Category: IMSA

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., (September 17, 2024) – This weekend, the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway will host its first-ever IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship endurance race at the Brickyard. The TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks is set for Sunday, September 22, and Wright Motorsports is ready to rise to the challenge with the No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 R, driven by Adam Adelson, Elliott Skeer, and endurance specialist Jan Heylen.

“We’ve had a solid season so far, and this is a great opportunity for us to have a strong weekend,” said Team Owner John Wright. “Adam and Elliott have been outstanding in their rookie year, and with Jan’s experience, we’re bringing a strong lineup to Indianapolis. This team thrives under pressure, and I’m confident we can deliver another strong result.”

Adelson and Skeer, who have earned two hard-fought podiums in their debut IMSA WeatherTech season thus far, are eager to close out the year on a high note. The duo, supported by their highly skilled pit crew, has shown strength in endurance racing, finishing third at the grueling Twelve Hours of Sebring in March.

Joining them for the endurance event, Heylen returns to race alongside Adelson and Skeer for the final two races of the season. Heylen’s last outing with Wright Motorsports at Indianapolis Motor Speedway resulted in a victory at the 2023 Indianapolis 8 Hour, where he celebrated by kissing the iconic bricks.

A total of 56 entries across four classes will compete in the event, racing on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course, which utilizes roughly one mile of the famed oval surface. In contrast to the Indy 500, the road course runs counterclockwise.

Sunday’s race is the second-to-last IMSA WeatherTech event of the year but also serves as a key warmup for Wright Motorsports’ season finale at the Indianapolis 8 Hour on October 5. The team currently leads the points standings in the SRO GT World Challenge, making this weekend’s track time beneficial to their championship aspirations, as both series utilize the Porsche 911 GT3 R race car.

The TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks takes place on Sunday, September 22, from 11:40 AM to 5:40 PM ET, airing live on Peacock. Fans attending the event will enjoy full access to the paddock with a general admission ticket, as well as a one-hour open-grid fan walk before the race, starting at 10:20 AM. For more information, visit imsa.com.

DRIVER QUOTES

Adam Adelson

I’m really looking forward to continuing the Michelin Endurance Cup championship at Indy! IMS is such a special place. Upon driving into the track, you are immediately reminded of not only the vastness of its size but the vastness of its history. I’ve raced here quite a bit in my career, and now that I’m in the top-level series that I can race here with, I’m really excited to use this as a benchmark to see what I’ve learned since I first raced here in 2021. I’m also ecstatic to be racing with Jan again, as every time we share a car, it comes with amazing opportunities to learn from him. The result in Watkins Glen definitely hurt, so I’m looking forward to putting up a better result this time around.

Elliott Skeer

It’s like we’ve never left! I am super excited for the upcoming rounds of GT World Challenge, we have put in some fantastic prep work as a team and Adam and I sure know our way around there going into first practice. Ultimately we will treat it like every other weekend, to operate our Porsche at it’s maximum and execute the weekend to the best that Wright Motorsport can do.

Jan Heylen

I am excited to be back in the car after a summer break. Adam and Elliott have been doing an amazing job and I look forward to joining them again for the remainder of the season. I hope we can make the team proud and bring home some trophies at this iconic track.

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.

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (September 17, 2024) – The Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 team heads to its’ first home race with the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). The new six-hour race will mark the penultimate event of the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) as the season ends with two endurance events.

Kyle Marcelli and Danny Formal will return to pilot the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 as they enter their first home race as a driver duo in IWSC after the pair competed in Lamborghini Super Trofeo (LST) in 2023 around IMS. Marcelli and Formal will be looking to secure a positive result at the endurance event, as the team seeks to find a formula for the longer races of the season. Formal will also return to double duty as a driver for the No. 1 WTRAndretti Lamborghini Huracán LST as he remains in the championship hunt in the PRO category for Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America.

Marcelli and Formal will also be joined by Graham Doyle as he returns as the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup co-driver. Doyle has continued to show impressive pace in the LST North America series as he competes in the No. 10 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán LST and will also compete in double duty during the IMS weekend with two LST races.

