickly find the limit without over stepping it, which is pretty important given the walls are right there.

He pushed as hard as he could, and never gave up, and kept reeling off the lap-times.

I must also thank Steve's car owner, his wife Kit, for entertaining my girlfriend Sarah over the weekend.

It was another very successful weekend for the NARRA / Viper Days organisation, a fantastic result for Steve, and it gave me great insight to Daytona for when I finally get to pound-around-it in anger.”

Drewer sets sights on Prototypes for 2010 after testing LMP Challenge car.

2009-10-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

Australian racing driver Tom Drewer has his sights firmly set on a prototype drive for 2010 after testing the V8 powered Courage Oreca LMP Challenge car that will be competing in the American Le Mans Series next year.

Drewer is in discussions with his current team, Comprent Motor Sports about driving a Challenge car next year. However, the determined and ambitious Drewer has also confirmed he has been approached by multiple ALMS Prototype teams too.

“I’ve been really busy since Petit Le Mans. The following day I was invited to test the new LMP Challenge car, and the following week two LMP1 teams contacted me about the 2010 season after seeing me race during the Petit week. Since then I have been to Monterey for discussions with multiple other ALMS teams and I’ve just got back from a very serious meeting with one of those teams.

I have some fantastic backers from Australia, including John Trimble and Ubantu Resort, and I’m currently seeking American partners solidify a prototype assault on the 2010 ALMS season. Offers of top-level drives mean I now really have something to offer those sponsors with the glamour, prestige and massive television exposure of the American Le Mans Series throughout the USA and the rest of the world.

The great thing is now high-level teams are calling me, rather than the other way around.”

Following his test in the LMPC car Drewer feels he is ready to make transition to full-sized prototypes after driving in the IMSA Lites feeder category for the past two years.

“Finally getting the chance to drive a big prototype was fantastic. I felt extremely comfortable in it. It’s really just like a big (IMSA) Lites 1 car. It was quite similar to my Ubantu Resort Élan DP-02 in terms of how it responded and reacted, even the grip versus power. Obviously it just had much, much more of both.

In some ways it was actually easier to drive. I’m used to using a fair bit of muscle to turn the Élan DP-02 in, particularly as we generally run a reasonable amount of caster to cure bump-steer. The LMPC was very light on the steering and very direct. It was a case of telling myself to slow my hands down in the high-speed corners.

But where the LMPC just has it all over the Lites 1 car is the Carbon-Carbon brakes, and the power and noise of the big Corvette sourced V8. Every lap into turn 10a at Road Atlanta I felt I could brake later and later. The stopping power is awesome, and there is just nothing like the sound of a V8.

I really think the ALMS is on a winner with the LMPC. Everyone I speak to in racing always reminisces about the good old Can-Am days. Big loud V8s in beautiful, sleek racing cars. They have captured this with the LMPC. I think the American public will love them, and they’ll certainly relate to the powerplant. I can’t wait to get back in one or an out-right LMP car.

I’m determined to become Australia’s next Le Mans winner. The next David Brabham. I feel the last two years has prepared me well for an LMP or LMPC assault next year. I’m ready.”

Drewer won the 2008 IMSA Lites 2 Championship in his first year of competition in North America. He won ten from twelve races, all at circuits he had never driven on. This led to Australia’s AutoAction magazine proclaiming Drewer the ‘Best Overseas Rookie’ for 2008 and Wheels Magazine putting Drewer in their ‘Hot Half-Dozen Watchlist’.

Drewer’s performance in the faster Lites 1 category this year also captured the attention of Australia’s motor racing press. World famous cartoonist John ‘Stonie’ Stoneham penciling Drewer in as a future Le Mans 24 Hour winner in one of his cartoons after Drewer qualified on pole for the New Jersey round of the championship. Drewer finished his 2009 IMSA Lites campaign on a high, taking a podium (2nd place) for the second year in a row during the Petit Le Mans event held last month at Road Atlanta.

Tom Drewer talks about his LMPC test. (FeedMeSportsCars.com)

2009-10-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

See Article written by Sam Tickell. "There has been buzz around the internet about the LMPC class that will be introduced in the ALMS in 2010. As part of a series of articles that we will be bringing you on Australian driver, Tom Drewer, we were able to get the young Australian driver’s take on these new cars.

Having race in IMSA Lites 1 in 2009 and winning the Championship in IMSA Lites 2 in 2008, Drewer certainly has a pedigree in feeder sports car series.

On the LMPC car, Drewer said “It really feels just like a big Lites 1 car! I was actually surprised how similar it was to the Élan DP-02 in terms of how it responded and reacted, and the grip vs power...”
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
For complete article .

Drewer interviewed about Le Mans Challenge class at Monterey.

2009-10-10T11:42:00.000-07:00

Tom Drewer was interviewed by Jeremy Shaw today for the American Le Mans Series 'Radio Le Mans' during warm-up for the Monterey Sports Car Championship at Laguna Seca.

Drewer discussed his prospects for next year saying he's "pounding a lot of pavement this weekend. I've been taking to a couple of prototype team owners about P1 and P2, but I'm also looking at the new (ALMS Prototype) Challenge class. I was lucky enough to be invited to test the car the other day and it's fantastic. To me it really encapsulates the old CAN-AM days- a big beautiful sounding V8 in a beautiful looking sportscar."

Drewer on podium at Petit Le Mans two years in a row.

2009-09-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

Tom Drewer has claimed a podium finish for the second successive year at the Road Atlanta circuit in Georgia USA at the running of the Petit Le Mans event.

The ex- Adelaide driver took second place in the pent ultimate 2009 IMSA Lites round, backing up his two victories at the iconic event last year in the L2 category that also saw him take the Championship in his first year of international competition.

Drewer started his 2009 Road Atlanta campaign extremely strongly on the fast undulating 2.54mile (4km) circuit with his Ubantu Resort sponsored car second fastest until the dying seconds of qualifying when he was bumped to fourth.

“Qualifying was like a world title fight. We were trading fastest times all session long and it was a matter of who landed the last blow with the fastest lap before the bell rang to finish the session. It was a real blast and I guess any of about six of seven drivers could have had pole”, Drewer said.

In Race 1 Drewer and his Ubantu Resort Elan showed electrifying pace and he pushed Canadian Kyle Marcelli until the very end after the pair eventually broke away from the pack in the highly competitive 25 car field.

“Like in qualifying I had a ball. The race was run all the way without a caution or a pace car and we really went for it.

For about the first third of the race the top ten were all backed up with each other, but then Kyle and I broke away and in the end we finished more than 20 seconds ahead of the guy in third. We just kept on punching out 180kph average lap speeds, but I just couldn’t put the pass on Kyle and he deserved the win. He drove a great race”

With grid positions for Race 2 determined by lap times in the first event, Drewer was elevated to the front row by virtue of him turning a lap of 1:21.059 - faster than Marcelli - but an agonising 6 thousands of a second off the pole time set by Gary Gibson

In the race Drewer again pushed hard from the green and slotted into second, but then Marcelli attempted a pass around the outside into turn 10 and the two cars touched.

“I wanted to give Kyle racing room and I figure he didn’t try to pull into me, but when we made contact my car got a little out of shape and it turned me round into the gravel.

It’s a little unusual to come out second best in an incident like this when you are on the inside, but I’m not blaming Kyle and I figure it was a true racing incident. We race to win and drive tough but as far as I am concerned it was just one of those things. I figure I will still buy Kyle a beer and a pie from the Aussie pie shop here in Atlanta when I get a chance!

Unfortunately I got beached in the gravel and it took forever to get out of it. I was nearly a lap down on the leader but I just went for it from the back of the field and set the second fastest lap of the race, and went faster than the three guys on the podium despite all the traffic I had to pass.

I was sort of hoping for a yellow to bunch it all up. It’s funny because most of the time I hate the caution laps, but anyway it didn’t happen so I passed about 10 cars and finished in 13th.

It was a great race and it’s sometimes like that. You don’t get the result at the end but you know you when you are in the zone and I was very positive about my drive. I had a good car, I had the speed, and I didn’t leave anything in the garage. That’s why I go racing.

I guess my podium in race 1 and the drive in race 2 made some impact also because one of the guys from the Audi Le Mans team and plenty of others in the paddock took the time to give me a pat on the back. That’s nice when you get that sort of feedback from guys who really know the business.”

Drewer now looks to winter testing in the USA for the 2010 season before returning home to Australia for Christmas.

“I am determined to make another progression in 2010. I’m already speaking to multiple teams about different rides next year and I might just be testing one of those possibilities very soon. So as they say, stay tuned.

I didn’t win the Championship this year, but I am a better, more complete driver than I was 12 months ago, and two years ago when I left Australia to have a real go.

Pole in New Jersey was cool and to podium here at Road Atlanta was really great.

A huge thanks to everyone that has made this season possible- Ubantu Resort, Nichole Jennings and John Trimble, my dad Mike and mom Jacquie, Terry Little, and everyone who has backed my car from Australia.

Then there is my trainer Gary Daniels and Health Defense, Comprent Motor Sport team owner Kevin Kloepfer, my crew guys Terry Jinks, Casey Free and John Stephens and all the others back at the shop. They have all done an awesome job.”

Drewer scores first podium in Lites 1.

2009-09-24T20:02:00.000-07:00

Tom Drewer finished second in Race 1 at the 12th Annual Petit Le Mans event today. His lap time also put his Ubantu Resort car on the front row for race 2 tomorrow.

Drewer heads into ‘hometown’ season finale at Petit Le Mans.

2009-09-21T09:40:00.000-07:00

This week Australian Tom Drewer will compete in the final two rounds of the 2009 IMSA Lites Championship presented by Frisby Performance Tire as part of the 12th Annual Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda 6.

The event held at Road Atlanta, Braselton is effectively Drewer’s home event as he’s been staying in Georgia for the past two years during the racing season.

“My US base has been Georgia for two years now. Both West Races Cars, who I drove for last year, and Comprent Motor Sports are based here and I have been staying in Atlanta and Athens, both only about an hour from the circuit. I guess you could say it’s a home away from home.”

So does the young Le Mans hopeful feel that this gives him a hometown advantage?

“I don’t think so. Although living close to the circuit has allowed me to visit a few race meetings I have been on a very limited budget so it’s not like I’ve done many laps around it. Its not since the start of the year that I have turned a wheel around here. This will only be my fourth or fifth time on the circuit. Most of the guys I am competing against have been driving this place for years.”

However, his lack of experience around the fast undulating 2.54mile (4km) track didn’t sway Drewer last year. From pole position Drewer won his first two races at Road Atlanta setting a new track lap record in the process. It was his 7th and 8th win of the 2008 season and allowed Drewer to wrap up the 2008 IMSA Lites 2 Championship with two rounds remaining.

This year Drewer has moved up a class and is driving a Comprent Motor Sport prepared Élan DP-02 in the Lites 1 category.

“2009 has certainly been more of a rollercoaster than last year. It has in many ways been more of a learning year too, even though 2008 was my first here in America.

I proved in New Jersey I have what it takes. I am focused on finishing the year, here at Road America on another positive note.”

In New Jersey Drewer put his Ubantu Resort sponsored car on pole position with the fastest lap of the weekend and dominated the first half of the race.

“I’m determined to end the season on a high. It’s the best way I can repay all those who are helping me achieve my dreams and goal of becoming Australia’s next Le Mans winner.

I want to use this opportunity to thank everyone who is behind me. Particularly John Trimble and Nichole Jennings from Ubantu Resort, my mother and father for giving up so much, Terry Little and all of my friends, family and fans back home in Australia who share my belief and give up their hard-earned cash to make this happen. We are getting closer.

I am ready to make the next step. Part of my focus this year has been developing into a well-rounded driver.

I have been working on my physical and mental fitness with Gary Daniels and Health Defense. I have tested a GT2 car and have another test announcement to make soon. I am already talking to teams about next year, looking at both GT and prototype drives including the new ALMS Le Mans prototype Challenge class using the Oreca-Courage P2 Formula Le Mans car.

But my focus for this week is Road Atlanta. The Petit Le Mans event is always fantastic. Looks like it may be a wet race week so that could be interesting. It’s an extremely challenging circuit in the dry!”

Drewer and the IMSA Lites are scheduled to hit the track on Tuesday morning for free practise. Official practise takes place Wednesday, Qualifying and Race 1 at 5:20pm Thursday and Race 2 at 12:10pm Friday.

Canada didn't 'play out' for Drewer.

2009-09-14T17:11:00.000-07:00

Tom Drewer couldn’t replicate the success of last year during this year’s Mobil 1 Grand Prix of Mosport for Rounds 11 & 12 of the 2009 IMSA Lites Championship.

2008 was Drewer’s first race at the famous Canadian circuit and he marked the occasion winning the IMSA Lites 2 category. This year driving in IMSA Lites 1, the up-and-coming Australian had what he described as a ‘lack-lustre’ weekend for both himself and the Comprent team despite demon passes and tough, hard-fought races.

“2009 has certainly been more of a rollercoaster ride than last year. We made a good progression and peaked with taking pole position at New Jersey, and although I’ve been up the pointy end of the field and consistently collecting points we just haven’t been able to convert into podiums yet.

I came to Canada looking to put all the drama of Road America - where I got incorrectly black flagged - behind me. But it just seemed the team; both my teammate and I struggled to find the pace all weekend, especially straight-line speed.

As usual it was another fantastic event at Mosport and the Canadians came out in droves despite the weather that turned from high heat to rainstorms all weekend long. I think my highlight was letting a few lucky young race fans get a thrill by taking a seat in the Number 1 Ubantu Resort car for photos.”

Drewer started Round 11 in tenth position after qualifying was abandoned due to heavy fog on the high-speed 2.5mile (4km), 10-corner track located 1 hour east of Toronto, near Bowmanville Ontario.

“Both Charlie (Shears) and I were dealt a bit of a blow when qualifying was aborted. We had both been working away during the practice sessions, collecting data to pool for qualifying, rather than get outright times so we stared down the order.
I made a fantastic start though and immediately passed (Anthony) Nicolosi to be right behind my teammate. We duelled it out for a few laps. Charlie wasn’t giving me an inch, and I didn’t give him an inch back. I felt I was faster and pounced when he pressured (Gary) Gibson going into Turn 2 and they both ran wide, with Gibson running off and hitting the wall.

