Elton Goonan joins Seat Leon Supercopa German series at Zandvoort
July 15th 2008 20:15

Zandvoort – Elton Goonan to the opportunity to join the Seat Leon Supercopa Series for the Dutch round at Zandvoort. This is one of the highlights of the series and, not least due to its geographic location in the North Sea dunes, a highlight for the teams and drivers.

Elton took the opportunity of a late minute deal – which came on Thursday morning which was then followed by a 10 hour dash from Sweden to the circuit just outside Amsterdam to be at the track in time for Fridays test session, to join the T.A.C. X-SYNRG Mobile Graphix team!

Elton quickly settled into life in the Seat Leon paddock and at the end of the 30 minute test session had posted a time which put him 15th, 2 seconds off the top 3 and championship leaders. Not to bad for not ever driving the car or circuit before! Along with Elton being happy, the team where pleased with how quickly he had adapted to the car.

Saturday morning brought a wet qualifying session and a new set of conditions to deal with. After a cautious start, Elton was able to post a time which would put him in 13th on the grid, 2 seconds off pole position and only 0,5 seconds from his team mate.

Luck was on the driver’s side for the start of race 1 with the weather clearing 10 minutes before the start of the 15 lap race. Elton made a great start and by the end of the 1st lap had been able to gain another 2 places putting him in 11th position. From that point on Elton made steady progress through the field. As the final 5 laps start, the race control brought out the safety car. The reason – VIP driver Patrick Simon had gone off at the exit of the last corner damaging the car but fortunately not himself. At this point, Elton had worked his way up to 6th place. Unfortunatly the race was to finish under the safety car but with a 6th place in his first Seat Leon race in the bag, Elton and the T.A.C. X-SYNRG Mobile Graphix team were over the moon.

As an added bonus for the top finishes, the series use a reveres grid system for the Top 6 drivers of the first race –a point that wasn’t mentioned to Elton until after the race! This meant that Elton was going to start the second race from Pole Position.

The Sunday morning once again brought a clear sky and dry track. As the cars rolled out to the grid, Elton took up his position at the head of the field. The lights went out, Elton got a great start and as the cars entered the first corner Elton held his number 1 spot. Then…. his luck ran out. The electronically controlled DSG gearbox selected neutral gear when Elton was in the middle of the corner. So as the cars exited the first corner Elton dropped from 1st place to a disappointing 19th place. “As a driver this is one of the most gut-wrenching things that I have ever had happen to me”, said Elton after the race, “Going into the first corner in 1st place and coming out at almost the back of the grid and I couldn't do anything! I had to sit and wait for the computer to reset itself.”

With so much ground lost to the leaders during those first few seconds of the race, it was a come back battle from this point on. As the laps unfolded Elton had managed to pick his way through the field and by the end of the race had managed to work his way up to 13th. Along the way he also set the 7th best lap time of the race and set his fastest lap of the weekend. Small consolation but a positive way to finish the weekend.

“Overall, it was a great weekend”, said Elton, “It wasn’t the way I wanted to finish it but it was great to come out and be able to be up the front in a series that has some many good young drivers in it. I have to say thanks to Thilo and the rest of the T.A.C. X-SYNRG Mobile Graphix team for their help during the weekend and making me feel so comfortable so quickly. It was also great to see Christoffer (Nygaard) take his first win."

With this race only planned as a one-off, it help so Elton’s instant potential in a car. With an offer from the team coming on the Monday to do another race, this time at the Nurburgring on July 26th/27th, the aim for Elton and his team is to try and get raise some funding to do the race.

ELTON PROMOTED TO DEPUTY TRACK MANAGER OF STURUP RACEWAY

July 7th 2007 12.35

"I am very happy to have been given this oppertunity to futher the work that I have already started over the past 18 months I have been at Sturup Raceway."

Elton's new job role will encompass his existing role as Operations Manager along with overall responsiblity for the track and events held at Sturup Raceway.