“For our GTD program, I’m looking forward to seeing them do well at Indy,” said Wayne Taylor, Team Principal, WTRAndretti. “They’ve found a bit of speed after recently testing at Road Atlanta. Between Kyle and Danny, and Graham joining for these last two races, I think it should be a good weekend for the team and I’m really looking forward to going back to another endurance race – I love the long-distance races.”

The No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 team will have its first on-track action at IMS with practice at 11:15 a.m. ET on Friday, September 20 followed by qualifying on Saturday, September 21, at 3:40 p.m. ET. The TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks is set for a 11:40 a.m. ET start for the six-hour event with broadcast beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET on Peacock followed by NBC broadcast through the checkered flag live at 3 p.m. ET.
No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 Drivers
Kyle Marcelli: “It’s wild to think we have just two races remaining on the schedule. In this business, the years go by quick! We continue to evolve as a team, learn and of course push ourselves to improve. There’s no question we have all the tools we need to be successful, and the fact that we have not been on the podium has everyone a bit disappointed. But I have the upmost faith in this program, it’s just a matter of time. Maybe the home track advantage will play into our favor, and we will find ourselves in the winner’s circle. Rest assured, that’s our only objective. We also look forward to the new six-hour challenge at Indianapolis and welcome the return of Graham Doyle to the line-up.”

Danny Formal: “Indy six-hour this week and I’m super excited for this race. I’m going to be racing in Super Trofeo and the GTD at our team’s home race, so super excited for that. We had really good results last year and a great test recently in the Super Trofeos. I’m ready to get back with the endurance team on the GTD side with Graham, Kyle and myself, we are ready to get the top five the team deserves in an endurance race. Graham has improved drastically this season, and I think we have all the ingredients to be up there and fighting and put the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán EVO2 where it belongs – fighting for the top five or even maybe for podium. Super excited to get back with the WTRAndretti team, get back to the home race and try to get the result that we truly deserve.”

Graham Doyle: “In a season where the endurance events have seemed to slip our grasps, I believe Indy will be a turning point for the No. 45 endurance crew. While this is the maiden six-hour event at Indy, I believe our drivers and crew know the track and car allowing us the opportunity to not only to display a competitive car but push for a chance to make it onto the podium.”

ABOUT WTRANDRETTI
Andretti Global and Wayne Taylor Racing announced a new, long-term partnership in 2023 that combines the resources of the two championship-caliber teams to compete in IMSA’s top classes. In 2024, Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) has expanded to a two-car GTP program as well as competes in the GTD class. Coming off its 2023 championship winning effort, WTRAndretti continues its Driver Development Program competing in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series with a full stable.

WTRAndretti’s global motorsports enterprise boasts two IMSA driver championships (2013 and 2017), and back-to-back IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Championships (2020, 2021) which contributed to nine IMSA manufacturer championships for Acura, Pontiac, Corvette and Cadillac. In its brief 17-year history, WTRAndretti has accumulated multiple victories in sportscar racing’s most iconic events: Rolex 24 At Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring, Petit Le Mans, Mid-Ohio, Road America and the Six Hours of The Glen. With its back-to-back PRO Class Championship wins (2022, 2023), WTR also has ten North America Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship titles and a Lamborghini World Finals title.

Andretti Global, a Championship-winning motorsports organization, competes in additional racing categories worldwide, including the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Extreme E, Australian Supercars and the Mexico SuperCopa Championship. Additionally, the racing enterprise commits to driver development through competition in INDY NXT by Firestone and through support of Sebastian and Oliver Wheldon’s racing careers.

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (September 17, 2024) – The Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) pair of Acura ARX-06 GTPs shift back to endurance racing action with the inaugural TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks six-hour event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). After returning to the IMS Road Course in 2023, the WTRAndretti team are ready to put on a show at the team’s home track with both Acura ARX-06 GTPs and alongside teammates in the GTD class and Lamborghini Super Trofeo – totaling up to seven WTRAndretti cars on track throughout the weekend.

