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Category: IMSA

International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) news and information

  • NTE/SSR Announces Robust Rolex 24 At Daytona Lineup

    NTE/SSR Announces Robust Rolex 24 At Daytona Lineup

    DALLAS, Tex., (January 9, 2023) – The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season opens this month at Daytona International Speedway and NTE/SSR is returning for a third attempt to claim victory at one of the most prestigious races in sports car racing. The No. 42 Huracán GT3 will debut its new EVO2 kit at the 61st Rolex 24 At Daytona, with drivers Don Yount, Jaden Conwright, Kerong Li, and Alessio Deledda.

    “The Rolex 24 field is at capacity, and it’s such an honor for NTE/SSR to be included in such a prestigious event against some of the world’s best teams and drivers,” said NTE/SSR Principal Paul Mata. “I got my start as a mechanic and to now be a team owner, competing against this field with such a strong lineup really calls the best out of each and every person at NTE. We’ve proven to be competitive against many of these teams, and now we are ready to fight for our place on the podium of an important event. I believe we have the lineup to make that happen.”

    Gentleman driver Don Yount has been a pillar of NTE/SSR since the team’s IMSA WeatherTech debut in 2021 and has been a part of the majority of the team’s WeatherTech races since. He recently earned a top-ten finish alongside former Porsche factory driver Marco Holzer and current co-driver Jaden Conwright at the 2022 season finale, Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. His best finish with the team currently stands with a fourth-place finish at Watkins Glen International’s Six Hours of the Glen. With a third-place Rolex 24 best result from 2017, Yount currently holds the highest finish at Daytona of the NTE driver quartet.

    Jaden Conwright, inaugural recipient of the IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship, will continue to receive some support from the scholarship, continuing to work towards his aspiring career as a full-time driver in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship. Conwright completed the most races in the year of any NTE driver, racing in all seven of the team’s races in the twelve-race calendar. He returns to the team’s Rolex 24 lineup with hopes of being locked in as one of the team’s full-season drivers.

    Kerong Li made his sports car racing debut in 2021 at Road Atlanta with NTE/SSR in the Michelin Pilot Challenge. Since then, the young racer has continued to develop his craft in the sports car racing arena, participating in the 2022 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe’s Pro-Am Cup, and the 24H GT Series powered by Hankook. Li will be one of few drivers to race the prestigious Rolex 24 under a Chinese license, an honor he wears proudly heading to the big event.

    Alessio Deledda joins NTE having recently competed in the DTM championship with GRT Grasser Racing in a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo. He began his career in motorcycle racing, moving to open wheel racing in 2018 in the Italian Formula 4 championship. He climbed the open-wheel ladder to the FIA Formula 2 championship in 2021 before moving to sportscars in 2022.

    The GTD class will have a 15-minute qualifying session to set the starting order for the big race on Sunday, January 22 at 1:25 PM Eastern, and the other classes will follow, going until 3 PM. IMSA Radio and IMSA TV will offer live audio coverage of the event worldwide on imsaradio.com and imsa.com/tvlive, respectively. The entire field will have several days to rebuild the cars in preparation for the main event, the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The green flag will drop on Saturday, January 28, at 1:40 PM Eastern, airing live it its entirety at Peacock. For more information, visit imsa.com.

    DRIVER QUOTES

    Don Yount

    I can’t wait to get back to Daytona and the huge field set for 2023. I know the guys at NTE will bring a strong car for the fight. It will be a long race with a lot of cars on track. Anything can happen and we are looking for a good result for the drivers and team.

    Jaden Conwright

    I’m really looking forward to returning to the Rolex 24 At Daytona with NTE/SSR. Last year we had a really solid race going until the issue 19 hours in, so I feel like we’re heading back with some unfinished business. Now that we’ve had a year to improve and develop, I think we’re much more prepared to tackle this difficult race. Looking forward to finally hitting the track in the new Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo 2 during the Roar Before the 24.

    Kerong Li

    Daytona is one of my biggest dreams for a long time and finally we make that come true this year. I’m looking forward to the biggest endurance of the world and hope we get that Rolex!

    Alessio Deledda

    I am very excited about this new adventure. It will be a completely new experience in different aspects. I have never raced an endurance race and participating in the 24 hours of Daytona will certainly be exciting since it is one of the most prestigious races in the world, but also very demanding both mentally and physically. Racing in America is new for me and I will meet everyone at NTE/SSR for the first time. I’ve been practicing the circuit on the simulator, and it looks very fun. My pace has been good, and I’ve improved with each lap. Pace is very important over the duration of this race. I can’t wait to get started!

    About NTE Sport
    NTE Sport is based in Dallas, Texas, and first raced in 2020. Owner Paul Mata has been in the industry for over 20 years before starting his own team and has always focused on bringing together a diverse group of individuals to provide new opportunities and bring new people into the sport. Past female drivers include Sheena Monk and Ashley Freiberg, and drivers from diverse racial backgrounds include Ryan Nash, Jaden Conwright, and Kerong Li. Dedicated to bringing highly skilled individuals from various backgrounds, NTE Sport aims to continue to make North American sports car racing a fun, welcoming, supportive environment while participating in the most competitive series in North America.

    About Star Spangled Racing
    Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Star Spangled Racing is a newer sports car racing team, established in 2020 by first-generation immigrant Tiger Tari from Turkey. Tari is an accomplished businessman, race car driver, and philanthropist with big motorsport ambitions. Star Spangled Racing provides driving opportunities in the USA and Europe. Follow on Instagram here.

    About Southwest Funding
    Southwest Funding began operations in 1993 under the name Dallas Residential Mortgage. We enjoyed great success early on and before long we were serving the entire state of Texas. This growth caused us to change our name to Texas Residential Mortgage.

    As we continued to grow and thrive in the industry, Texas Residential Mortgage was changed to Southwest Funding to better accommodate our growing business in other states.
    Today we’re still thriving, thanks in part to happy customers who have spread the word about what our company is doing to help borrowers get a home loan that fits their situation in an enjoyable and timely way. www.southwestfunding.com

    Lamborghini Dallas
    Lamborghini Dallas has earned the Highest Rated Lamborghini Dealer in the United States award by DealerRater 10 years in a row. With a state-of-the-art showroom, factory-certified service facility, parts depot, and a team of master technicians, Lamborghini Dallas is dedicated to the legacy of the famed raging bull. As a member of Boardwalk Auto Group, we cultivate a focus on top-flight performance. It’s the driving force behind every nameplate we represent, every car we maintain, and every customer we have the privilege to serve. Performance. It’s what we do.

