Bieker strengthens championship position with third at Autobahn

July 28, 2009 (Burbank, Calif.) – Sitting third in points in the Patron GT3 Challenge presented by Yokohama, Galen Bieker, teammate Bob Rodriguez, and the Werks II / P7 Racing team traveled to the Harrah’s Grand Prix at the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Illinois for rounds five and six of the championship.

Bieker got off to a fast start by qualifying third in class and fourth overall. After a clean start, Bieker spent the first part of the race battling for the third spot before taking the position with a pass into turn three. With the two leaders far up the road by this point, Bieker saved his tires and waited for a chance to catch them with a full course yellow. However, the race would run incident-free to the checkered, and Bieker finished third overall and third in class, strengthening his third place in the championship standings.

With the sixth round starting based on lap times from round five, Bieker would start that race in sixth position. He made up one position quickly at the start and, with the Autobahn course lacking many passing zones, set to applying heavy pressure to the car directly ahead who was being held up by the car in third place.

“I could see that his tires were falling off, and knew that mine were in really good shape,” said Bieker. “Both cars were starting to make mistakes and I was just waiting for the right opportunity to get by.”

Unfortunately, he wouldn’t get the opportunity as the caution flew for an incident on track, and as the course workers were unable to clear the track in time, the race would end under yellow with Bieker crossing the line in fifth.

“We got good points by finishing third and fifth, but it was kind of unfortunate because it was obvious we could have gotten to third in the second race,” said Bieker. “We learned more about the Porsche GT3 and it was reflected in the lap times between Saturday and Sunday, and we still left third in points so that is good for Werks II / P7 Racing.”

The next event for the Patron GT3 Challenge presented by Yokohama will be August 13-16 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

About Werks II Motorsports

Based in Burbank, California, Werks II Motorsports has over thirty years experience racing and preparing Porsches for competition, and tuning all makes of German car for the street and the track. Werks II is also a warehouse distributor for the highest quality of motorsports manufacturers, supplying equipment for professional teams, club racers and driving enthusiasts alike. For more information, visit www.werks2.com, or call (818) 845-2530.

Bieker puts on a show in Utah

May 20, 2009 (Burbank, Calif.) – There was no denying the fact that Galen Bieker’s run from sixth to fourth in round three of the Patron GT3 Challenge at Miller Motorsports Park was the highlight of the race. 

Visiting the impressive Miller Motorsports Park track and facility for the second straight week, Bieker qualified for the third round in sixth place, but fell to seventh in the first corner. Bieker’s misfortune, however, would be great for the fans in attendance as his battle up to fourth place was the highlight of the race. With the group he was racing in held up by a slower car, Bieker made his way through the group before getting to fourth and setting sail for the third-placed car of Amadeo Quiros. 

Bieker caught and dogged Quiros for several laps, but encountered a situation where his car was much faster in the slow sections, but this was balanced by Quiros’ car being much faster in the fast sections. The battle would come down to a last lap, last corner attempt by Bieker as he got underneath Quiros in the final left hander. Quiros shut the door and the two Porsches made minor contact, setting up a drag race to the checkered flag which Quiros won by a mere .038 of a second to finish in third place overall and in GT3P. Bieker’s teammate, Robert Rodriguez, put in a strong race by qualifying fifteenth overall and finishing eleventh, and eighth in GT3P.

“That was way too close to not get on the podium,” said Bieker afterwards. “I’m a little disappointed with that, but it was a good points result.” 

Bieker improved his starting position for Sunday’s GT3 Challenge race to fourth, which he held through the early portion of the race before losing a spot to fall to fifth. As the race wore on, Bieker mounted a challenge for the fourth spot, which he got in the latter stages of the race. With a few laps remaining, Bieker moved his Porsche GT3 Cup into fourth place overall and fourth in GT3P, where he ended the race. Rodriguez would have an even better day than Saturday, as he wheeled his car to tenth overall and eighth in GT3P.

“The race on Saturday was one of the best battles that I have ever had,” said Bieker. “It was such a close battle for position, and from what everyone told me, it got a lot of television time as well, which is great for P7 Racing and Werks II Motorsports. On Sunday, we didn’t have the chance to challenge for the win, so we focused on staying out of trouble and getting all the points we could. We held our position in the championship and didn’t give up any ground, so we are happy with the weekend.”

The Patron GT3 Challenge races from Miller Motorsports Park will be broadcast on Speed Channel June 6 at 11:00PM Pacific Standard Time.

About Werks II Motorsports

Based in Burbank, California, Werks II Motorsports has over thirty years experience racing and preparing Porsches for competition, and tuning all makes of German cars for the street and the track. Werks II is also a warehouse distributor for the highest quality of motorsports manufacturers, supplying equipment for professional teams, club racers and driving enthusiasts alike. For more information, visit www.werks2.com, or call (818) 845-2530.

