FARA: Overall Top 10 for ANSA Motorsports Audi R8 LMS at Miami 500

By Johan Laubscher

The Miami 500 was hosted by FARA (Formula & Automobile Racing Association) at the Homestead-Miami Speedway road course. It was the sixth and final round of the FARA season.

ANSA Motorsports entered a total of five race cars this weekend, including two Audi R8 LMS cars.

The first Audi R8 LMS from ANSA was the #30 entry of Eric Johnson. He shared his car with Bill Lester for this 500 km endurance event. Eric Johnson has been seen behind the wheel of his two Audis (R8 LMS and 2006 Audi A4 DTM R12 plus) at previous FARA, HSR (Hirstoric SportsCar Racing) and SVRA events.

The second ANSA Audi R8 LMS entry was the debut for the #33 Audi, which arrived at the team's workshop a few months ago. The car was driven by John Herlihy and Jim Pace this weekend.

Qualifying saw Johnson and Lester claiming fifth position on the starting grid. Their teammates in the #33 Audi R8 LMS qualified eleventh.

The race itself concluded after three and a half hours. It was a Top ten result for John Herlihy and Jim Pace in the #33 ANSA Audi R8 LMS. The pairing finished tenth overall, seventh in the MP-1a class.

Unfortunately Eric Johnson and Bill Lester retired on lap seventy-five, after having battled right at the front of the field with very strong pace.

The ANSA Motorsports team took the overall victory with the #1 Ferrari 458 Italia of Raul Costa and Bruno Junqueira.

Photo credit: 
Chris Green Photography / FARA USA
ANSA Motorsports
SVRA