Category: IMSA

The Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche Cayman Saw a Strong Run Thwarted By Fuel Mileage During Saturday’s Michelin Pilot Challenge Contest

DANVILLE, Virginia (August 28, 2022) – Hardpoint scored a top 10 finish in Sunday’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Daytona (GTD) race at VIRginia International Raceway, the home track of Hardpoint. Rob Ferriol and Katherine Legge co-drove the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R for the two-hour, 40-minute race, one day after an unfortunate fuel mileage race robbed the No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport of a strong finish for Nick Galante and Sean McAlister.

Hardpoint Post Race News and Notes

Hardpoint’s 10th place finish on Sunday was the return of the GridRival Porsche to WeatherTech competition for the first time since Watkins Glen. The race came at Hardpoint’s home, with the team headquarters located on-site at VIR.

As the home race, Hardpoint hosted friends, family, current and potential partners, both at the track and at the team shop. During the team’s Saturday night open house, Ferriol – the owner and President as well as a driver – noted that he’d never seen so much Hardpoint apparel from fans at the race track.

The mid stage of the race gave those fans plenty to cheer for. After Ferriol opened the race 13th on the grid, he handed the car to Legge in 11th with one hour, 40 minutes to go. Hardpoint was among the first teams to make their initial pit stop, and when the full course caution came out shortly after that stop, Legge cycled to second place in the GTD class and overall, ahead of the GTD Pro field.

Despite being on older tires and battling a loose race car, Legge held up the field for as long as possible. On the team’s final pit stop with 57 minutes to go, the over-the-wall crew made a roll bar adjustment to add balance to the car. The tweak worked, as Legge turned her quickest lap of the race after the stop on fresh tires.

Unfortunately, the team needed one more caution period for the fuel strategy to come to fruition. When it didn’t, Legge was relegated to the final 10th place position.

Nick Galante started Saturday’s two-hour Michelin Pilot Challenge race in the Racing to End Alzheimer’s No. 22 Porsche Cayman 10th on the grid. Galante quickly moved to eighth on the opening lap, battling there during his stint.

Galante handed the car over to Sean McAlister with a little more than 40 minutes remaining. A great stop by the Hardpoint crew paired with a fortuitous strategy call by the engineers left McAlister on track during a full course yellow just one lap later, which elevated him to third for the restart.

McAlister was 14th with 10 minutes remaining when the Cayman slowed to a stop with a fuel pick-up issue, leaving him on course and bringing out a full course caution for the field. McAlister was able to refire the Cayman and bring it back to pit lane for service but had fallen a lap down to the eventual 16th-place finish.

Both racing came with ambient temperatures in the upper 90s, making conditions even more challenging for the rear and mid-engine Porsches. Adding to the difficulty, McAlister was ill for most of the weekend, including the race.

The 22 team still had the privilege of carrying more than 110 names of loved ones and family members from across the country who have or are currently suffering from Alzheimer’s. Each of the names represents a $250 donation, matched dollar for dollar by Legistics, Inc., with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the charity.

The Racing to End Alzheimer’s program drew a crowd during the pre-race fan walk, performing a pit stop demonstration in front of the home fans on pit lane. In addition to the up-close view of a live pit stop, complete with driver change, fans walked away with Racing to End Alzheimer’s hats, t-shirts, wristbands and can koozies.

Both the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R and the No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche Cayman will conclude the IMSA season at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, September 28 through October 1. The Motul Petit Le Mans is the final Michelin Endurance Cup race of the season for the WeatherTech Championship.

Hardpoint Quote Board

Rob Ferriol, Driver and Team Owner, No. 99 Porsche 911 GT3 R: “It was a really good weekend. We got a lot of love from the fans here at VIR, the corner workers, the grid marshals, everybody. We felt like we were at a back yard barbecue marking the end of the summer. You can always have a better race, but we finished in the top 10 with the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R, the car came home in one piece, and we’ve got our eyes forward to Road Atlanta.”