    Group A Apparel

    We are an action sports apparel brand for the adrenaline minded athlete. Focused on Functional Fitness, Motorsport, Surf, Snow, Skydiving, etc., we aim to support and grow the ever evolving ecosystem of global action/adventure sports.

    Website: www.GroupAapparel.com

    Instagram: @GroupAapparel

  • Cadillac Racing: Team managers Zoom transcript

    Cadillac Racing: Team managers Zoom transcript

    DETROIT (Jan. 4, 2023) — Cadillac Racing enters a new era of prototype sports car racing with the competition debut of the Cadillac V-LMDh in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Three Cadillac V-LMDh race cars will attempt to secure the pole Jan. 22 for the 61st edition of the race on Jan. 28-29.

    Action Express team manager Gary Nelson and Chip Ganassi Racing director of operations Mike O’Gara participated in a Zoom media conference hosted by IMSA with the other team leaders to preview the season.

    Transcript of Nelson and O’Gara sections of the Q&A:

    WHAT HAS THE UNDERTAKING BEEN LIKE FOR THE TEAM TO LAUNCH THIS PROGRAM AND HOW HAS IT COMPARED TO PREVIOUS LAUNCHES?

    Mike O’Gara: “It’s been a huge undertaking and most of the folks on this call have been living in the same world that we have for the last six to 12 months with ramping up this program. In the 30-year history of Chip Ganassi Racing, we’ve been fortunate to be part of a lot of different vehicle launches, whether that’s been for INDYCAR, Indy Racing League or Champ Car or the Ford GT program. This one is by far the most intense, the most complex and, honestly, the most exciting for the company. I think the timelines we’ve been holding to have been difficult with supply chain issues, trying to put adequate miles on the cars to be ready and the level of complexity of the cars with the hybrid system and the other control systems. It’s just more than we’ve ever undertaken before. An added complexity is going to race this car in two different series on two different continents. We have one eye on getting our WEC program up and running, getting a facility over there, appropriate personnel and equipment as well. That adds another layer of complexity, but everyone at Chip Ganassi Racing is excited and looking forward to representing Cadillac around the world. It’s a great time of us.”

    YOU’VE HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCES WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT RACE CARS. HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO THIS NEW CAR?

    Gary Nelson: “This new car, to me, is such a great challenge. My whole career in racing I’ve always wanted the trophy that’s hardest to get. They are always harder when you don’t have a logbook or set-up book or all the other things ready to go when you get to the track. We’re going to create pretty much from a blank sheet of paper a program that we’re expecting to win the Daytona 24 hours. We know everybody has all the same challenges and issues, and I think it’s the most pumped up I’ve been for many years to try to get all these little things all to line up and get that car to go 24 hours and be at the front at the end. That’s going to be one of the biggest challenges. The hybrid, the different rules, the new car, the way of doing the pit stops, everything is much easier when you go to a 24-hour race and you’ve got some muscle memory from other races in the past. Here, it’s all new and I’m looking forward to getting a shot at that trophy.”

    WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE KEYS TO GETTING TO THE FINISH?

    Gary Nelson: “Probably, the reliability of all of the new components. We have a lot more things that go by wire now. Where we used to have manual shift, we went to shift by wire and paddle shift and then we went to throttle by wire. And multiply that by four or five other different components on the car that are now going through a computer. So, probably electronics will be the focus on trying to make sure all of those computers do what they’re supposed to do.”

    Mike O’Gara: “My first prototype race was in 2004. Back then in the earlier days of Grand Am it was who could recover from a mistake or failure quickest, and the cars evolved to a point where they were pretty reliable. So, then, it was who could go the fastest for 24 hours without making a mistake. I feel like we’re coming back full circle from the early days of Grand Am. It’s who’s going to be reliable, and if you’re not reliable who can recover from some issue the quickest. We’ve all puta lot of miles on these cars, but until you race them in anger and start banging wheels you’re not going to see all the issues. It’s going to be not only survival of the fittest but who can recover from any issues the quickest.”

    WHEN WILL WE SEE A REPRESENTATIVE UNDERSTANDING OF PACE?

    Mike O’Gara: “To get the handling dialed in and the tire durability we’re never just putting around. I think qualifying is the first time you’ll see 10-10ths out of everyone.”

    WITH A ONE-TEAM APPROACH UNDER THE CADILLAC RACING BANNER, HOW HAS THAT BROUGHT THE TWO TEAMS TOGETHER?

    Gary Nelson: “It’s been a pleasure working with Mike and his group. I think we’ve advanced the technology a lot quicker because with each test we’ve done one group would test one series of items and the other another set. We were organized on who was doing what and we would get together at the end of each day – or sometimes part way through the day – and say, ‘We were having a little trouble with this part. You might want to check it on your car’ or ‘We just learned this change made a big difference. You might want to try it on your car.’ We’ve had that back and forth discussion and I welcome it very much.”

    Mike O’Gara: “It’s definitely been a learning experience for both teams and, quite honestly, a bit of a culture shift for Chip Ganassi Racing. We always pride ourselves on how we communicate internally. At the Indy 500 last year we have five race cars that were all capable of running at the front, so sharing info is what we do. But we haven’t often shared info outside of this building. But I think it’s gone amazingly well so far, sharing info with not just Action Express but with our GM Powertrain partners, with Dallara, with Michelin. It takes a village, and so far I think the partnership with AXR has gone really well. We’re figuring out who is better at what things and we divide and conquer. Hopefully, that will show in a couple of weeks.”

    HOW DOES THAT WORK INTO RACE WEEKENDS? ARE YOU GOING TO BE SHARING SIMILAR LEVELS OF INFORMATION OR ON YOUR OWN?

    Mike O’Gara: “I think a big part of winning this race is reliability, so we’re going to be huddling up constantly. Especially with car issues and things like that. We work closely with Dallara on set-up stuff, so the cars will all be mechanically identical and then we’ll go race on Saturday and Sunday to see out of all of us who can get it done.”

    Gary Nelson: “We have such common connections with the GM Powertrain folks, the Bosch folks, the Williams folks, the Dallara folks. If we learn something we want to make sure that the other Cadillacs know it and if they learn something they pass it to us because at the end we want a Cadillac to win the Daytona 24. I’d like it to be our Cadillac, but we still want a Cadillac to be in the winner’s circle.”

    WHAT HAVE YOU HAD TO ADD IN EQUIPMENT, PERSONNEL, EXPERTISE IN MOVING FROM DPI TO LMDH?