After the restart I pushed on and caught Antonio Downs. As I was catching him he had a bit of a moment but heading through Turn 8 his car was at full speed. Into 9, Antonio just checked up and I had nowhere to go. I know Antonio well and I think he must have had a problem; he wouldn’t do anything on purpose. It was just one of those things.

I avoided major contact with him but locked up the rears in the process and the car spun into the wall breaking the rear hub. It was a shame because we were on for another top 6 finish.”

Round 11 was won by Matt Downs. Round 12, won by Canadian local Kyle Marcelli, saw Drewer start in 9th, one position behind his teammate Charlie Shears.

“Again, I got off to another strong start and battled pretty hard with my team-mate and passed him before getting stuck behind (Johnny) Meriggi. He was so slow through Turn 2, but if you try anything on there you’ll be in the wall, and he blocked me heading into Three. I made quite a few solid attempts to pass him both in Three and Five and each time he just moved over and forced me off the road. I was quite surprised he didn’t get penalised for blocking, actually.

Due to one of those attempts I lost momentum out of Five and Charlie and Nicolosi got passed me. But I quickly redeemed myself, making an awesome move through Turn 3 to take Charlie on the inside and Meriggi on the outside. Meriggi then immediately started blocking Charlie and I guess Charlie got sick of that and put him into the wall at Three to bring out a full course yellow.

With two to go the race was restarted and coming up the back straight for the last time I passed Nicolosi to take the flag in eighth. It was a good, tough race but a pretty lack-lustre result.

I guess I can just take comfort in the fact I out raced my teammate in both races. In a situation where the team doesn’t have the pace that is all you can hope for. Regardless, a potential 6th and 8th weren’t the results I was looking for. I am still looking for my first podium of the season.

Comprent is a fantastic team who knows how to win and we know the Ubantu Resort car can be fast as we proved at New Jersey. I know the guys will put in the hard yards to get back at the front, and so will I. We are testing at Road Atlanta before the next race and, although I won’t be driving due to budget, I’ll be up there too learning as much as I can from the sidelines to make sure I’m as prepared as I can be for the season finale at the Petit Le Mans event.”

The last two rounds of the 2009 IMSA Lites presented by Frisby Performance Tire season will be held at the Petit Le Mans event at Road Atlanta on Thursday, September 24 and Friday, September 25.

Drewer can’t wait for Canada.

2009-08-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

Young Australian driver Tom Drewer heads to the world famous Mosport circuit this weekend for Rounds 11 & 12 of the 2009 IMSA Lites Championship presented by Frisby Performance Tire, as part of the American Le Mans Series Mobil 1 Grand Prix of Mosport, August 27-30.

Drewer can’t wait to hit the high-speed 2.5mile (4km), 10-corner track located 1 hour east of Toronto, near Bowmanville Ontario. After all, it is one of the fastest of the season, with Drewer expecting his Ubantu Resort Élan DP-02 prototype to average over 116mph (185km/h) and reach a maximum of 145mph (235 km/h).

“A year ago I won my first ever race at Mosport. It was my first race in Canada, and my first time driving the circuit, so it’s a very special place for me.”

In 2008 Drewer won the Lites 2 class after starting from pole position (in class). It was his 6th race win of the season and he went on to claim the 2008 IMSA Lites 2 Championship with ten wins from twelve starts.

This year Drewer has stepped up to the faster Lites 1 cars, and while he has adapted to the car quickly and has been a consistent front-runner, it hasn’t been the ‘dream-run’ he had last year.

“I think we’ve really made a steady progression this year and then in New Jersey I showed I have what it takes. We put the car on pole for Race 2, with the fastest Lites 1 lap of the weekend, and led half the race.

But I guess lady luck hasn’t been on my side this year. In the end we could only manage fourth in Jersey and then blistered tires kept us off the podium again at Lime Rock. The last rounds at Road America were a complete disaster. I was incorrectly issued a black flag by race control, which we had to obey. That ruined the whole weekend, costing me finishing position in race 1, starting position in race 2 and valuable championship points. We should be 4th or a solid 5th in the Championship. Now we’re 7th.”

The hardship isn’t getting Drewer down though. He’s focused on his dream and working harder than ever to achieve his goals of following in the footsteps of fellow countryman David Brabham in becoming Australia’s next Le Mans Series driver and Le Mans 24 Hour winner.

“I’m living my dream, racing here in North America. It has been a lot of sacrifice to get to this point. I’ve given up everything I own, and left everything behind to come here. A lot of people back home (in Australia), my family, supporters and sponsors are giving up a lot too. It’s a big effort.

2008 was an amazing first year over here. A bit of bad luck this year is nothing to worry about. That’s motor racing. For sure it’s frustrating, but with my new sponsor Ubantu Resort I’m determined to hold a trophy up high this weekend. That’s what I’m focused on.

I’m working hard off the track to finish the season strongly and make the progression to ALMS, or potentially GrandAm, GT or prototypes next year. Gary Daniels of Health Defence is conditioning me for long stints in endurance races. I’m working on my mental game too, and seeking sponsorship partners for next year.

I must say I’m really excited by the announcement of the Le Mans Prototype Challenge class (LMPC) for the ALMS next year. It is certainly one of the options I’m investigating.

Last year Mosport delivered my first win in Canada. Hopefully this year it can deliver my first win in Lites 1, and the first win for my Comprent Motor Sports team. The atmosphere is always amazing at Mosport and the track is as ballsy as they come. I can’t wait.”

Tom Drewer and his Ubantu Resort Élan DP-02 will hit the track tomorrow morning, Thursday, August 27 for the first of two test sessions. Official practice gets underway Friday. Qualifying will be held on Saturday along with Round 11 at 6.35pm. Round 12 will be held directly before the American Le Mans Series Race at 1:30pm on Sunday, August 30.

Drewer dudded. (The Advertiser)

2009-08-22T11:25:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in The Advertiser Newspaper (Adelaide, Australia) on Saturday, August 22, 2009. "Adelaide race driver Tom Drewer had his race weekend wrecked after an incorrect black flag during round nine of the IMSA Lites Championship at Road America..."

Click on image to view and read entire article.

Team statement regarding incorrectly issued black flag during Road America weekend.

2009-08-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

Comprent Motor Sport driver Tom Drewer’s weekend was effectively ruined after he was incorrectly issued
a black flag during Round 9 of the 2009 IMSA Lites Championship at Road America.

Drewer qualified in sixth position for Round 9. However, after setting that time his sealed spec-engine failed.
Comprent motorsport replaced the sealed Élan Power Products engine with an identical sealed spec-unit, under the watch of an Élan representative before Round 9 and Drewer was given a ‘hardship’ lap 1 hour prior to the race commencing to complete an ‘installation’ lap on the new engine.

After not questioning Drewer or the team regarding the engine change prior to taking his starting position for the race, race officials incorrectly black-flagged Drewer during the first green flag lap of racing after the first full-course yellow and restart.

It must be noted that Comprent Motor Sport, its team members and driver Tom Drewer did in no way breach any rules or regulations.

Complying with race control, Comprent Motor Sport instructed Drewer to pit on that lap for the incorrectly applied stop and go penalty. Drewer, who was running 6th at the time of being issued the black flag rejoined the track as the last placed runner. Before completing one full lap of the circuit at full pace the race was again placed under full-course yellow and the race remained under full-course yellow until the chequered flag was displayed. Drewer was classified as finishing in 15th position, 14th in class.

As a result Drewer did not have the opportunity to complete a full ‘flying-lap’ to set his qualifying position for race 2 of the weekend, Round 10. Drewer started race 2 in 15th position and fought hard to move up to finish in 8th position.

Kevin Kloepfer, Team Owner, Comprent Motor Sport:
“I’m extremely disappointed with what happened, for both my team and our driver Tom Drewer. We did nothing wrong, the team didn’t break any rules or regulations.”

Tom Drewer, Driver, Car #1, Ubantu Resort / Daily Planet Racing:
“I have been denied of two likely top six finishes and valuable Championship points. It will likely effect my final Championship position. I am very disappointed, particularly for all my sponsors, including Ubantu Resort, and my supporters, fans, friends and family both here in America and back home in Australia who give up so much to allow me to race.

But I have already put this behind me and I’m just looking forward to getting on with it. I live to race and love and respect the sport. I love racing here in America. I just hope my backers will see fit to continue given this adversity.”

Prior to the Road America weekend Drewer sat in 5th position in the 2009 Lites 1 Championship standings, only 4 points behind 4th placed Comprent teammate Jonathan Gore. Drewer is the reigning 2008 IMSA Lites 2 Drivers’ Champion. A copy of the corrected time sheet with the notation for the incorrect issuing of the black flag is included with this release.

Drewer in Wisconsin. (The Advertiser)

2009-08-15T11:01:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in The Advertiser newspaper (Adelaide, Australia) on August 15, 2009. "Tom Drewer takes on the Road America race circuit in Wisconsin this weekend carrying new lead sponsorship on his Panoz Elan car..."

Click on image to view and read entire article.

Ubantu Resort to sponsor Drewer's 'new' approach at Road America.

2009-08-12T13:22:00.000-07:00

A change of sponsor and a change to his preparation regime have resulted in Australian Le Mans hopeful, Tom Drewer feeling more positive than ever heading into this weekend’s Road America Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase featuring the American Le Mans Series (August 13-16, USA).

His new sponsor is Ubantu, a South-East Asian resort that will feature a full racing circuit.

In his quest to be Australia’s next Le Mans Series and 24 Hour starter, the twenty four year old from Adelaide, South Australia (venue of the ALMS Race of a Thousand Years, New Year’s Eve 1999-2000), has also teamed up with Health Defence and fitness trainer Gary Daniels.

“I’m more determined than ever to reach the top. Over the last year I have received a lot of recognition from Australia’s motor racing press, and while some would consider that pressure, it fuels me to succeed.”...

Australia’s AutoAction magazine has named Tom ‘Best Overseas Rookie’ in their annual awards while prestigious Wheels magazine has put Tom in their ‘Hot Half Dozen Watch List’ for 2009. Recently AutoAction magazine’s Cartoonist John 'Stonie' Stoneham pencilled in Drewer as one of Australia’s future Le Mans winners in a cartoon.

“2009 has been rather tough as I expected, even after winning the 2008 IMSA Lites 2 Championship. I’m on a very limited budget, with no testing; I have stepped up to Lites 1 which means a different car and new circuits again, like Road America.

But I proved I had the pace at New Jersey, which I hadn’t seen before and I’m looking forward to racing on what I’ve been told is one of America’s premier road racing venues.”

Drewer took pole position for Race 2 of the New Jersey Round of the 2009 IMSA Lites Championship presented by Frisby Performance Tire with the fastest Lites 1 lap of the entire weekend.

“I’m always looking to improve as a driver and for quite some time I have been trying to find the right fitness adviser to ready myself for the next step, either ALMS prototypes or GT2, or maybe GrandAm.

I was approached by Gary Daniels of Health Defence, and he has devised a specific program taking into account the specific anatomical demands of a racing driver based on his background in professional cycling, martial arts and boxing.

He has been pushing me really hard at the gym and I can already feel the results. I think his unique background will really give me an edge - he has certainly got some demon tweaks that, I believe, no one else has.

We are also working on diet and mental strategies, and I have also recently taken up yoga. I must say I feel more positive and focused than ever heading into this weekend.”

The positive energy of change has also rubbed off elsewhere. Drewer’s new sponsor on the car for the remainder of the season is Ubantu Resort. Long time supporter John Trimble, and the Daily Planet will stay on board as a personal sponsor.

Ubantu Resort is a fully integrated major residential and hotel development in South East Asia on a subtropical island that has had minimal western influence, with a climate similar to Bali and Phuket. The self-sustaining, socially and environmentally responsible facility will work with, and benefit, the local community and will feature 5 international hotels, a super-yacht harbour and a unique motor racing circuit.

Drewer is optimistic that with these changes, will come a change in luck for the remainder of the season.

“We have made a very strong progression throughout the season, but on numerous occasions I have been robbed of my first Lites 1 podium or victory. This weekend at Road America I’m hoping to change all that.”

The long high-speed 4 mile (6.43km), 14 turn Road America circuit located at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin is one of the fastest on the IMSA Lites calendar with Drewer expecting to exceed 155mph (250km/h) at least three times per lap.

Drewer’s first ever outing on the circuit will be for first Practice on Thursday, August 13. Race 1 will be held on Saturday, August 15 and Race 2 on Sunday, August 16.

Aussie Abroad Mid-Term Report. (Auto Action)

2009-08-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in Australia's Auto Action magazine. "Racing overseas can be a steep learning curve for young Aussie racers trying to make it around the world. In a way it's just like school, readying them for what lies ahead. So just like school Auto Action has awarded each a mid-year grade to let them and you know just how they're going..."

To view and read article click on image.

Drewer rumbles. (The Advertiser)

2009-07-25T19:04:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in The Advertiser newspaper. "Adelaide race driver Tom Drewer has risen from 7th to equal 5th in the IMSA Lites Championship after Rounds 7 and 8 at Lime Rock Park, Connecticut- part of the American Le Mans Series.

Drewer described the "rough-and-tumble" weekend as frustrating. In the first practise session, Drewer was inside the top six when an incident with a Lites 2 car caused damage to his Daily Planet Elan DP-02."

Drewer consistent at Lime Rock. (Auto Action)

2009-07-25T19:00:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in the July 25 edition of Australia's Auto Action Magazine. "Tom Drewer had a consistent run in last weekend's IMSA Lites round at Lime Rock, finishing fifth in the first race and seventh in the second to move to fifth in the L1 Championship."

Click on image to view article.

Drewer moves to 5th in IMSA Lites Championship.

2009-07-18T19:00:00.000-07:00

Australian Tom Drewer has moved from 7th to equal 5th in the 2009 IMSA Lites Championship presented by Frisby Performance Tire after Round’s 7 & 8 at Lime Rock Park, Connecticut, as part of the American Le Mans Series’ North East Grand Prix.

Drewer described the ‘rough and tumble’ weekend as one of “frustration” which almost ended in heartache before it had really even begun.

In the first practice session Drewer looked strong and was inside the top-six when an incident with a Lites 2 car left Drewer’s Daily Planet Élan DP-02 with heavy damage, including a broken front upright, and his weekend potentially in tatters.

“I was behind my team-mate from last year, Eric Vassian, in a West. After both slowing to pass a stricken car before the last corner we both began accelerating onto the main straight towards the next flag point.