Sean McAlister, Driver, No. 22 Porsche Cayman: “It was a very tough stint, an hour and 20 in the car when I’m not feeling good. The pros are very good, obviously, and have pinpoint accuracy every lap. I felt really solid the first lap out, and I just started falling off the pace a little bit. I was losing it in two areas, mainly. I needed to focus exits a little bit more, but I felt like I was one of the fastest out there around me. But this series is tough, they are very good drivers, and hats off to them. It was a very hot stint.”

About Hardpoint:

Hardpoint was founded by Rob Ferriol in 2018 with the vision of combining his experience as a successful entrepreneur with his passion for racing. Headquartered at VIRginia International Raceway, the team captured the 2021 Porsche Carrera Cup North America Pro-Am championship in its inaugural season and competes full-time in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R with co-drivers Ferriol and Katherine Legge, joined by Stefan Wilson for Michelin Endurance Cup races. In 2022, Hardpoint has added the No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport driven by Nick Galante and Sean McAllister in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS), as well as the No. 428 TradeCentric Porsche 911 GT3 Cup driven by Brady Behrman in International GT. More information on Hardpoint can be found at www.hardpoint.com or through its strong social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Fassnacht Maximizes Performance of Backup No. 15 Sword Performance Mazda MX-5

DANVILLE, Virginia (August 28, 2022) – Aidan Fassnacht turned in another competitive and milestone performance this weekend in the IMSA Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich doubleheader at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) where the 19-year-old series rookie swept the poles and led laps in both races in the No. 15 Sword Performance Mazda MX-5.

For the third consecutive MX-5 doubleheader weekend since scoring his first series race win in late June at Watkins Glen International, Fassnacht ran with the other leaders and was a pacesetter all weekend on the 3.27-mile Southern Virginia road course.

The performance was even more impressive considering Fassnacht was forced into a backup Mazda MX-5 after a contact incident in Friday practice left him uninjured but sidelined his primary McCumbee McAleer Racing (MMR) prepared MX-5 for the weekend.

“Looking at the weekend after what happened on Friday, I’d say I am pretty pleased with how it came out,” Fassnacht said. “We were able to get the backup car out of the trailer and MMR set it up up really well and got it prepared for qualifying. We put it on double pole which was definitely the high of the weekend. I had never been on pole in my career so it felt pretty good to get that.”

Fassnacht led the field to the green flag for the start of Saturday’s race for the first time in his three-year driving career.

“I was feeling a little bit of nerves starting from the pole for the first time ever,” Fassnacht said. “It’s a totally different mindset. When you are mid-pack or coming from the back, it’s like ‘I have this car to pass, and this car to pass, then this car.’ It kind of makes it a little bit simpler. I over drove the car, I wasn’t as comfortable as I wanted to be, and I definitely felt the car waning a little bit toward the end of the race.”

Fassnacht led the first six of the Saturday race’s 20 laps and crossed the line in seventh place for his third top-10 finish of the season.

“In the second race I thought I drove great but then I had a little contact that messed up my right front,” Fassnacht said. “I started to drop back and then I had a major mechanical failure that caused me to not finish the race. We really got everything we could out of the backup car.”

Fassnacht led the opening five laps in Sunday’s race and, combined with Saturday’s first 45-minute sprint, learned a great deal about lead-pack racing in a series as competitive as the MX-5 Cup.

“It was a lot of good experience for me, leading a lot of laps in both races, and starting to consistently race up front,” Fassnacht said. “I would say it was a successful weekend, I am pleased, but I am just ready to get to Road Atlanta. I love that track.”

The 2022 IMSA Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup season concludes with a Thursday and Friday, September 29 – 30, doubleheader during the Motul Petit Le Mans weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Fassnacht’s partner Sword Performance – The Leader In Healthy Hydration – is offering a 20 percent discount on products ordered through www.DrinkSword.com with the code RACE20 at checkout. This includes SHIELD Zero, a revolutionary all-natural zero sugar, zero artificial sweetener electrolyte hydration drink, that tastes light and refreshing without the junk. Packed with the same balanced electrolyte profile and natural ingredients found in SHIELD, the real fruit flavors of SHIELD Zero satisfy and help prevent hydration all day long without creating digestive issues.