    Gary Nelson: “The first part was training on how to work with the high-voltage system of the MGU – the hybrid system – so a lot of training, a lot of safety procedures. And every new car takes new equipment – the set-up equipment is different. They don’t even fit in the trailer the same, so everything takes a bit of adjustment whenever you bring in a new platform. Over the years, that has gotten so much better with the companies that provide the equipment that we need. Personnel-wide, we’ve probably increased our group 20 percent with the folks working on the car. When we were a one-car team in DPi, we could pretty much take everything in one hauler to the racetrack. Now, we’re a one-car team going into ’23 and we have two haulers and a trailer to get everything to the racetrack. So, somehow we have a lot more equipment than we had in the past.”

    WILL SPECTATORS SEE A BIG DIFFERENCE ON THE TRACK BETWEEN THE GTP CARS AND LMP2 CARS?

    Mike O’Gara: “There should be enough of a performance differential that the GTP cars should clearly be quicker. There will be some challenges. The braking systems are quite different between a GTP car and a P2, so I think our car will be a lot better under braking but top speeds may be similar. It will make for some interesting racing, but I fully expect a GTP car to the at the top of the podium.”

    WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE FOR YOUR DRIVERS TO LEARN THE HYBRID SYSTEM AND ARE THERE ANY LIMITATIONS?

    Mike O’Gara: “Once you get rolling, it’s pretty much like any other race car. It’s starting it and launching it and diagnosing issues are where some of the challenges have been. We’re lucky enough to have drivers who have raced in Formula E, that have raced a Porsche P1 car, so those guys have helped the others who have never driven a hybrid or anything electrified before. It’s a manual that’s pretty thick on not necessarily on driving the car but procedures for starting it or restarting it or if you see a red light what to do. The race car is the race car but it’s all these other control systems that make it unique from what we’ve done before.”

    IS THE HYBRID SYSTEM A BIGGER TOOL THAN WHAT YOU’VE HAD IN THE PAST FOR FUEL MILEAGE?

    Mike O’Gara: “That’s one of our goals at the Roar to learn more about how to manage our fuel. It’s not a tank of fuel anymore, it’s a virtual fuel tank and the car fuel in addition to the energy you spend. It’s figuring out what’s the best use of deploying the hybrid power with the ICE engine. There is refueling time that has to be factored in, so I think you’ll see from many teams long runs to figure out energy per stint and the best combination. It’s no longer a knob for fuel trims. It’s a few knobs, a couple of switches and many a paddle or two that affect all it. We’re leaning every time that car leaves the pit box.”

    HOW DIFFICULT WILL IT BE TO KEEP THE HYBRID UNIT FULLY CHARGED GIVEN THE LACK OF BRAKING AT DAYTONA?

    Gary Nelson: “Even though there are not as many turns as a traditional road course, at Daytona the top speed has to be scrubbed off so much going into the Bus Stop and going into Turn 1 and then through the infield that you regenerate a lot more than you would imagine when you look at a road course with a lot of braking zones. Those are shorter braking zones, so we’re on the brakes pretty hard. I didn’t hear that in any of the engineering meetings if that was an issue.”

    HOW MANY 24-HOUR RACES HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN AND WHAT’S YOUR SECRET TO MAKING THOSE CRITICAL DECISIONS AT THE END?

    Gary Nelson: “My first 24-hour that I was involved in in the pits was 2007 and I’ve been to every one since. I’ve stayed up all night in almost all of them. I have a motorhome that I can sneak off to and get a few hours of sleep, but I only do that if things are going smooth. Hopefully, this year I’ll get a few hours sleep but I’m prepared if not to stay up all night.”

    Mike O’Gara: “Most since 2004 with a few Le Mans races in there. The key for me to stay awake and alert is to have a car that’s running at the front and competing for a win. There’s nothing worse in an endurance race than to have an issue at the beginning and run around at the back all day and night.”

    About Cadillac

    A leading luxury auto brand since 1902, Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio that features distinctive design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com.

  • Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport Set to Launch in 2023

    Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport Set to Launch in 2023

    Two iconic names in racing join forces for IMSA GTP and GTD competition

    Brownsburg, Ind. (December 28, 2022) — Andretti Autosport and Wayne Taylor Racing announced a new, long-term partnership today that will see the championship-caliber teams combine resources to compete in IMSA’s top classes. Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport’s No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 and its No. 93 Harrison Contracting Company Acura NSX Evo22 will make their official debut at the 2023 Roar Before the Rolex 24 and will be on the grid for the Rolex 24 at DAYTONA. The newly formed team will also compete in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series.

    During the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, day-to-day operations and leadership remain as they have currently operated with the long-term goal of moving the programs into Andretti Global’s recently announced 575,000-square-foot headquarters in Fishers, Indiana, due to be operational in 2025.

    Wayne Taylor’s global motorsports enterprise boasts two IMSA driver championships (2013, 2017) and back-to-back IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Championships (2021, 2020), which have contributed to nine IMSA manufacturer championships for Acura, Pontiac, Corvette and Cadillac as well as multiple victories in sportscar racing’s most iconic events – the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA (a total of six Rolex 24 At Daytona titles, two as driver and four of the past six years as team owner), Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Motul Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, Road America, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International. Wayne Taylor Racing claims eight Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Championship titles and a Lamborghini World Finals title.

    For 2023, Andretti will continue to operate in IMSA’s LMP3 category with Jarett Andretti. The five-time Indianapolis 500 champions Andretti Autosport competes in six additional racing championships worldwide, including the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, INDY NXT by Firestone, ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Extreme E, Australia’s Repco Supercars Championship and Mexico’s SuperCopa series.

    Michael Andretti, Chairman & CEO, Andretti Autosport:

    “This is an exciting time for us. We’re proud to be returning to the IMSA paddock in this way and the opportunity to be part of the launch of the GTP program alongside Wayne Taylor Racing and our friends at Honda Performance Development. Re-entering IMSA full time, and at this level, has been a goal of mine. I wanted it to be the right opportunity and at the right time – and we’ve found that. I’m looking forward to working closer with the team at WTR and meeting all the team’s strong supporters. I want to personally thank Wayne (Taylor) and Travis (Houge) for already being such great partners as we plan for a successful future.”

    Wayne Taylor, Team Owner, Wayne Taylor Racing:

    “It’s an honor to be partnering with a name like Andretti as we enter a new era of racing. I was approached by Michael a year ago and, as we all know, timing is everything, especially as our GTP and GTD programs continue to grow with Acura|HPD. Having worked with Michael on this for nearly a year, I’m very excited to see it come together. While our 2023 program won’t look much different, there is a lot that Andretti Autosport can offer to us as we continue to build and expand. I’m looking forward to working closer with Michael (Andretti), J-F (Thormann), Rob (Edwards) and the entire Andretti team.”

