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Category: IMSA

International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) news and information

  • Jackie Chan DC Racing Launches IMSA Campaign

    Jackie Chan DC Racing Launches IMSA Campaign

    Sebring, FL (18 March, 2022) –Building on eight years of success in prototype class racing internationally, Jackie Chan DC Racing will write the next chapter of the organization’s competition history by launching an IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship program starting with the 2023 season.

    The team has an eight year track record of success in the WEC, ELMS, ALMS, and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans that they are looking to extend into the IMSA paddock as a full time entrant in 2023.

    The team, headed by Chinese-American David Cheng in partnership with international star Jackie Chan, was first formed in 2015 and quickly moved to international prominence following a series of significant results. Jackie Chan DC Racing raced to a remarkable second place overall in the 2017 24 Hours of Le Mans, part of a dramatic 1-2 team LMP2 class finish. The team has also staged campaigns in the Asian Le Mans Series, capturing both the LMP2 and LMP3 championship in 2018.

    After pausing the competition effort in the wake of 2020, the team has committed to the rapidly growing IMSA platform with a debut slated for the 2023 Rolex 24 At Daytona.

    “Obviously there is a ton of excitement surrounding IMSA GTP, but if you step back and look at the robust size and deep levels of talent in this paddock through all of the classes, it is really impressive,” said Cheng. “It makes for a very attractive package, both for sponsor partners and for potential clients.”

    Jackie Chan DC Racing is in the final stages of planning for a new state of the art headquarters, set to be based on the West coast.

    “We had to step away from the sport in 2020, but we’ve spent the time exploring opportunities to compete and I’m thrilled to be making this full time move to compete in IMSA,” said Cheng. “By establishing a new base here in North America, we can build our business and offer a tremendous experience to our customers.”

    In addition to physical infrastructure, Cheng has kept an active engagement on the team building side as he looks to build on well-established talent and relationships to deliver performance.

    “Even though we’ve not been competing recently, we have been able to retain or reconnect with some of the key team members from some of our biggest successes as we build our team with this fresh new focus.”

    Further details surrounding the competition program that Jackie Chan DC Racing will undertake will be announced in the near future.

    Jackie Chan DC Racing is also pleased to announce an alignment with the Circuit of the Northwest, a motorsports facility that is less than 20 miles from downtown Seattle. This alignment will allow Jackie Chan DC Racing CEO David Cheng as a founding member and track consultant to assist track CEO Brian Nilson as the vision of facility is realized.

  • Era Motorsport Seeks Continued Success at Sebring

    Era Motorsport Seeks Continued Success at Sebring

    SEBRING, Fla., (March 16, 2022) – IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship LMP2 class team Era Motorsport heads to Sebring International Raceway for the legendary Twelve Hours of Sebring, the second round in the 2022 championship. The Era Motorsport trio of Dwight Merriman, Ryan Dalziel, and Kyle Tilley will again pilot the No. 18 Oreca LPM2 car, eager to return to the podium and better last year’s second-place finish.

    As the amateur-rated driver on the squad, Dwight Merriman put in one of his best qualifying sessions in last year’s run, setting the No. 18 car to start in third place. The team showed a strong pace in a competitive and demanding race, dealing with attrition to fight back from adversity to celebrate a well-earned podium finish. The team continued to improve over the course of the season, earning another win at Road America in Wisconsin.

    The team started the 2022 IMSA season off in January at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, rolling off the truck to show strong speeds and competitive strategy. End in the end, an issue with the gearbox ended the team’s run early in the final hour. Following the late rate heartbreak, the team has extra motivation heading into the Twelve Hours of Sebring.

    The second round of the season, the endurance event is a favorite amongst fans and competitors, known for its bumpy track surface and festive infield, filled with enthusiastic race fans. The event is a home race for Ryan Dalziel, who lives in Winter Park, roughly 90 miles north of the circuit. The twelve-hour endurance race always delivers exciting racing and tough competition, displayed across the 3.741-mile, 17 turn road course.

    The 70th Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts will take the green flag on Saturday, March 19 at 10:10 am Eastern, airing live broadcast coverage on Peacock, with an additional live auto broadcast on IMSA Radio. A full schedule of events can be found here.
    Event Schedule | All Times U.S. Eastern
    Thursday, March 17
    10:15 am – 11:45 am WeatherTech Practice One
    2:25 pm – 3:40 pm WeatherTech Practice Two
    7:45 pm – 9:15 pm WeatherTech Practice Three

    Friday, March 18
    8:55 am – 9:10 am WeatherTech Practice four
    10:10 am – 10:25 am LMP2 Class Qualifying
    10:45 am – 11:45 am WeatherTech Autograph Session

    Saturday, March 19
    8:00 am – 8:20 am WeatherTech Warm Up
    9:00 am – 9:50 am Open Grid Fan Walk
    10:10 am – 10:10 pm Twelve Hours of Sebring

    Event Tune In
    WATCH: Entire race live on Peacock (NBC Universal Streaming Service)

    DRIVER QUOTES
    Dwight Merriman
    From qualifying to our race pace and strategy, we were very strong last year at Sebring International Raceway. The team gave us a great car and even after being put a lap down due to some ill-timed full course cautions, we were still able to get the lap back and finish on the podium. We’ve learned a lot since then and have some race wins under our belt now. I’m looking forward to getting on track and getting this weekend started.

