SAMAX - Barber preview

SAMAX/ Doncaster Racing will be back on track this week, after a four-week summer hiatus between races. Dave Lacey and Greg Wilkins, both of Toronto, will drive the No. 17 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car in the July 30 Rolex Sports Car Series race at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Ala.

The 2.38-mile road course incorporates 16 turns and 80 feet of elevation change, features that suit Lacey's driving style. "We're looking forward to Barber. It's one of our favorite facilities, although we've never had an outstanding result at this track," he said. "I love the smooth surfaces and fast corners."

new cars
The SAMAX/ Doncaster drivers enjoy Porsche power both on and off track. They're anxious to take delivery of their new street cars to complement their track wheels.

"Off the track, both Greg and I are supporting our favorite manufacturer," Lacey reported. "Greg takes delivery of his new Porsche twin turbo next month and I have a GT3 road car coming in September."

performance culture
Greg Wilkins is a former prototype class winner in les 24 Heures du Mans and the chief executive officer of Barrick Gold Corporation, the biggest gold-mining company in the world. He believes the same elements ensure success in sports and business.

"It's well-established that companies will either grow or go backwards, but they don't stay the same. If you want to succeed, if you want to be the leader in your industry, you need a performance-oriented culture, because business is all about how the people within the business operate. Assets, tools, equipment, reserves and resources are completely inanimate without the people who are using them," he explained.

"If you don't have a performance-oriented culture, with people understanding those goals and working really hard to achieve them, the business will reflect that. If you look at racing, I don't think there's anything more performance-oriented, so it gets into your thinking, your culture, what you're doing and your expectations."