Category: IMSA

LEXINGTON, Ohio – Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing team Murillo Racing secured an IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge double victory Saturday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Eric Foss and Kenton Koch co-drove the No. 56 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 to a commanding Grand Sport (GS) class and overall victory from the pole while their teammates Tim Probert and Brent Mosing broke through for their first Bronze Cup division win in the No. 65 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4.

The overall win was the first for the Mercedes-AMG GT4 in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge competition since last July at Lime Rock Park when Foss and regular No. 56 teammate and co-driver Jeff Mosing co-drove to the victory.

Koch is in his second race substitute driving in the No. 56 after Mosing – Brent Mosing’s younger brother – suffered a broken and bruised rib in a boating accident last month. Foss and Jeff Mosing decided on Koch to fill in, and the decision has quickly paid off.

Koch won the pole in his first GS race with Murillo two weeks ago at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and repeated the feat at Mid-Ohio with the top GS lap time in Friday’s qualifying session.

Koch took the lead at the start of today’s two-hour race and was followed by Murillo Racing’s third entry driven by Kenny Murillo. Murillo moved up to second from third on the grid in the No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 at the race start and ran in a close, one-two formation with Koch throughout their more than an hour-long driving stints.

Murillo led two race laps in the No. 72 when Koch and his team decided to pit two laps early when a vibration developed in the left front wheel on the No. 56. Foss took over, four fresh Michelin tires solved the vibration issue, and a fast pit stop returned the No. 65 to the race in the lead.

Christian Szymczak replaced Murillo in the No. 72 that rejoined the race in the lead pack and in a battle for second place with another competitor. A contact incident between the two resulted in the No. 72 spinning off course, but Szymczak quickly recovered and continued, eventually climbing back to a season-best fifth-place result at the checkered flag.

Meanwhile, Foss maintained the race lead while conserving fuel and trying to preserve the tires on the No. 56. A 12-second lead soon decreased to less than a second, but Foss held the competition off for an 0.699 of second margin of victory. The No. 56’s fuel warning light illuminated on the last lap of the race, but Foss saved enough fuel to make it to the end.

Brent Mosing survived a late challenge of his own to secure the first Bronze Cup win for himself, Probert and the No. 65 team. The victory gave the Mercedes-AMG GT4 a perfect four-for-four record this season in the new Bronze Cup class, which is a new championship within the overall GS schedule for Bronze-rated drivers that typically designates sportsman or “Am” competitors.

The first three Bronze Cup races of the season were won by Gary Ferrera and Kris Wilson in the No. 11 Capstone Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4. Wilson closed on the No. 65 in the final 15 minutes of Saturday’s race, but Mosing successfully defended the lead straight to the checkered flag.

For the second consecutive race, Murillo Racing was the only GS team to lead a race with two different cars. The No. 56 and No. 72 combined to lead all but two of today’s 75 race laps.

The race win unofficially moves the No. 56 Murillo Racing team and drivers to second place in the Michelin Pilot Challenge GS championship standings.

Racing action at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course continues Sunday with the weekend’s featured two-hour and 40-minute IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race. Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing entries Team Korthoff Motorsports and Winward Racing compete in the GT Daytona (GTD) class in Mercedes-AMG GT3 entries.

Stevan McAleer, who co-drives with Mike Skeen, starts on the outside of the front row after qualifying second Saturday in the No. 32 Team Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3. Russell Ward takes the green flag in the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 from the inside of row three after a fifth-place qualifying run Saturday.

Live coverage of Sunday’s WeatherTech Championship race begins at 2 p.m. EDT on the USA Network.

Eric Foss – No. 56 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “First off, a huge thanks to Jeff Mosing for continuing this operation when he is not even able to drive. When he got injured, he asked who my first choice would be, and Kenton Koch immediately came up. He has been part of the Murillo family, racing in feeder series with us a few years ago, and I have known him and watched him flourish as a driver since he was 19 or so. Murillo Racing just nailed the setup on the cars this weekend. Having to pit early really put us on the back foot, but we had a great stop and kept the lead. I went into fuel saving mode and our Mercedes-AMG GT4 was so good on the tires this weekend. That was the difference in the end, but the fuel warning light did come on at the back straight on the last lap. We know we are usually good for about a lap and a half, but it does make you a little nervous. Luckily, we were able to hang on there and get the win.”