NURBURGRING UPDATE : June 10th 2007 17:25

Nurburgring Finish for Kiwi driver

New Zealand racing driver, Elton Goonan, contesting the Nurburgring 24 Hour race with the Altenburger Racing team in their Alfa Romeo GT JTD complete his debut finish in the classic race.

Qualifying 107th for the combined fastest time from Fridays qualifying sessions, the start to the race was postponed when a heavy thunderstorm flooded many parts of the circuit. Once the race was started almost 2 hours late with German driver Werner Hebermehl taking the first driver duties. Unfortunalty, Werner was involved in an incident at the end of the first lap and the result being the Alfa Romeo GT ending up in the gravel trap. 

Once the car was back at the pit garage it was discovered that stones had cause some damage to the engine and the team where forced to change to the head of the GT. Once the repairs had been complete the team were down by some 6 hours now. 

At 1.30am, Elton got out to complete 2 laps. Feeling comfortable with the car he pushed on only to be hit by an unknown car as he enetered the Exmuhle corner. The result: bent steering so Elton limped back to the pit 13km away. By the time, he had returned to the pit and repairs had been completed the race had been red flagged due to thick fog which saw 25 cars lose their way on one lap alone.

With racing resuming five hours later, it allowed many of the teams with damaged cars to retrieve them from around the circuit, and return them to the grid.  As like many teams, Altenburger Racing took advantage of this brake to execute some repairs on their 2 Alfa Romeos. 

On the restart, 3rd driver Martin Richter took the drivers seat to complete a very good session. With the car now ccirculating perfectly and not missing a beat, the 3 drivers continued to share the driving and continued to make up places and laps.

“It’s definitely a special moment. After all the problems over the race – with the rain storm and mega thick fog during the night, it’s great feeling to have finished the 24 hour. The guys in the pits have worked bloody hard over the weekend to help us finish,” said Elton, as he watched Martin bring the car home as the chequered flag falling at 4.51pm on the Sunday afternoon.

NURBURGRING UPDATE : June 10th 2007 04:51

24hr race red flagged 

The progress by the Altenburger Racing Alfa Romeo GT JTD was stopped in it tracks when the organisers of the 24hrs of Nurburgring race where forced to red flag the race due to heavy fog.

Battling incredibly thick fog around the whole of the 25.4km circuit, the red flag call was made just before the half-way mark.

With the remaining cars in the race now lined-up along the start/finish line the wait begins as to when an expected restart is made.

NURBURGRING UPDATE : June 9th 2007 16:55

Race started...

NURBURGRING UPDATE : June 9th 2007 15:05

Heavy rain stroms have delayed the start of the race by 2 hours.

NURBURGRING UPDATE : June 9th 2007 09:25

After the second qualifing session last night the Altenburger Racing GT is now starting 107th overall and 7th in class in the Nurburgring 24 Hour race.

NURBURGRING UPDATE : June 8th 2007 14:25

It has just been announcd that the Altenburger Racing Alfa Romeo GT JTD car number 251 is 6th in its class after the first qualifying session.

The team are very happy with this result concidering the top 5 cars are all "works" cars and are looking forward to tonights final qualifying session.

NURBURGRING UPDATE : June 8th 2007 13:55

With the late withdraw of one of the drivers, Elton is now joined by Werner Habermehl and Martin Richter in the Altenburger Racing Alfa Romeo GT JTD.

After a not so smooth start to the first session with the team experincing a minor technical problem with turbo pipe working loose, the three drivers managed to set comfortable times. "With a few set up changes, we look forward to improving in the evening session tonight" said Elton.

Tonight session runs from 19:30 to 23:30 CET.

Here are a few images from the first session:

GOONAN TO RACE NURBURGRING 24 HOUR

Elton Goonan will make his debut in the Nurburgring 24 Hours on June 7th -10th driving an Altenburger Racing run Alfa Romeo GT JTD.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I'm obviously really looking forward to competing at the Nurburgring, it's one of those tracks that every driver dreams of racing at," said Elton.