  • Todd Coleman Racing to Make Michelin Pilot Challenge Debut at Daytona International Speedway

    Todd Coleman Racing to Make Michelin Pilot Challenge Debut at Daytona International Speedway

    DENVER, CO. (December 27, 2022) – A new season of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge is almost ready to begin, and Todd Coleman Racing (TCR) has worked diligently in the off-season in anticipation of the team’s series debut at Daytona International Speedway, Friday, January 27. With the support of Archangel Motorsports, the team will proudly campaign the No. 69 eStruxture Data Centers Aston Martin Vantage GT4 with drivers Todd Coleman and Conrad Grunewald. This season, Coleman and his team will make their Michelin Pilot Challenge debut at Daytona and plan to continue in the series at select events throughout the 2023 race season.

    As the four-hour season-opening race, the BMW M Endurance Challenge at Daytona never disappoints. Last year saw over 100 drivers compete in 47 entries, representing 10 different automotive manufacturers. The participants’ race on the speedway’s road course: 3.56 miles of asphalt that include the oval’s turns as well as the facility’s infield course, including 12 turns in all. The event at the “World Center of Racing” will be Coleman’s first experience participating in an endurance race, a milestone he is eager to achieve.

    Coleman just closed out a strong season in SRO America’s Pirelli GT America and GT4 America, driving alongside IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship regular Aaron Telitz. Racing a Toyota GR Supra GT4, Coleman earned three podiums, competing against a tight field at the best road courses North America has to offer. Coleman has also been a championship contender in the Ferrari Challenge North America over the past three years, finishing second in the Pro/Am class standings in 2022. He completed 38 races in three countries this season, building his race craft to prepare him for the level of competition the Michelin Pilot Challenge will provide.

    “I am constantly looking to improve as a driver, and the only way to truly improve is to race against the best, and the best always show up for the Michelin Pilot Challenge four-hour endurance race at Daytona,” said Coleman. “We spent a significant amount of the off-season putting together a program that we believe will be a podium and championship contender.”

    Joining the team in their Michelin Pilot Challenge debut, Conrad Grunewald is a strong co-driver to race alongside Coleman in the season-opener. Also an SRO America regular—where he finished second in the Fanatec GT World Challenge America Am championship–Grunewald spent 2022 in various racing opportunities as well, competing in the Asian Le Mans Series, FIA World Endurance Cup, and European Le Mans Series. His participation in the BMW M Endurance Challenge at Daytona next month will be his first time racing in the series since 2014.

    “I’m really looking forward to racing with Todd and the TCR team at Daytona,” said Grunewald. “Todd has been improving every weekend since he started racing a few years ago, and it seems the Aston Martin platform suits his driving style. The last few years I have been driving GT3, but I have heard great things about the GT4 platform, so I am excited to have the opportunity to race it at such an iconic track.”

    The addition of Archangel Motorsports to the Todd Coleman Racing program will provide the team with a strong foundation to begin competition in the IMSA-sanctioned series. Founded by Mike Johnson in 1998, Archangel has grown into a championship-winning effort, contributing to multiple professional sports car racing championships and monumental race wins.

    “A big key to having the right foundation as we start this endeavor is partnering with Mike Johnson and the Archangel Motorsports team, and Aston Martin Racing, all of whom know how to win,” said Coleman. “For me, life has become about the experiences; racing with Conrad and the Archangel Team at Daytona in my first-ever endurance race is certainly going to go down as one of my more epic experiences.”

    Running as an opening act for the iconic IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Rolex 24 At Daytona, the BMW M Endurance Challenge at Daytona will take the green flag on Friday, January 27 at 1:45 PM Eastern, with all four hours airing live on Peacock. For more information, visit imsa.com.

    About Todd Coleman Racing

    Todd Coleman Racing was founded in 2022, the passion product from entrepreneur Todd Coleman. He began his racing career in 2020, racing at an entry-level before working his way up to the professional ranks. He continued to learn the ropes of the business of motorsport, partnering with championship-winning sports car teams and professional coach/drivers. He founded Todd Coleman Racing as the next step in racing toward his dream; to create his own championship-winning race team.

    About eStruxture Data Centers

    eStruxture is the largest Canadian data center provider with locations in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary. Headquartered in Montreal, eStruxture provides access to an ecosystem of almost 1,200 customers that trust and depend on our infrastructure and customer support, including carriers, cloud providers, media content, financial services, and enterprise customers. eStruxture offers colocation, bandwidth, security and support services to customers across Canada in its carrier and cloud-neutral facilities.

  • Whelen Engineering continues as primary sponsor

    Whelen Engineering continues as primary sponsor

    No. 31 Cadillac V-LMDh will feature longtime Action Express Racing partner

    DETROIT (Dec. 15, 2022) — Cadillac and Whelen Engineering have agreed to a sponsorship extension that will see the company’s familiar logo prominently displayed on the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-LMDh race car campaigned by Action Express Racing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

    Since 1952, the Whelen Engineering Company has been a global leader in the design and manufacturing of reliable and powerful warning lights, white illumination lighting, sirens, controllers and high-powered warning systems for automotive, aviation and mass notification industries.

    “Whelen has been racing a Cadillac DPi in the IMSA’s top prototype class since 2017. The combination of Action Express Racing and Cadillac Racing has proven to be a very successful alliance for us as evidenced by our winning the Team and Driver Championships in 2018 and 2021,” said Sonny Whelen, Executive Vice President. “Today we couldn’t be more proud to continue along with Action Express Racing to join Cadillac Racing’s effort to develop and campaign their new groundbreaking hybrid racing platform that we will compete with in the IMSA GTP class. This exciting new program will demonstrate cutting-edge development and execution as the cars hit the track for the first time at the January 2023 Rolex 24 in Daytona. Many thanks to Cadillac and AXR for the opportunity to be involved in this exceptional project.”

    In the IMSA Daytona Prototype international (DPi) era from 2017-2022, the New England-based company was the primary sponsor of Action Express Racing’s No. 31 Cadillac DPi-V.R that recorded eight victories and Team and Driver championships in 2018 and 2021. Partnering with Action Express Racing in 2015, the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette DP won Team and Driver championships in 2016.