Kenton Koch – No. 56 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “It’s an honor to fill in for Jeff Mosing and to have even been chosen to do this with such phenomenal people. Our Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 was super good today, very fast, and when the car is good it makes everyone look good. And when you have an awesome pit crew, it makes the strategy and overall race that much easier. It’s only May, but we have had quite a whirlwind of a year. A couple poles and now we have a winning result, so hopefully we can continue some of that momentum straight to the next race at Watkins Glen.”

Kenny Murillo – No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “There was lot of great takeaways from this weekend, and I have to congratulate my teammates in the No. 56. Regarding the No. 72 it was a great opening stint. We showed we could run strong, run up front and run the race we want to run with the Mercedes-AMG GT4, Michelin and the team. A lot of hard work has been put in to get to this point. I am happy with how we performed. Unfortunately, contact put us back, but it was a good recovery from Christian to put us back up to P5. Taking a step back, I am just grateful to be here and driving a Mercedes-AMG GT4 at Mid-Ohio.”

Brent Mosing – No. 65 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “I knew Kris Wilson was there. He gave me a nudge two or three laps from the end and I said ‘OK, I have to hustle it up here.’ That last lap was total defense, but it was good. My other two best race finishes have been here at Mid-Ohio. That included our first Mercedes-AMG GT4 podium here in the rain, so this has been a very good track for us.”

Tim Probert – No. 65 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “Our Pro driver and coach Eric Foss in the No. 56 car likes to say we are all swimming in the deep end of the pool here in IMSA, and I think that is very, very true. Murillo Racing did a wonderful job setting up the car for us. Bronze Cup is important, it gives guys like us a chance and maybe inspires some others out there who watch to join in. We are really enjoying Bronze Cup.”

Kris Wilson – No. 11 Capstone Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4: “I caught Brent Mosing and he stepped up his pace. He did a really good job. I have to hand it to him, he deserved the win, and I think I used everything up just getting to him. Then I had nothing left once I got there. It was a good race, and the Bronze Cup is cool to have that prize to compete for.”

LEXINGTON, Ohio (May 14, 2022) – Reigning Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup Champion Gresham Wagner (No. 5 Spark Performance) won the race through Mid-Ohio’s Thunder Valley before actual thunder forced IMSA to end the race just shy of the half way point on Saturday.

Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) crossed the line less than half a second behind Thomas with nine laps in the books moments before the race was red flagged for lightning in the area. Matthew Dirks (No. 76 McCumbee McAleer Racing) converted his front row start into his debut series podium finish with his run to third at the line.

The field of 29 Mazda MX-5 Cup machines took the green flag under sunny skies for the opening race of the double-header weekend to mark rounds five and six of the 2022 championship season. A clean start ensued as runners jostled for position in the opening segment of the scheduled 45-minute race.

With some previous race winners and championship contenders starting the race deep in the pack, scores of passes saw the order continue to change from lap to lap. But just nine laps into the race, the caution flag flew for lightning in the area with a red flag shortly thereafter.

With less than 30 minutes left on the clock and a mandatory 30-minute wait time for conditions to clear per the IMSA weather safety protocol, officials waved the checkered flag to signal the end of the race.

“I think the race was just kind of starting to develop when it got stopped,” said Wagner. “There was no rhyme or reason to the move that won it, it was just good luck that it happened before the red flag. I’ve lost races to full-course yellows and strange random occurrences. I’m a tough competitor and like tough competition, so this isn’t the most fulfilling win, but I was in first place at the right time so will take it!”

“It is a bit weird to end the race early, and everyone wishes we could have run it out fully but sometimes these things happen,” said Thomas. “You win some and lose some this way, just one of those deals with some weird circumstances. But we will take it and move on to tomorrow!”

“It was kind of a weird way to get my first podium, Dirks said. “I wasn’t expecting the red flag so I wasn’t as aggressive maybe at that stage, but the car was really good and I had a great push from my teammate Justin Piscitell (No. 89 McCumbee McAleer Racing) at the start. Thanks to my crew chief for the car. It was really good and I felt like I was just saving it for later.”

Michael Carter (No. 05 Carter Racing Enterprises) and Piscitell completed the top five.

The Hard Charger Award went to Sam Paley (No. 28 McCumbee McAleer Racing) who started the race from the back of the field, but picked up 19 positions and finished 10th.