About Sword Performance: Sword Performance, Inc. is an American manufacturer of performance hydration beverages, built around a system of proprietary electrolyte replacement products and heat stress subject expertise. Sword Performance Inc. was founded with a purpose: to provide great-tasting, effective hydration to hard-working men and women everywhere. From stadium lights to job sites, Sword Performance hydration products are designed to work with the body to battle dehydration and fatigue. More information can be found at www.DrinkSword.com.

About Aidan Fassnacht: A second-generation professional racecar driver, 19-year-old Aidan Fassnacht is conducting the 2022 Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup for McCumbee McAleer Racing (MMR) in the No. 15 Sword Performance Mazda MX-5 Cup. Fassnacht, a student at Boston College, raced a Spec Miata in Regional and National Sports Car Club of America events for two seasons before taking on the Spec MX-5 Challenge in 2021, earning a slot in the prestigious Mazda Shootout before signing with MMR for his 2022 rookie campaign.

The No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R Returns to Action at Virginia International Raceway In the WeatherTech Championship while No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche Cayman Continues its Michelin Pilot Challenge Season

DANVILLE, Virginia (August 26, 2022) – Hardpoint takes on a rare milestone this weekend at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) with a rare “home game” during IMSA’s Michelin GT Challenge, running the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R in the WeatherTech Championship GT class and the No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport in the GS Class of Michelin Pilot Challenge. Hardpoint’s headquarters and race shop is located just steps from the main gate of VIR, on the campus of the Virginia Motorsports Technology complex.

Nick Galante and Sean McAlister will drive the No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche Cayman against the rest of the Michelin Pilot Challenge field in a two hour race on Saturday afternoon, beginning at 4:40 p.m. EDT and streamed live on Peacock, NBC’s streaming platform. Team owner Rob Ferriol and Katherine Legge will share driving duties in the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R on Sunday afternoon in the two-hour, 45-minute WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race. That race is live on CNBC and streaming on Peacock beginning at 2 p.m. EDT.

Hardpoint Pre-Race News and Notes

This weekend marks the return to the IMSA WeatherTech Championship for Hardpoint’s No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R for the first time since the six-hour race at Watkins Glen, and the first sprint race since WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca back in April.

Ferriol’s start as a racer came at VIR, first as a fan and then in a track day behind the wheel of his street Porsche 911. That progressed quickly to Porsche Club of America racing, then IMSA’s then-Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge North America. Ferriol went from fan to Porsche racing team owner in less than five years.

The VIR round of the WeatherTech Championship features only the GTD and GTD Pro classes on the entry list, eliminating the traffic of the Prototype-class cars that are typically sprinkled in to the mix. Both classes run in identical cars, with only the driver line-ups separating the class.

Hardpoint’s No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport is coming off its best finish of the season at Road America, where they finished ninth in the GS class. The team continues to carry the names and hometowns of race fans’ loved ones who suffer or have suffered from Alzheimer’s.

Galante and McAlister will share driving duties again this weekend after being joined by John Capestro-Dubets for the four-hour race at Road America. Galante will qualify and start the race, with McAlister finishing the stint.

As it’s home race, the team has a number of off-track activities and guests this weekend. In the midway, the Hardpoint by Delta Sport simulator, including Asetek pedals and chassis from Advance SimRacing, will allow fans to drive a virtual lap around VIR in the Porsche 911 GT3 R. A number of guests and partners are in attendance this weekend, including friends and family. The team is hosting an open house at the Hardpoint headquarters on Saturday evening for industry insiders. Ferriol and Legge are both participating in the track’s Fan Forum on Saturday afternoon.