    “Cadillac is proud of the on-track success we’ve accomplished since collaborating with Whelen Engineering in 2017,” said Global Cadillac Vice President Rory Harvey. “We look forward to continuing this incredible working relationship as we begin the 2023 season in the Cadillac V-LMDh.”

    Cadillac Racing, which amassed three Manufacturer Championships and a manufacturer-best 27 wins in DPi competition, will compete in IMSA’s Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2023 with the Cadillac V-LMDh.

    Codeveloped by Cadillac Design, Cadillac Racing and chassis manufacturer Dallara, the Cadillac V-LMDh features an all-new Cadillac 5.5-liter DOHC V-8 engine developed by GM’s Performance and Racing propulsion team based in Pontiac, Michigan, which will generate more than 670 horsepower from the combined output of its engine and hybrid powertrain. The V-LMDh will serve as Cadillac’s first hybrid prototype race car.

    Pipo Derani, the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship DPi Driver champion with Action Express Racing and Cadillac, and Alexander Sims will drive the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-LMDh in the nine GTP races.

    Both drivers have logged significant miles on a variety of U.S. racetracks and provided critical feedback as Cadillac Racing continues development of the hybrid race car for competition. They will be joined by versatile driver Jack Aitken for the four IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup races in 2023, starting with the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 28-29 at Daytona International Speedway.

    Action Express Racing has an unrivaled record in IMSA competition, claiming 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Team and Driver championships, as well as securing the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 North American Endurance Championships titles.

    About the Whelen Engineering Company

    A global leader in the emergency warning industry, Whelen Engineering has been manufacturing in America since 1952, proudly marking its 70th anniversary in 2022. Whelen designs and manufactures reliable and powerful warning lights, white illumination lighting, sirens, controllers, and high-powered warning systems for automotive, aviation and mass notification industries worldwide. Whelen encompasses two state-of-the-art facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire that include over 1,000,000 square feet of manufacturing space. With the largest design staff in the industry and 1,500 employees, Whelen’s mission is to protect those who protect and serve others by making reliable products that people can depend on when lives are on the line.

    About Cadillac

    A leading luxury auto brand since 1902, Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio that features distinctive design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com.

  • Cadillac Racing: Laura Wontrop Klauser Zoom transcript

    Cadillac Racing: Laura Wontrop Klauser Zoom transcript

    DETROIT (Dec. 14, 2022) — GM sports car racing program manager Laura Wontrop Klauser participated in a Zoom media conference hosted by IMSA with the three other manufacturer LMDh project leads.

    After nearly two years of preparation, including five months of on-track development encompassing more than 20,000 kilometers, the Cadillac V-LMDh will make its competition debut Jan. 28-29 in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Three Cadillac V-LMDh race cars will attempt to secure the pole Jan. 22 for the 61st edition of the race.

    Transcript of Laura Wontrop Klauser Q&A:

    YOU’VE BROUGHT THE CHIP GANASSI RACING AND ACTION EXPRESS RACING TEAMS UNDER ONE UMBRELLA AS CADILLAC RACING. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THAT PROCESS HAS GONE?

    “This program in general has really rallied all of us to work together – even across the OEs. We had such compressed timelines. We have a brand-new hybrid spec system in the car. The chassis are all new for all of us, so we had to pull resources together to get to the point where we had running cars at Daytona last week and as we prepare for the Rolex. So, it’s the same approach for the teams. If we try to be off on different islands, we would be unable to compete once we got to the Rolex. We had to work together. We had to swap parts back and forth to make sure cars were running. We had to share learnings and, I think, necessity can be the best tool that you can have in your toolbox because there really was no other option to get this program done than to collaborate. That has driven the message, and what I think has been great is seeing the results of the collaboration, seeing the ability to get the test program more done by having the two teams helping us and running two cars instead of running one car. The benefits are coming in. We still have a huge mountain to climb and constantly pushing that rock up the hill. Thankfully, we’re all rallying behind the rock together – depending on which rock we’re pushing that day. So, it’s nice to have people standing next to your right and left while you’re trying to do something incredible.”

    WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PRINCIPAL CHALLENGE IS AHEAD OF THE ROLEX 24?

    “Parts management has been a struggle; to get enough parts and to make sure that the quality is what we need. Especially with fielding three cars, we want to make sure we have everything for primaries, we have spares and then, God forbid something happens in the Roar, we have backups for backups. Some of it we’re probably going to get just before and some we might not have backups for backups. Really, just having enough parts to field the cars successfully and working with the supply chain. Of course, Christmas makes things a little tricky, too. Trying to get things this time of year is a challenge, but we have a full team on it and working through it.”

    HAVE THERE BEEN ANY UNIQUE CHALLENGES OR SURPRISES TO GET EVERYTHING TO WORK SEAMLESSLY?

    “The sheer amount of code and software that has been written to run this car is daunting. We cannot have enough software engineers working right now because everything on the car is connected. Things that we never had to worry about influencing each other in the past with the DPi or other race programs, now if one thing is slightly off it’s not going to run or turn or brake or whatever it needs to do. The importance of making sure that all the calibrations are correct and then the safety critical component of that to make sure that everything is correct is huge. Working through all of that has probably been the biggest mountain once we had all the parts on the car to test. This whole program has been a challenge.”

    HOW DID YOU GET TO THIS POINT WITH YOUR ENGINE PACKAGE?

    “Like everyone, we did not have much time to make a decision and move on for with what we wanted to do with this car. A lot of it is leaning on the experience that we’ve had for decades racing at GM – both Chevrolet and Cadillac – especially with the DPi and the eight cylinder. As quickly as we could, we did some engine packaging studies for multiple engines, and after we reviewed what we were trying to do, the criteria and the performance requirements for this platform, for us and our experience it made sense to carry forward with the V8 architecture. This is a new engine for this car, but leaning heavily on experience and architecture of V8 engines that we have across the portfolio. No regrets, especially as we look to our trip overseas to run in the WEC. I think we’re bringing America pretty loud and strong with our Cadillac and we’re proud of that.”

    HOW DO YOU SEE THE EQUIVALENCE BETWEEN THE HYPERCAR AND THE LMHD CAR FOR THE WEC?

    “In terms of the two platforms racing against each other, there’s been so much work that has gone into that, countless technical working groups meetings, discussions, lots of decisions that were made to try to bring parity between the two platforms. The effort has been put forward to make it happen correctly. Did we miss something? Maybe. There’s always that one thing that once you worry about all the bigger things then the little things become big things. I really applaud the effort from the two sanctioning bodies as well as the manufacturers. This is definitely a team sport to figure out how to get all these cars together so they can race in parity.”