As I approached him on the straightaway I caught him just as his car rapidly decelerated for a second time. I’m not sure if he had a problem. In the video it looks like he lost power. It took me completely by surprise- we were on a flat-out straightaway. I tried to avoid him, but I had nowhere to go. I turned but just couldn’t react fast enough to get the left front corner out of the way.

I couldn’t believe it. It was a devastating blow because it really disadvantaged us. Lime Rock is a very condensed two-day schedule. There is very little time between sessions and we had heavy damage to contend with.

The Comprent team did a great job to get me out for the second session, but we never got the car back on the flat-patch. I was instructed to take the session tentatively in case there was further damage sustained we didn’t know about. I had a fair bit of play in the steering box and a cocked steering wheel.

We weren’t worried about only being P10 in the session because we had qualifying to go and we had chosen not to put on new rubber like most of the guys in-front of us but, due to the weather, that proved to be a costly decision.”

During the American Le Mans Series session, 45 minutes prior to the scheduled IMSA Lites qualifying session a Severe Weather Warning was issued for Lime Rock and the entire surrounding area. Like storms of the previous day, thunder, heavy rain, hail and winds of up to 70mph were expected.

IMSA stopped the ALMS session short, and even though only light rain was falling, abandoned Lites qualifying declaring the session would become another practice and combined practice times would decide the grid for race 1.

“The rain came, but it wasn’t the down-pour they expected. However, it left the track wet enough for rain tyres and meant practice 2 times would be the day’s fastest. I had no way of putting in a lap to better my grid position. It was very frustrating.”

In Race One, Drewer made an amazing start and rocketed from tenth to six by the first corner, passing team-mate Charlie Sheers who had started 6th on the grid.

“It was a really tough aggressive race. We were all lapping around the same pace and battling it out. I found myself in fourth place when the safety car came out.

On the restart I had both teammates behind me. As we barrelled into Turn 1 Jonathan Gore dived on both Charlie and I but couldn’t make it stick. We battled it out for the rest of the race, and unfortunately I was behind both of them at the chequered flag, in 5th place.”

Race Two again saw Drewer make a great start from tenth on the grid.

“Race One was so intense I don’t think I ever had a clean lap, and that put me a little further back on the Race Two grid.

Again I got a great start and found myself in around seventh by the first corner, this time behind Charlie. The car felt good and the leaders just kept falling off the track. I was looking like I was on for fourth or possibly even third.

On around lap 7 it felt like something let go in the left rear corner. It started to sag around right-handers. I radioed the team and said I would proceed with caution. The rear was falling over itself and producing a lot of over-steer. It was like driving a sprint car. I couldn’t maintain my pace and started to fall into the clutches of the cars behind. Then one of the leaders fell off and brought out the safety car.

Just after the restart the two cars in front of me made heavy contact into turn 1 and spun. I had to lock-it all up to avoid contact with them, but that left the door open for a couple of cars to go by.

It was a real shame. Until the car had issues I thought we were knocking on the door of a podium. In the end I had to settle for 7th, struggling to just bring it home.”

Post race inspection revealed extremely heavy blistering and on both rear tyres of Drewer’s Daily Planet machine.

“There was almost no rubber left on the middle of the rear tires. The team is yet to determine if that was the cause or effect of the miss-handling car, or if something else broke. Looking at them I think I was really lucky to finish at all.

At least we kept hauling points. I gave it my all but it just wasn’t our weekend. I’m just glad it’s over and I can’t wait to get to Road America to make up for it.”

Despite the weekend’s frustrations Drewer still collected valuable Championship points and now sits equal fifth with Gary Gibson, within striking distance of team-mate Jonathan Gore in fourth.

2009 IMSA Lites Championship – Current Points Score

1 | Matt Downs 130pts
2 | Joel Feinberg 127pts
3 | Lucas Downs 110pts
4 | Jonathan Gore 84pts
5 | TOM DREWER 80pts
= | Gary Gibson 80pts

Tom Drewer’s next event is the Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase at the famous Road America circuit, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, August 14-16.

Drewer ready to 'rock'n'roll' in Connecticut.

2009-07-16T13:12:00.000-07:00

Coming off the back of his best performance of the year, the young American Le Mans Series hopeful Tom Drewer is looking forward to Round’s 7 & 8 of the IMSA Lites Championship at this weekend’s North East Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park, Connecticut.

At last month’s stand alone Mazda Formula-X event the Australian hot-shot took his first pole position for 2009, setting a new qualifying lap record for New Jersey’s Thunderbolt raceway with what proved to be the fastest lap of the weekend.

It was also his first pole position in the Lites 1 category, which he moved to this year after winning the 2008 IMSA Lites 2 Championship in only his first year of competition in North America.

Asked whether he was possibly inspired by a recent test in the Panoz Team PTG Esperante American Le Mans GT2 car at Summit point raceway Drewer said,

“That was certainly a positive experience, but I think it was about time we put the Daily Planet car back up where it belongs. I’m very committed to progressing to the next level. I’ve been working hard with the guys at Comprent (Drewer’s Lites 1 team) and it’s paying off.

It was great at New Jersey to take the green from the front and to have clear air in front, leading the pack, even if the car went away a little after the restart. It was frustrating that we finished off the podium in fourth.

This year I’ve had the challenge of a new car, with no testing, and Lites 1 is very competitive, after all most of these guys have lots of experience in these cars and on these circuits. But this is the junior category to the American Le Mans Series and tough competition is why I came to America.

We showed in New Jersey we have what it takes. We proved we have the speed.

I know a win is just around the corner now and I want to be the one to get Comprent’s first win of the year.

I think it should be a great weekend at Lime Rock. It’s a beautiful part of the world. I can’t wait to get back into the car and keep the momentum of New Jersey going. I’m at one with the car now, and I’m more determined than ever. I’m ready to rock’n'roll!”

Drewer’s determination and results are being noticed too. Drewer was recently pencilled in as a future Le Mans Winner. Drewer’s name was included in a cartoon by world-renowned motorsport cartoonist John ‘Stonie’ Stoneham for Auto Action magazine suggesting he will one day follow in the footsteps of fellow countrymen David Brabham who won this year’s 24 Hour with Peugeot.

This comes after he was named by Auto Action magazine as Australia’s ‘Best Rookie Overseas’ following his stellar performance in 2008 and was also included in Australia’s Wheels Magazine’s Hot Half Dozen watch list.

Drewer makes his first appearance on the Lime Rock circuit at 10:40am EST Friday, July 17. Qualifying will occur later that day, while Race 1 and 2 will be on Saturday, July 18.

Drewer pencilled in as future Australian Le Mans winner.

2009-06-26T09:32:00.000-07:00

World-renowned Australian motor sport cartoonist, John 'Stonie' Stoneham has pencilled in Tom Drewer as one of Australia’s future Le Mans winners.

In a cartoon published in this week’s Australian Auto Action magazine, 'Stonie' has put forward two possible successors for David Brabham who was only the fourth Australian outright winner of the famous French Le Mans 24 Hour race.

Joining the statues of Bernard Rubin, Vern Schuppan, Geoff and David Brabham in the cartoon are two names adorning unfinished plinths, that of current V8 Supercar champion Jamie Whincup and that of US-based Tom Drewer, an American Le Mans Series’ feeder category champion.

Drewer is attempting to follow in the footsteps of fellow South Australian Vern Schuppan, who won
Le Mans outright with Porsche in 1983, and 2009 Le Mans winner and American Le Mans Series regular, David Brabham.

“To be mentioned in the same sentence or in this case the same drawing as the likes of the Brabham brothers, Vern and Whincup is a huge honour.

Both David and Vern have been fantastic mentors to me in the last year and a half. Vern is also from Adelaide, South Australia. He helped advise me, and endorsed my decision to come to America last year. And ‘Brabs’ has been fantastic to talk to in the paddock during the season.

They have both achieved so much, both racing in Formula 1 and winning the 24 Hour. They are definitely people I look up to and I’m absolutely focused on one day matching their international motor racing success, especially Le Mans. Hopefully I can beat Whincup to becoming the next Australian!”

2009 is only Drewer’s second year competing in America and already he looks set to make the transition into the AMLS GT2 category after testing with Panoz Team PTG earlier this month.

The young up-and-coming Australian sold up everything to pursue an international sportscar career and last year, his first time racing in America, he won ten from twelve races including the opening two rounds at the Sebring 12 Hour event to claim the 2008 IMSA Lites 2 Championship.

This year Drewer has stepped up to the Lites 1 category driving for Daily Planet Racing/Comprent Motor Sports in an Élan DP-02 junior prototype and is again his talents are impressing. With the fastest lap of the weekend, Drewer qualified on pole position for the last race (Round 6) at New Jersey Motorsports Park and went on to dominate the first half of the race.

“I am determined to make the transition to the main-game (American Le Mans Series) by the end of the year. Make no mistake, I want to drive prototypes and that is why I chose IMSA Lites, but I think GT2 would be the next logical progression.

I nearly had a seat at Sebring for the 12 hour this year. It was really disappointing when that team decided to withdraw their entry, so it was fantastic to get a taste of a GT2 with Panoz the other day. Having that big rumbling Ford V8 up front reminded me of the V8 Supercars I drove back home.”

Asked if the Panoz drive is a sign of things to come, Drewer remained a little vague.

“Now that would be following in David’s footsteps! [Brabham drove both Panoz GT and Prototypes]. We’re currently investigating all sorts of avenues. But yes I certainly have my sights set on North American GT and Prototype drives.”

Drewer’s next IMSA Lites races, Rounds 7 & 8 are to be held at Lime Rock, Connecticut, on July 17 & 18 as part of the American Le Mans Series North East Grand Prix. The ALMS race will be David Brabham’s first event since winning Le Mans for Peugeot. He will be back driving in the Patron Highcroft Acura.

Drewer tests for Panoz

2009-06-17T07:57:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in the June 17 edition of Auto Action Magazine.

"Australian Prototype racer Tom Drewer had his first outing with Panoz Team PTG last week, testing the outfit's Esperante GT2 at Summit Point Raceway, West Virginia.

Drewer's test with the American Le Mans Series GT2 team was for experience at the wheel of a production-based sportscar..."

Click on image to read entire article.

Drewer tests GT2 Panoz. (Motorsport eNews)

2009-06-16T16:03:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in the June 16 edition of Australia's Motorsport eNews publication.

"Aussie Sportscar hopeful Tom Drewer had his first taste of American Le Mans Series equipment recently, testing a Panoz Team PTG Esperante GT2 car at Summit Point Raceway in The States..."

"...Drewer is currently racing in the IMSA Lites 1 category in America, the feeder series for the ALMS. And he admits the GT2 test is a genuine indicator of where his career is heading..."

Click on the image to read entire article.

Drewer sets new Qualifying Lap Record, claims Pole and best results at New Jersey.

2009-06-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

Young Australian Tom Drewer showed he has more than what it takes to run at the front of the premiere division of IMSA Lites at the Mazda Formula X weekend held at New Jersey’s Thunderbolt raceway near Millville, New Jersey USA.

Drewer, who won the 2008 IMSA Lites 2 Championship, proved he can match and beat the best of the Lites 1 category on Sunday as he set a new Qualifying Track Record around the 2.17 mile road course with the fastest Lites 1 lap of the weekend, 1 minute 15.327 seconds.

The nail biting half hour session saw drivers Lucas Downs, Kyle Marcelli, Joel Feinberg and Johnny Meriggi trade fastest times with Drewer until the Aussie nailed a blistering lap in his Daily Planet machine to take the coveted pole position by a mere .022 of a second, with the top seven cars all within less than .8 of a second apart.

“I knew we had found a much better setup in Saturday’s race but I just couldn’t utilise it, getting stuck behind Meriggi for most of the race.

So I just gave it everything today. I had the car on the edge for three laps in a row and dug ready deep. It was awesome to finally hear ‘P1’ on the radio in only my third race weekend of Lites 1.

The amazing thing was it wasn’t the perfect lap. I had a slight lock-up in turn 5 and that cost me a couple of tenths. I was likely on for a sub 1 minute 15 lap.”

After claiming pole Drewer, who finished 5th in Saturday’s Round 5 race, got off to a perfect start in Sunday’s Round 6 and dominated the first half of the race.

“Last year having class pole in Lites 2 usually meant starting mid-pack, so this was my first rolling start from the front of the grid since karting– we generally do standing starts in Australia.

It was a perfect start and although I had Lucas on the outside of turn 1 I controlled the corner and quickly found my rhythm.

It was fantastic to once again have nothing but clear track in front. The guys behind were pushing really hard but I just kept my head down and led, with a gap, right up to the full course yellow came out with around 20 minutes to go.

My car was starting to go off a little and I found it really difficult to keep the temperature in the tires with the pace car down to 35mph. Upon the restart I just couldn’t seem to find the same grip as in the first half of the race. It was a shame because I immediately slipped back to fourth. I continued to push hard to try and get back onto the podium but we just didn’t quite have the pace.

It was frustrating to finish lower than what we started but I’m really happy we led a lot of laps today. We are very close to podiums and wins now.”

It was the first time Drewer’s team, 2008 IMSA Lites 1 Championship winning Comprent Motor Sports, had led race laps since last year. Drewer’s fourth position is his best result so far in the 2009 IMSA Lites 1 season.

“I really must thank all the boys at Comprent Motor Sports, especially Kenny and Terry, for all their hard work this weekend. We are moving in the right direction and I can’t wait to further reward everyone who is allowing me to follow my dreams. A big thank you to John Trimble and the Daily Planet, Terry Little, all my supporters and friends back home, and my Mother and Father.”

Drewer and IMSA Lites presented by Frisby Performance Tire next head to Lime Rock, Connecticut for the North East Grand Prix, July 17-18, 2009.

Drewer gets Qualifying Record and Pole Position at New Jersey.

2009-06-14T06:56:00.000-07:00

Tom Drewer has put his Daily Planet sponsored Comprent Motor Sports Elan DP-02 on pole position for this afternoon's race, Round 6 of the 2009 IMSA Lites Championship, at New Jersey Motorsport Park.

Drewer broke the circuit L1 qualifying lap record to take his first pole in the premiere division of IMSA Lites with a time of 1 minute 15.327 seconds.

The nail biting half hour session saw drivers Lucas Downs, Kyle Marcelli, Joel Feinberg and Johnny Meriggi trade fastest times with Drewer until the Aussie nailed a blistering lap to take the coveted pole position by a mere .022 of a second, with the top seven cars all within less than .8 of a second apart.

