Elliott Forbes-Robinson, left, already has developed a strong rapport with fellow IMSA officials and drivers and teams in the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda championship in his new role as race director. [Photo courtesy IMSA]
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 27, 2015) – Elliott Forbes-Robinson will be the first to admit he sometimes oversteps his boundaries in his new job.
But neither his fellow officials at the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) nor the drivers and teams he oversees as race director for the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda seem to mind.
“I probably go beyond my spot sometimes because I will go up and give a guy a pointer if I see something he may be able to do better with,” Forbes-Robinson said. “Whether he decides to go ahead and do it is up to him, but I’m going to do it anyways because I want to see these guys do well.”
They listen. How could they not?
Southern California native Forbes-Robinson became race director for the IMSA Development Series this season with a sparkling driving resume that almost needs sunglasses to read.
He earned more than 50 major-league victories during his driving career, which has spanned five decades. He has won major championships, with the 1982 Trans-Am title and 1999 American Le Mans Series Prototype titles on his record. He co-drove to victory in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 1997 and 1999. He finished second in the GTP class in the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans. He has raced in NASCAR, Super Vee, IMSA, GRAND-AM, ALMS, Trans-Am and countless other series. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2006.
When it comes to driving sports cars, EFR has done it all.
His journey into serving as an official was unconventional. The friendly, affable Forbes-Robinson tried to serve as a driver coach a few times during his illustrious driving career, but it didn’t suit him. He preferred the low-key approach of offering a tip here, a suggestion there.
Sanctioning bodies noticed his deft touch and universal respect in sports car paddocks throughout North America. GRAND-AM hired Forbes-Robinson as a driver advisor for the 2013 season, a job he continued for IMSA and the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship in 2014. He worked with drivers and was available as a sounding board of vast experience in Race Control for stewards.
When he walked into Race Control in 2013, it was the first time Forbes-Robinson ever entered that nerve center at a race event despite starting his driving career in 1969. His clean, fair racing standards as a driver never caused trouble with stewards.
“I’d never been in Race Control until two years ago; instead, they would come and find me and hit me,” Forbes-Robinson said, joking with a hearty laugh. “Actually, I can’t remember having issues which I was called to the stewards for.”
IMSA officials then approached Forbes-Robinson to take the next step as an official, to serve as race director for Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda this season. It seemed to be a perfect fit. EFR had vast experience as a driver in prototype machinery, and he was a trusted voice respected by all in the IMSA paddock.
Still, the humble, self-effacing Forbes-Robinson had doubts. But IMSA officials Beaux Barfield, Paul Walter and Randy Hembrey – all current or former race directors – convinced Forbes-Robinson he was more than capable for the job.
“I said I’ll give it a try, and you guys can punt me any time you want because this is all new to me, and I’m going to do the best I can,” Forbes-Robinson said.
Forbes-Robinson admits his biggest adjustment is looking at the series, its teams and competitors as an official instead of as a racer, his familiar role for decades. For example, drivers tend to only study the portions of the rulebook that pertain to racetrack conduct, leaving other details to team managers. But EFR has worked hard this year to study all aspects of series rules, competition and technical, for his new job.
And there’s probably no one in the IMSA paddock who understands the drivers’ perspective of a racing situation better than Forbes-Robinson.
“When somebody tells you here’s what they did and they’ve seen, I have an understanding and a feel for what they’re seeing in the car, and I can either agree with them or decide not to agree with them because of the fact I’ve been there before,” Forbes-Robinson said. “I think it helps me understand the things the drivers are seeing and doing.
“The guys I’ve worked with, the drivers and the teams, are really good people who are trying to do well all the time.”
That commitment to the sport and its people continues to motivate Forbes-Robinson, 71, in his new role at a time in his life when many of his driving peers have retired.
“It is a big challenge, and frankly more than I thought it was at first,” Forbes-Robinson said. “I’ve got a lot of stuff I can do at home, but if I wasn’t busy all the time, I wouldn’t know what I would do. I want to stay busy. I want to be doing things. If I can help somewhere and help the people in Lites, it’s good for me.
“I hope I can give a little bit of input and make this Lites car, which is a fabulous car, better. Right now I’m hoping I can make a difference and help out.”
Rounds 5 and 6 of the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda season are scheduled for June 25-27 at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York.
For more information about Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda, visit www.imsa.com, follow hashtags #CTPL and #MRT24 @IMSA on Twitter or IMSA on Facebook.