    HAS IT BEEN MORE OF A CHALLENGE FOR YOUR BRAND THAN YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOING IN?

    “I still have a lot of growing and experiences ahead in my career. I can’t wait to compare whatever the next challenge is to this one, because this one has been incredible. And it’s been incredible what we’ve done in a short period of time with all of the economic factors in the world that have influenced how everyone is running their businesses these days. Labor shortages, supply chain. They are real and they impact us every day. We have brought on some incredible young people to our program that are just blowing us away with what they are able to do. If you say, ‘Hey, we have this problem to solve. Figure it out,’ and then give them the freedom and the ability to do what they think is right, it’s been awesome. It really is the future. It’s seeing how we can mesh people with 20-plus years of experience in racing with new people who have more experience in this new software and everything we’re bringing onboard. You can see the mature and the up and coming working together and how they are learning from each other. It’s given us a great opportunity to just grow what our motorsports family is in terms of everyone who is working one the cars and the types of people being part of this.”

    About Cadillac

    A leading luxury auto brand since 1902, Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio that features distinctive design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com.

  • Wright Motorsports Assembles Impressive Lineup to Defend Rolex 24 Victory in No. 16 1st Phorm Porsche

    Wright Motorsports Assembles Impressive Lineup to Defend Rolex 24 Victory in No. 16 1st Phorm Porsche

    BATAVIA, Ohio. (December 14, 2022) – The highly-anticipated 61st Rolex 24 At Daytona will kick off the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next month, and Wright Motorsports has assembled another impressive lineup to defend last year’s unforgettable victory. Ryan Hardwick, Jan Heylen, and Zacharie Robichon all return to the Wright Motorsports No. 16 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R (type 992) in defense of the win and will be joined by veteran Wright driver Dennis Olsen.

    The full-season entry will begin the year with the longest race on the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech calendar and the first of four endurance races. As Olsen returns to the team for January’s Rolex 24 only, the fight for the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup title will be in the hands of Hardwick, Heylen, and Robichon for the three other endurance races of the 2023 season. Announcements for the seven IMSA WeatherTech Sprint races will follow at a later date.

    The trio, then joined by Porsche factory driver Richard Lietz, were a critical part to the team’s Rolex 24 victory last year, leading 258 of 761 laps. The impressive performance set the tone for another championship-contending season where the team ultimately finished second in the GTD class.

    Olsen last raced with Wright Motorsports in 2019, where he earned four podium finishes in what is now the SRO Fanatec GT World Challenge America championship. He also participated in the team’s Indianapolis 8 Hour effort that season, racing alongside Dirk Werner and Matt Campbell. More recently, driving another team’s Porsche 911 GT3 R, the Norwegian racer stood third on the Daytona podium while watching Wright celebrate it’s Rolex 24 At Daytona win last season.

    New to 2023 for Wright Motorsports is a technical partnership with Motul. The two brands will work together to develop further products such as iconic 300V engine oil, RBF 700 brake fluids, gear oils, and other performance lubricants/chemicals. In addition to Wright Motorsports utilizing Motul lubricants on the No. 16 Porsche, the French lubricant’s company has also formed a partnership with Ryan Hardwick’s Mountain Motorsports, one of the largest retailers of motorcycle and powersports vehicles in the nation. Motul has been a strong supporter of other privateer Porsche programs having supported championship-winning 911 GT3 Rs for the last two years.

    Sabelt, offering tailor-made design and manufacturing solutions for racers, has also joined Wright Motorsports for the new race season. With premium racing gear and custom-designed equipment, the Italian company manufactures original car seats, seat belts, and motorsport products, in addition to seatbelts for military, aviation, and aerospace applications.

    The brand-new No. 16 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R (type 992) will begin the 2023 season at Daytona International Speedway, January 20-22 with the Roar Before the 24, the first full-field test for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors. All teams will have five on-track sessions to shake down their cars before qualifying on the final day. The following week will be filled with official practice sessions in anticipation of the start of the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Saturday, January 28 at 1:40 PM ET. The 61st running of the event will air live, flag-to-flag on Peacock. For more information, visit wrightmotorsports.com.

    DRIVER QUOTES

    Ryan Hardwick

    I am excited to be returning with Wright Motorsports and Porsche in the brand-new type 992 GT3 R! This team has become like family to me, and I truly enjoy competing alongside them. We also have our winning driver lineup back together again, with both Jan Heylen and Zach Robichon joining me in the No. 16 car for the IMSA Endurance Championship. I’m really looking forward to returning to Daytona next month, with the goal of defending our Rolex 24 victory from last season.

    Jan Heylen

    I’m really looking forward to going back to Daytona with Ryan and Zach! We have a good track record as a driver pairing and we have the best team to support us. The goal is obviously to try and win the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup, and I know we’ll have all the tools to be in contention for the title. Consistency is key and Ryan and Wright Motorsports made sure we have exactly that.On top of all this, we’ll be starting the 2023 season with a brand-new Porsche. There’s a lot to be excited about and I can’t wait to get started.

    Zacherie Robichon

    I’m excited to be back with Wright Motorsports and of course to once again be sharing the car with Ryan and Jan. We had a little bit of everything last year but obviously our highlight was the victory at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. This year we’re looking forward to rolling out with the all-new 992 generation Porsche 911 GT3 R and we hope we can continue our success. We have our work cut out for us, but I am looking forward to supporting the guys once again in our push to win the Michelin Endurance Cup.

    Dennis Olsen

    I’m very happy to be a part of Wright Motorsport for the Rolex 24 At Daytona. I know the team very well from a few years ago, and they have developed a lot since then and are definitely one of the top teams! I think we got a strong line up in GTD with Ryan, Jan and Zach. There is a new factor for everyone in the team which is the latest generation Porsche 911 GT3 R – but I have great trust in Porsche’s development of the car, and we have a strong package. I can’t wait to get started with Daytona Roar.

    Wright Motorsports
    Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series and international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy, and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013, and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team, and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. In 2020, the team captured the GT World Challenge America Am championship. In 2021, Wright Motorsports had a wildly successful season, capturing nine championships across their five racing efforts.