Due to the shortened race distance, series officials announced that drivers will receive half of the usual points scored.

Dirks is provisionally on pole for Sunday’s Round Five race and shares the front row with Thomas. The race will go green at 11:15am ET and be live streamed on RACER.com.

About: The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. The series has been operated by Andersen Promotions since 2017 and is currently sanctioned by IMSA. Mazda-powered grassroots champions can earn Mazda scholarships for this pro-level series. The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup champion is awarded $250,000 as the top rookie nets $80,000.

Find out more at http://www.mx-5cup.com.

Lexington, Ohio (11 May 2022) – Thomas Merrill will make his first start with Jr III Racing this weekend as the Trans Am talent has signed to join the team’s IMSA Prototype Challenge (IPC) effort during the Lexus Mid-Ohio Sports Car Championship on Sunday, May 15.

Thomas Merrill will join Ari Balogh in the No. 30 Airbnb Ligier JS P320 for the second round of the 2022 IMSA Prototype Challenge.

Merrill is no stranger to the 2.258-mile course, having he raced to a podium finish in the 2019 Trans Am TA2 Championship and then went one better with a victory in the 2020 Trans Am TA2 class. Most recently, Merrill earned a pole position paired with a podium finish during the Sonoma Trans Am weekend at the end of April.

With 16 years of experience, Merrill has competed in both the WeatherTech Championship and Prototype Challenge in the past, earning an IPC podium in 2020 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Having also netted IMSA podiums in LMP2 competition including a win at Watkins Glen and a third place finish at Road Atlanta, Merrill is looking forward to another competitive outing this weekend. Merrill had plans to jump in the No. 30 at Daytona International Speedway in January, which ultimately became a solo drive for the No. 30 in the Bronze Cup. Merrill is looking forward to jumping back into an LMP3 after a few years away from the prototype.

“I mean, I love Mid-Ohio,” said Merrill. “If this is there was a race track that I needed to jump in and do well at, it’s definitely Mid-Ohio. I’ve had good results there in the past, and with the way the Jr III guys put together a great car, I am really looking forward to racing in the LMP3 Ligier at this track.”

The IPC effort is part of a dual-championship campaign for Jr III Racing, which will also contest the WeatherTech event on Sunday with Straus and Garett Grist.

“This is a big team effort, but we are ready to go and are pleased to have Thomas join us for Sunday’s IPC race,” said team co-owner Billy Glavin. “He’s got a lot of speed and should fit right in with the team so hopefully we can come home with a good result.”

Round two of the IMSA Prototype Challenge goes green at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Sunday at 9:25am ET streaming on Peacock TV.

Nick Galante and Sean McAlister Will Carry the Names of 93 Loved Ones and Family Members Touched by Alzheimer’s at Mid-Ohio

LEXINGTON, Ohio (May 12, 2022) – Hardpoint’s No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport returns to action this weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, running in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS) class for Saturday’s two-hour race. Nick Galante and Sean McAlister resume co-driving duties at the 2.258-mile circuit.

The race can be streamed live, commercial free on Peacock, NBC’s official streaming service, at 4 p.m. EDT on Saturday, May 14. It will be rebroadcast one week later on USA Network, at 3 p.m. EDT on Saturday, May 21.

Mid-Ohio Pre-Race Notebook

Of Hardpoint’s two drivers, Galante has the most experience at Mid-Ohio. The Pilot Challenge championship veteran has raced at Mid-Ohio in the former ST Class, in TCR and in GS. His best finish at the track is a podium, with a third-place finish during his ST Championship year of 2018.

McAlister has raced at Mid-Ohio twice before in IMSA competition, in 2019 and 2020 in Porsche GT3 Cup North America. McAlister earned two podium finishes at Mid-Ohio during the 2020 tripleheader.

The No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche Cayman carries 93 names and hometowns of loved ones who are either currently fighting Alzheimer’s or have passed away from the disease. Names are added to the car for the entirety of the IMSA season through a donation at www.r2endalz.org. Included on that list are Mimi Frengs, wife of Racing To End Alzheimer’s founder and champion Philip Frengs; Maureen Galante, grandmother of the team’s co-driver; Jim Nantz, Jr., late father of the sports broadcaster; and Eleanor Jannetti, grandmother of mechanic and tire changer Jason Jannetti, who lost her battle with Alzheimer’s just three weeks ago.