"This is fantastic. I just want to thank everyone who continues to make this possible- Daily Planet, John Trimble, my mother and father, all my friends and supporters back home who give up so much to make this possible. I'll be racing for you all this afternoon." This afternoon's race is 45 minutes long and begins at 12.05pm EST.

Drewer finishes 5th at New Jersey, in Round 5.

2009-06-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

Australian Tom Drewer driving for Daily Planet has taken fifth place in Round 5 of the 2009 IMSA Lites Championship, at the “Mazda Formula X” weekend held at New Jersey Thunderbolt Motorsport Park, near Millville, New Jersey. Drewer started the race much lower on the grid than he expected after qualifying eighth.

"We finished practice yesterday 4th in the timesheets, and therefore I was obviously a little disappointed with eighth in qualifying, although everyone is so close here. Another few hundreds of a second would have put me 5th on the grid."

Drewer started the race strongly, made up a couple of places off the start line and after passing his team-mate Jonathan Gore found himself behind Johnny Meriggi.

"It was an extremely tough race. We battled it out for around 30 minutes of the 45 minute race, probably a good 20 laps. I was faster than Johnny everywhere, turns 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, except for where it counted. I couldn't get the power down coming out of the last turn. I tried everything but I just couldn't feed in the throttle as quick as he could.

My car was much faster in a straight line, though and I would reel him in going into turn 1 but I was just never quite close enough to make the pass stick. I must have attempted to pass him a dozen times, but I just never had quite enough. So, I focused on pressuring him every lap, but to Johnny's credit he just didn't make a mistake. It was a great battle!"

Drewer will be back on track tomorrow at New Jersey for Round 6 of the 2009 IMSA Lites Championship presented by Frisby Performance Tire.

Drewer tests Panoz Team PTG American Le Mans Series GT2 car.

2009-06-10T07:06:00.000-07:00

Young Australian driver, Tom Drewer, had his first taste of the American Le Mans Series GT2 category after being invited to test a Panoz Team PTG Esperante GT2 car at Summit Point raceway, located in West Virginia, USA.

The twenty four year old and 2008 Champion of IMSA Lites 2, the feeder category to the American Le Mans series, is committed to one day racing against the best in world sportscars at the famed annual Le Mans 24 Hour event, to be held in France this weekend, and feels GT2 is the next logical step in his career.

“2008 was my first year of motorsport in North America after winning the Australian Thundersports sportscar Championship and selling up everything to pursue my goals.

I had an amazing start to my international motor racing career, winning ten from twelve races in the Lites 2 junior prototype category and taking the 2008 Championship for Daily Planet and West Race Cars.

This year I have stepped up from Lites 2 to Lites 1 and am racing a Panoz build Elan DP-02 prototype for Comprent Motor Sports, but my main focus for 2009 is to make the transition from the feeder category to the main game.

I am so grateful to Tom Milner and Panoz Team PTG for giving me this opportunity.

I had driven a couple of V8 Supercar events in Australia prior to coming to America, so I am familiar with big horsepower tin-tops.

In fact the Panoz is pretty similar really. Both the V8 Supercars I drove and the Panoz have a high power Ford V8 in the front, with the Supercar having around a 100 more horses, however the Panoz is a little lighter and has more grip with the wider rubber and traction control. But I felt very at home once again inside a production-based sportscar, staring at a Motec dash (Australian Company) with a Ford V8 thumping away.

My main focus for the test was to get used to driving a production based sportscar again after driving high down-force junior prototypes. It was fantastic to be able to experience the team and level of their professional operation, and gain insight into GT2 from the likes of Dominik Farnbacher, Ian James, Tom Sutherland and Tommy Milner.

The guys were very encouraging and I was pleased they were impressed at my pace given the little time I spent in the seat. In a car and circuit I’d never seen before.

I nearly had a GT2 drive with another team at Sebring this year, but they ended up not entering. Now I’ve checked the first box, actually driving one. The next step is getting on the grid.”

Drewer is trying to follow in the footsteps of fellow South Australian Vern Schuppan, the only Australian ever to win Le Mans outright (Porsche, 1983), and the legendary David Brabham, who shared much success with Panoz in both the GT and Prototype categories and will attempt to win Le Mans outright this coming weekend with Peugeot.

Drewer will also be racing this weekend, in his Comprent Motor Sports, Daily Planet sponsored, Elan DP-02 prototype in two 45 minute sprint races for Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2009 IMSA Lites Championship to be held as part of the Mazda Formula X weekend at New Jersey Motorsport Park.

Drewer chasing a DREAM. (Athens Banner-Herald)

2009-05-26T14:11:00.000-07:00

Article by Chris Starrs appearing in the Athens, Georgia USA based Athens Banner-Herald newspaper and onlineathens.com on Tuesday, May 26, 2009.

"Tom Drewer is a long way from his native Australia, but the up-and-coming race car driver is making himself right at home in Athens.

The 24-year-old, who grew up in a family of racers, sold everything he owned to move to America in 2008 to try and make his way on unfamiliar courses in an alien environment..."

"..."When I got here, I didn't know a soul and was all by myself," said Drewer, who hails from the South Australian town of Adelaide. "It's been a new experience and it's been amazing. Athens is a fantastic little town. It reminds me of some of the bigger country towns in Australia."

Drewer first set up shop in Buford and signed on with the West Race Car USA Team, winning the International Motor Sports Association's Lites 2 championship last year.

In addition, Drewer won 10 of 12 races he entered, including his maiden American run at the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring event in Florida and his first Canadian race at the Mosport circuit. He also qualified on the pole 11 times and holds lap records at five North American tracks, including Road Atlanta.

His driving grabbed the attention of Athens' Kevin Kloepfer, who owns and operates Comprent Motor Sports, a full-service racing team that has piled up numerous awards in its 22 years of competition.

"Last year, Kevin and I had been eyeing each other a little bit," said Drewer in his unmistakable Aussie accent. "It seemed that we kept meeting in the winner's circle and as the year progressed, I became a viable option to move up to Lites 1. I'm trying to make the jump from semi-professional to someone who's paid to race on Sundays and Comprent is helping with my progress."

"We won the Lites 1 championship in 2008 and Tom won the Lites 2 championship with another team," said Kloepfer. "He wanted to be with somebody who knew cars and knew how to win. We talked a little bit and he wanted to move up from L1, and we were the next logical step."

Drewer races in Georgia-constructed junior prototype cars, which he terms as an "Indy car with a little more body work, essentially an open-wheel Formula car with extra bodywork over the wheels."

The cars - which are in the junior category to the famous LeMans Series - can top out at speeds of 160 mph and average some 115 mph on the circuit, which in most cases feature plenty of corner turns and chilling curves.

"Unlike NASCAR, we have corner turns in both directions," quips Drewer, who was mentored early in his career by three-time World Champion Nikki Lauda and has competed since an early age in karting, the South Australian Drivers Championship, the Australian Thundersports category and the V8 Giant Supercar Series.

He recently competed in the Utah Grand Prix, but Drewer hasn't had the same success in Lites 1 as he did a year ago.

"We've struggled a little bit but we're starting to see some results," said Kloepfer, who added most of his client drivers own their own cars, but he rents one to Drewer. "He's obviously on a tight budget and is doing what he can. He does an excellent job of promoting."

Added Drewer: "Racing is a lot different from something like golf or tennis. It's very challenging due to the role finances play. It's a big battle for any driver to find the financing he needs. It's a big investment and a big commitment.

"My mother and father are putting all their pay packets into racing and I sold everything to come here and pursue my dream. It's a tough sport - most of my time is spent trying to make the next deal to get to the next (race)."

While Drewer plans to continue participating in open-wheel races, he's not closing the door on competing in non-LeMans Circuit events.

"NASCAR is getting more interesting to Australians, and I'd love to at least try it one day," he said. "It's a different style of racing and a lot of the open-wheel drivers who have done it have struggled. It obviously takes a lot of skill. I'd also love to run the Indianapolis 500 as well. But right now I'd just like to see those styles of racing - the Daytona 500 is at the top of my list, just above the Indy 500.

"But my main goal is to emulate my fellow Australian drivers, like David Brabham, who's now racing in the American LeMans Series, (NASCAR Sprint Cup driver) Marcus Ambrose, and Vern Schuppan, the only Australian to win the 24 Hours of LeMans, which he did in a Porsche."

Besides family and friends, Drewer said the only thing he really misses from back home is the beach.

"I didn't realize how much time I spent at the beach until I got here," he said. "I miss the ocean and watching the dolphins play with each other. I like to go to Savannah and other towns on the coast so I can see a bit of the water"."

Brabs a Utah Saint [Utah AMLS report]. (Auto Action)

2009-05-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in the May 25 edition of Auto Action Magazine.

"...Menwhile Tom Drewer was also competing at Miller Motorsports Park in rounds three and four of the IMSA Lites One series. Drewer recorded his first top six finish of the year with an impressive run..."

Click on image to read article.

Drewer scores first top-six for 2009.

2009-05-17T11:13:00.000-07:00

Australian Tom Drewer has recorded his first top-six finish in the IMSA Lites 1 category at the American Le Mans Series Utah Grand Prix, held at Miller Motorsports Park.

Drewer pushed hard in Round 3 from 8th on the grid to move up through the field, at one stage lapping faster than the leaders, and looked set for a podium finish. However in his quest to reach the front the young Aussie began to over heat his tyres while rapidly catching his team mate, Jonathan Gore who went on to claim third. Drewer got within inches of Gore, but had extracted everything out of his Daily Planet Elan DP-02 and had to go into 'conservation mode' to bring it home.

In Round 4 after again starting 8th, Drewer struggled with car balance early on and lost track position. He battled with the car, which appeared to have little grip until the midway point of the race, when finally the chassis began to grip up. Drewer showed good pace in the second half of the race and caught 6th and 7th placed Marcelli and Gibson, passing Gibson with a lap and a half to go.

"I was pleased with yesterday's performance, but a little frustrated today. Overall we showed an improvement from Sebring and we're working hard on a few things that are keeping us from the front. I was really happy to see the team get a podium this weekend, and for my team-mate Jonathan. It shows we're heading in the right direction. Lites 1 is particularly competitive and I'm really happy to have had a top six finish in only my third race. A podium was nearly on the cards this weekend and I think that a win could be just around the corner if we continue to progress as we have."

Drewer's next race is at New Jersey Motorsports Park on June 13 and 14 for rounds 5 and 6 of the 2009 IMSA Lites Championship Presented by Frisby Performance Tire.

World's fastest Mother's Day card. (Utah Standard-Examiner)

2009-05-16T15:30:00.000-07:00

Article by Chris J. Miller appearing in the Utah Standard-Examiner on Saturday, May 16, 2009.

"Although it's a week late, young Australian race car driver Tom Drewer is sending out his Mother's Day card.

And he's going to be quick about it.

Drewer had to spend last weekend away from home, preparing for this weekend's Utah Grand Prix.

He says his 'Mum' has always been supportive of his motor racing and he wanted to show her his appreciation..."

"...So he fastened his Mother's Day message to his racing helmet, which he'll be using in the 2009 IMSA Lites races at Miller Motorsports Park.

"When she sees it, I'll be doing around 160 miles per hour. I guess it's the world's fastest Mother's Day card," said Drewer who hopes for back-to-back Lites Championships for both himself and his Comprent team.

Qualifying and Race 1 is today, with Race 2 on Sunday, prior to the American Le Mans Series Utah Grand Prix later in the day.

For information, visit millermotorsportspark.com."

Flying the flag. (Auto Action)

2009-04-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in the April 28 Edition of Auto Action Magazine. "Enough of the domestic series. How are our intrepid overseas-based Aussies stacking up as competition in the rest of the world gets underway? Phillip Mahoney presents his global form guide."

"Tom Drewer and Owen Kelly both enter their second season of racing in the USA after successful campaigns in 2008. Drewer dominated the IMSA Lites 2 category in his WEST, winning 10 of the season's 12 races and will expect to be right at the front of the IMSA Lites 1 category this season with championship-winning team Comprent Motor Sports..."

Click on image to view entire story.

World's Fasest Mother's Day Card. (Auto Action)

2009-04-28T11:04:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in the April 28 Edition of Auto Action magazine, Australia's premier motorsport publication. "Australian IMSA Lites driver Tom Drewer has sent the world's fastest card to his mum on Mother's day..."

Click on image to read entire article.

Drewer cops a spray. (Auto Action)

2009-04-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

Tom Drewer is looking to improve on his 2009 IMSA Lites Championship opening-round result after suffering brake issues throughout the Sebring season-opener on March 18-21.

Article Appearing in Auto Action magazine April 1, 2009. (Click on image to read article).

Drewer's spritely start at Sebring. (Auto Action)

2009-03-29T13:05:00.000-07:00

Aussie Tom Drewer overcame overheating brakes in his IMSA Lites L1 Championship debut to finish 11th and 7th in the two Sebring races last weekend.

Article appearing in Auto Action Magazine March 29, 2009. (Click image to read article).

Hectic Time for Drewer. (The Advertiser)

2009-03-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

Adelaide driver Tom Drewer has mixed feelings after his first race in the IMSA Lites 1 class at Florida's Sebring track.

Overheating brakes and other distractions kept him to an 11th place in Race 1 but a promising seventh in the 75-minute Race 2... Article appearing in The Advertiser Newspaper March 19, 2009. (Click on image to read article).

Drewer strong at 2009 Sebring Opener.

2009-03-16T08:16:00.000-07:00

Tom Drewer, the 2008 IMSA Lites 2 Champion, made a solid transition to the Lites 1 class at Rounds 1 and 2 of the IMSA Lites Championship Presented by Frisby Performance Tire, as part of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring Event, Florida USA.

Throughout the weekend’s practice sessions the young up-and-coming Australian, who dominated the Lites 2 class last year winning ten races in his first year of competition in America, hovered near the top of the time sheets and despite brake over-heating issues took his number 1 Daily Planet Racing / Comprent Motor Sports car to strong finishes in both races, 11th in Race 1 and 7th in the 1 hour 15 minute endurance event.

Drewer is running the number 1 plate signifying his Lites 2 Championship win and the fact that Comprent are reigning Lites 1 Team Champions.