Hardpoint Quote Board

Rob Ferriol, Driver, No. 99 Porsche 911 GT3 R: “The pressure is always high when the IMSA calendar flips to August. The VIR round is simultaneously the hardest and easiest round on the schedule. With friends, family, and VIPs in attendance, it feels very much like a backyard BBQ to mark the end of Summer, but that also means the expectation is high when we roll out of the garage and onto our favorite American road course. The Full Course at VIR throws everything at you, and by extension, throws everything at your engineering team. You need a nimble car down at the bottom of the track, and you need a fast, slippery car at the top. It means walking and chewing gum at the same time, and it means accepting compromises on both sides to ensure you’ve got a well-balanced car that can carve its way around Turns 1 and 4, but stay planted as you go flat up the esses in sixth gear.”

Katherine Legge, Driver, No. 99 Porsche 911 GT3 R: “We’re ready to get to VIR, but really we’re just ready to get back into the No. 99 Porsche. It’s been a challenging year and we’ve handled it well, but I’m at my most relaxed in the car. The home race here at VIR brings some additional excitement with extra activities, but our job will be to focus behind the wheel and see if we can bring home a result for the team and the home fans.”

Nick Galante, Driver, No. 22 Porsche Cayman: “I love coming to VIR anyway, but to be here at Hardpoint’s home track adds even more fun to the weekend. We made a lot of progress at Road America with the car, so the challenge will be to bring that momentum to a new track. I still get the extra motivation from carrying the Racing to End Alzheimer’s names around with us every lap, so it would be a dream to combine both of those into a podium this weekend.”

Sean McAlister, Driver, No. 22 Porsche Cayman: “We’re going to take what we learned at Road America with the car and work to try to make it even better at VIR. There’s a bit more pressure to perform well for the team at the home track, but as the home track of the team they’ve all seen this track more often than others so we can use a lot of that knowledge from each individual to make this an even more successful weekend. VIR, in my opinion, is one of the more difficult tracks on the schedule but I think that challenge makes it more fun and satisfying to get right. There are some very technical sections that can yield a lot of lap time if you can get through them right and the esses are always a lot of fun to get right.”

About Hardpoint:

Hardpoint was founded by Rob Ferriol in 2018 with the vision of combining his experience as a successful entrepreneur with his passion for racing. Headquartered at VIRginia International Raceway, the team captured the 2021 Porsche Carrera Cup North America Pro-Am championship in its inaugural season and competes full-time in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R with co-drivers Ferriol and Katherine Legge, joined by Stefan Wilson for Michelin Endurance Cup races. In 2022, Hardpoint has added the No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport driven by Nick Galante and Sean McAllister in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS), as well as the No. 428 TradeCentric Porsche 911 GT3 Cup driven by Brady Behrman in International GT. More information on Hardpoint can be found at www.hardpoint.com or through its strong social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

DANVILLE, VA (25 August 2022) – Rebel Rock Racing will be looking to bounce back when it returns to its home track – Virginia International Raceway – for Saturday’s Virginia is for Racing Lovers Grand Prix, the penultimate round of the 2022 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season.

After Frank DePew and Robin Liddell scored a victory at Lime Rock Park in the No. 71 Urban Grid Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R in July, the team was looking to keep that momentum going at Road America earlier this month. Unfortunately, a promising qualifying effort didn’t translate into another run to victory at the Wisconsin circuit for the team, as a cut tire on the parade lap and off-track excursion early in the race resulted in a 25th-place finish.

“That race was three weeks ago, and after the craziness of June and July, for me personally that felt like an off season,” Liddell said. “But from the team point of view, a lot of work has gone on since the Camaro after the incident at Road America. It went to Irish Mike’s for repairs. They got the car back last Monday, and it was ready to go after a week of hard work.”

The victory at Lime Rock followed fourth-place finishes at Watkins Glen International and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, with the team currently fifth in the Grand Sport standings.

“I’m enthusiastic about our chances at VIR,” Liddell said. “We had a hiccup at Road America, but I think in some respects, that will get the team more focused for the last two races. I think we’ve got a reasonable shot. I think the car will be strong – we finished fourth there last year. The goal is to get everything back on track and finish on the podium.”

VIR was the site for the team’s first outing with the Camaro GT4.R back in 2018. A year ago, DePew led the first laps of his career at VIR, with the team finishing a competitive fourth. Liddell took the checkered flag only 4.661-seconds behind the winner.