Hardpoint’s No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R is not on the entry list for this weekend’s event at Mid-Ohio, with owner and co-driver Rob Ferriol electing to take a small and temporary step back from his personal racing program to focus on Hardpoint business opportunities within motorsports. The team will return during the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech Championship season, including for all Michelin Endurance Cup races with Ferriol, Katherine Legge and Stefan Wilson behind the wheel.

Hardpoint Quote Board

Nick Galante, Driver, No. 22 Porsche Cayman: “I’m looking forward to getting back to Mid-Ohio. It’s been a couple of years since my podium there, and this Hardpoint team and Sean have made progress every week. That hasn’t shown up in the results yet, but we can feel it and it gives us a chance to surprise some people. Those podiums are hard to earn, but they get extra special knowing that we’re racing for all of these people fighting against Alzheimer’s with us on the Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche Cayman.”

Sean McAlister, Driver, No. 22 Porsche Cayman: “Mid-Ohio is not a track that I’ve necessarily enjoyed much in the past, but I’m hoping this time out will maybe change that opinion. It’s a fun track to run on, but it’s very, very important to get a good qualifying position because there are limited opportunities to pass there. I’m looking forward to getting back into the car, getting everything dialed in and figure some things out to extract some more speed from our No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche Cayman.”

Rob Ferriol, Owner, Hardpoint: “Our full attention at Hardpoint is on the Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche in Michelin Pilot Challenge this weekend. We’ve made the decision that sitting out Mid-Ohio with the GTD car is the best move for Hardpoint as a business. The plan has always been to use my racing to provide the beacon. If we’re going to attract the kind of customers we want, we need to have something to inspire them. That’s what the WeatherTech program is for. Obviously I’ve gotten a personal benefit for that, but it’s a demonstrative effort to attract all of those others to what we do. If that means I take a knee from my personal driving to help the business side, so be it. That’s where my focus is, making sure our customers receive the experience I expected to see when I was in their shoes. This doesn’t mean the GTD program is shutting down – quite the opposite. We’ll continue to showcase our top level, but we want to move the needle as a business. The name of the game is getting more people into racing. That’s part of our mission statement and business focus, and we want to be sure we’re keeping our eye on that ball.”
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). More information on Hardpoint can be found at www.hardpoint.com or through its strong social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

This Weekend’s Races are Rounds Five and Six of the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires for the 19-year-old Rookie Driver

LEXINGTON, Ohio (May 12, 2022) – With four Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires races and a recent test under his belt, 19-year-old rookie Aidan Fassnacht heads to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the IMSA-sanctioned doubleheader, May 13-15, in the No. 15 Sword Performance Mazda MX-5 C.

Both 45-minute races from Mid-Ohio can be seen live through streams on both IMSA.com and RACER.com. Race One on Saturday, May 14, is set for 12:10 p.m. EDT. Sunday’s race will go green at 11:15 a.m. EDT.

Fassnacht is making his first visit to the highly technical Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, putting him at a disadvantage to many of his more experienced competitors. The 2.258-mile track has been on the Mazda MX-5 schedule since the series debut in 2006. It’s also the first true permanent road course on the 2022 schedule, following stops at Daytona’s unique layout that utilizing much of the oval as well as the infield road course, and the temporary street circuit in St. Petersburg, Florida.

“Mid-Ohio definitely seems to be more of a rhythm track, especially in the second and third sectors,” Fassnacht said. “I think that this will play into my strengths particularly well. Rhythm tracks are usually places where I feel my skill set is at its best, as the flow at tracks like Road Atlanta and Laguna get me in the zone. Mid-Ohio will demand precision and consistency in order to finish well, as the draft won’t be nearly as big of a factor as it was at Daytona. Mistakes will be costly. I feel as though it will be my biggest test yet, but a test that I couldn’t feel more ready to take on.”

This weekend’s race coincides with the Boston College freshman’s spring semester final exams, adding a degree of difficulty to the focus of the race weekend. In addition, the college setup has taken away from his typical approach to a new track, forcing him to go “old school” in his preparation.

“Unfortunately, living in a traditional dorm at Boston College doesn’t afford me the space to bring my massive simulator rig to get track time prior to the weekend, so I have to prepare the old-fashioned way: a lot of video,” Fassnacht said. “From what I have heard, Mid-Ohio is a track with a lot of quirks that make it a tough circuit to master, but hopefully I’ll be able to get up to speed quickly with the help of what we learned at our test at VIR. The track looks so well suited to MX-5 racing, and I can’t wait to get out on what is the last new track of the year for me.”