“We were immediately around the pace and after P3 (practice session 3) I felt very positive about the speed we showed. We were third fastest for quite some time and I brought the car in relatively early, feeling I still had a little up my sleeve for qualifying.”

Drewer finished practice three 5th fastest completing only around half of the number of laps as compared to the other front-runners.

“Qualifying didn’t exactly go to plan, though we still made it into the top-ten. We had a random glitch in the car as I arrived at the form-up grid. We got dispensation to fix it and start the session from pit-lane. The team did a tremendous job to solve the issues and get the car out before 1 lap had even been completed.

As I left pit-lane I received a pit-lane speed violation, something that over half the field received throughout the session. It turns out the rule change in where the car’s timing transponder is mounted made it possible for you to switch off the speed-limiter as the front wheels passed the control-line and still have the car technically speeding by the time the transponder passed the control-line.

Then just as I got some clear track my fire extinguisher became faulty- never mind it was brand new- and I had foam spraying all over my visor as I turned through turns 4, 10, 13 and 16.”

Drewer started Round 1 in 9th position and after a blinding start, which saw him as high as 7th, he had to settle for eleventh while managing overheating brakes.

“I got an amazing start. I think I jumped two rows and as I came into turn 1, I was sandwiched between my team-mates Charlie (Sheers) and Jonathan (Gore). As we approached the corner I started to get squeezed on both sides- we were actually all touching. All I could picture in my mind was three Comprent cars in the wall on the first lap of the first race of the season. That’s no way to win a Championship and I backed out.

After that I ran slightly wide into turn seven but recovered and then my brake pedal got longer and longer as my brakes began to overheat. I pushed as hard as I could but I had to be a little careful with the brakes. It was a shame to finish slightly lower than what we started but a fantastic feeling to finish my first race in an IMSA Lites 1 car.

In the Endurance race, Round 2, I got another great start, which was important as I started in 12th position. Even though the race was longer I just tried to push as hard as I could the whole way. Unfortunately the brakes began to overheat again and it was a case of balancing how hard I could push and managing the brakes.

When I came into the pits for the fuel stop brake dust went everywhere and with the amount of heat haze and smoke coming from the front rotors I thought they were on fire.

After the stop the brakes came back for a while before I had to manage them again. I could push for a few corners and then I would have to ease my pace. Still, I caught up to sixth and seventh place. Every time I pushed just a little harder to get closer the brakes were locking and overheating and the pedal got longer and I lost a few tenths. It was quite difficult to manage but I eventually passed (Jon) Brownson for 7th, around the outside through the fast turn 1.”

The results are impressive given Drewer has only spent limited time in Lites 1 car over the off-season while the majority of the opposition are going into their second or third year of driving in Lites 1.

“This has been a really positive result. Sure it would have been fantastic to repeat last year’s success in Lites 2 and take out both rounds here at Sebring, but I’m really happy with the pace we showed and the strong top-ten result in the endurance event.

A couple of mechanical glitches probably prevented us from an even better result but as they say, ‘that’s motor racing’.

It’s just fantastic to be back here at Sebring racing for my second year in America.

I really want to thank everyone back home for again supporting me this year. I have had amazing support yet again from friends and family. I would especially like to thank John Trimble and the Daily Planet for their continued support this year.

I feel really comfortable here with Comprent. The team is so professional and well equipped. I think it’s going to be a great year and I can’t wait for Utah.”

Drewer and IMSA Lites head to Miller Motorsport Park, Utah for Rounds 3 and 4 on May 15-17.

Comprent ready for biggest assault yet on IMSA Lites title.

2009-03-14T03:23:00.000-07:00

Reigning IMSA Lites 1 Team Champions Comprent Motor Sports will field five cars at Rounds 1 & 2 of the 2009 IMSA Lites Championship, Presented by Frisby Performance Tire, to be held this weekend, the beginning of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring Event.

The legendary Athens, Georgia, based team headed by Kevin Kloepfer ran two cars at last year’s event, but for the majority of the season focused solely on preparing the season dominating car for 2008 Lites 1 Champion Jonathan Goring (Torrington, CT).

Ten race wins and what Kevin described as a “near perfect” season has attracted three star drivers to the Comprent outfit to spearhead the team’s campaign alongside father and son duo Wayne and David Ducote (New Orleans, LA) who will compete with the team at selected rounds.

2008 IMSA Lites 2 Champion, Australian Tom Drewer (Adelaide, AUS), steps up to the Lites 1 category after a stellar first year of competition in North America. Without ever setting foot at any of the tracks last year Tom won ten rounds of the Lites 2 Championship including Round’s 1 & 2 at the Sebring event, consistently mixing it with the fastest L1s and placing as high as second over-all.

“It’s fantastic to be racing back here in America this year, and especially with Comprent. We ran up the front of the field last year, but this year I have the opportunity to win outright.

Last year was a big learning curve for me. It was my first year racing in America and the circuits were all new. I came over here by myself and didn’t know anyone. I feel much more comfortable heading into this season. There are a few familiar faces in the paddock and I feel right at home with Kevin and the Comprent boys. We watched each other winning last year, and it felt like a logical step in my progression toward American Le Mans to drive L1 with them.”

Drewer will be running number 1 on the car this year signifying Comprent’s 2008 team and drivers’ Championship wins, and Drewer’s win in the Lites 2 Drivers’ Championship.

However, it isn’t only Drewer who has the desire to give the Comprent team back-to-back championship wins.

Young American hot-shot Jonathan Gore (Franklin, TN), who placed 5th in his first year of L1 and was a podium finisher at the Petit Le Mans Round looks set to make 2009 his year, and hopes his initials are a good omen.

“Last year Comprent won with a JG. This year they have another- me. I’m not one for superstitions but I feel I’m ready to make 2009 mine and those initials another Drivers’ Championship.

2008 was my first year and I feel I have a really good knowledge base for this year. I think that, with my transition to Comprent has put me in a very good position to build on last year. I’m going for it this year.”

The third driver spearheading Comprent’s championship assault is long time racer and Real Estate Developer Charlie Sheers (Houston, TX). Charlie is attempting to take two titles this year, the outright Lites 1 Championship and the Masters’ title.

Charlie progressed to Lites 1 in 2007 after running selected Lites 3 races in 2006. His podium at last year’s Lime Rock race shows Charlie is a serious contender. Even after a series of mechanical failures last year Charlie still finished sixth in the 2008 Lites 1 Drivers’ Championship. He expects with his move to Comprent will come the consistent reliability he’s after.

"I am extremely excited racing with Comprent, their knowledge of the car and their support staff makes it a top of the line race team.

I’m very happy with how pre-season testing has gone and the times suggest I’ll be right there. I’ll definitely give these young boys a run for their money.”

Team owner Kevin Kloepfer also thinks he could have three potential Champions and possibly take out the top 5 at the Sebring Event.

“Charlie, Jonathan and Tom all share the same goal as we do- winning the Championship.

“We committed everything and worked extremely hard last year to win, and dominated with ten race wins.

I know we are going to have to dig even deeper this year to make it two in a row, but I’m extremely impressed at the way the team, is working together, particularly the drivers.

I think we could have all three drivers fighting for the Championship, and I know the competition will be strong so it’s going to make for one exciting year.

Certainly everyone in the team has the same aim, to win and win the Championship. Our goal is to be first, second and third all year regardless of the order. There will be no team orders.

And, for Sebring, and I’m sure most of the rounds this year, we also have David and Wayne Ducote. Given the speed they show I think it could be possible to take all top five positions.

David Ducote is just as excited about his, his father’s and the team’s prospects.

“I won the Radical RS3 Cup and we’re really enjoyed making the progression to IMSA Lites and the Élan DP-02.

“We’re both hoping to do as many rounds as possible, but it seems our personal and business schedules have a habit of conflicting with the race weekends.”

The 2008 IMSA Lites Presented by Frisby Performance Tire season begins at Sebring, Florida as part of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring event. Round 1 is a 30 minute race to be held tomorrow, Saturday March 14, and Round 2 is a 1 hour 15 minute enduro to be held Sunday.

Drewer passes U.S. Sebring test. (The Advertiser)

2009-02-14T08:16:00.000-08:00

Adelaide's Tom Drewer has had a successful first track test at the famous Sebring circuit in Florida of the IMSA Lites 1 category car he will race in this year.

Drewer, 23, won the Lites 2 championship last year... Article appearing in The Advertiser Newspaper February 14, 2009. (Click on image to read article).

Drewer picks up CAMS achievement award.

2009-02-08T11:42:00.000-08:00

Adrian Flynn presenting Tom Drewer's award to his father, Mike Drewer, at the 2008 CAMS SA Awards, February 7, 2009.

When dreams have wheels. (Auto Action).

2009-02-07T19:03:00.000-08:00

Tom Drewer used to hang out with F1's Finest as a child and had a fantasy of following them into racing. And then one day, he did. Daniel Jordan Explains. Article appearing in the February 7 Edition of Australia's Auto Action Magazine.

To read more click on picture.

A little taste of Athens.

2009-02-06T05:42:00.000-08:00

Here are a few photos from Athens, Georgia, the town where I'm based this year. Athens is about an hour and a half north east of Atlanta, and the home of Comprent Motor Sports.

A shot of Terry's house, where I'm staying. Basil the dog. Downtown Athens and inside the Comprent workshop.

Drewer signed by Championship winning Comprent Motor Sports

2009-02-05T09:01:00.000-08:00

Upon his return to America, Tom Drewer, the 2008 American IMSA Lites 2 Champion, has announced he will be driving for reigning Lites 1 Team Champions Comprent Motor Sports in the 2009 IMSA Lites Championship Presented by Frisby Performance Tire.

"I'm really excited to announce that I am competing in America again this year and I’ll be stepping up to Lites 1 with the Championship winning team, Comprent Motor Sports."

Drewer won the American Le Mans Series’ IMSA Lites 2 Championship last year, dominating the series winning 10 from 12 races and setting 5 track lap records.

This impressive feat lead to Australia’s AutoAction magazine naming Drewer 'Best Overseas Rookie' in their annual awards, and Wheels magazine including Drewer in their 'Hot Half Dozen Watch List' for 2009.

"After weighing up several options and series, I feel this is the next logical step in my international career, my progression towards driving GTs and Prototypes in the Le Mans Series, and winning the Le Mans 24 Hour outright."

The only Australian to ever achieve outright Le Mans honours is Vern Schuppan, fellow South Australian and long time supporter of Drewer, who won the world’s most gruelling sports-car race in 1983 driving for Porsche.

Comprent Motor Sports signed the young, up-and-coming Drewer after the Official IMSA Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway, Florida.

Comprent fielded three Panoz Élan DP-02 prototype sports cars, powered by Mazda and using Hankook tyres provided by Frisby Performance Tire.

Joining Drewer (Adelaide, AUS) for Comprent’s first 2009 test were American’s Jonathan Gore (Franklin, TN), Charlie Sheers (Houston, TX) and Wayne Ducote (New Orleans, LA).

Drewer will spearhead the championship assault for Comprent along with Gore and Sheers while Wayne Ducote will join the team for selected races throughout the 2009 Season with his son David (New Orleans, LA).

Team Owner Kevin Kloepfer was excited by the promise shown for the season ahead.

"I’m really looking forward to this year. There is going to be a great dynamic in the team this year with Tom joining Jonathan and Charlie. Last year we ran one car and had one Championship contender. This year we have three.

I was extremely happy with the way Tom is adapting to the bigger, heavier and faster Lites 1 car, and the speed Charlie and Jonathan showed.

We have a fantastic team and a strong platform from last year, to develop on. I’m confident we’ll have another Champion at the end of the year."

Comprent won the 2008 IMSA Lites 1 Championship convincingly, winning nine races with Jonathan Goring (Torrington, CT) at the helm.

Asked how he felt about the 2009 race year Drewer was just as excited.

"After my first season racing overseas it was great to spend the off-season and Christmas with my family, see all my mates and celebrate my championship win with everyone back home.

I’ve been working hard preparing, resetting my goals, training and putting together the best deal, although I am in need of more sponsors.

Now after getting back in the car I feel more energized than ever. It's great to be back in America and I feel at home with Comprent.

I know the competition in Lites 1 is going to be tough, especially from within my own team.

I don't know the car as well as the other guys. But, last year I didn't know the circuits and we won ten races so I know I can do it if I give it my all.

I'm getting comfortable in the Lites 1 car and I know the speed will be there for Sebring."

Drewer hopes the opening two rounds of the season, part of the famous Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring Event, will be a repeat of last year when he won both races in the Lites 2 class.

The next time Drewer and IMSA Lites Presented by Frisby Performance Tire will roll out on the Florida circuit is Friday, March 13 as, for official practice preceding Saturday's Round 1 race and Sunday's Round 2, 1 hour 15 minute enduro.

2009 Comprent squad completes official Sebring Test with 2009 driver line-up.

2009-01-30T08:29:00.000-08:00

At the circuit that will in 6 weeks play host to the season opener of the 2009 IMSA Lites Championship Presented by Frisby Performance Tire, Comprent Motor Sports (the reigning Lites 1 Team Champions) have completed their first pre-season test with their 2009 driver line-up.

Driving Florida’s history rich 3.7 mile Sebring Road Course where Round’s 1 and 2 will take place on 14-15 March during the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring week, were four drivers signed by Comprent for the 2009 Season.

American’s Jonathan Gore (Franklin, TN), Charlie Sheers (Houston, TX) and Wayne Ducote (New Orleans, LA), were joined by Australian and 2008 IMSA Lites 2 Champion Tom Drewer (Adelaide, AUS) for the 2 day test in which Comprent fielded three Panoz Élan DP-02 prototype sports cars, powered by Mazda and using Hankook tyres provided by Frisby Performance Tire.

Jonathan, Charlie and Tom will spearhead the championship assault for Comprent while Wayne will join the team for selected races throughout the 2009 Season with his son David Ducote (New Orleans, LA).

The drivers completed a series of sessions over two days at the Official IMSA Winter Test without incident and Team Owner Kevin Kloepfer was excited by the progress and the promise shown for the season ahead.

“It has been fantastic to have our 2009 line-up here together and I’m ecstatic how well the team and drivers are already working together.

I was extremely happy with the speed Charlie and Jonathan showed and the way Tom has adapted to the Lites 1 car.

There is going to be a great dynamic in the team this year with Tom, Jonathan and Charlie all wanting the title. Last year we ran one car and had one Championship contender. This year we have three.