    Ryan Dalziel
    We are ready to bounce back at Sebring, literally. We had so much promise at Daytona with no result to show for it, so we are looking to get 2022 back on track. We came up just a few seconds short of winning in 2021, so we have some unfinished business. The field is really tough, but we had a good test last month I feel we are in great shape.

    Kyle Tilley
    I am super excited to be back at Sebring for the Twelve Hour. I feel like we have some unfinished business after coming so close last year! We had a fantastic test a couple of weeks ago, so we know we have a very fast car. I can’t wait to get started.

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    Era Motorsport 2022 Rolex 24 Teaser
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    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.

  • Hardpoint Ready For Sebring With IMSA WeatherTech and Michelin Pilot Challenge Efforts

    Hardpoint Ready For Sebring With IMSA WeatherTech and Michelin Pilot Challenge Efforts

    Rob Ferriol, Katherine Legge and Stefan Wilson Return to No. 99 GridRival/GNARLY Jerky Porsche 911 GT3 R, with Nick Galante and Sean McAllister Piloting the No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport

    SEBRING, Florida (March 16, 2022) – Hardpoint returns to action this week for the first time since a 10th place finish in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona. Rob Ferriol, Katherine Legge and Stefan Wilson return in the WeatherTech GTD Class No. 99 GridRival/GNARLY Jerky Porsche 911 GT3 R at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, run on Saturday, March 19. Nick Galante and Sean McAllister make their Hardpoint debuts in the Michelin Pilot Challenge GS-class No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport in the Alan Jay 120 on Thursday, March 17.

    The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring can be seen live in its entirety via streaming on Peacock beginning at 10 a.m. EDT on Saturday, March 19, and live from 3:30 p.m. EDT through the race’s conclusion on USA Network for cable and satellite subscribers. The Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 can be seen live in its entirety, also on Peacock, at 4:20 p.m. EDT on Thursday, March 17.

    No. 99 GridRival/GNARLY Jerky Porsche 911 GT3 R Event Notebook

    • Ferriol, Legge and Wilson will team up in the No. 99 GridRival/GNARLY Jerky Porsche 911 GT3 R for each Michelin Endurance Championship event on the 2022 calendar, with Ferriol and Legge co-driving in all Sprint Cup events. The trio, along with Nick Boulle, earned a 10th place finish at the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona.
    • Ferriol and Hardpoint were recently included on the entry list for the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ferriol earned the entry as IMSA’s 2021 Bob Akin Award winner for top Bronze driver in the GTD Class.
    • Ferriol is competing in his third Sebring 12-hour race, finishing fifth in the COVID-rescheduled season finale in 2020 with co-drivers Spencer Pumpelly and Andrew Davis. That finish is a career best for Ferriol in the WeatherTech Championship.
    • Legge finished fifth a season ago for Hardpoint at Sebring, driving with Christina Nielsen and Bia Figueiredo. The trio were in a position for a podium finish before a late-race drive through penalty relegated them to fifth.
    • Wilson is competing in each of the endurance races through a partnership with Hardpoint and Cusick Motorsports. Hardpoint is carrying GNARLY Jerky, Lohla Sport and Neptune Systems on the team’s Porsche 911 GT3 R for the season, in addition to longtime partner GridRival.
    • Hardpoint is hosting a free season-long Formula One fantasy league for fans through the GridRival app. The league winner will receive a pair of tickets to a 2023 IMSA race and a behind-the-scenes tour at the track.

    No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Notebook

    • Galante and McAllister will team together for the first time during the Sebring event, and race for the first time at Hardpoint.
    • Galante is the 2016 and 2018 Series Champion in what was then known as the ST class. He is an eight-time race winner in the series.
    • In addition to his driver duties, Galante works as a caddy at Pebble Beach.
    • McAllister is the 2019 Hurley Haywood Scholarship winner and has previously competed in Porsches single-make championship series. This is his first foray into both multi-make and multi-driver competition.
    • The No. 22 team tested at Sebring in February. IMSA-winning Team Manager Glenn Long, most recently of Long Road Racing, will handle similar duties for Hardpoint’s Pilot Challenge program.
    • Racing to End Alzheimer’s was founded in 2017 by Philip Frengs to fund the care and fund the cure, donating 100% of proceeds to Alzheimer’s-related organizations.
    • For a $250 donation, fans get to put the name and hometown of a loved one affected by Alzheimer’s on the Audi. A matching corporate donation from Legistics doubles the impact, with all donations going to the Cognitive Health Clinic at UCLA Medical Center and the Nantz National Alzheimer Center at Houston Methodist Hospital.
    • More than $100,000 has been raised each year for the past five years by Racing To End Alzheimer’s. This is the organizations’ first season with Hardpoint. Donations can be made at www.R2EndAlz.org.

