JAMES KOVACIC – TEQUILA PATRONN ALMS ROUND AT LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA. RACING IN THE NO: 7 MERCHANT SERVICES PROTOTYPE

Young Aussie driver, James Kovacic, has arrived back to the ALMS series at Round 2 – LONG BEACH Round. Kovacic once again racing for the stalwart Ohio based INTERSPORT RACE TEAM.

Kovacic debut race in the ALMS Series last year at the LIME ROCK Round ended with a mechanical failure to the FLM09 Oreca Prototype LMPC Car whilst Kovacic and  Jon Field were leading the LMPC class and 3^rd overall. Kovacic is now geared up for an assault for the championship after signing with Intersport.

The University of New South Wales Engineering Student flew out of Australia two days ago to attend the 2^nd Round of the 2012 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES – LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

In the mixed weather and only practice session of the weekend. Kovacic debut at the track in the No: 7 Merchant Services/ Intersport FLM09 Prototype and for the first time in a race car since the Lime Rock Round last year, posted the quickest time in the LMPC class during his stint and was quickest overall with 8 minutes left in the only (2 hour) practice session for the weekend, at which point, Co-Driver Tony Burgess took over.

Weather conditions have been predicted for rain during the afternoon 15 Minute Qualifying Session. Kovacic will be completing the qualifying session in the No: 7 Merchant Services Car. James Kovacic is the only Australian in the 35 Strong ALMS Field and is the youngest driver racing at the LONG BEACH Grand Prix this weekend.

Young Aussie driver, James Kovacic, has arrived back to Australian shores with a fantastic ALMS debut behind him after competing at the Northeast Grand Prix 3^rd Round of the American Lemans series.

In his first attempt in the LMPC class and driving for the Intersport Race Team in the V8 Chevrolet powered ORECA Sports Prototype Lemans Race Car, James not only proved that he was more than capable of racing in the ALMS, he managed to show many experienced hands the rear of his car getting the car into 1^st position during his stint and the #37 Intersport leading until a mechanical failure robbed the team of a certain podium at least.

In the wet 2^nd Practice, Kovacic braved the weather and posted the quickest time in his class and second only behind the V12 powered Muscle Milk LMPI car of Lucas Luhr. His time remained the quickest of the session until the track dried. This led to a driver change and Jon Field once again took the reigns – unable to better the time James had previously set. James’ form in the wet prompted team Principal and Co-driver to prompt that if it rained – James would qualify the car for the race.

With the weather being good and no sign of rain, Jon Field took on qualifying duties and qualified 5^th in class. Unfortunately the speed that the #37 car had shown through practice was compromised with a flat spotted tyre. James was given the task of Starting the race – A baptism of Fire! For the young Aussie.

Intersport Racing will kick off the second portion of the American Le Mans series with a pair of LMPC cars and a top-flight driver line-up. The series, after its traditional break for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, returns to racing with Round 3, the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park, on July 9.

In his first on-track appearance since 2010 Petit Le Mans, Jon Field will pair up with the young Australian stand-out, James Kovacic.  The two will share the No. 37 Lenco Mobile LMPC car.

In 2010, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, James won his debut race in the Coopers Tires Prototype Lites driving the Elan DP02 Mazda powered Lite's for Intersport. Kovacic is the first Australian to taste success in this class and is the youngest competitor to do so.
James at Limerock (away from the cold of Sydney) at the Credential Sign Up day.

Kovacic to combine karting with US campaign

James Kovacic on his way to victory in the 2009 South Australian Karting Championship. (Pic: photowagon.com.au)

Rising star James Kovacic has got a busy year ahead of him in 2010.

The New South Wales teenager will be combining a campaign in the Spec Formula 3 Jim Russell Series in the USA with several appearances in the CIK Stars of Karting Series Australia, which begins next weekend in Newcastle.

After winning the 2008 National Karting Championship in Junior Clubman, Kovacic turned his focus towards an international open wheel career during 2009 where he made his mark in the Formula BMW Series.

“The 09 season was fantastic for me and the results were great. Whilst I am very proud to have raced cars overseas in 2009, the biggest pleasure I have is racing karts,” said Kovacic, who won the South Australian Karting Championship during one of only four races in a kart during 2009.

With the ultimate goal for Kovacic is to make a career out of racing overseas, Kovacic believes competing in the Pro Gearbox (KZ2) category in the CIK Stars of Karting Series will assist him in keeping his race craft sharp.

“Karting is the best training. The few practices that I’ve had in the KZ2-spec kart has been the most fun I’ve had in a kart and I am looking forward to racing against the cream of karting here in Australia,” said Kovacic.

“Whilst my equipment is a little old and at times difficult to tune, I will drive my hardest and definitely try and give some of the big budget guys a run for their money.

“I will make sure that I enjoy the experience of racing in my first CIK race. It’s great that CIK has made a comeback to Australia.”

Speedcafe.com.au also understands that Kovacic is scheduled to race in a handful of Late Model NASCAR Speedway races on the West Coast of the USA later in the year.