We have a fantastic team and a strong platform from last year, to develop on. I’m confident we’ll have another Champion at the end of the year.”

Comprent won the 2008 IMSA Lites 1 Championship convincingly, winning nine races with Jonathan Goring (Torrington, CT) at the helm.

Asked how he felt about the 2009 race year Charlie Sheers was positive and looking forward to the season.

“I’m extremely excited racing with Comprent, their knowledge of the car and their support staff makes it a top of the line race team. I hope I can keep up with their pace.”

Tom Drewer was also pleased with how things are shaping up for the 2009.

“It’s great to be back in America and I feel at home with Comprent. I know the competition is going to be tough, especially from within my own team. I don’t know the car as well as the other guys. But, last year I didn’t know the circuits and we won ten races so I know I can do it if I give it my all. I’m getting comfortable in the car and I know the speed will be there for the Sebring opener.”

Comprent hopes Sebring will be a repeat of last year where it claimed the first two rounds of the Lites 1 season.

The next time IMSA Lites Presented by Frisby Performance Tire will roll out on the Florida circuit is Friday, March 13 for official practice preceding Saturday’s Round 1 race and Sunday’s Round 2, 1 hour 15 minute enduro.

Additional information:

Tom Drewer, aged 23, is an up and coming Australian driver who in his first year of North American competition dominated IMSA Lites 2 in 2008, taking the Championship with 11 pole positions, 10 wins, setting 5 lap records, all on unfamiliar circuits. This gave Tom back-to-back Championships across the Pacific after he took the Australian Thundersports Sports Car Championship for West Race Cars in 2007.

Tom’s driving duties were split in 2007 with seats in both the Fujitsu V8 and V8 Giant Supercar Series, the feeder categories to Australia's premier motor racing series, V8 Supercars. Tom made his transition to cars in 2002, driving Formula Vees and winning the FVASA Drivers’ Championship, after a stellar karting career beginning at age 7 and once backed by triple World Champion Nikki Lauda’s airline, Lauda-Air.

Australia’s AutoAction magazine has named Tom ‘Best Overseas Rookie’ in their annual awards while prestigious Wheels magazine has put Tom in their ‘Hot Half Dozen Watch List’ for 2009. Given his pace amongst the Lites 1’s last year including a 2nd overall in Utah, Comprent also think he’s one to watch this year as he tries for their second consecutive Lites 1 Championship.

Comprent Motor Sports, the legendary Athens, GA based team founded by Kevin Kloepfer is a full service racing team with over 20 years of experience.

Comprent has enjoyed countless success in National and Pro-Level open-wheel and sports-car categories including Formula Atlantic, IMSA Lites, Star Mazda, and the Camel Lites GTP Series competing at many of the biggest races throughout America and Canada including the Daytona 24 Hour.

Comprent is the reigning IMSA Lites 1 Team and Drivers’ Champions. These wins add to their 2006 BOSS Historic Formula Championship (IndyCar), 2005 SCCA Sports 2000 National Championship and 1990 SCCA Formula Atlantic National Championship.

From its extensive facilities in North East Georgia, Comprent’s in-house technicians and engineers specialise in preparation, fabrication, machining, transmissions, composites, data acquisition, and driver coaching.

Comprent is Élan Motorsport Technologies’ IMSA Lites customer service representative, the official USA distributor of Elite Racing Transmissions, and agents for Pi Research systems and Bald Spot Sports seat kits.

Tifosi is the official eyewear of Comprent Motor Sports.

IMSA Lites Presented by Frisby Performance Tire is the feeder category to the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), the premier prototype and GT endurance racing series in the world. Like the ALMS, IMSA Lites features three distinct classes of prototypes from global race-car constructors Élan Motorsport Technologies, West Race Cars and Van Diemen.

The series offers drivers from around the world the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of ALMS team bosses in a multi-class racing environment at famous and historic racing venues such as Sebring, Road America, Road Atlanta, Mosport and Laguna Seca.

Previous Lites 1 Champions Robbie Pecorari and Gerardo Bonilla have gone on to drive in factory Le Mans Series Prototypes.

The Panoz Élan DP-02 Prototype is the official chassis of Lites 1. Built by Élan Motorsports Technologies it is a high-tech purpose-built sports car designed to develop advanced drivers with aspirations of graduating to the next level of professional racing.

The DP-02 features an FIA certified carbon-fibre monocoque chassis, 6-speed sequential ‘no-lift shift’ Hewland gearbox, tunnel-floor, and is powered by a 2.3 Litre, 4-cylinder Mazda MP2 racing engine supplied by Élan Power Products.

Top speed of an Élan DP-02 at most North American circuits is 170 mph, while their average speed is generally well over 110 mph, resulting in Lap times equally as fast or faster than ALMS GT2 cars and Star Mazda.

Well tuned. (The Advertiser).

2009-01-17T08:34:00.000-08:00

Article appearing in the CarsGuide section of South Australia's News Limited The Advertiser news paper detailing a trip to my local go-kart club.

Australian race driver Tom Drewer is back in Adelaide for the Christmas-New Year break but will be heading back to the U.S. for another motorsport season.

The 23-year-old is taking a step up to the L1 Category, from the L2 series which he won in his debut U.S. season.

Drewer tested and has now signed with Comprent Motor Sports' IMSA Lites 1 team for the 2009 season.

He recently spent a day back where his motorsport career began, at age seven, at the wheel of a kart at the Southern Go Kart Club's Bolivar circuit... (To continue reading please click on image).

Drewer back to his roots before he goes back.

2009-01-14T11:18:00.000-08:00

Young South Australian driver Tom Drewer has spent a day back where it all started, the Southern Go Kart Club’s Bolivar raceway, before he heads back to America after being signed with Comprent Motorsports’ IMSA Lites 1 outfit.

It was at the Bolivar raceway, just north of Adelaide, that Drewer first took to the track, then aged 7.

‘It’s amazing to think that only a few years ago I had my first race here, and now I’m racing on some of the world’s most famous tracks including Sebring, Mosport, Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca.

So it’s fantastic to be back on this circuit, and with all the new facilities the club certainly has come a long way- it’s great.

Last year I had to deal with learning a new track every time I went racing, but I can drive this one with my eyes closed. I would have done thousands of laps around here as a kid.

Karting is a great way to keep you’re eye in and I really want to thank Ian Williams Tuning for supplying the kart, and the Southern Go Kart Club for making it all possible.

This time of year is always exciting. It may be the off season, but there is always plenty to do, resetting my goals, working out the best deal for next year, and training and preparing for the season ahead, and I am still in need of more sponsors.

After my first season racing overseas it has also been great to spend some time at home, having Christmas with my family, seeing all my mates and being able to celebrate my championship win with everyone.’

Drewer won the American Le Mans Series’ IMSA Lites 2 Championship last year, dominating the series winning 10 from 12 races and setting 5 track lap records. Australia’s AutoAction magazine has named Drewer ‘Best Overseas Rookie’ in their annual awards while Wheels magazine has put Drewer in their ‘Hot Half Dozen Watch List’ for 2009

‘I’m really excited to announce that I will be returning to America this year to compete and I’ll be stepping up to Lites 1 with the Championship winning team, Comprent Motorsport.’

‘After weighing up several options and series, I feel this is the next logical step in my international career and to progressing towards my driving Prototypes in the Le Mans Series, and winning the Le Mans 24 Hour outright.’

Interestingly the only Australian to ever achieve this feat is fellow South Australian, former karter and long time supporter of Tom Drewer, Vern Schuppan who won the world’s most gruelling Sportscar race driving for Porsche.

And what does Drewer say to all the young aspiring racing drivers out there?
‘Follow your dreams, and never give up. Go out and buy a go-kart, you never know where you’ll end up.’

Drewer named 'Best Rookie' Overseas by Auto Action. (Auto Action Magazine)

2008-12-15T10:13:00.000-08:00

Tom Drewer has been named 'Best Rookie' Overseas by Auto Action Magazine, Australia's premier motor sport publication.

"Drewer dominated his first season in the 2008 IMSA Lites L2 Championship. Furthermore, he was competitive with the more-powerful L1 class racescars en route to 10 race wins in the L2 class from 12 races and the title win."

To read more click on the image to enlarge.

Drewer tests GT winner. (Motorsport eNews)

2008-12-09T17:57:00.000-08:00

Article appearing in the December 9, 2008 Issue of Motorsport eNews.

"Newly crowned American IMSA Lites L2 Champion Tom Drewer celebrated his win with a test of the 2008 Australian GT winning car at Calder Park last week.

Australian GT Champion Mark Eddy offered Drewer the test of his Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 following his return from America..."

Click on image to read article.

Drewer makes it in the Wheels Hot Half Dozen Watch List. (Wheels Magazine '08 Year Book)

2008-12-01T09:46:00.000-08:00

Tom Drewer has been listed in the prestigious Wheels Magazine '08 Year Book Hot Half Dozen Watch List for 2009 along with Tim Blanchard, Daniel Ricciardo, Kerry Madsen, Molly Taylor and Brendan Roberts. (Click on image to read more).

Australian GT Championship Sandown

2008-11-26T11:14:00.000-08:00

I was a special guest of the Australian GT Championship upon my return, along with a couple of girls from Showgirls Bar 20.

Drewer tests L1 Sportscar. (Auto Action)

2008-11-19T17:41:00.000-08:00

Article appearing in the November 19, 2008 edition of Auto Action Magazine.

"The 2008 IMSA Lites L2 champion Tom Drewer tested for Comprent Motorsport at Road Atlanta on November 6 in the category's top-tier L1 class aboard a 2.3-litre Mazda-powered Elan DP-02..."

Click on image to read article.

Drewer stepping up. (Motorsport News)

2008-11-18T17:23:00.000-08:00

South Australian Tom Drewer looks likely to drive in IMSA Lites 1 Championship next year after a successful test with championship winning team Comprent Motorsport at the Road Atlanta circuit.

Article appearing in the November 18 edition of Motorsport News.

Click on image to enlarge and read article.

Drewer ready to take next step (The Advertiser).

2008-11-14T14:56:00.000-08:00

Article appearing in Adelaide's The Advertiser Newspaper on Saturday, November 15, 2008.

Adelaide racing driver Tom Drewer, the newly-crowned 2008 USA IMSA Lites 2 Champion, has tested with L1 championship winning team Comprent Motorsport at the Road Atlanta circuit in Georgia.

FOR SALE: Tom Drewer's 2008 Championship Winning WEST WR1000

2008-11-14T09:54:00.000-08:00

Less than 12 months old, the car used by Australian Tom Drewer to dominate 2008 IMSA Lites 2 Championship, winning 10 out of 12 races, can be yours.

2nd outright at Miller Motorsport Park, Utah. Currently holds IMSA lap records at Sebring, Utah, Lime Rock, Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca.

Factory prepared all year by WEST Race Cars. No time or expense spared on preparation.

Comes complete with over $21,000 worth of extras including 3 sets of wheels, full set of springs, and jacks.

If you want to WIN IMSA LITES this is the one and it’s ready to race!

NOTES:

* Chassis #75. Factory built Tunnel floor car, January ‘08.

* 2007 ZX10R IMSA sealed engine (New January ‘08, only 3 meetings since mid-season refresh).

* AIM Dash/Data system with extra steering and brake sensors.
($1,995 + $387 new)

* ProShift PS2 shift system with no lift up-shift, AND auto down-blip.
($2,290 new)

* Titanium ProShift paddles and quick release steering wheel.
($1,095 new)

* PVM/West Dry Sump.
($3,995 new)

* Centerlock Jongbloed wheels (3 Sets. 2 Sets new January ’08).
($6,585 new)

* Updated, upgraded lower rear Tunnel Aero wishbones.
($990 new)

* Schroth 6-way HANS belts.

* Fin Antenna and wired for radios
($365.00 new)

* AMB hard-wired timing beacon
($325 new)

* Carbon fiber wheel louvers
($495 new)

* Carbon fiber dive planes
($270 new)

* Near immaculate bodywork.

* Anodised red front toe hooks.

* Fresh brake rotors.
(Only 2 meetings old)

* Spare Pingle shift system wired to be completely plug and play.
($990 new)

* Full range of springs; 800s, 900s, 1000s, 1100s, 1200s, 1300s and 1400s (All new this year).
($1,140 new)

* A few other spares including rear and front sprockets.

* Front and rear quick-lift jacks.
($695 new)

* Meticulously maintained, everything double checked and triple checked.

* SCCA Logbooked for DSR.

VISIT: www.westracecars.com

CONTACT: Eric Vassian, West Race Cars. Phone +1 404 376 8282

Driver instruction from Tom Drewer also available.

Drewer tests Panoz built Élan Lites 1 car at Road Atlanta.

2008-11-09T09:45:00.000-08:00

2008 USA IMSA Lites 2 Champion Tom Drewer has tested with Championship winning team Comprent Motorsport at the Road Atlanta circuit in Georgia, USA.

Drewer, who dominated the L2 Championship in his first year of competition in North America; qualifying on pole-position for every round, winning 10 from 12 races including his first in both America and Canada and setting 5 new track lap records; was invited by Comprent Motorsport to test the 2.3 litre Mazda powered Élan DP-02 Lites 1 car driven to victory this year by American Jonathan Goring.

Following the test team owner Kevin Kloepfer said:

“I have watched Tom all year. He had an unbelievable rookie season, especially as he was turning up to virtually every circuit without ever even seeing them before the race weekend. From his performances this year and today I am convinced we can repeat our Championship winning performance next year with Tom at the wheel.“

Drewer drove Comprent’s number 14 machine, completing four short sessions in heavy traffic during open practice for the SCCA American Road Race of Champions.

“This year has been a year of firsts and today is yet another one. I was delighted to be asked by Kevin to test their Championship winning car. We have been watching and congratulating each other all year, and I have developed the upmost respect for Kevin, Comprent and Jonathan, and what they have achieved.

I was very interested to see what the Élan L1 would be like compared to my Championship winning Daily Planet WEST WR1000. The Élan DP-02 is a bigger car and has a real presence on the race track. Like the WEST it is an enjoyable car to drive, but it does have quite a different feel and dynamic though, because it’s wider, heavier and has more power and torque.

The most noticeable difference was the gearbox. My WEST uses a ProShift electronic paddle gearshift system. On the downshift I was required to dip the clutch and blip the throttle and therefore had to right foot brake. However, the Élan uses a sequential Hewland gearbox with a traditional gearshift lever, and requires left foot braking. So I had to re-calibrate my brain and left foot.