    1st Phorm
    1st Phorm is a sports nutrition company based in St. Louis, MO. In 2009, CEO Andy Frisella and his business partner Chris Klein started the brand, and since then, it has become the fastest growing supplement company in the world. 1st Phorm has set the standards in the industry for quality and helping people reach their goals. This new racing partnership is not their first time in the exotic car scene either. 1st Phorm has been the title sponsor for the Gold Rush Rally for six years running. With over a million followers across social media, 1st Phorm has amassed a huge cult-like following known as, “The Legion of Boom.” They stand for a movement in the fitness world. To turn it back to what it was meant to be. Helping others improve their lives, to be a good human… and to drop the excuses and do the work. 1st Phorm is a winning brand and they don’t expect anything less when it comes to their race team. For additional info: www.1stphorm.com

    Mountain Motorsports
    Mountain Motorsports is a group of motorcycle and powersports dealerships with multiple locations in the southeastern United States. The company was founded by lifelong friends Ryan Hardwick and Justin Price when they opened their first location as a single-line Honda dealership in Sevierville, Tennessee in 1999. The company has since grown into one of the largest retailers of motorcycle and powersports vehicles in the nation, spanning nine dealership locations representing eleven of the industry’s most well-known brands. For additional info: www.mountainmotorsports.com

    Una Vida Tequila
    Una Vida translates to One Life. That is how this brand started. By people who want to live their “One Life” to the absolute fullest and to their highest potential. A group of guys from the Midwest who love great quality tequila, and want their One Life to have meaning and impact others.

    One Life, One Tequila is our CORE BELIEF. We’re building the only tequila brand you will ever need to drink. Una Vida is bigger than just tequila we’re also building a culture of people who want to live their life to their utmost potential.

    Our story begins and continues to grow bottle by bottle. It’s a life mission for us to create a community of people who all raise a glass knowing they’re living their ONE LIFE! For more information, visit unavidatequila.com

    Motul

    Motul is a world-class French company specializing in the formulation, production, and distribution of high-tech engine lubricants (two-wheelers, cars, and other vehicles) as well as lubricants for the industry via its MotulTech activity. Present in more than 120 countries, Motul USA was established in 1989 as a subsidiary of Motul France and is based in Southern California. Motul is recognized as the specialist in synthetic lubricants. As early as 1971, Motul was the first lubricant manufacturer to pioneer the formulation of a 100% synthetic lubricant for automotive engines, the 300V lubricant, making use of Esters technology from the aeronautical industry.

    Throughout the years, Motul has gained experience as an official supplier for many racing teams and manufacturers to further technological development in motorsports. Motul is supporting those teams in international competitions such as 24 Hours of Le Mans (cars and motorcycles), FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Super GT, Formula Drift, Pikes Peak, Dakar, Le Mans Classic, MotoGP, World Superbike, World MX, IOM TT, and score of others.

    Sabelt

    Sabelt was founded in 1972 and started as a manufacturer of safety seatbelts for original equipment. Over the years, the expansion of the compulsory nature of seatbelts brought about new production systems allowing the company to consolidate and develop an extensive knowledge of buckle systems, seatbelts and complex retention systems. This technological foundation made it possible to create specific systems for racing cars, in which extreme conditions and safety requirements posed a challenge that was not easy to conquer. Having achieved industry leadership, Sabelt has expanded its range by also dedicating itself to high-end sports road car accessories and niche markets, becoming the European leader in the development and production of 3 different businesses: Racing, OEM (original equipment seats) and belts for special applications.

  • TireRack.com To Sponsor Battle on the Bricks in 2023 at IMS

    TireRack.com To Sponsor Battle on the Bricks in 2023 at IMS

    IMSA Event Tickets On Sale Dec. 20

    INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022) – Indianapolis Motor Speedway and TireRack.com – a customer-direct tire, wheel and car accessory distributor – announced Dec. 14 an entitlement sponsorship of the Battle on the Bricks IMSA sports car event in September 2023.

    TireRack.com is the “Official Partner of the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks” and “Official Partner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.”

    “The opportunity to join as official partners in bringing IMSA sports car racing back to IMS amplifies how important tire performance is to our DNA,” said Matt Edmonds, executive vice president, TireRack.com. “Tire performance always plays a critical role for every driver, on the track or the street, and IMSA at IMS provides an exceptional showcase right in our home state of Indiana.”

    The TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks features the return of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship to the Racing Capital of the World from Sept. 15-17, 2023, with a full weekend of sports car racing on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile IMS road course. The two-hour, 40-minute feature event will take place Sunday, Sept. 17, with live NBC network television coverage.

    “We welcome TireRack.com as a partner of this exciting weekend of IMSA sports car racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “We know many sports car fans also are enthusiasts who enjoy working on their own cars, including me, and TireRack.com provides 24/7 access to shop for the highest-quality tires, wheels and car accessories with a focus on the best prices and customer service, which is an ideal match.”

    In addition to Sunday’s WeatherTech Championship race, the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge will headline the action Saturday, Sept. 16 with a four-hour, bumper-to-bumper traffic jam of production-based race cars.

    With 18 different manufacturers competing in IMSA, the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks weekend will be a three-day festival showcasing the pinnacle of sports car racing.

    Fans who signed up for event updates about the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks will receive a ticket pre-sale link via email. Ticket sales will open to the general public Tuesday, Dec. 20. Visit ims.com/imsa to sign up for event updates and purchase tickets once available.

    In another exciting addition to the sports car weekend, fans can camp in the IMS infield, access not available during any other race weekend. Powered and primitive spaces will be available to purchase throughout the infield for public camping.

    IMSA also will return to IMS in 2024 and 2025 for longer endurance races. Fans who purchase race tickets or infield camping in 2023 will have first access to secure those spots for the 2024 IMSA endurance race.

    Tire Rack, headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, is a leading independent tire tester and consumer-direct source for tires, wheels and performance accessories. Since 1979, Tire Rack has grown from a single-point retail store in Indianapolis to encompass over 2.8 million square feet of space in 10 distribution centers across the country. Tire Rack does business as TireRack.com online, TR Wholesale Solutions in the car dealer and wholesale channels and Tire Rack Mobile Installation in select areas as a mobile installation solution.

  • Sean Creech Motorsport set for 2023 IMSA return

    Sean Creech Motorsport set for 2023 IMSA return

    SCM acquires three chassis from CORE Autosport to increase potential options next season

    JUPITER, Fla. (13 December 2022) – Sean Creech Motorsport (SCM) returns to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship paddock in 2023, with drivers João Barbosa and Lance Willsey set for a full season in the No. 33 SCM Exelixis/Focal One Ligier JS P320.

    With several new Ligier JS P320s in its stable (including cars recently acquired from CORE Autosport), the team continues to explore the possibilities for next season, which starts with the team’s home race, the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Decisions are pending regarding a possible two-car WeatherTech series team or entry into both WeatherTech and the new VP Racing SportsCar Challenge.