    Hardpoint Quote Board

    Rob Ferriol, Team Owner and Driver, No. 99 Porsche 911 GT3 R: “Sebring is by far one of my favorite stops on the IMSA schedule – both for the personality of the circuit and how that unique personality can turn it into anyone’s race after twelve grueling hours. While most people know that VIR was the first race track I ever set a wheel on, it was actually Sebring where I first tested a proper factory-built race car, and I fell in love with the bumps right away. For all the bumps and bruises a trip to Sebring can produce, the 12 Hours of Sebring has always given the team an opportunity to show our mettle, and this year will be no different. We’ve narrowly missed the podium two years in a row, so we’re anxious to get back out and see if the third time’s a charm.

    “For a track that represents so many firsts for me as a driver and team owner, I couldn’t have picked a better venue to introduce Sean and Nick in the 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport alongside Racing to End Alzheimer’s. We’re excited to not only return to the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge paddock, but to also do it with such a talented pair of drivers and a fabulous partner. This program perfectly represents the combination of elite competition and partner activation potential that Hardpoint aims to showcase in American sports car racing.”

    Katherine Legge, Driver, No. 99 Porsche 911 GT3 R: “I love racing at Sebring, it’s so challenging with all the bumps, and the track changes so much through the course of the 12 hour race. The fans here are also unique, and exploring the infield is a must-see experience for us! We were in position for a podium last year in the last five minutes and got that questionable penalty, so we are looking for redemption! We had a successful test here last month and hope that translates into some good speed this week. The team has been improving tremendously and gelling together I’m excited to see what we can achieve here.”

    Stefan Wilson, Driver, No. 99 Porsche 911 GT3 R: “Daytona was my first experience in GT3 racing and it was a huge learning experience for me. The racing was intense in the GT field and I had an absolute blast out there. The Sebring 12 hour is another one of those bucket list events, a race that I’ve always wanted to compete in, and I’m just champing at the bit to get to Sebring and continue working with this amazing Hardpoint 99 crew. Once again I’ll be representing Cusick Motorsports, Gnarly Jerky, LOHLA SPORT and Neptune Systems. I am so hungry to deliver a good result for those that have supported me and helped me get this opportunity.”

    Nick Galante, Driver, No. 22 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport: “Sebring has shown to be one of the toughest tracks to finally feel like I have the hang of it. On paper it looks so approachable, but she is a tricky beast with many complexities. Just when you feel like the car is going to make it to apex or perfectly track out, the surface changes, or you launch the car over a big bump and everything changes. I’ve got much respect for this beast. The Porsche has been tough to set up here. The Hardpoint team has been amazing at tackling a tough task in a short amount of time. I’m impressed with how Sean McAlister has dove into this team with his foot flat to the floor. I haven’t had the luxury of a podium here since our win in 2017. I am eager to get one here this week, in this top-level GS class.”

    Sean McAllister, Driver, No. 22 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport: “As we approach Sebring, the more excited I get. I’m someone who loves the layout and uniqueness of Sebring. It’s fast, technical, and bumpy and it probably has one of the most unconventional final corners of any track. At our recent test, we learned a lot about the car and we explored setups that we both like. Now we just need to fine tune it. A podium at Sebring has eluded me for quite some time now. The goals for this week are to have a good debut in the series and hopefully secure a spot on that podium. With Hardpoint I definitely believe that is a possibility.”
    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. More information on Hardpoint can be found at www.hardpoint.com or through its strong social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

  • NTE/SSR Reveals Lineup for Twelve Hours of Sebring

    NTE/SSR Reveals Lineup for Twelve Hours of Sebring

    Mateo Llarena joins Yount and Conwright in Lamborghini Huracan GT3

    DALLAS, Tex., (March 8, 2022) – The festivities for the Twelve Hours of Sebring get underway in less than two weeks’ time, and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship team NTE/SSR will welcome Lamborghini GT3 Junior driver Mateo Llarena to race in the No. 42 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 alongside Don Yount and fellow Junior driver Jaden Conwright in the March 16-19 event.

    “We’re excited to welcome Mateo to the team,” said NTE Sport owner Paul Mata. “He demonstrated great skill with T3 Motorsports at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January, and we’re always glad to have another Lamborghini GT3 Junior driver join our mix. A mechanical issue ended our race early in the opening round of the season, so we’re looking forward to the chance to rebound and get back out there and fight for a race win.”

    The team started the season in January at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, completing roughly 75 percent of the race until an ABS failure led to an incident that caused contact and took the car out of the race. The twelve-hour race marks the second event in the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech calendar, creating an all-out endurance competition across five classes.

    “The whole team is excited to get back on track and show our success at Daytona before the brake failure was not a fluke,” said Yount. “I am confident that NTE has the issue sorted and we will be out the gate from first practice. Sebring is super tough on the car so we will find out quickly.”

    Don Yount and Jaden Conwright were two of the four drivers in the Rolex 24 lineup, with Conwright being the sole driver confirmed for the entire 2022 season. While the Daytona race did not go according to plan, Conwright is making a name for himself early in 2022, becoming one of the newest Lamborghini GT3 Junior drivers as well as the inaugural recipient of the IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship.
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    “I’m looking forward to heading back to Sebring as I made my debut with NTE and in IMSA at the 2020 Michelin Pilot Challenge event there,” said Conwright. “The Twelve Hours of Sebring is definitely a different beast to the other endurance events I’ve competed as the track’s characteristics are as much of a rival as the other cars. The pace at Daytona was solid up until we were forced to retire due to a technical fault, so I’m confident that we can continue and build off our experience during the Rolex 24 and optimize our NTE/SSR Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo with more time.”

