October 23, 2003

Petit Le Mans 2003:
 
The Petit Le Mans 2003 race was to be the second year straight that Chad piloted the same MG Lola LMP675 Chassis at Road Atlanta.
 
In 2002 Chad helped Knighthawk Racing achieve the 2002 LMP675 Team Championship with teammate's Andy Lally and Steve Knight for the 10 hour endurance classic. The race was not without incident however as the plenum in the intake had blown apart midway through the race and almost took the #11 car out of the running.
 
2003 would prove to be no different...as Dyson racing headed into the season ender with Chris Dyson solidly in the lead of the LMP675 driver's championship. In order to clinch the Championship Chris would have to complete 70% of the race distance, which sounded like an easy task.
 
The #16 and #20 Dyson Racing Thetford/Norcold/Gestetner car's set the pace in the LMP675 class, and also the overall pace throughout the week leading up to the race. Qualifying 1st and 2nd in class, and 2nd and 5th overall pleased the team immensely. Upon the start of the race James Weaver had problems in the #16 machine shortly after taking the lead, and the #20 car piloted by Chad, Didier DeRadigues, and Chris Dyson set forth to achieve the driver's championship.
 
During Chad's first stint in the car the team would encounter an unusual obstacle as Chad had an incident exiting turn 3, while running 3rd overall, and left the pavement and made moderate contact with the outside tire barrier. Upon instruction from the team Chad limped the #20 car back to the pits under its own power and on all 4 wheels, where repairs were made behind the wall.
 
The team worked feverishly to repair the #20, which had cosmetic and mechanical damage to the left rear corner, and got the car back on track. From there, every possible problem that could present itself did. From a small fuel fire to being punted off course by one of the Corvette GTS machines, the Dyson crew rebounded to take the driver's Championship for Chris at around 8pm.
 
Chad had this to say after his off track excursion:
 
"I am supremely disappointed in my performance today, it is not in my character to make a mistake like I did in turn 3. I had moved us from 6th to 3rd overall before I had the shunt into the tire barrier, whatever happened whether I just made a mistake or ran over something, I feel terrible for the Dyson crew, but I'm certain we can get back in, and Chris will achieve his Championship goal."
 
The #20 car ended up 2nd in class at the 2003 endurance classic, after conquering everything that was thrown at it. Everyone on the team was relieved that the car made the appropriate amount of laps to secure the title. Chad was not as relieved and had this further comment after the race:
 
"I'm glad the team could rebound to win Chris the Championship, we stood a good chance for an overall podium today, and im sure the team is just as disappointed as I am. I can only chalk this up as a racing mistake and move on. I need to thank the whole Dyson team, Rob, Chris, Randall, and Max and particular for having me back and to my sponsor Gestetner for again participating with us. I was hoping for a better show, but you have these weekends. I will go at it again next year."
 
-Chad ended the season 7th in the Driver's Championship after only running 2 races this season. Please stay tuned for information on what is in store for Chad next year.
 
And to all those that helped out this season thank you...