Today was about acclimatising myself with the controls and unfortunately I never got a clear lap. I had to be very conservative with a mix of cars on the circuit, but it was a great first introduction to the Élan.”

Despite the heavy traffic Drewer impressed Comprent’s chief engineer Terry Jinks, with his individual split times and speed. Drewer ended the day with a time of 1:22.5.

“It was a day of very trying conditions out there, but Tom immediately showed speed as he set about familiarising himself with the Élan DP02. His lap times dramatically tumbled throughout the four short sessions. I was impressed with his quick adaptation to left foot braking, his consistency and feedback. He showed both the raw speed and the level of maturity it takes to win Championships, just as he has done throughout this year.’

Asked whether this indicates his direction for next year, Drewer remained coy.

“I have not decided my path for next year, but I think progressing to Lites L1 is certainly a possibility.

It would be a logical step and I have certainly enjoyed racing in the IMSA Lites Series this year. It’s a very competitive series and being associated with the American Le Mans Series it provides a great stepping-stone to Le Mans prototypes.

I really want to thank Kevin, Terry Jinks and Brandon White from Comprent for the opportunity today. I was totally impressed by Comprent and it would be fantastic to drive for them. We certainly share the same values in preparation, the desire, and the commitment to win. However, I have been presented with a few other opportunities in different categories for 2009 so we’ll have to wait and see.”

Drewer also shares some racing history with Comprent owner Kevin Kloepfer. Like Kevin, Drewer made his racing car debut in a Formula Vee.

The legendary Athens, Georgia based Comprent Motor Sports team has enjoyed countless successes in both open-wheel and sports car events since its inception in 1988 to the present day including taking both the 2008 IMSA Lites L1 Team and Driver’s Championships. Comprent Motor Sports is also affiliated with the Élan Motorsports Technologies as the IMSA Lites customer service representative.

Drewer's winning wind-up. (Auto Action)

2008-11-04T15:01:00.000-08:00

Article appearing in Australia's Auto Action magazine, November 4, 2008.

Tom Drewer completed his debut season in the United States with two dominant class wins in the 2008 IMSA Lites Championship L2 Class at Laguna Seca on October 17-19.

Drewer dazzles. (The Advertiser)

2008-10-25T14:36:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in South Australia's The Advertiser newspaper on October 25.

Young Australian driver Tom Drewer has made it 10 wins from 12 races in his rookie season, winning the Lites L2 Class honours in the final race of the IMSA Lites Championship at Laguna Seca.

Drewer dominates IMSA Lites L2. (Wheels)

2008-10-22T11:36:00.000-07:00

Young South Australian driver, Tom Drewer has stormed to both his first IMSA Lites crown and class victory in the season's end enduro at Laguna Seca.

Young Aussie driver, Tom Drewer has finished his first year of US racing with both the 2008 IMSA Lites L2 Championship and the season finale under is belt.

Adelaide-born Drewer dominated this year’s championship, winning 10 of his 12 starts and impressing the US racing fraternity in the process.

Read it at Wheelsmag.com.au

Like most of the circuits he raced on this year, Drewer had never driven at California's Laguna Seca Raceway. Yet he won both Saturday’s race and the Lites L2 Class in Sunday’s 1hr 15mins endurance event.

Drewer also set a new qualifying class record of 1:24.182 for L2 Class pole on Friday, and against the more potent L1 Class cars finished Saturday’s half-hour race 10th outright and set a new class race lap record. He now holds five lap records in the US.

He’s also won IMSA Lites races outright, holding off the L1 Class cars in his Daily Planet West car.

By winning this year’s L2 Championship, Drewer now holds back-to-back championships across the Pacific, after dominating the Australian AMRS Thundersports Sportscar Series last year.

You probably won’t be surprised to hear that 23-year-old Drewer’s now in demand. “We are currently in discussion with teams in a few different categories. I’m excited by some of the opportunities and I hope that I can gain the necessary corporate support to further my career here in America next year. As they say, ‘watch this space," he said.

Drewer caps off Championship with brilliant Endurance result at Laguna Seca.

2008-10-19T22:43:00.000-07:00

Tom Drewer has finished his first year of racing in North America just the way he started, with another win at a circuit he’d never been to before.

The young rising Australian driver made it ten wins from twelve races after taking Lites L2 Class honours in the 1 hour and 15 minute endurance race at Laguna Seca on Sunday, the finale of the 2008 IMSA Lites Championship presented by Hankook.

The weekend capped off a stellar international debut for Drewer, 23, who added yet more North American track lap class records to his Championship winning season.

Drewer and his Daily Planet WEST set a new qualifying class record of 1:24.182 to gain L2 Class pole and 12th overall around the famous Californian circuit on Friday. He then went on to win the L2 class in the 30 minute sprint race on Saturday, setting a new race lap record on his way to 10th place overall. However, it was in his first ever endurance drive which Drewer yet again showed his maturity not to mention pace amongst the faster L1 cars, again setting a new class race lap record.

“Everyone told me just to go out and have some fun this weekend after we wrapped up the L2 Championship at Petit Le Mans two weekends ago. But, in some ways I think there was more pressure to perform and finish the year with the same consistency as I started with.

Like every track, with the exception of Road Atlanta, Laguna was a completely new playground this weekend. It is very unforgiving and because of that I set a series of progressive goals. From practice, to qual, to race 1, my Daily Planet Racing/WEST Race Cars team went about ticking those boxes off. It was not about being conservative, but simply measured and doing what we needed to do when we needed to do it.

The Endurance race threw a lot of unknowns into the mix. We have never raced for that length of time on the Hankook tyres and never before had we been required to complete a pit stop or refuelling.

We started the Endurance in 12th overall and I knew the long race distance and mandatory re-fuelling pit stop would reward a consistent pace. There was no point in risking the car early on to gain minimal track position.

I set about achieving a good rhythm and pace in the car early on. Jake and my WEST team had near perfect timing on our pit stop– a full course yellow came out about half way through.

Then on the restart I had Jarrett Boon (Elan L1) dive down the outside of me into turn 2. It was the second time this weekend that he’d turned into me. I don’t know why he thought he was going to get around me- even with the extra torque of the L1. I brushed him off until the safety car came out again 4 corners later and really that was that. It was a procession under full course yellow until the chequered flag came out.

It was a shame to end the season under yellow but I think Terry Dale, the Race Director, made a great call. If we’d gone green for a lap I think it would have been on for young and old- probably half the field off at turn 2 and the rest off at the corkscrew.

I’m ecstatic to achieve yet another win here in America and another strong performance for WEST race cars amongst the more powerful L1s. We surpassed our goal of a top ten overall result, finishing sixth.”

The race was won overall by Joel Feinberg (Elan L1).

“I really have to thank WEST, Eric Vassian, Jake Randels, Kevin Takalo, Dan Jang and Randy Aust for all their effort this year.

I couldn’t have done any of this without the support of John Trimble and the Daily Planet back in Melbourne, Australia, the belief of my manager Terry Little and all the sacrifices my mother and father, Jacquie and Mike Drewer have had to make. I also have to thank all those listed on my website and who’s messages I carry on the rear bodywork of my car. I couldn’t have achieved any of this without you. I can never thank you enough.”

Drewer’s results at Laguna Seca means that he has won at every track he’s competed at this year in the 2008 IMSA Lites Championship and now holds five lap records in North America. His Championship win also means he has now taken back-to-back Championships across the Pacific, after dominating the Australian AMRS Thundersports Sportscar Series last year. Drewer is hoping that it is this consistency and speed that will progress him to the next phase of his international career.

“We are currently in discussion with teams in a few different categories. I’m excited by some of the opportunities and I hope that I can gain the necessary corporate support to further my career here in America next year. As they say, ‘watch this space’.”

The Highs and lows of motor racing. (Sunday Mail)

2008-10-19T14:39:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in the South Australian Sunday Mail Newspaper.

The highs and the lows of motor racing- two of Australia's brightest young hopefuls know it better than most.

Drewer wins title. (Auto Action)

2008-10-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in Auto Action Magazine on October 17. Tom Drewer secured the IMSA Lites Championship L2 Class title after scoring his seventh and eighth win from the season's 10 races, at Road Atlanta on October 3-5.

They race iRace. (Auto Action)

2008-10-15T17:21:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in Auto Action magazine, October 2008.

Click on image to read article.

Sandwich recipe. (Auto Action)

2008-10-12T21:48:00.000-07:00

Driver profile in Auto Action magazine. "To Tom Drewer success is everything. Having won the Thundersports Series outright last year, his dogged determination has got him racing IMSA Lites in the US thanks to Daily Planet and is leading the championship. With motorsport in his blood, once he met his hero Nigel Mansell..."

"...at the age five he realised his future belonged in motorsport too. An Adelaide boy at heart, nothing will stand in Drewer's way of achieving his goal of an IndyCar career..."

Colour from Petit Le Mans.

2008-10-11T17:49:00.000-07:00

A plethora of shots from the Petit Le Mans weekend.

Of note is the L2 Championship winning team of West Race Cars (formerly PVM Racing) in front of the Championship winning Daily Planet car. From left to right: Trey, Jake (Engineer), Dan, Eric (Owner + teammate), myself, and Jim Garrett (teammate). Also of interest is the shot of the 'Drinking and Driving Club' teeing off at Road Atlanta near turn 4 on Friday night. Apparently it's a bit of a tradition to hit golf balls over this circuit and down at Sebring. I was assured they don't do it when vehicles are actually on circuit.

Other shots include my rear bodywork with my supporter decals on display to the passing public, the teams working into the night prior to race day, Angus and Martin watching at the Esses and the winning Audi and second place Peugeot.

Race driver's champion debut. (The Advertiser)

2008-10-11T10:43:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in The Advertiser Newspaper, South Australia.

"Adelaide-born race driver Tom Drewer has won the U.S. IMSA Lites L2 sportscar championship in his debut season..."

Historic Drewer.

2008-10-07T14:52:00.000-07:00

Drewer Senior, that is my father Mike Drewer, got back into a competition car after over 15 years on the October 3-5 weekend for the Lobethal Grand Carnival.

The event, created by Tony Parkinson (the owner of Mike Drewer's last competition car, the Richards, and one of my supporters) re-enacted the Historic motor races of the Lobethal Grand Prix, site of the 1939 Australian Grand Prix. The last race held around the 8.65 mile (14km) circuit was in 1948, sixty years ago.

Racing and competition sports cars and motorcycles, predominantly of the 1938-1948 period, took to what was once regarded as Australia's greatest-ever motor racing circuit, a healthy 70 years after the inaugural South Australian GP of 1938.

Mike was driving Tony Parkinson's Elfin open wheeler at the event. Images include examples of the pit-board messages Mike's support crew were holding out. Thanks Newmans!

Clean sweep. (The Advertiser)

2008-10-06T18:37:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in The Advertiser newspaper, from South Australia.

Drewer wins title. (Motorsport News E-edition)

2008-10-06T05:22:00.000-07:00

Article appearing the latest edition of Motorsport News E-edition reporting on the Championship win.

Photographs from Petit Le Mans.

2008-10-05T17:33:00.000-07:00

A selection of photographs from the race week at the Petit Le Mans event, Road Atlanta.

Australia’s Tom Drewer wins 2008 IMSA Lites L2 Championship at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in USA.

2008-10-04T09:52:00.000-07:00

Young rising Australian driver, Tom Drewer has won the 2008 IMSA Lites L2 Championship with a clean sweep at Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Drewer, driving his Daily Planet Racing WEST, won both Round 9 (yesterday) and Round 10 (today) of the Championship taking maximum points, and clinching the title prior to the season finale at Laguna Seca in California in two weeks time.

Drewer’s North American Championship victory has come after race wins at Sebring (Florida), Miller Motorsport Park (Salt Lake City, Utah), Lime Rock (Connecticut), and Mosport (Toronto, Canada) in his first year racing overseas.

The Adelaide born driver has graduated from karting, through the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) domestic categories of Formula Vee, Saloon Cars, and a one-off drive last year in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series before moving to the USA to drive for the factory WEST race team. He also won the Australian Thundersports title last year.

His Championship winning event at Road Atlanta was virtually perfect, setting the fastest L2 time in qualifying for pole with a new qualifying lap record and then breaking the Road Atlanta race lap record in race 1 and lowering that time again in race 2 with a time of 1 minute 22.03 seconds. His average speed around the undulating 4 kilometre circuit was 180kph.

“Leading into this weekend we knew we should be able to clinch the title but its motor racing and anything can happen. My Daily Planet WEST has been fantastic all year and I want to thank everyone at WEST Race Cars, especially my engineer Jake Randels, for all their hard work.

Then yesterday something went wrong with the shift mechanism half way through race 1 and I was having a lot of trouble going up through the gearbox. It was nothing we could have prevented. The team put in a lot of effort to solve the problem and in the end we replaced the entire electronic shift module and actuator. Today the car was back to its best and we just set about having a clean, trouble free race to bring the Championship home.

It really was a case of keeping it clean. There was chaos on a re-start in race 2 when the field checked up, and crashed into each other, and it was a shame that my team mate Eric’s (Vassian) race really ended there. I avoided that and the incident that caused the safety car in the first place.

I set about achieving a good pace early on, but kept it well within the limits. In the end though we closed the gap to the top L1s and I think it really shows again just how fast these WEST’s are given how much extra horsepower and torque the L1s have.

I showed a little emotion on the podium today. This is a long way from my home-town Adelaide, in Australia. There has been so much effort behind the scenes this year. I really wish both my father Mike and mother Jacquie could have been over here to see this. They have sacrificed a great deal so that I could achieve this.

I also truly want to thank John Trimble and the Daily Planet for all their support this year.

I want to also thank each and everyone who has helped me to get to this point. Terry Little for having so much faith in me, Randy Aust (driver Coach), Greg Steer from WEST Race Cars Australia, everyone at WEST Race Cars America, Jake Randels (Engineer) and everyone who has put their names and messages on the rear bodywork of my car. I’ve been racing for all of you. Thanks for being a part of the team. This Championship is for you too, Dad, Terry, John, everyone, we did it!

I’m just looking forward to driving Laguna Seca now, and I hope that my performance and consistency this year can lead onto bigger and better things next season. We have already had some exciting offers and testing opportunities present themselves and I’m hoping we can get the backing for the right option to race in America again next year.