Fassnacht’s appearance at Mid-Ohio coincides with a new product launch from partner Sword Performance, The Leader In Healthy Hydration. SHIELD Zero is 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. Fans of the No. 15 Sword Performance Mazda MX-5 can get a 20 percent discount on Shield Zero, and all Sword Performance products, through www.DrinkSword.com by using the code RACE20 at checkout.

“I continue to be thankful to have such a great partner in Sword Performance and am looking forward to staying hydrated with the zero-sugar line this weekend at Mid-Ohio,” Fassnacht said. “The products were popular with my McAleer McCumbee Motorsports crew guys during the hot, humid Florida races and they’re already looking forward to more at Mid-Ohio this weekend!”

The race weekend gets underway on lucky Friday, May 13, with the first of two Friday practices at 11:50 a.m. EDT. Qualifying is the first session on track on Saturday morning at 8:10 a.m. EDT, followed by Saturday’s 12:10 p.m. EDT and Sunday’s 11:10 a.m. EDT races.
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 Porsche Carrera Cup North America championship contender, who spotted for the team at its victorious Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, joins Lance Willsey in the IMSA Prototype Challenge race this weekend at Mid-Ohio

MANSFIELD, Ohio (12 May 2022) – Sean Creech Motorsport will contest the IMSA Prototype Challenge series this weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with Parker Thompson joining Lance Willsey behind the wheel of the No. 14 SCM Exelixis/Focal One/Alta Equipment Ligier JS P320. The 90-minute race takes the green flag live on PeacockTV Sunday at 9:20 a.m. Eastern.

Thompson has worked with the team at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring for the past two years, acting as race spotter. Willsey and the team had been looking to get Thompson in a car at some point in the season and the opportunity presented itself this weekend, as Willsey and the team look to get more track time at the challenging 2.4-mile road course.

Thompson has a great deal of experience as a race spotter and driver coach, but the 24-year-old Red Deer, Alberta native is now focused on his own racing career. With extensive experience in the open-wheel Road to Indy (where he twice finished second in the USF2000 Championship), Thompson made the move to sports car racing and competed in the IPC series at the 2020 season finale at Road Atlanta. Shifting to the Porsche Carrera Cup North America last year, Thompson finished third in the final standings and has returned to the JDX Racing Porsche 992 this season with unfinished business. He swept both races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca two weeks ago, which put him second in points – and got everyone’s attention.

“I can’t thank Sean Creech and Lance Willsey enough for the opportunity,” said Thompson. “That was how I accepted the job last year at Sebring: they needed a spotter at the last minute and I told them that I was stepping away from doing too much spotting because I don’t want people to get the wrong idea – I’m in this sport to make a career as a driver. They said they’d give me a test, and now it’s turned into a race opportunity and I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

“Parker has been a valued member of the team, helping us out the past two years at Sebring, said Willsey. “I had the opportunity to watch his most recent races at Laguna Seca in Carrera Cup, and I was very impressed with his race craft and tire management while taking two victories. Mid-Ohio provides an ideal opportunity for him to gain further experience with the LMP3 car.”

“We’ve gotten to know Parker over the last two years,” said Creech. “He stepped in at the last minute in 2021 – we originally spoke with Jonatan Jorge about handling spotting duties at Sebring, since JJ coaches Lance, but he had a conflict and he suggested Parker. He agreed to come back this year, though we know that this isn’t his focus in racing right now. He did great at both races – it’s a balance between information and the amount that the spotters talk on the radio, and Parker did a really good job with that. When Lance decided to do the IPC race, we gave him a list of possible co-drivers, and when we got to Parker, Lance immediately said, “let’s go with Parker.”

The team conducted several tests at Mid-Ohio over the past month, but with little cooperation from mother nature: most of the tests were in cold and rainy conditions. With the forecast for this weekend calling for temperatures in the 80s and (mostly) dry, every bit of knowledge that can be gleaned along the way will be valuable. The team has confidence with their pace, and will look to fine tune between both the IPC and the WeatherTech Ligier entries, since they are virtually identical (“as close as we can get them” said Creech) – and the IPC sessions provide more track time for Willsey on the very tricky Mid-Ohio road course.