“I’m very excited and looking forward to getting back to VIR,” DePew said. “Obviously, it’s one of my favorite tracks, and hopefully, we can have a mistake-free race and do well. Hopefully, I’ll be a little quicker than last year. VIR is super-fun to drive and it’s exciting – that’s why I love going there.”

“We enjoy going to VIR,” said Liddell, a two-time Rolex Series GT winner at VIR, in 2008 and 2009. “It’s Frank’s home track, and he will have family and friends there. It’s a lot of fun to drive that track, and the Camaro works well around much of it, especially the uphill esses, the fast sections, and whenever you’re running close to the curbs. Overall, I think it will be competitive.”

Following Saturday’s two-hour race, the lone event on the 2022 schedule will be the Fox Factory 120, a two-hour race on Sept. 30 during the Motul Petit Le Mans weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

TPC Racing Drivers Wesley Slimp, Tyler Hoffman and Billy Johnson Look to Close North American IMSA Super Trofeo Season with a Pair of Podium Performances

DANVILLE, Virginia (August 25, 2022) – TPC Racing and a pair of its Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 teams head to VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) this weekend for a Saturday and Sunday doubleheader that the team and its drivers consider a “Home Game” on a familiar and favorite 3.27-mile circuit in Southern Virginia.

Although Maryland-based TPC Racing is headquartered several hours away from VIR, the relatively close location to the first-class facility makes it a favorite testing and development track for not only TPC’s Lamborghini teams but its wide variety of other sports car road racing and high-performance street-car programs.

The main order of business this weekend is the twin Saturday and Sunday 50-minute sprint races that will bring the North American portion of the IMSA Super Trofeo season to a close. The VIR doubleheader will be the final U.S. race of the championship before the season-ending event in Portimão in Southern Portugal, November 3 – 6, where both the Super Trofeo North America final rounds and the 2022 World Finals will be held.

Both the No. 9 HNTB Companies Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2, co-driven by Wesley Slimp and Tyler Hoffman, and the Pro-class No. 71 DSC Sport/Erin Levitas Foundation Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 of Billy Johnson are scheduled to go to Portugal. A pair of podium showings this weekend by both teams would be the perfect launch pad to Portimão, and some recent on-track runs by both the No. 9 and No. 71 TPC entries bode well for a visit or two to victory lane at VIR.

Slimp and Hoffman gave TPC its first Super Trofeo victory in 2022’s season-opening event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in late April. That win in the LB Cup-class promptly saw race officials elevate the HNTB No. 9 to the Am-class in which Slimp and Hoffman have been on the brink of another victory all summer.

The duo’s most recent top showing was a third-place finish in the Saturday sprint one race weekend ago at Road America. The podium showing followed another third-place finish at NOLA Motorsports Park in May, and Slimp and Hoffman come to VIR in a tight battle for a top-three finish in the season-long Am-class championship. While the championship is realistically out of reach, a strong finish to the season could elevate the No. 9 drivers and team to third and maybe even second in the final season point standings.

Johnson and the No. 71 team have been knocking on the door of their first race win in the top-tier Pro class all summer. Road America was their most competitive race of the season with Johnson starting from the outside front row and leading the first six race laps in Sunday’s final sprint. The race was run in mixed wet-and-dry conditions that produced a string of yellow flags and even a red-flag pause that saw the field switch to rain tires.

The slow-downs and stoppages ultimately didn’t work with TPC’s and Johnson’s strategy but the season-best pace, and gains from a test last week at VIR, have everyone on the No. 71 squad optimistic for a pair of good results this weekend at VIR.

Noticeably absent from VIR will be winning team driver Scott Schmidt who made the tough decision after Road America to end his 2022 racing season early to attend to his successful business away from the track. The unplanned move puts the brakes on a successful season Schmidt had put together in the No. 38 DSC Sport/Erin Levitas Foundation Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2. In the span of the last five races, Schmidt produced a solid record of four podium finishes, including his first Super Trofeo victory in late June at Watkins Glen International. Schmidt has already shifted focus to a return to competition with TPC in the near future.