The Swedish-based New Zealand driver will share the car with German drivers Werner Habermehl, Hugo Nacken and Harald Schmidt who are experince Nurburgring drivers.

"I'm part of a great team and I'm lined up with 3 brilliant teammates so I think we've got a good chance of going for a class podium and possibly a class win."

Elton will drive the car for the first time at this Friday's official test on the Nurburgring, where he will experience the full Nordschleife circuit.

"Having only ever raced on the Grand Prix circuit, I'm looking forward to my first taste of the full-blown track on Friday. I'm hoping to show well and make the most of this opportunity.

Elton has had some previous experience of endurnace racing before.

In 2002, the New Zealand racing driver drove a Top Cats Racing run Marcos Mantis in the Willhire 6 Hour at Snetteton, where he qualified the car on pole position and eventually finished thrid overall, taking a class win along the way.

He then rounded out the year driving in the Bathurst 24 Hour in Australia driving the first Nissan 350Z based racecar.

For more information regarding the Nurburgring 24 Hour, click here to be directed to the offical website where you can find up-to date news and results.

NURBURGRING 24 HOUR SEAT CONFIRMED IN ALFA ROMEO GT

Yesterday Elton has confirmed that he is joining the Altenburger Racing team to compete in this years Nurburgring 24 Hour race on the world famous Nordschleife track. He will be sharing an Alfa Romeo GT JTD.

More information to follow soon.....

DTC 2007 MOVE FOR ELTON

"We are looking on a move to DTC," Elton says. "And we've been in contact with some teams. The championship has grown amazingly during last year, more drivers, teams and spectators. The standard in DTC is incredibly high and I notice that internationally the championship gets more attention. For a driver, thats certainly exciting"

Elton was unable to drive the last season due to last minute budget problems. But this has made him more determined in planning the coming season.

"I want to be in a race car next season. The budget is coming together now and where about half way through getting the support needed."

"The most important thing for me is that I am in a good car and get the right opportunities to fight for the championship," Goonan said. "That's why we are working hard to finalise his deal so he can get some testing underway before the winter sets in."

With the DTC 2007 calendar showing the season start on May the 6th, it won't be long before the first round is here.

If your interested in investing in Elton during the 2007 DTC Championship, you can get information regarding investmant options from Melanie Robinson or Elton.

STURUP RACEWAY CONFIRMED FOR STCC AND DTC CALENDER

Sturup Raceway is confirmed to host both the Swedish Touring Car Championship and the Danish Touring Car Championship next season. The track is located in the south of Sweden, not far from the third largest city in Sweden - Malmö. "DTC and STCC as it is today fits perfectly in this region of expansion. It will be an honor to host the top class of Danish and Swedish racing," Sturup Track Manager Flemming Schleimann said. 
 
Sturup Raceway has hosted races of the Danish Touring Car Championship for the last two years but this will be the first visit for the Swedish Touring Car Championship. During the three coming years investments will be made on the track for around 15-20 million Swedish Kronor (150.000 - 200.000 €).

"There will better spectator areas. We have plans to extend the track, but that will be done together with the local authorities with consideration to the environment and surroundings. These plans will take longer time, but it looks good," Schleimann said.

The track is 2133 meters long. The drivers of STCC are looking forward to there first visit to the track. One of them is Johan Stureson, "The track has become very good. There are slow and fast corners. At some parts of the track the cars even gets airborne. It will be some cool races there for sure," Stureson said.

STCC SHOW CONTINUES WITH SVT

The stately owned TV-channel SVT will continue broadcasting the Swedish Touring Car Championship next year. Johan Torén also continues with the show, both as presenter and producer. "We are going to re make the entire show for next year. It is going to get a big face lift. It will be more racing, less talk. We will travel around the teams and focus more on technology," Thorén said. 