“We were here testing both cars several weeks ago and one morning was 27 degrees and never got above 50!” said Creech. “It’s going to be warm this weekend, nearly double that we had in testing, so the additional track time helps. We know Parker’s performance level and we certainly know his work ethic, so we’re glad to give him the opportunity to get in the car. We’re asking a lot of him, to get up to speed quickly, but we know he can handle it.”

“I’m just looking forward to working with the team – I’ve gotten to know most of them, they’ve heard me talking on the radio for 24 hours over the past two years!” said Thompson. “But it will be good to work with them on this level, to get to know Sean and Lance better, and to help the team get more track time. They’re leading the LMP3 points and they want to stay there, so that’s the bigger picture. I just want to have fun and bring the car home in a good spot.”

The IMSA Prototype Challenge race takes the green flag Sunday at 9:20 a.m., with flag-to-flag coverage on PeacockTV. International viewers can watch via IMSA.tv, with IMSA Radio also available at IMSA.com. A race replay will air on USA Network Saturday, May 21 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern.

About SCM
Team leader Sean Creech has competed in a multitude of sports car series from 1990 until the present day, includingGroup C, IMSA GTP, WSC, Grand-Am, SRO World Challenge, and IMSA. SCM will contest the full WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2022 with João Barbosa and Lance Willsey. http://seancreechmotorsport.com/

About Alta Equipment
An industry-leading material handling and construction equipment company, Alta Equipment is an innovator of solutions, delivering diverse products and unrivaled support centered on building lasting customer relationships. Alta Equipment began in 1984 with a single location in Detroit and has grown to 57 locations throughout the Midwest, Northeast, and Florida.
https://www.altaequipment.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/

Lexus takes on title sponsorship role and looks to continue run of success in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GTD class

LEXINGTON, Ohio (May 12, 2022) – The 61st season of racing begins at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this weekend (May 13-15) with a premier sports car racing event under new title sponsor Lexus. The world-class IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship returns to the 2.258-mile, 13-turn permanent road course in Lexington, Ohio as the Lexus Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio.

The luxury performance automotive company takes on title sponsorship duties for the first time at an IMSA event at a track that holds great significance to the brand. Competing in the GT Daytona (GTD) category, Lexus won three consecutive races from 2018 to 2020 at Mid-Ohio and placed second in class last year. This weekend the Lexus Vasser Sullivan team will enter two cars into the GTD class with a stable of past Mid-Ohio champions behind the wheel. The Vasser Sullivan No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 will be co-driven by Aaron Telitz and Frankie Montecalvo while the No. 14 machine will be guided by Jack Hawksworth and Richard Heistand. Hawksworth is a two-time victor at Mid-Ohio in the GTD class, winning with Heistand in 2019 and alongside Telitz in 2020. Telitz has also earned two GTD pole positions at Mid-Ohio in 2020 and 2021.

“I couldn’t be more excited to get to Mid-Ohio,” Telitz said. “It’s one of my favorite tracks and has been very strong for our Lexus RC F GT3 car. Vasser Sullivan and Lexus have won three of the previous four races there, and the Vasser Sullivan team has been on pole three years in a row. To make the weekend even better, Lexus is now the official sponsor of the Lexus Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio race. I can’t wait to see all the Lexus supporters at the track as we take it to the competition.”

Five races will take the green flag during the race weekend. The weekend’s headliner is the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on Sunday (May 15) at 2:10 p.m. ET, a two-hour, 40-minute sprint race. Lexus will attempt to continue its dominance in the GTD class while three other classes of sportscars compete simultaneously – the Daytona Prototype International (DPi), Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) and Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3). In the top-tier DPi division, Meyer Shank Racing, based out of nearby Pataskala, Ohio, will compete for the overall victory after beginning the IMSA season with an endurance race win in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Team owner Mike Shank is hopeful drivers Oliver Jarvis and Tom Blomqvist can deliver the team’s first victory at their home track.

“I think it’s extremely important,” Jarvis said. “It’s Mike’s home race, the team’s home race, and I believe they’ve never won there. We’d love to put that right – Tom and myself and the team. It would be amazing to win at the home track.”

Saturday’s feature is the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at 4:05 p.m. ET in a two-hour timed race. Also, in store for race fans is a doubleheader for the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup and an IMSA Prototype Challenge race on Sunday morning.