A full three-day weekend event, Super Trofeo action begins Friday with two practice sessions and qualifying first thing Saturday morning. The first 50-minute race starts at 2:05 p.m. EST on Saturday with the second scheduled to go green at 11:35 a.m. EST Sunday. Both races can be viewed live on IMSA.com/TVLive.

Harris Levitas, TPC Racing Director of Race Operations: “With VIR, it is kind of our backyard track, and we always seem to have very competitive cars there. We had a very successful test there last week with both the No. 71 and No. 9 cars, and we found quite a bit in both cars. I think we have made really good progress in having even better front-running cars. All of the drivers did a great job, and the team has been doing a great job prepping the cars and giving us front-running cars. I think we can show more pace at VIR and hopefully close out the U.S. rounds with podium finishes – or even better – standing on the top step of the podium. We are going to miss Scott Schmidt, who has done a fantastic job and is one of those racing success stories. Coming from little to no background to actually being a front-running and winning driver really shows his commitment. He has really done that and put forward the effort. With the multiple cars that he races, and the different programs we have put together with him and his coaching staff, Scott has really come a long way. It’s unfortunate he can’t make the last two races of the year. He has to step away to take care of his business, but he will be back sooner rather than later.”

Tyler Hoffman, Driver – No. 9 HNTB Companies Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2: “To pay my respects, I recently quoted the great Paul Newman as he originally called VIR heaven on earth. I have to agree. The VIR circuit is a truly rewarding combination of high-speed, high-downforce sectors rolling straight into great passing opportunities while demanding precision the entire time. Virginia International is our home track on the Lamborghini Super Trofeo calendar, and it would be great to get a win there. The points championship is a bit of a stretch this year, but a win would be great to lead us into the World Finals in Portugal.”

Billy Johnson, Driver – No. 71 DSC Sport/Erin Levitas Foundation Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2: “I am really looking forward to racing the Lamborghini at VIR. It’s an iconic American track with elevation, no run-off, and it is just a real fun place to race. We tested there last week and found some things in the car, so every week and every weekend the TPC guys are just doing an amazing job making the car better and faster. I am very optimistic after what we found and the position the car will be in going into the VIR race this weekend. We have definitely had things that have held us back all year long due to delayed parts and availability. That’s been out of our hands, but I am very thankful to have this opportunity to race in the Super Trofeo series and driver for TPC. They are such a great organization. At Road America, we had the best car that we have ever had. Now, after what we have found between then and now that the car will be even better. Hopefully we will get a result this weekend the team definitely deserves.”

About TPC Racing: TPC Racing is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier maintenance, service, tuning and modification center dedicated solely to Porsche sportscars. TPC Racing specializes in R&D and sales of high-performance modifications for Porsche sports cars and race cars, offering a wide range of vehicle upgrades. Best known for a line of forced induction solutions for the Porsche 911, Cayman and Boxster, a long-time focus on only one make, Porsche, has enabled TPC Racing to become experts in Porsche service, tuning, and racing. In 2000, TPC Racing began entering races under its own banner, scoring an SGS-class Championship in 2004 in the Grand-American Rolex Series and was a class winner in the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona, and captured the 2013 and 2016 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA Gold Cup Championships. More information can be found at www.TPCRacing.com.

Alton, Va. (22 August 2022) – Jr III (“Junior Three”) Racing will be back in IMSA Prototype Challenge (IPC) competition this weekend, bringing a two-car campaign to Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in the second to last event of the IPC season on August 28 (8:40am ET, Peacock).

As close as the team will get to a home course advantage this season, the Charlotte-based crew will return to the Prototype Challenge hunt with Terry Olson and Courtney Crone co-driving the No. 3 Jr III Racing Ligier JS P320 and the solo-entry of Ari Balogh in the No. 30 Airbnb JS P320.

Crone learned a lot at her debut at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and will return to a more familiar road course at VIR. After a seven-week hiatus, she is ready to get back in the No. 3 Jr III Ligier to build upon her IPC season as she heads to VIR eighth in championship standings.