    NTE/SSR newcomer Mateo Llarena has much in common with Conwright, with both recently joining the Lamborghini ranks as GT3 Junior drivers as well as both making into the top ten of the IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship. Though only 18 years old, Llarena is also quickly earning his keep in the sportscar racing world, currently holding the title of the youngest driver to secure an IMSA WeatherTech Motul Pole Award following his first-place qualifying at age 17 at Watkins Glen International in 2021. The young Guatemalan racer began go-karting at four years old, earning multiple karting championships. In 2018, he got his first taste of sports cars, racing in the Porsche GT3 Cup Trophy Argentina. Just two years later, he became the youngest driver to be invited to the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Europe. He made his IMSA WeatherTech series debut in 2021, making this month’s outing his second run at the Twelve Hours of Sebring.

    “I’m really looking forward to the Twelve Hours of Sebring,” Llarena said. “This will be my second time racing in it, so I have much more confidence than the first time, I already know the track and how the race works. I’m very happy to join NTE/SSR. I’m excited for the opportunity to get to know a new team and new drivers. For sure we will give it our all to get a good result.”

    This year’s Twelve Hours of Sebring will host one of the most exciting weekends of the year for fans attending the event. With the IMSA WeatherTech Series acting as the event headliner, support series for the weekend include Michelin Pilot Challenge, Porsche Carrera Cup North America, and the FIA World Endurance Championship. Race week will begin on Tuesday, March 15 with an IMSA transporter parade through downtown Sebring at 5:30 pm. Practice sessions for NTE/SSR and the rest of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors begins on Thursday, March 17. The race will take place on Saturday, March 19 at 10:10 am Eastern, concluding at 10:10 pm that evening. Points for this race will not only be awarded to full-season standings, but the North American endurance Cup, a four-race endurance championship that exists within the main championship. The race will air in its entirety on Peacock, NBC Universal’s new home for IMSA streaming.

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    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.

    About Celebrity X Cruises
    Celebrity Cruises’ iconic “X” is the mark of modern luxury, with its cool, contemporary design and warm spaces; dining experiences where the design of the venues is as important as the cuisine; and the amazing service that only Celebrity can provide, all created to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers’ precious time. Celebrity Cruises’ 13 ships offer modern luxury vacations visiting all seven continents. Celebrity also presents incredible Cruisetour experiences in Alaska and Canada. Celebrity is one of six cruise brands operated by global cruise vacation company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL). For more information, dial 1-800-437-3111, visit www.celebritycruises.com, or call your travel advisor.

    About Cargo Expreso
    For more than 30 years, Cargo Expreso has been dedicated to efficiently covering the needs of handling documents, packages and logistics in general of important companies in the region. The fruit of this work is the trust that our clients place in us. We earn this trust by understanding your business and the importance of providing an excellent quality service, guaranteeing collection and delivery at the place and time that the client needs. For more information visit https://www.cargoexpreso.com/quienes-somos.

    About Protect
    PROTECT A/S is an international manufacturer of products capable of protecting people and property against burglary and robbery. Our business is solely about security fog. We are specialized, innovative and dedicated in this field. We believe security fog can defeat criminals and significantly reduce crime anywhere in the world. We can protect you and your valuables in seconds. We can create a safer world, make people happier and businesses more prosperous. For more information visit https://protectglobal.fi/.

    About the DropUp Agency
    The Dropup Agency is a consulting firm that provides innovative technology and marketing solutions. Companies of all sizes trust us to provide modernized results with a scalable infrastructure, helping them to transform digitally. Through innovation, creative design, and passion-driven marketing, Dropup helps brands more uniquely connect with customers.
    www.thedropupagency.com

  • Hardpoint Expands To Michelin Pilot Challenge With Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport with Nick Galante and Sean McAlister

    Hardpoint Expands To Michelin Pilot Challenge With Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport with Nick Galante and Sean McAlister

    Set for Sebring Debut to Run Full 2022 Season, Race Effort Will Include Fund Raising for Racing to End Alzheimer’s Charity

    DANVILLE, Virginia (March 4, 2022) – Fresh off a top-10 finish in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in a Porsche 911 GT3 R and one year removed from a Pro-Am Championship in Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Hardpoint is adding an IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS) Porsche to the team’s roster for the 2022 season. Nick Galante and Sean McAlister will pilot the No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport for the remainder of the 10 race season.

    It’s a return to the championship for Hardpoint, who competed there with drivers Rob Ferriol and Spencer Pumpelly for part of the 2020 season before focusing the team’s efforts on the IMSA WeatherTech Championship. In 2022, the effort will feature sportscar racing veteran Galante, a two-time series champion in 2016 and 2018 in what was then the ST class, and McAlister, who was the 2019 Hurley Haywood scholarship winner for his success in single-make Porsche championships.

