As suppose I’m showing my age, since I remember
Conquest Racing’s exploits…
Yeah, going down another Wabbit’ Hole here,
especially since once again this is dated news. But like others say upon Ye Blogosphere’.
If Y’all are coming to No Fenders for Breaking News, you’re coming to the wrong
place!
Tend to forget or overlook Sports Car racing
news on a daily, or sometimes weekly basis. But eventually get around to it and
learning something new. Like the fact that some Old racing teams have a hard
time fading away…
As the story that Peaked my interest. Uhm,
where’s ‘Ol Queen Danicker’ when Yuhs need Her, Eh? Oh Never Mind! Was about
Eric Bachelart’s latest venture.
For which if you’re a Diehard IndyCar Aficionado
like Mwah, then you’ll know or remember that Messer Bachelart raced in the
CART/PPG IndyCar World Seriesfor Payton/Coyne Racing between 1992-95 after a successful
Indy Lights career. Since I’d forgotten that Bachelart was the inaugural Indy
Lights Champion in 1991.
For ’96 Bachelart switched to Sports Car
racing, contesting that year’s 24 Heurs du Mans aboard a Ferrari 333 SP. Being
part of then my Home team Andy Evans Scandia Racing’s two car effort. Driving
the #17 Racing for Belgium TeamScandia entry with co-drivers Marc Goossens and
Eric van de Poele. Which is another No Fenders story I’m sitting on for another
rainy day…
Next, Eric set about becoming a team owner,
establishing Conquest Racing and competing in Indy Lights initially in 1997.
Running a single car entry for the totally unknown Christophe Tinseau…
For 2002, Conquest Racing joined the Indy
Racing League, (IRL) with Laurent Redon behind the wheel of it’s Dallara-Infiniti
racecar. Before switching to the rival, but soon to be bankrupt (2003) CART
IndyCar series. Basically running a two car effort with Mario Haberfeld in it’s
team car. And future Formula 1 driver tiago Monteiro in the satellite
Fittipaldi IndyCar entry.
Yet when I think of Conquest Racing, I immediately
think of the late Justin Big Unit’ Wilson and Bertrand Baggette. Whilst
forgetting that Jan Van Hagar’ Heylen also drove for the plucky IndyCar tea.
As Karmically, just after beginning scribbling this,
I discovered that Messer Heylen, Madison Snow and Trent Hindman has finished
fourth overall aboard the NO. 45 Wright Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R at this year’s
Indianapolis Intercontinental GT Challenge 8hr race. Winning the FGTWCA Pro Class.
As Conquest’s lengthy drivers roll also includes
the likes of Nelson Philippe, Andrew Ranger, Charles Zwolsman, Jr, Matt Haliday,
Jaime Camara, Enrique Bernoldi, Alex Tagliani, Mario Romancini, Francesco
Dracone, Sebastian Saavedra, Joao Oliveira, Dillon Battistini and Ana Beatriz.
Conquest Racing was the first
Champ Car team to join the reunified IndyCar series for 2008 as a two car
entity. Before slimming down to a single car in 2011, and going out with a whimper
in 2012, contesting only the two Month of May races with it’s lone female
driver.
As Conquest Racing had left
IndyCar to campaign a Morgan/Nissan LMP2 entry in that year’s American Le Mans
Series. (ALMS)
For 2017, the team focused upon
contesting the Ferrari Challenge, winning titles with various Gentlemen
drivers.
In 2018 Bachelart co-founded
Qwest Racing to compete in IMSA’s Continental Tires Sports Car Challenge. And
then in 2019 raced in the IMSA Prototype Challenge.
Beginning in 2021, Conquest has
been campaigning Yank’ Manny Franco behind the wheel of it’s Ferrari 488 GTE
Evo in the Ferrari Challenge series. With Franco running stints in GT3 and GT4;
currently contesting this year’s Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli and GT
Challenge Americas Championships.
As Manny and Allesandro Balzan,
a Two-times IMSA GT Daytona (GTD) Champion won two races at this year’s Road
America GT Challenge in the Pro
category. Scoring the Ferrari
296’s first major victories in
America.
For 2024, Conquest Racing with
Ferrari will run a full season campaign with it’s Ferrari 296 GT3. Being la
Scuderia’s first full season entry in IMSA Competizione since 2018, and
Conquest’s first full season Sports Car campaign since it’s 2012 ALMS P2 entry.
Naturally, Manny Franco will
spearhead the driving effort, with His co-drivers and other pertinent details
to be divulged at a later date…
As Bachelart and Conquest Racing
will join the likes of former IndyCar team owners Top Jimmy’ (Vasser) and James
Sully’ Sullivan’s Lexus effort in the GTD ranks. Where I’m guessing the
Competizione will be tough next year. With their lone Ferrari 296 GT3 facing the
likes of the Championship winning BMW M4, Lexus RC F GT3, Corvett Z06 GT3,
Aston Martin Vantage GT3, McLaren 720S GT3 and Acura NSX GT3. While surely Ford
will also have somebody campaigning it’s brand new Mustang GT3, Righto?
Yeah, naturally after I finished my story. Ford announced that it’s two car GTD Pro entry will be run by Multimatic with four Bad Arse Sports Car Aces. With Joey Hand and Dirk Muller in one Mustang, and Harry Tincknell and Mike Rocky’ Rockenfeller in the other. As good luck Slowin’ those Mustangs Down Eric!