    “Having several cars does give us plenty of options for 2023,” said team principal Sean Creech. “Primary focus will of course be on the WeatherTech series – we finished fourth in the championship this year and definitely want to go after that title next year. We’ve had discussions with additional drivers, which would make it a two-car team, but nothing concrete yet. We are also looking at the VP series, with Lance interested in running, as well as several other drivers. It’s an exciting time for IMSA and we’re looking forward to getting the season underway at our home race in Daytona.”

    SCM joined the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2021, though Creech has competed in sports car racing for over 30 years. After a partial season in 2021, the team contested the full LMP3 schedule in 2022, with season highlights including a victory at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the team’s second-straight podium at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and a podium finish at the Motul Petit Le Mans.

    The team finished second in the Michelin Endurance Cup (compiling points in the four endurance races – Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta) only six points behind the winner and scored a fourth-place finish in the final LMP3 team standings, with a total of 271 laps led on the year. The goal for 2023 is clear: continue that forward momentum.

    “I look at endurance racing as an iterative process,” said Willsey. “We as a team are learning about the car every weekend and at every test. We improved from last season to this season, and I don’t see any reason that won’t continue, based on the caliber of the team Sean has assembled.”

    Focused on continuing that progress, the team looks to come out of the gate strong in 2023 with an eye on that most prestigious prize, the iconic Cosmograph Daytona Rolex worn only by Rolex 24 winners. Barbosa is already the proud owner of four winner’s Rolex timepieces and knows what it takes to capture the top spot in one of the world’s endurance classics.

    “We have improved our knowledge of the Ligier each year, and I think we’ll be even more competitive this year than the past two years,” said Barbosa, who lives in nearby Ormond Beach. “With two years of experience, the team knows exactly what to do. It’s one of my favorite races of the year, even more so because I get to stay in my own home the whole time!”

    Much of the current SCM crew joined Creech in running the Extreme Speed Motorsports IMSA Prototype Challenge program from 2016 to 2018, winning the 2018 title with Kris Wright. The team has increased its knowledge of the Ligier each year and aims to continue its high standard of execution in 2023 – hoping to have a bit more luck, yielding the kind of results that highlight the excellent crew work and race reliability.

    “Consistency is our biggest goal for this season,” said Barbosa. “We had good pace, but not consistent results, though we always had a competitive car. There were good finishes at Daytona, Sebring and Road Atlanta and we want to continue – and try to be even stronger next year.”

    “One of the things that gives me optimism and enthusiasm for the upcoming season is the fact that we had no mechanical issues for the entire season,” continued Willsey. “The car performed flawlessly: I don’t see how the team could possibly have done a better job in giving the drivers a fast car, race in and race out. I have had the benefit of working with João, and others like Malthe (Jakobsen), Seb (Priaulx) and Parker (Thompson) over the past season, which provides an immense data set to learn from.”

    The team has scheduled a two-day, two-car test at Daytona International Speedway in mid-December, to work through setups for the Rolex 24 and to finalize the driver lineup. With several drivers in contention to join Willsey and Barbosa at the four-race Michelin Endurance Cup and for the fourth seat at the Rolex 24, it’s a prime opportunity to evaluate not only the speed of each driver, but also to see what each driver’s approach is and how they interact with team members.

    “We have had a large number of inbound inquiries regarding opportunities to join us for Daytona as well as for the season,” said Willsey. “We have at our disposal the unique combination of several race ready Ligier LMP320 cars, a history of competing and winning both driver championships as well as races since IMSA welcomed the LMP3 platform. That provides the team the ability to work with and develop drivers to compete at the highest level of motorsports.”

    SCM thanks Alta Equipment Corporation for their support in 2022, and partners Focal One and Exelixis for their continued support.

    About SCM

    Team leader Sean Creech has competed in a multitude of sports car series from 1990 until the present day, including Group C, IMSA GTP, WSC, Grand-Am, SRO World Challenge, and IMSA. SCM will contest the full WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2023 with João Barbosa and Lance Willsey. http://seancreechmotorsport.com/

    About Focal One

    One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime in the United States. The Focal One® HIFU Prostate treatment offers patients a non-invasive outpatient procedure to target prostate tissue while avoiding the common side effects such as loss of urinary continence and sexual function. The Focal One treatment uses high-performance, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to precisely target and ablate the prostate, allowing patients to quickly return to normal activities.

    http://www.focalone.com/

  • The Heart of Racing Announces Rolex 24 Drivers and 2023 IMSA Plans

    The Heart of Racing Announces Rolex 24 Drivers and 2023 IMSA Plans

    Sanford, FL (12 December 2022) – The Heart of Racing announces a potent two-car lineup for the 2023 Rolex 24 At Daytona, running Aston Martins in both IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT classes.

    Alex Riberas (ES) and Ross Gunn (UK) will share the No. 23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 for its second season in the GTD PRO competition. David Pittard (UK) will join Riberas and Gunn on No. 23’s roster for the 61st edition of the Rolex 24.

    Defending IMSA GTD champion Roman De Angelis (CA) will be joined by Marco Sorenson (DK) in the No. 27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 for the season. The pair will be joined by three-time Le Mans winner Darren Turner (UK) and team principal Ian James (UK) to complete the driving roster for the Daytona classic.

    “We are really pleased to have finalized our plans for the year and we are ready to get things off on the right foot at Daytona,” said James. “We have fantastic support from Aston Martin, and our driver lineups are very strong. The crew is almost entirely identical to our group as last year, so we have a lot of experience together as a team to build on this season and everyone is just looking ahead to getting things going at the Roar next month.”

    With a full-season lineup that brings both pace and continuity, The Heart of Racing will be looking for a strong start to their 2023 campaign after a successful 2022 season; their GTD entry capturing the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech GTD title and their GTD PRO entry finishing fourth in the class’ inaugural season.

    Sorenson, the team’s newest addition, has a record of success with Aston Martin which includes three FIA World Endurance GT driver championships as well as a Le Man class victory in 2022. With years of driving for the team under their belts De Angelis, Gunn, James, and Riberas are no strangers to Heart of Racing and look forward to welcoming Sorenson into the family.

    The Heart of Racing uses the exposure of its motorsports teams to raise funds and awareness for the Seattle Children’s Cardiology Research Fund. American businessman Gabe Newell is the driving force for The Heart of Racing, which has raised more than $7 million for the Seattle Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, funding the Children’s Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

    https://www.theheartofracing.com/donate