    In a change from Hardpoint’s traditional red, black and white team liveries, Galante and McAlister will carry the purple representing Alzheimer’s Awareness. Racing to End Alzheimer’s was started by motorsports fan and Legistics CEO Philip Frengs and gives 100 percent of donations made at and away from the track to Alzheimer’s-related causes. The organization raises awareness and helps fund cutting-edge research, treatment, and support services that will end the scourge of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia once and for all – specifically with donations to the Nantz National Alzheimer Center at Houston Methodist Hospital and the UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program. This is the sixth season for the Racing to End Alzheimer’s program, and the first with Hardpoint.

    Galante joins Hardpoint as an eight-time race winner in Michelin Pilot Challenge competition. A golf caddy at Pebble Beach and a driving instructor away from the race track, Galante’s 2016 title came in a Porsche Cayman.

    “I am extremely excited to have this opportunity to finally drive with Team Hardpoint,” Galante said. “Watching this team build itself into a top-level team has been tough to race against over the years, and now I can relax a little bit knowing I don’t have to compete against them. I can now work harder than ever to help make this team as strong as possible. I am looking forward to teaming up with Sean McAlister as a co-driver this season. He has been doing some great things in Porsche Carrera Cup, and the new 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport is looking to be one of the top GT4 cars this season. I am excited to be back with the Porsche brand as we had some success the last time we were in one.”

    McAlister’s Michelin Pilot Challenge debut is his first season with multiple makes following six seasons in Porsche championships. Two runner-up finishes in Porsche’s Trophy West series in a Cayman led to a 2018 class championship in a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and three seasons in Porsche GT3 Cup and Carrera Cup North America competition, including a third-place finish in 2020.

    “I’m incredibly excited to say that I will be racing with Hardpoint this year, making my debut in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series,” McAlister said. “Last year I was racing against Hardpoint in Porsche Carrera Cup North America and was very impressed with the performance they brought to every event. The move from racing in single-make series the past six years to racing in a multi-make series is very new to me, but I’m eager to take on that challenge. Being with Porsche for the seventh year in a row will give me a ton of comfort throughout the entirety of the season. I can’t wait to get the series started and I am really looking forward to running with my teammate Nick Galante and being on board with Phil Frengs and Racing to End Alzheimer’s.”

    Hardpoint’s Pilot Challenge program is housed in the same VIRginia International Raceway-based shop as the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R piloted by Ferriol and Katherine Legge. Glenn Long will serve in the Team Manager role, with Hardpoint’s Charles Hamm as the team’s Technical Director.

    “This program cuts to the core of our values here at Hardpoint,” Ferriol said. “We have a competitive Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport with drivers in Nick and Sean that have proven they can win races and compete for championships. To top it off, we’re able to provide value to a cause like Racing to End Alzheimer’s, which includes fan interaction by carrying the names of those touched by this disease. We’re looking forward to this expansion of our program and can’t wait to get started at Sebring.”

    More information on the Racing To End Alzheimer’s program can be found at r2endalz.org. Donations are accepted in any amount, but a donation of $250 allows supporters to see the name and hometown of a person effected by Alzheimer’s on the livery of the No. 22 Porsche for the remainder of the season.

    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. More information on Hardpoint can be found at www.hardpoint.com or through its strong social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

  • Dakota Dickerson Joins Jr III Racing for Sebring 12 Hours

    Dakota Dickerson Joins Jr III Racing for Sebring 12 Hours

    Mooresville, NC (28 February 2022) – Jr III Racing has set their Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts lineup with the addition of IMSA Champion Dakota Dickerson in the No. 30 Airbnb Ligier JS P320. Dickerson joins Ari Balogh and Garett Grist for the team’s first endurance event of the 2022 season.

    Ahead of his IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship debut, the 25-year-old has yielded an impressive resume. Dickerson claimed the top title of Champion in IMSA Prototype Challenge last season with five consecutive podium appearances including a victory at Watkins Glen International. Champion is a familiar title for Dickerson who also held the title in F3 Americas (2019) and F4 United States Championships.

    Dickerson brings extensive knowledge of the Ligier platform with 17 starts in the prototype.

    “I am excited to be joining Jr III Racing for the Sebring 12 Hours,” said DIckerson. “Being familiar with the Ligier as well as competing against the team, it was an easy yes because I know the quality of the car and the pace are top notch. Our test together went very well and working with Ari (Balogh), Garett (Grist) and the crew came naturally. My goal is to perform and hopefully help bring the No. 30 Airbnb Ligier to victory circle.

    The 12 Hours of Sebring is the second ever endurance event and third IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship event for Jr III Racing. The team made their first attempt at endurance racing at the 2021 season finale Petit Le Mans. Balogh, Grist and Spencer Pigot combined to take second place after ten hours of racing.

    The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts begins Saturday, March 19th at 10:00am ET. Live flag-to-flag coverage of the event will be available on Peacock with coverage on USA Network beginning at 3:30pm ET.

  • Aidan Fassnacht and Sword Performance Set for St. Petersburg IMSA Mazda MX-5 Cup Doubleheader this Weekend

    Aidan Fassnacht and Sword Performance Set for St. Petersburg IMSA Mazda MX-5 Cup Doubleheader this Weekend

    Fassnacht and No. 15 Sword Performance Mazda MX-5 Team Look for Solid Results at St. Pete after Competitive but Challenging Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup Debut at Daytona

    ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (February 23, 2022) – Aidan Fassnacht and the No. 15 Sword Performance Mazda MX-5 Cup team look to lockdown a pair of solid race results this weekend in Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2022 IMSA Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BF Goodrich on the streets of St. Petersburg.