STCC CEO Thomas Lindskog is pleased with the decision from SVT to continue broadcasting STCC.

"We are very happy that SVT will continue working with us. It means that we have done something really good and been able to deliver sport on a top level," Lindskog said. "This means that SVT will cover all 12 rounds of the 2007 S.T.C.C. season."

ELTON IS OFFERED PLACE IN TEAM FOR 2007 - FIA WORLD GT SERIES.

Elton has confirmed he has been in discussions with teams in the FIA GT Series for 2007 and has been offered seats in their teams.

The series is a 10 round championship which travels to tracks in China, England, Romania, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Czechoslovakia and France including some of the greatest tracks in the world such as Silverstone, Monza and a 24 hour race at Spa.

Elton said "This is a very exciting opportunity for me to be able race in such a strong championship."

If your interested in investing in Elton during the 2007 FIA GT Championship, you can get information regarding investmant options from Melanie Robinson or Elton.

ELTON IMPRESSES AT THE 2006 FALSTERBO CLASSIC AND SPORTCARS SHOW

Elton wowed the crowds in the annual Falsterbo Classic Sprint Trophy driving a 8.3 litre Dodge Viper through the narrow streets of the medevil village of Fasterbo.

The sprint took place over an 800 meter course which at some ponits narrowed to 3 meters wide leaving Elton with only a few inches to play with! The course was driven in 2 set of 2 laps.

Even though the day had a competitive element to it, Elton's main aim to "make noise and a lots of smoke" was a complete success, even to the extent of ripping up the ashplat on the final sprint. Much to the delight of the crowds.

ELTON TAKES UP A NEW ROLE.

Elton has taken up a new role which moves him to the south of Sweden near the city of Malmö.

His new role will be as Chief Engineer and Operations Advisor at Sturup Raceway.

Under his charge will be a fleet of over 100 vehcile ranging from go-karts, Alfa Romeos, and Formule Renaults through to Ferrari's, Porsche's and a Dodge Viper.

Elton faces a battle against time.

New Zealand racing driver Elton Goonan faces a battle against time to get the British-based driver’s funds ready in time for the first round of the 2005 Le Mans Endurance Series at the famous Spa-Francorchamps Grand Prix circuit in Belgium in two weeks time.

Elton will be driving a Reynard LMP2 sport-car powered by a Judd V10 in qualifying for the opening round at the Belgian circuit if the funds can be found in time.

 

"It will be tight, that's for sure," said Elton today." We got a number of interested parties but as some of the companies that we are talking to are based in New Zealand, we have to work around the clock to beat the time difference and to try and get things finalised. We are aiming to testing the car on Friday but with the amount of work that still has to go into finding the final bit of funding; we won’t be able to spend to long at the track that’s for sure! The team have spent the winter completely stripping and rebuilding it from scratch. It will be great to finally get into the driving seat again!”

 

Interested in investing with Elton in the Le Mans Endurance Series? You can contact Melanie Robinson at melanie@eltongoonan.com or call +447887947736 to get more information regarding investment opportunities. Alternatively, you can visit www.eltongoonan.com read more about Elton and the investment options.

 

The 2005 Le Mans Endurance Series

 

After a first successful year offering legendary 1,000-KM races on prestigious circuits such as Monza, Silverstone, the Nürburgring and Spa, that went beyond any best expectations, L.M.E.S starts the new season with a calendar that includes an additional race on the brand new circuit of Istanbul in November, giving a glamorous conclusion to the 2005 season.

 

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium- April 16th/17th

Monza, Italy- July 9th/10th

Silverstone, Great Britain- August 13th/14th

Nürburgring, Germany- September 4th/5th

Istanbul, Turkey- November 5th/6th

 

L.M.E.S offers cars to race in a 1,000-KM race programme on five of Europe’s most prestigious circuits. Furthermore, the two winners of each category are directly selected to participate in the following Le Mans 24 Hours.