For fans in attendance, Lexus will have racing simulators available for fans to try at the Lexus Racing Experience in Manufacturer’s Midway. The simulators will be open all weekend and the fastest performers will be invited back on Sunday to compete in a championship round.

Additional, fan activities include autograph sessions with Mazda MX-5 Cup drivers on Saturday (May 14) from 2:30 – 3:00 p.m. ET and IMSA WeatherTech drivers on Sunday (May 15) from 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. ET, respectively. Fans will also have two chances to walk the track – the first on Saturday (May 14) prior to the Michelin Pilot Challenge and the second on Sunday (May 15) before the start of the Lexus Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio.

Tickets are sold in advance and available at the gate to the Lexus Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio. Children 12 and under receive free general admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult. All the ticket options and pricing are posted online at midohio.com.

About Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course:

A comprehensive motorsports facility in Lexington, Ohio, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course sits on 380 acres and features a permanent road-racing circuit with two primary race track configurations: 2.4-mile, 15-turn or 2.258-mile, 13-turn layout. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the natural terrain road course is commonly referred to as the “Most Competitive in the U.S.” and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned race events for amateur, club and professional drivers and riders. It is also home to The Mid-Ohio School, featuring over 20 driving and riding courses, for teenagers to professional racers using Honda vehicles. Opened in 1962, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has been owned and operated by Green Savoree Mid-Ohio, LLC since 2011, just the raceway’s third private ownership group in its history.

For more information, visit midohio.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @MidOhioSportsCarCourse or follow updates on Twitter @Mid_Ohio and Instagram @officialmidohio.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., (May 11, 2022) – Era Motorsport has a short drive this weekend from their Indianapolis-based shop to Lexington, Ohio for the fourth round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Lexus Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio. The team is entering the weekend as the LMP2 class points leaders in the driver standings, ready for the variety of weather the mid-west road circuit may have in store for Sunday’s race.

The team recently traveled to Lexington, Ohio’s Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for a private test, eager to get practice laps in for drivers Dwight Merriman and Ryan Dalziel, while the engineers obtained valuable data to get the jump on their race weekend set up. Though teams normally opt not to test in rainy conditions, Era Motorsport decided to get a few wet laps in, which may prove beneficial for this weekend’s upcoming event. While Friday’s track activities look to enjoy sunny and clear conditions, Saturday’s qualifying session may have afternoon thunderstorms, followed by a chance of scattered thunderstorms on Sunday, race day.

This will be the first time Merriman has raced at the 2.258, 13-turn road course and the first time since 2019 for Dalziel. Together with the team, the pair have momentum on their side, rebounding from an early retirement in round one at the Rolex 24 At Daytona to back-to-back podium finishes at the Twelve Hours of Sebring and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The team’s second-place finish at Laguna Seca brought the squad to the LMP2 points lead, giving them strong footing to keep moving forward this weekend at Mid-Ohio.

The LMP2 class will account for six of the 24 entries competing in the two-hour and forty-minute sprint race. The GTD Pro class will not be racing in the event, leaving the DPi, LMP2, LMP3, and GTD classes to race for overall and class position on the hilly road course.

This weekend’s on-track activities will be condensed into a three-day weekend, with practice one taking place on Friday afternoon. Saturday will hold practice two and qualifying before the field goes green on Sunday. The Lexus Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio will air live on Sunday, May 15 starting at 2:00 PM Eastern on the USA Network and stream live on Peacock. International audiences can stream on imsa.tv or check IMSA’s International Coverage page.

EVENT SCHEDULE | All Times Eastern

Friday, May 13

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Practice 1

Saturday, May 14

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Practice 2

2:05 PM – 2:20 PM LMP2 Qualifying

Sunday, May 15

8:40 AM – 9:00 AM Warm-Up

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM Autograph Session

12:55 PM – 1:50 PM Open Grid Fan Walk

2:10 PM – 4:50 PM Lexus Grand Prix at Mid Ohio | Live on USA & Peacock

DRIVER QUOTES

Dwight Merriman

While we don’t know what the weather has in store for us this weekend at Mid-Ohio, we’re expecting to be strong and consistent here. We’re coming off a great run at Laguna Seca, and we’ve also put in both some wet and dry laps to get ready for this weekend. We’ve got some good competition in the LMP2 class, but I’m feeling good about the team we have lined up.