    This weekend’s MX-5 doubleheader features 45-minute sprints Friday at 4:40 p.m. EST and Saturday at 10 a.m. EST in support of Sunday’s featured Grand Prix of St. Petersburg NTT IndyCar Series race. Both MX-5 sprints can be viewed live around the world at www.IMSA.tv with accompanying live timing available at www.IMSA.com/scoring.

    The St. Pete races follow last month’s season-opening rounds at Daytona International Speedway that marked 18-year-old Fassnacht’s professional racing debut. He was on pace and well within the front half of the competitive 30-car field in practice and qualifying at Daytona, but weather conditions for both races included a wet track that was just dry enough to compete on BFGoodrich Tires slicks for each run. Those tricky conditions, and some hard knocks racing in close quarters with the competition, left Fassnacht in 17th and 23rd at the race finishes, respectively.

    “We absolutely did not get to show our true pace in Daytona with all of the variables at play, including the weather,” Fassnacht said. “I know that the No. 15 Sword Performance Mazda MX-5 team and myself have the ability to be frontrunners in this series, so having a weekend where weather will not play a factor is a chance to prove that.”

    Unlike the cold and rain-plagued Daytona opener, this weekend’s weather forecast for St. Petersburg calls for Florida-perfect temperatures nearing the 80s with sunny skies.

    “A small part of me wants another weekend with wet and mixed conditions to put what I learned at Daytona to use and prove to myself that I have the ability to run up front in the wet, but it will be nice to get a “normal” weather weekend under my belt,” Fassnacht said. “Especially when you factor in that the consequences for a mistake are so high at a street circuit like St. Petersburg, where track limits are concrete walls that will end your race in one go.”

    Another motorsports first for Fassnacht this weekend is that St. Petersburg is his debut race on a street circuit.

    “My street circuit experience is limited completely to a couple of races on my simulator rig in iRacing at Long Beach, so it will be interesting to see how that experience will translate, if at all,” Fassnacht said. “It’s a new challenge for sure, but one that I’m greatly looking forward to. The close walls of a street circuit demand perfection every lap and can make the speeds feel much faster, which is something that I feel will play into my hands.”

    The St. Pete weekend follows Daytona as the second race in Fassnacht’s season-long partnership with Sword Performance and its series of performance hydration beverages, which are built around a system of proprietary electrolyte replacement products and heat stress subject expertise. Fassnacht not only carries the logo on the side of his McCumbee McAleer Motorsports MX-5, but uses the Sword Performance products to hydrate between sessions.

    “Even though the results may not have been the strongest, my confidence has never been higher after Daytona heading into St. Petersburg,” Fassnacht said. “Daytona was a great opportunity to familiarize myself both with the Sword Performance No. 15 MX-5 Cup car and the series itself. Daytona being my first ever professional race weekend, I had so much going on behind the scenes as I learned about the schedule and responsibilities of a pro driver throughout a race weekend, on top of on track activities. I still drove a strong weekend, but now that I have that experience to build on, I can focus on really showing my pace at St. Petersburg.”

    Noteworthy

    – A first year student at Boston College, the opening MX-5 Cup rounds in Florida give Fassnacht his first chances to juggle the busy life of being an aspiring professional race car driver and a fulltime student. “My professors at Boston College have been so accommodating with my racing schedule, as they put a high value on their students and their student’s aspirations in and out of the classroom,” Fassnacht said. “I actually will have to make up for an Economics exam I’m missing this Thursday the day after I get back to Boston, so you might catch me studying supply and demand and elasticity in the hauler for a little bit!”

    – In addition to his Long Beach iRacing experience, Fassnacht is finding the time to squeeze in some St. Petersburg simulation runs. “I am excited for the opportunity to practice at SimMetric Driver Performance Labs, a local racing simulator company with an in-house designed simulator with a scanned St. Petersburg track as well as an accurate Mazda MX-5 Cup car model. I think that experience will prove to be crucial to my success on a track that I’ve never driven on before.”

    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.SwordPerformance.com.

    About Aidan Fassnacht: A second-generation professional race car driver, 18-year-old Aidan Fassnacht is competing in the 2022 IMSA Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup for McCumbee McAleer Racing (MMR) in the No. 15 Sword Performance Mazda MX-5 Cup. Fassnacht, a freshman 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 MX-5 Cup rookie campaign.

  • Cadillac previews Project GTP race car

    Cadillac previews Project GTP race car

    Cadillac Racing will compete in IMSA’s new Grand Touring Prototype category in 2023

    DETROIT (Feb. 9, 2022) – With Cadillac in the midst of defending its 2021 IMSA DPi Manufacturer Championship, the brand continues to prepare for its return to the world racing stage. Cadillac Design is in the process of shaping the forthcoming Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) race car and the future of Cadillac Racing.

    Drawing from Cadillac’s previous racing success, the Cadillac GTP race car will be codeveloped by Cadillac Racing, Design and race car manufacturer Dallara. The prototype will feature a new Cadillac engine package in conjunction with the GTP common hybrid system.

