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May 23rd, 2010
by Dave Arnold/Arnold Communications

Heinricy's Mosport Double-Down


"Torvec-Phoenix Chevrolet Corvette wins two SCCA World Challenge shows"




May 23rd, 2010 • Heinricy's Mosport Double-Down
"Torvec-Phoenix Chevrolet Corvette wins two SCCA World Challenge shows"



John Heinricy achieved the best-possible result in a rare opportunity to win two races on a single weekend, driving the Torvec-Phoenix Chevrolet Corvette C5 to a win in the second of two SCCA World Challenge series races held on Canada’s Victoria Day weekend at Ontario’s famed Mosport International Raceway circuit, east of Toronto.

The Torvec-Phoenix Chevrolet Corvette C5, was prepared by Phoenix Performance, Inc., of Phoenixville, PA, and with a crew led by PPI 25-year veteran Mark Giusti.

As was the case in Saturday’s win, Heinricy, of Holly, Mich., raced 28 laps on the 2.459-mile road course to win the GTS class, but today’s win was by only 14 seconds over a Lotus Exige S and Acura TSX cars. Saturday’s victory margin was 20 seconds.

Heinricy qualified second quickest in the GTS class, got the better launch from the series’ traditional standing start, and never allowed the lead position to be challenged for the rest of the race.

“From the standing start, I stayed second for three-quarters of the opening lap, then passed the Lotus. The Lotus stayed close for about half the race and then fell back, allowing me to open the 14-second lead,” said Heinricy.

It was his 51th start in the World Challenge series, his sixth win, and his 23rd time finishing in the top three. He now has six wins in 20 Mosport races, in four series.

“Under SCCA’s rules to equalize competition, the Phoenix Corvette had 50 pounds of weight added to it just 30 minutes before today’s race started, as the “reward” for Saturday’s win,” said Phoenix Performance owner Joe Aquilante. “John’s immense driving talent includes the ability to compensate for changes and quickly understand what his car’s limits are under all conditions.”

Mosport was a motor racing debut event for Torvec, Inc., of Rochester, NY. Heinricy is helping Torvec develop its new IsoTorque differential. The IsoTorque is an evolution in differential design, allowing for maximum traction without interfering with differentiation, resulting in improved performance, handling and safety.

“Today’s track had less grip than it did in Saturday’s race, due to sunshine but, the Torvec IsoTorque differential still gave me a control advantage so that our Phoenix Corvette could maintain a quick pace,” Heinricy added.

The Torvec-Phoenix team is now selecting a short list of the most prestigious SCCA Nationals in the Central and Eastern U.S., to further develop the car and earn Heinricy an invitation to the SCCA National Championship Runoffs to be held in October at Road America, Wis. He is in line for a 12th National Championship.

The Mosport race will air on the Versus TV network, July 31 from 3-5pm ET.

About Phoenix Performance:
Phoenix Performance, Inc., owned by Joe Aquilante, is based in a 32,000 sq. ft. race shop in Phoenixville, PA, 40 miles west of downtown Philadelphia. Phoenix Performance-prepared cars have won 18 SCCA National Club Racing Championships since 1999, two professional series Driver and Manufacturer Championships, and the GM Motorsports Winner’s Circle Award. For more information, call 610-482-0141 or visit www.phoenixperformanceinc.com and www.phoenixperformance.net

About Torvec:
Torvec is a leader in advanced driveline technology. Torvec’s IsoTorque differential is an evolution in differential design, allowing for maximum traction without interfering with differentiation, resulting in improved performance, handling and safety. Evaluations by four separate racing teams have all shown a reduction in lap times by one second with just installing the IsoTorque. The IsoTorque’s fully patented gear design makes this all possible without the need for complex and costly electronics and is good for the life of the vehicle. The IsoTorque is currently being evaluated by several major OEMs and will be available in the fall of 2010 for all C5 – C6 Corvettes and 5th generation Camaros. For more information on Torvec and IsoTorque please visit Torvec.com

About John Heinricy:
Between 1984 and 2010, John Heinricy has won 42 professional sports car races and four season driving championships, 11 SCCA Runoffs National Championships, helped set a dozen international speed records, and currently holds two class records for laps around the 12.9-mile Nordschleife circuit of Germany’s famous Nürburgring. He is retired after 38 years as an engineer at General Motors.


Photo of John Heinricy and Torvec-Phoenix Chevrolet Corvette C5 at Mosport by Mark Weber. High-resolution version available on request