“I love VIR, and I’m super excited going into this weekend,” said Crone. “I had a good run there last year, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how the Jr III Ligier handles around the track. It turned into one of my favorite race tracks very quickly last year. With the elevation and speed of the track, it gives it a really old school feel that I love. I’m stoked that Terry (Olson) will be back in the car with me, and it will be good to get back to our regular championship hunt. I think we’ll be in a good position to get a good result this weekend.”

At the State of the Series event at Road America, Crone was named a finalist for second annual IMSA Diverse Driver Development scholarship, which would result in a great partnership with IMSA and financial support in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge or IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge in 2022.

Hopping back into the prototype for the first time since Mid-Ohio, Olson will return to the 3.27-mile track where he has had much success at in the past. In 2021, the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North American champion won both races in the LB Cup. Olson also got the opportunity to test the LMP3 with the dedicated Jr III Racing crew in preparation for Round 4.

“Part of the magic of VIR is understanding the nuances of each turn,” said Olson. “To go fast, I believe you need deep knowledge and experience with each and every turn. I hope my GT car experience has helped build my understanding of how to navigate this beautiful track. One of the biggest challenges of VIR is staying out of trouble. As always, my goal is to run fast and clean. Courtney (Crone) had some great laps at VIR last year, so I am very excited to be co-driving with her. As we saw in testing, Jr III brings its A game to VIR, so I expect our cars to be competitive.”

In Jr III Racing’s previous IPC season, Garett Grist and Balogh brought the No. 33 Airbnb Ligier JS P320 to the IPC podium with a bold, strategic last lap to earn a third place finish at VIR and a fastest lap of the field by Grist at 1:40.735-seconds.

With only two IMSA Prototype Challenge races remaining, the green flag for Round 4 of IPC competition waves at 8:40am ET on August 28 with flag-to-flag coverage on Peacock.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. (August 19, 2022) — Magnus Racing has decided to make a surprise entry into the upcoming IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship round at VIRginia International Raceway, August 26-28.

“We had all the crew and parts available to run another race, so why not,” said Team Somebody John Potter. “And in this period of high inflation, our dollars go a lot further in Danville than elsewhere, so it really seemed the perfect match.”

Though the No. 44 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 racing team originally announced only running the four endurance races of the year (Rolex 24 At Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring, Six Hours of the Glen, and Petit Le Mans), the fan-favorite effort missed being a part of the action, checked the budgets, and decided to return one race early. The team will get the biggest bang for their buck in traveling to Danville, Virginia, and perhaps even a podium at the beautiful Virginia International Raceway.

Just the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR and Motul Petit Le Mans are all that remain of the 12-race 2022 schedule. Magnus Racing kicked the year off in spectacular fashion with a second-place finish at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The team finished sixth at the grueling Twelve Hours of Sebring, then survived a weather-delayed and penalty-filled post-race to earn a fifth-place finish at Watkins Glen International.

The race weekend in Danville, Virginia will allow the team and drivers John Potter and Andy Lally some additional track time to prepare for the final event of the year, Petit Le Mans. Spencer Pumpelly will have to get his additional preparation laps at another time. Though the team is eighth in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD team standings, the field is incredibly tight, with fifth through 16th place being separated by a mere three points.

Magnus Racing will have two and a half hours of practice before a fifteen-minute qualifying session on Saturday afternoon. The Michelin GT Challenge at VIR will be a mere two hours, 40 minutes, clocking in at the shortest race of the year for the No. 44 Aston Martin and her team. The race will air live on Sunday, August 28 starting at 2:00 PM Eastern on CNBC, and stream live on Peacock. For more information, visit imsa.com.

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (17 Aug. 2022) – TR3 Racing has a new lineup for this weekend’s Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS event at Road America.

Jeff Burton and Corey Lewis will pilot the No. 91 Burton Lumber / Zelus Motorsports Lamborghini Huracan GT3 in the Pro-Am class in a pair of 90-minute races staged on the 4-mile circuit set in rural Wisconsin. There are three rounds of GT World Challenge America competition remaining in the 2022 season, with the Road America visit followed by outings at Sebring International Raceway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway in October.