    Watch: Coming in 2023

    “While the new race car will take into account IMSA and ACO regulations, Cadillac’s brand characteristics will be instantly recognizable, many of which are seen on our V-Series vehicles today,” said Chris Mikalauskas, lead exterior creative designer, Cadillac. “It will artistically combine form and function to influence the development of the forthcoming race car. Elements of Cadillac’s brand DNA, such as vertical lighting and floating blades, will be present throughout.”

    Last year, Cadillac announced that it would compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Automobile Club de l’Ouest Grand Touring Prototype category in 2023 with a fourth-generation Cadillac V-Series prototype. Notably, this will mark the brand’s return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans after 21 years.

    “Cadillac has a long history of performance success on and off the track, which drives excitement for our fans and customers,” said Rory Harvey, vice president of Cadillac. “That excitement was never more evident than last year when we saw extraordinary demand for the V-Series Blackwings right after they were revealed.”

    Cadillac’s commitment to performance is embodied in the V-Series portfolio by incorporating technologies learned on the track into performance cars for the road. Its recent expansion includes the CT4-V and CT5-V sport sedans, the Escalade-V and the track-capable CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing.

    The Cadillac Project GTP race car will be unveiled this summer, and make its debut in competition at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January 2023.


    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’s media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com.

  • Justice Brothers scores double-podium in 60th Rolex 24 At Daytona

    Justice Brothers scores double-podium in 60th Rolex 24 At Daytona

    Wayne Taylor Racing a close second in bid for fourth-consecutive victory

    DAYTONA BEACH, FL (2 Feb. 2022) – Justice Brothers placed two cars on the podium in a bid for a fourth-consecutive victory in the 60th Rolex 24 At Daytona.

    Wayne Taylor Racing’s three-year winning streak came to a close after coming up just three seconds shy of the checkered flag on the way to a strong second place finish. It was another Justice Brothers squad sharing in the post race champagne shower in Daytona as JDC Miller Motorsports brought home a very competitive third place finish.

    Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque, Alexander Rossi and newcomer Will Stevens led extensively and were well-placed for another run to victory with the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05. The team was in the thick of the fight all the way. A cut tire in the early going cost the team three laps, but Taylor regained the lead after a 150-lap comeback.

    Car owner Wayne Taylor helped give the command to start the opening round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, joined by fellow Grand Marshals and racing legends Mario Andretti, Hurley Haywood, Bobby Rahal, Scott Pruett and Jack Roush.

    “The team executed beautifully, but I just didn’t have enough at the end to go get Helio,” said Ricky Taylor of their late race duel. “I’m disappointed right now, but tomorrow we’ll begin working towards Sebring. I think it’s a really good start to the year. I’m really proud to have my teammates next to me, they all did an amazing job. Thanks to Konica Minolta, Harrison Contracting and all the guys that gave us the opportunity to be here. Looking forward to Sebring now. It can’t come soon enough.”

    Loic Duval, Tristan Vautier, Richard Westbrook and Ben Keating shared the JDC Miller MotorSports Cadillac DPi-V.R – the lone car in the seven-car DPi field not to go a lap down. Having pitted later than the top two contenders, Duval was ready to pounce if the top two encountered problems late in the race; his late charge came up to within one-second of second-place Taylor.

    Performance Tech MotorSports again carried the familiar Justice Brothers’ decals in the LMP3 class. The team ran in podium contention until encountering issues, eventually retiring with a drive train issue.

    Dan Goldburg, Hikaru Abe, Garett Grist and Nico Pino co-drove Brent O’Neil’s No. 38 Cardio Access/DOGOH.jp/Emasa/AIG Ligier JS P320, retiring from the event with less than two hours remaining. The team was running in the top three when it was taken out by an LMP2 car during the night. From that point, it was a matter of playing catch-up while the crew struggled with various issues and freezing temperatures.

    “I’m really proud of the crew for pushing threw and taking care of everything,” O’Neil said. “We’ll come back stronger at the next one.”

    The “next one” will be another American endurance classic – the 70th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. John Church’s JDC Miller MotorSports is defending winner of the event, set for Saturday, March 19.

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  • Pfaff Motorsports victorious at Daytona 24 Hours

    Pfaff Motorsports victorious at Daytona 24 Hours

    Porsche Team, Drivers Capture First-Ever Win at Legendary Endurance Race

    DAYTONA, Fla., Feb. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In what is already being considered one of the greatest all-time battles in sportscar racing, Pfaff Motorsports captured the inaugural IMSA GTD Pro class victory in the 60th running of the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona on the final lap.

    Porsche factory drivers Mathieu Jaminet (FRA), Matt Campbell (AUS) and two-time IMSA prototype champion and former F1 driver Felipe Nasr (BRA) banded together for their first event with the Canadian-based squad following a successful preseason test last week at the 5.73-km (3.56 mi) Florida circuit, where the team qualified second in its plaid-livery Motul Porsche 911 GT3 R ahead of the 2022 season-opener.

    Entering the calendar’s longest and most grueling race, wet weather during Thursday and Friday practice sessions meant less track time before Saturday’s race start, where dry track conditions combined with unseasonably cold temperatures throughout the 24 hours.