Road Atlanta: Drewer fastest L2 in first official practice session.

2008-10-01T06:26:00.000-07:00

Tom Drewer (Daily Planet Racing WEST) is the fastest IMSA Lites L2 car in the first session at Road Atlanta, setting a time 1:21.712 to be 9th quickest overall.

Drewer, the current Lites L2 Championship leader, lapped the 2.54 mile circuit with an average speed of over 111mph, reaching a top speed approaching 150mph.

"Yesterday was extremely hot. The car's were running at their limit in terms of oil and water temps. We have been trying a few different things so far, but this morning the track came to us, and the changes we made over night."

Drewer's team-mate, Eric Vassian (WEST) was the second fastest L2, lapping in 1:23.586.

Matt Downs (L1) set the fastest time in the session with a 1:19.273 . L1 Championship leader, Jonathan Goring set the second fastest time of the session with a 1:19.409 .

Drewer will be out on track for session 2, later today at 2:50pm (East Coast).

Drewer races for Championship Title at Road Atlanta.

2008-09-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

Young Australian driver Tom Drewer, Daily Planet Racing, has the opportunity of taking out the 2008 IMSA Lites L2 Championship as part of the American Le Mans Series at the Road Atlanta circuit in Georgia on October 2-3.

‘I have a fifty point lead in the Championship with only the two rounds at Road Atlanta and the final two rounds at Laguna Seca to go. In total there are 80 more points up for offer, but a good result at Road Atlanta could clinch the title for me depending of where my team mate Eric Vassian who is running second in the championship finishes’, Drewer said today.

‘I have to play the rest of the Championship real cool, but if race wins are in the offering I will certainly go for them. The main thing now is to keep accumulating points’.

Drewer has already accumulated 6 round wins in his first year racing in the North America, but suffered from a broken suspension component while looking for his seventh in his last race at Mosport in Canada (Round 8).

‘The wishbones had been fine all season, but after the failure at Mosport my factory WEST team have re-designed and manufactured stronger lower rear wishbones for my #45 Daily Planet WEST. So that should do the trick’.

2008 has been a near perfect start to Drewer’s international motor racing career. After winning the 2007 Australian Thundersports Sportscar Championship with the Australian factory WEST team Drewer was offered the opportunity to race in IMSA Lites.

After selling up everything in Australia to make it happen and moving to Atlanta, Georgia, to be close to his WEST team, Drewer immediately made his intentions clear by winning the opening two rounds of the Championship at the famous Mobil 12 Hours of Sebring.

Since then Drewer has racked up 6 out of a possible 8 wins, including winning his first ever race in Canada at Mosport (Round 7), 7 pole positions, 6 fastest laps and 3 class track lap records. All at circuits that he hasn’t raced at before.

‘Every race meeting presents a substantial challenge just in the fact that the circuit is brand new to me. The test day is usually the first day that I have ever seen the track. Road Atlanta is a little bit different because I did a 2 day test earlier in the year at the circuit and I’ve been out there to see a couple of races. Even so, I’m probably at a slight disadvantage as compared to the guys who have raced at these places regularly, but that’s just my situation. This is my first year racing in North America, and I love it.’

Drewer is hoping he can capitalise on his success this year and make the appropriate progression in his North American motor racing career next year.

‘I’m hoping my results so far will open some doors for next year. Certainly there are a few opportunities and tests that are beginning to present themselves. I’m very excited at some of the possibilities for next year, already.

At the moment though I have to keep my mind totally focussed on the 2008 IMSA Lites L2 title and that’s what I am doing for WEST PVM Racing, Daily Planet and all my other supporters who have backed me to race in the USA’.

Drewer, his Daily Planet Racing WEST and the IMSA Lites presented by Hankook are due to compete at Road Atlanta, as part of the Petit Le Mans powered by the Totally New Mazda6 at 2:15pm Thursday (Round 9) and 11:35am Friday (Round 10).

Tom Drewer and David Brabham to be guests at 'Flying Kangaroos' function.

2008-09-27T19:02:00.000-07:00

Australian's Tom Drewer and David Brabham (Patron Highcroft Racing) will be the guests of the 'Flying Kangaroos' function for Atlanta's Australian ex-pat community in the lead up to the Petit Le Mans Event.

The event will take place on the Tuesday night of the week long motor racing festival, after Drewer's first day of Testing for the week.

Mosport highlights in pictures.

2008-09-17T12:47:00.000-07:00

Highlights from rounds 7 & 8 of the 2008 IMSA Lites Championship Presented by Hankook from Mosport, Canada where Tom Drewer recorded his first win in Canada, in his first ever race in the Country.

Scotchies still racing ahead. (Scotch Report)

2008-09-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in a recent Scotch Report about myself and fellow Scotchie and racing driver Sammy Reid.

On a roll. (Motorsport eNews)

2008-08-26T07:34:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in issue 69, 26 August - 1 September, of Motorsport eNews, the electronic version of the Australian Motorsport News publication.

Aussie hopefuls left feeling flat. (The Advertiser)

2008-08-26T07:27:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in the Adelaide's The Advertiser Newspaper, August 26, reporting on rounds 7 & 8 from Mosport, Australian rally driver Cody Crocker and Marcos Ambrose.

Mosport Sunday colour.

2008-08-25T15:52:00.000-07:00

A Series of photos from Sunday at Mosport during the American Le Mans Series race.

Photos in order: (1) Home built platforms littered the crowd. (2) The Audi's lead the field down through turn 2 and into 3 for the first time. The prototypes were taking turn 2 flat-out in six gear pulling around 4g's. (3) Turn 1. (4) A Corvette takes turn 3 with turn 2 in the background. (5)The prototypes were passing the GT's and each other upto three-wide through 3 and down the blind left-hander of 4. (6) The crowd at turn 3. (7) Turn 5.

Unlucky break sees Drewer finish third in race two at Mosport.

2008-08-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

A right rear suspension failure has resulted in young Australian driver Tom Drewer taking third place in race two, Round 8 of the 2008 IMSA Lites Championship at the Mobil 1 Grand Prix of Mosport.

Drewer started race 2 from pole position in the L2 class, and 12th overall, after taking the win and setting a new race lap record in race1 on Saturday, his first ever race at Mosport and in Canada.

(Image: Looking at the failed lower wishbone snapped in two, through the tunnel floor.)

“The start was ultra critical today. I had my two team-mates Jordan (Taylor) and Eric (Vassian) right behind me on the grid, but I had a good plan and I got the perfect start keeping them at bay into turn one.

I pulled a small gap and then Jordan and I battled it out until half race distance when he got a great tow on me going into 8 and he pulled a small gap on me until the safety car came out.

Behind the safety car I went into turn two and heard a clunk. Initially I thought I’d run over something but I was certain there was nothing on the track.

Just prior to the safety car period my team-mate Eric Vassian had radioed into the team to say my right rear tyre was rubbing on my bodywork.

The rubbing was due to the lower wishbone fatiguing, and the clunk I heard through (turn) two was it finally giving way.

It was an unlucky break because the Daily Planet car felt great and we had the package to take it right back to Jordan after safety car lights went green.

Instead I went through turn one and backed off because the car felt unstable. In turn two I could feel that the rear end had given way and limped the car back to pit lane, but our race was already effectively done.

Really though, I was pretty lucky because if it had broken at speed through turn two, or any of the high speed turns here at Mosport, we could have had an even worse outcome or even an accident.

As they say, ‘that’s motor racing’. Yesterday I experienced the high of winning my first ever race in Canada and today not everything went to plan.

I know being the factory WEST team, the guy’s will examine the failure very carefully, work out exactly why it failed, and learn from it.

The main thing is we were still classified third and continued to accumulate points for the Championship.

It was another fantastic weekend for the WEST Race Cars team with Jordan and I giving the team two more race wins.

I want thank my engineer Jake Randels, my coach Randy Aust, and all the whole team for all the effort they have put in during and leading up to this weekend.

I’m ecstatic that this weekend has brought yet another win for Daily Planet and all of my friends, family and supporters back home in Australia who have made all this possible.”

The race was won overall by Jonathan Goring (L1) while Drewer’s team-mates, Jordan Taylor and Eric Vassian took out first and second respectively in the Lites L2 class.

The next race for Drewer and his Daily Planet WEST will be Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta for Rounds 9 and 10 of the 2008 IMSA Lites Championship, presented by Hankook, to be held on October 1-4, 2008.

Drewer wins first time out in Canada.

2008-08-23T18:11:00.000-07:00

Tom Drewer has won in his first ever race in Canada at the Mobil 1 Grand Prix of Mosport, taking out Round 7 of the 2008 IMSA Lites L2 Championship.

The win yesterday means the young up and coming Australian has won at every single circuit he has raced at this year, including his first ever race in America earlier this year at the Mobil 1 12 hours of Sebring event.

(Image: Tom Drewer talks to fellow Australian David Brabham after his race 1 win.)

As with Lime Rock Park and Miller Motorsports Park, Drewer had not ventured out on to the circuit prior to his first Practice session.

“This is my first year racing in North America. I’m so happy to be here racing, and to mark another milestone, my first race in Canada, with a win is fantastic. “

Drewer and his Daily Planet WEST started the race from grid position 12 overall, but in pole position for the IMSA Lites L2 Class with his new team mate Jordan Taylor (son of 5 times World Sportscar Champion and 2 times Daytona 24 Hour winner Wayne Taylor) one position behind in 13th.

“My main objective for the weekend is to play it cool, calm and to collect as many points as possible for the Championship.

I knew Jordan would be strong competition. We’ve been trading fastest times all weekend. I also knew that another WEST driver Eric (Vassian) would be on a charge from further back of the grid.

I was a little lucky to start from pole in the class because of the abandoned qualifying session (that gave me pole from superior practice times), but Jordan was only 1 place behind and had the inside line. So, it was always going to come down to the start.

I got a great start and immediately made an aggressive move to the inside, putting at least one L1 car between Jordan and myself. By turn two I think was up to 7th or 8th overall. From then it was about managing my race and my gap between Jordan and Eric.

I didn’t fight too much with the L1s. There wasn’t much point. We’ve got our Championship to win and they have theirs. In the end we finished in 11th overall, one place higher than my start position.

It’s just fantastic to have another win for Daily Planet, my WEST Race Cars team and all of my supporters back home. I really can’t thank everyone who has helped get me over here this year enough.”

Along the way to his victory, Drewer also set a new class race lap record with a time of 1:20.078 in the race which means he will again start from pole in class, 12th overall for race 2, today. Drewer qualified with an average speed of 180 kph on the historic Mosport road circuit.

Drewer on pole for first Canadian race.

2008-08-23T03:00:00.000-07:00

An abandoned qualifying session has resulted in Australian Tom Drewer and his Daily Planet WEST starting on pole today for his first race in Canada at the Grand Prix of Mosport.

IMSA officials halted yesterday’s IMSA Lites qualifying after the L1 Elan of Anthony Nicolosi made heavy impact with the wall at turn five of the historic Mosport International Raceway near Bowmanville, Ontario.

After clearing the track, the remainder of the session was converted to an official practice session (3), and the starting line-up for Round 7 of the 2008 IMSA Lites Championship was derived from the combined fastest times in practice 1 and 2.

However due to confusion over the status of the final session, Drewer and his new West Race Cars team-mate, Jordan Taylor (son of 5 times World Sportscar Champion and 2 times Daytona 24 Hour winner Wayne Taylor) traded fastest laps until the end of practice three believing the times would count towards the starting line-up.

The pair reduced their practice 2 times by nearly 2 seconds to finish the session in the low 1 minute 19 second bracket with Taylor less than two-tenths quicker than Drewer.

However, due to the ruling that only Practice 1 and 2 would count for the starting line up it will be Drewer starting from pole today in the IMSA Lites L2 Class after setting a time one-tenth faster than Taylor in session 2.

“The red flag threw everyone into an interesting situation. We all thought we were effectively still qualifying for the remainder of session 3 but in the end the times didn’t count”, Drewer said.

“Jordan and I were trading fastest times until the last lap when he gapped my by a couple of tenths, after I was slowed a little by my other team-mate, Eric Vassian.

I’m sure I could have matched and maybe bettered Jordan’s time if I could have maintained full momentum on the lap as it was shaping up to be a real quick one, but in the end it didn’t matter anyway.

It seemed a bit of a strange decision not to count the times from the third session as well, but IMSA makes the call on what is appropriate and in that sense I was the lucky one. I feel for Jordan because he ended up recording a slightly faster time than me in that ;ast run yesterday , but there have been times I’ve had similar situations go against me, and as they say that’s motor racing.

Anyway, we’re right there together on the grid and given we’re matching each other in times, it should make for one hell of a race.

I’m just really happy that the WEST Factory Team has two of their cars on the front row of the L2 grid. We did a fantastic job as a team yesterday and pushed each other all the way.

Now the focus is the races with my main aim that of collecting points to extend my lead in the Championship. But obviously it would be great to win my first race in Canada especially as I won my first race in the USA”.

This weekend is Drewer’s first time ever driving at the Mosport circuit.

The young Aussie came to North America this year to pursue an international motor racing career after winning the 2007 Australian Thundersports Sportscar Championship with WEST Race Car’s Australian Factory Team.

Drewer made the decision to race IMSA Lites even though he was in line for a test with a top level V8 Supercar (Australian’s equivalent to NASCAR) team. However, the decision has paid of with Drewer winning 5 out of the 6 rounds so far in the IMSA Lites L2 Championship including his first ever race in the USA at the Mobil 1 Sebring 12 Hour event, a track he had never raced at either.

Race 1 at Mosport (Round 7) will be held later today at 12:50pm and Race 2 (Round 8) will take place tomorrow, Sunday at 9:15am.

Video highlights from Lime Rock.

2008-08-08T07:01:00.000-07:00

Video highlights from my last round at Lime Rock.

Drewer has the need for speed. (Sunday Mail)

2008-07-27T18:06:00.000-07:00

The article that appeared in the July 27 Sunday Mail newspaper, distributed throughout South Australia.

Drewer's droop. (Auto Action)

2008-07-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

Article appearing in the July 27th edition of Australia's Auto Action magazine.

Brabs' ALMS Success. (Auto Action)

2008-07-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Article appearing on page 6 of Australia's Auto Action Magazine, July 16. Reports on the results of Aussie's overseas including yours truly.