Ryan Dalziel

Daytona was pretty rough on us. We had the early setback, but probably one of the best comeback races we ever had. With 23 minutes to go in fourth, we lost the gearbox. We had a good rebound at Sebring but got a puncture towards the end, otherwise, we would have been in contention. In Laguna Seca, we were strong from when we unloaded. Mid-Ohio is a continuation of that momentum and constant improvement. We try to do as much as we can with Dwight between races. There’s a balance in how hard you push your Am drivers to continue their development and racecraft. We tested at Mid-Ohio a few weeks ago to continue that development, and we were able to get in a couple of dry laps at the end of the day. Everybody likes to win races, but it takes consistency to win championships. Mid-Ohio ranks up there as one of the least enjoyable places in the rain, so hopefully, it stays dry.

About Era Motorsport
Era Motorsport was formed in 2018 with the idea of providing unmatched excellence in historic racing. Just two years later, the team expanded to the world of professional sports car racing, fielding an Oreca 07 in the prolific IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2021, the team went on to win at the iconic Rolex 24 At Daytona, in what was their second attempt competing in the event. Motorsport isn’t just a hobby, it is a way of life: a passion that is in the team’s blood. Whether you find us in the IMSA WeatherTech paddock with modern prototypes or chasing down lap records in our fully restored classic sports cars, or even globetrotting to experience historic F1 at some of the world’s most iconic circuits, Era Motorsport has something for everyone. In 2021, the team secured a prestigious victory at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, and also became class champions in the Asian Le Mans Series.

BATAVIA, Ohio, (May 10, 2022) – The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races in Lexington, Ohio this weekend, and that means Porsche customer racing team Wright Motorsports – who leads the GTD class championship – is preparing to race at the organization’s home track. Drivers Ryan Hardwick and Jan Heylen have celebrated two wins in four races and will look to continue their success in front of the home crowd at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

“Mid-Ohio is a special racetrack for us since it is so close to our main shop in Batavia, Ohio,” said Team Owner John Wright. “Coming into this event as the points leaders brings a healthy kind of pressure for us to continue our drive in this championship effort. We know we have a proven driver lineup, a more than capable race car, and a consistently the fastest team in pit lane. This will be a good event for us.”

The No. 16 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R will be the sole Porsche contender in the GTD category, representing the manufacturer in the 13-car class. The event will have a total of 34 entries, with all but the GTD Pro class participating. From the team’s Batavia-Ohio headquarters, the effort will journey 170 miles northeast to Lexington, Ohio to the 13-turn, 2.258-mile road course.

The Rolex 24 At Daytona winners are coming off another win at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, another sweeping, low-grip circuit. Their home track has been traditionally strong for the team. In 2021, the weekend started with Hardwick claiming his first-ever “points pole” qualifying position in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The team started the race in tenth and made it up to fourth place when the 1st Phorm Porsche received contact from another competitor, an incident that sent the team three laps behind the leaders. That same weekend, Hardwick and Heylen earned Wright Motorsports a second-place finish in the team’s GT4 racing effort in the Michelin Pilot Challenge series following another pole-position qualifying effort from Hardwick. In a unique twist for the multi-faceted team, with most race series quiet this weekend, Wright will only have the single Porsche under its awning at Mid-Ohio.

This weekend, the team will look to build on their recent achievements in Sunday’s sprint race, which will have a runtime of two hours and forty minutes. The Lexus Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio will go green on Sunday, May 15 at 2:10 PM Eastern. Television coverage will begin at 2:00 PM on the USA Network. Peacock subscribers can also stream live starting at 2:00 PM.

DRIVER QUOTES

Ryan Hardwick
It’s a home race for our Wright Motorsports team this weekend at Mid-Ohio! We are very proud to be coming into this home race with the GTD championship points lead. I’ve always enjoyed racing at Mid-Ohio, and I’ve had quite a bit of success at this track. I finished on the GTD podium here in 2019 and 2020, and I also took the pole position here last season for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race as well. So it’s safe to say that I like this place! The focus is going to be centered around keeping our positive momentum going and continuing to execute on what we can control. Looking forward to it!

Jan Heylen
This is the home race for Wright Motorsports, and we’re back in the lead of the championship. The goal is to keep It there. Mid-Ohio is another low-grip surface which should suit us well.

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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

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.