    From the wave of the green flag, Pfaff challenged for the lead, taking the top spot on lap nine and staying within the top two positions for the next 120 laps. From there, the team and drivers were methodical in their execution, keeping within the top four positions and performing flawlessly in the pits, while a stream of 17 full-course yellow flags kept the field together throughout the race.

    Making a push in the final quarter of the race, Campbell began to chip away at the leading KCMG Porsche, swapping to the top spot before handing the car to Jaminet for the final stint – and a tumultuous two-hour battle with former Pfaff driver and 2021 GTD champion Laurens Vanthoor.

    Under green flag conditions, Jaminet and Vanthoor fought head-to-head in the final hour, in what would become one of the Daytona 24’s most exciting finishes.

    With just four minutes remaining, Vanthoor retook the lead, defending Jaminet with every available resource; the two drivers pushed each other to the track limits and sometimes beyond, battering their 911 GT3 Rs in a fierce dogfight.

    Coming down to the final lap, Jaminet made a calculated dive on the inside of the international horseshoe corner and held steady entering into the NASCAR superspeedway. Making a last-ditch effort with just six corners remaining, Vanthoor pulled alongside Jaminet on the outside of the Le Mans chicane, where the two bumped and went off track. Jaminet held steady as Vanthoor spun, giving the French driver clear air to cross the finish line and capture the team’s first win at the Daytona 24 Hours – in Pfaff’s third full season in IMSA WeatherTech competition.

    Mathieu Jaminet, Driver:
    “At the moment I am speechless. It is difficult to realize what just happened. This is the biggest race I have won in my career. This is the one everyone wants to win; it is the watch (Rolex Daytona) everyone wants to have. To finally get it, it is incredible. I need some time to realize what just happened. Especially in that way: a proper field, proper cars around us. I had a crazy finish with one of the best GT drivers in the world fighting against me. The big picture is just perfect.

    “Matt did an incredible job throughout the race but especially at the end, because he brought the car back up to the KCMG Porsche which made a huge difference. I am super happy.

    “Honestly, I didn’t know it was the last lap. Everyone will remember the last four minutes, but for me, it was two hours of hard fighting. To stay in front for two hours was tough – really tough. When it comes down to the last lap of 24-hours of racing, it is what everyone wants to have, including us drivers, but on the other hand, I feel for the other team because they deserved to win as much as we do. So, hats off to Laurens and to the KCMG crew because they also deserved that win. We worked hard for it. Hats off to everyone at Pfaff Motorsports. They did an amazing job on strategy and in the pits.”

    Matt Campbell, Driver:
    “I’m super emotional. We are pretty speechless to win a race in such a fashion, especially in the new era with GTD Pro. It is fantastic. To win it the way we did with Mathieu in the car and the finish we had, it just makes it that extra special. And now we can call ourselves Rolex 24 Hour winners. It is an incredible feeling.

    “If you look at the cars that were in GTD Pro, it was a race of attrition. We just knew we had to keep it clean until the morning and see if we were in a position to fight, and we were. We had a fantastic strategy and we were able to bring the car back to the front with five hours to go. Then we could start thinking about pacing ourselves for the final hours.

    “Mathieu and I have done this race many times. We have come close many times, and now to be able to finally have a win, especially with a full-season effort with Pfaff, it is a great way to start the season. Hopefully, we can get a few more along the way.”

    Steve Bortolotti, General Manager:
    “That was an intense finish. Obviously, Laurens is a great driver and we know that from working with him last year, and winning the IMSA championship with him. We thought we had a really good car, especially at the end. Mathieu did an amazing job. Frankly, all three drivers did an amazing job. The team was on it all weekend.

    “Obviously, this is something we will remember forever. This is why we do it. We put this program together with the goal of success as a group. We win as a team; we lose as a team. We are going to make it a point to continue this legacy and build something great.”

    Pfaff Motorsports now returns to its headquarters in Toronto, Canada in preparation for round two and the series’ second-longest event, the 12 Hours of Sebring, happening March 16-19.

    Stay tuned for further announcements from Pfaff Motorsports. For more exciting news and behind-the-scenes content, follow @PfaffMotorsports, @Pfaff_Porsche, @Porsche_Markham, and @PfaffAuto on Instagram and Facebook.

    About Pfaff Automotive Partners
    Pfaff Automotive Partners, a leading Canadian automotive retailer, was founded in 1964. Its brand offering includes Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, MINI, Porsche, McLaren, Singer Vehicle Design, Pagani, BAC Mono, Harley-Davidson, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru, and Automobili Pininfarina automobiles and motorcycles. It has a 50-plus-year racing history across many forms of motorsport. The company also operates Pfaff Tuning, Pfaff Leasing, and Pfaff Autoworks. For more information, please visit www.pfaffauto.com.

    About Motul
    Motul is a world-class French company specialized in the formulation, production and distribution of high-tech engine lubricants (two-wheelers, cars and other vehicles) as well as lubricants for 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 to many racing teams and manufacturers and contributes with them 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 WeatherTechSportsCar Championship, Super GT, Drift, Pikes Peak, Japanese championship Super Formula, Blancpain Endurance Series, Dakar, Tour Auto, Le Mans Classic, MotoGP, World Superbike, World MX, FIM Endurance World Championship, IOM TT, Roof of Africa and score of others.