Entering the weekend 11th in the ProAm standings, the duo have experience racing together, having taken a best finish of fourth in the opening event at Sonoma Raceway.

Burton, of Salt Lake City, placed second overall in the lead SRO3 class last year in GT America. He won the 2019 Pirelli GTA America SprintX West Am championship and took third in the 2020 Pirelli GT4 America Sprint Am standings. He won the Sunday GT America event at Watkins Glen in 2021 after placing second in the Saturday race, and was a back-to-back Masters winner in last year’s races on the streets of Nashville.

“Corey and I are excited about joining TR3 Racing and the Road America weekend,” said Burton, who has shown winning pace on natural terrain road circuits in the past. “It is an awesome track, and we both have experience there. There will be a little bit of adjustment to join a new team, I think we’ll be able to get on with it and get going straight away.”

Lewis, of Nazareth, Pa., captured three consecutive titles in Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America from 2018-20. He finished second in the Pro Cup championship last year, winning at Circuit of The Americas while placing second in the GT World America standings. He won his class in both the 2018 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona, both with Paul Miller Racing.

“It’s a bit of fresh air for Jeff and I to be moving to TR3 Racing and I’m extremely excited for the weekend ahead,” said Lewis. “It is a bit of a transition with a new program, but I’ve known the Romanellis for a long time and they are extremely passionate, and have continued to build this team. I think we are in a good spot to hit the ground running.”

TR3 Racing has continued to grow its racing operations with the Lamborghini platform, expanding on a strong World Challenge and Super Trofeo program to include outings in IMSA WeatherTech GTD competition in 2022.

“We are very excited to have Jef and Corey join TR3,” said TR3 Racing’s Greg Romanelli. “They have shown strong pace all season long. Our goal is to make this transition to TR3 as seamless as possible as well as delivering them a competitive car.”

Weekend Schedule: GT World America is set to qualify at 9 and 9:20 a.m. (all times CT) on Saturday, followed by 90-minute Race 1 on Saturday at 2:15 p.m. Race 2 is Sunday is Sunday at 1:15 p.m.

About TR3 Performance:
TR3 Performance was founded by Arthur, Oliver, and Gregory Romanelli in August 2012. Frustrated with the rising costs and plummeting quality from local shops, the brothers saw an opportunity to establish a shop of their own that would live up to their high standard of excellence, where they could hold themselves to the caliber of workmanship they had sought out in the marketplace as enthusiasts. In 2015, TR3 Racing was established as the team stepped into racing at the professional level. What started out as a modest 2,300-sq.ft. enterprise has now exploded into the premier performance shop in South Florida.

About Lamborghini Miami:
Lamborghini Miami was founded in 1988, as a franchise under Prestige Imports. Founder Irv David quickly grew Lamborghini Miami to be one of the leading franchises North America. Importing the last Countach ever made and importing the first Diablo into the US market, Irv David quickly set Lamborghini Miami to be a leader in the supercar market within North America. The franchise continued to expand and grow successfully and in 2007, the franchise opened their new showroom to achieve greater heights. Tragically in the same year, on January 20th, Irv David suddenly passed on his 56th birthday. His son, Brett David, overcame the tragic loss and to cold as CEO at the age of 19. Since then Lamborghini Miami has gone to become a global phenomenon, delivering Lamborghini’s most coveted hypercars and dominating the south Florida market. In 2022, Lamborghini Miami continues their World renowned legacy with record-breaking sales and recently recognized group 4 title as one of the nation’s most successful service departments.

About Canoe Studios:
Like our studio space, our devotion to our clients and their unique visions is limitless. Exceptional customer service is the framework for how our entire business operates. We welcome everyone into our event venue studio as a valued guest and prioritize their comfort and creativity above all. The incredible studio space and creative agency we’ve established is a direct reflection of that dedication. Warm, natural light pours into every inch of our space to ensure you feel enlightened and at home. And each studio features a glass-paneled entrance so we can continue to inspire one another.