Doran Closing in on First Continental Tire Challenge Victory

Kevin Doran’s list of accomplishments includes winning the Rolex 24 At Daytona as team owner/team manager (1998 and 2002), crew chief (1986-87) and car builder (2004), among many IMSA victories with drivers including Al Holbert and Gianpiero Moretti. The Doran Racing-prepared MOMO Ferrari 333SP was the only car to win the Rolex 24, Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen in the same year (1998).

One box Doran has yet to check off though is winning in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge. Coming off a sixth-place finish in the 2015 season opener at Daytona, and then placing fourth and fifth in the most recent race at Sebring International Raceway, his first victory in the series could be coming in the near future.

Doran Racing will field a pair of Nissan 370Zs sponsored by the Nissan Nismo GT Academy in the upcoming race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. BJ Zacharias and Brad Jaeger – who both live near the team headquarters in the Cincinnati, Ohio area – co-drive the No. 14 Nissan 370Z, while 2013 Nissan Playstation GT Academy North American champion Nick McMillan joined by 2012 North American champ Steve Dougherty in the No. 41 entry.

The team debuted the Nissan 370Z in GS competition in 2012 at Barber Motorsports Park. Bryan Heitkotter won poles that year at Mid-Ohio and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, in addition to winning the pole and leading the most laps the following year at Road America.

What are your thoughts on that elusive first victory in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge?

“We’ve been close. We’ve led a lot. We could have won many, but we haven’t won yet. We finished fourth and fifth in the last race at Sebring; we were sixth at Daytona. … We’re competitive again this year. But the bulk of the field is really tightly competitive. Hopefully, it’s just a race or two away.”

How is the combination of BJ Zacharias and Brad Jaeger working out in the No. 14 Nissan?

“It’s a great grouping. Those two guys really ‘play well together.’ They support each other really well with the data and looking over each shoulders at the data and helping each other. Brad might have a strong point at one part of a track, and BJ at another part. By the end of the weekend, they both basically help each other to move forward.”

How does the driver lineup look for the No. 41 Nissan?

“The 41 car is firm for the season, but the driver lineup will change periodically with various GT Academy drivers jumping in from time to time. Bryan and Nick McMillan have been really good – surprisingly good together. I wish I could keep them in all year. At [Mazda Raceway] Laguna [Seca] we’ll have our first driver change, with Steve Dougherty taking Bryan’s place. We’ll try to keep the momentum going with the No. 41 car, even with the driver change.”

How does mastery of the PlayStation Gran Turismo video game transfer to actually racing in the Continental Tire Challenge?

“I’m not sure how that equates, but in the GT Academy program, the mastery of the video game gets you into the final 20 candidates. Then, you basically start an on-track motorsports boot camp. That’s when the guys who have the actual seat-of-the-pants skill rise to the top. It’s a two-week professional driving program where the guys go from everything from physical testing to go-karts to on-track testing from go-karts to showroom stock to full-blowing GT3 cars. By the time you’ve won the GT Academy, you’ve got quite an accomplished skill set behind the wheel.

“I would say the GT Academy guys – the top five guys that come out – the only thing they’re missing would be race craft, knowing when to go and when to hold up. From the technical side to sitting down in the car and putting down a fast lap, those guys are really good. They’ve establishing great driving skills.”

How do you feel about racing the Nissan 370Z for a fourth season?

 “It’s a great little car. Sometimes we wish it had a big engine. It’s a 3.7-liter car, so we run lighter, which can be an advantage at some tracks. It’s a high-revving small engine that makes power comparable to the big V8s. It’s pretty impressive, really.”

What do you think of your changes in the next Continental Tire Challenge event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca?

“I think we’ll be good there. That track has worn asphalt and low grip, particularly low grip if it’s a hit day, and that’s where our car seems to shine against the other cars in GS the way the rules are. I’m hoping for good things at Laguna.”