P7 Racing / Werks II Motorsports weekend report from Pirelli Drivers Cup USA weekend at Miller Motorsports Park

May 12, 2009 (Burbank, Calif.) – Contesting the third weekend of the Pirelli Drivers Cup USA championship, held at Miller Motorsports Park in Toole, Utah, P7 Racing / Werks II drivers Galen Bieker and Robert Rodriguez were looking to continue the success they have enjoyed thus far in the season, as they were currently sitting first and second in the Group B points championship.

Bieker kicked things off in qualifying for Saturday’s race by putting his Porsche 997 GT3 Cup fourth overall and second in class. Bieker, however, would have to start the race from last but put on a show as he raced his way back to third overall, and first in class, setting fast lap on the way. Rodriguez came home second in class.

An abbreviated qualifying session for the weekend’s second race saw Bieker put in a time good for second overall and first in Group B. From off-pole, Bieker won the drag race into turn one and was pushed hard for a couple of laps before he pulled away from the field. As he grew his lead, Bieker began to conserve his tires – he was using the same set of Pirelli tires for both races – and in the closing laps he was caught by the second-placed car.

On the final lap, Bieker made a small mistake through the first complex that allowed the chasing car to close the gap and make a move for the lead into turn five. Bieker saw the pass coming and allowed plenty of room for the other car, who got it all wrong under braking and hit Bieker’s Porsche in the left rear wheel, sending him into a spin. Bieker rejoined the track immediately with only minimal damage to the car, and promptly retook the lead in the next corner.

Despite the contact, Bieker got to the finish line first and took the overall win and Group B victory, his fourth of the season in the Pirelli Drivers Cup. For the second time, Rodriguez wheeled his matching car home to second in class.

“You’re going to have days like that,” said Bieker, assessing the damage to the left rear of his Porsche 997 GT3 Cup. “But the car was great and it’s a testament to how good the Pirelli tires are that we made them last two straight days and still brought the car home first. We got a lot of good information from this weekend that will help us for next weekend’s Patron GT3 Challenge at the same track.”

About Werks II Motorsports

Based in Burbank, California, Werks II Motorsports has over thirty years experience racing and preparing Porsches for competition, and tuning all makes of German cars for the street and the track. Werks II is also a warehouse distributor for the highest quality of motorsports manufacturers, supplying equipment for professional teams, club racers and driving enthusiasts alike. For more information, visit www.werks2.com, or call (818) 845-2530.  

Werks II Motorsport on Yelp!

See what our customers have been saying about Werks II Motorsport on 'Yelp'. We encourage our fellow race enthusiasts to write a review, we are always looking for ways to improve our business.

Werks II Motorsport partners up with retail juggernaut Amazon.com

We proud to announce our new Werks II online store at amazon.com. This new partnership will further expand our online presents, making it even easier for driving enthusiasts to find the highest quality products from the worlds leading automotive manufactures.

Auto Club Speedway, April 6, 2009

Galen Bieker Finds Cruise Control

AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY, FONTANA, CA - Monday April 6, 2009 – Galen Bieker of Werks II Motorsport has found his groove and that groove is in the fast lane of the Pirelli Drivers Cup USA Series. Again and again, Bieker was the fastest driver on the Auto Club Speedway circuit this weekend as this Competent Motorsport series contested its 3rd and 4th races of the season. 

Bieker, of Burbank, CA. led both Saturday and Sunday races from flag to flag with stable mate and fabled economist Robert Rodriguez capitalizing on his investment in seat-time for second place overall as well as in the Class B category (977 Cup Cars 06-07). John Krieg gave Rodriguez plenty to worry about in Sunday’s race and will undoubtedly be back for more as the series moves to Laguna Seca June 19-21.

Class C (997 Cup Cars 08-09) was an exciting place to be as Brent Holden put in two extremely solid drives for the class victory while Joseph Sposato charged relentlessly. The #86 car of Chuck Sonson proved to be extremely competitive but an early spin in Saturday’s race and a cut tire on Sunday were too much to overcome. John Keane once again proved he can be the fastest in class but mechanical difficulties prevented his finish on both days.

Class A (996 Cup Cars 00-05) provided even more close and exciting racing. Drew Waterhouse led Saturday’s race until a fuel pick-up issue put the bright Orange 919 car into the pits, turning the lead and subsequent win over to the ever-near-the-front Mark Andersen. Brooks Potter was clearly rattled from a late Friday shunt but recovered mid-race Saturday in time to charge through the field for a second in Class and continue his charge for the class win on Sunday. Kevin Reynolds showed signs of his old form with a strong second on Sunday.

“The quality of racing displayed by these drivers this weekend affirms that this series has risen to a new level. We introduced Drivers Cup USA at this very venue three years ago and the progression of race craft displayed by these talented driver’s is undeniable” stated series Director Greg Franz.

Series Chief Driving Instructor Craig Stanton was equally complimentary of the progress being witnessed on track. “These guys are understanding more and more the importance of technique verses aggression. I’m very impressed with how they are handling the cars and themselves.”