Aiming to pick up from where they left off, Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque in the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 enter Indianapolis following a pole position and podium result at Road America last month. With experience driving the Acura ARX-06 at IMS in 2023, Taylor and Albuquerque will look for the podium after earning a top five result in last year’s event. The mission remains the same for the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 crew: to win the remaining two events left on the calendar.

For Louis Delétraz and Jordan Taylor, the No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 team looks to bounce back after a promising weekend turned challenging at Road America. Although the pair has not raced together in the Acura ARX-06 GTP at Indianapolis before, Taylor last time in a prototype car at IMS saw him starting from pole position and Delétraz earned a podium finish in LMP2 in 2023’s Battle on the Bricks. Like their No. 10 teammates, it’s all about winning and the best result possible to finish the final races this season.
The WTRAndretti duo of Acura ARX-06 GTPs will take to the IMS Road Course starting with practice on Friday, September 20th, at 11:15 a.m. ET. Qualifying is set for 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 21st, live on Peacock. On Sunday, September 22nd, the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks six-hour endurance event will see the green and clock countdown begin at 11:40 a.m. ET with coverage on Peacock followed by NBC on air at 3 p.m. ET.
Wayne Taylor, Team Principal, WTRAndretti: “Since we are out of the points race for the championship, we are going to try to win these last two races. It will also be the end of our partnership with HRC so we would like to go out on top. We had a good test at Indy a few weeks ago so I’m feeling positive that we should have a good car and go for the win. Indy is a new endurance race, so I’m looking forward to it – I love the long-distance races.”

No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 GTP Drivers
Ricky Taylor: “We had a great test there last month and have certainly improved ourselves since last year, six hours will prove a different challenge, and we are up for it. Indy is a very unique circuit and whether or not the similarities in duration to the Watkins Glen six hour will translate, only time will tell. We will prepare our best and learn as much as we can to make educated decisions for the race. It was great fun last year to see all of the support from family and friends of the WTRAndretti team, it is something we don’t always get to see or share. With this event becoming one of the championship’s marquee events, it will make it even more enjoyable to share with everyone.”

Filipe Albuquerque: “Indianapolis’s going to be a new type of race for us, a six-hour race. Our last endurance race would’ve been a nice one – the two WTRAndretti cars were leading the race before the last 20 minutes, so we were looking good and competitive. We were also competitive and got pole position in the last sprint race at Road America, so it seems like we are getting faster and faster. We’ve been very competitive and of course we want to be competitive at Indianapolis. Safety cars and cautions will play a huge role in strategy, but we had a good test there and we got a good feeling of the car. One thing that can play in our favor is that we are not fighting for the championship so when others will be taking care of their championship and not taking as much risk because they have a bigger picture, we don’t. So, this can maybe play in our favor and a lot of motivation to go for the win for sure.”

No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 GTP Drivers
Louis Delétraz: “I’m excited for the Indianapolis 6-Hour because it’s our home race and also now an endurance race. Six hours at Indy will be a new challenge, the characteristics of track make it interesting with traffic. We have tested at the track with WTRAndretti, and the Acura ARX-06 was great. We have nothing to lose, and we want to win the last two races to finish the year strong!”

Jordan Taylor: “We had a great test at Indy a few weeks ago, so I’m looking forward to getting back there and seeing how we stack up. It is our home race as a team, so it’ll be great having a lot of family and friends out there supporting us at such a legendary track. We had great speed at the last race in Road America but weren’t able to capitalize on it in the race. Hopefully this week we will be in such a strong position again to fight for the win.”

ABOUT WTRANDRETTI
Andretti Global and Wayne Taylor Racing announced a new, long-term partnership in 2023 that combines the resources of the two championship-caliber teams to compete in IMSA’s top classes. In 2024, Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) has expanded to a two-car GTP program as well as competes in the GTD class. Coming off its 2023 championship winning effort, WTRAndretti continues its Driver Development Program competing in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series with a full stable.

WTRAndretti’s global motorsports enterprise boasts two IMSA driver championships (2013 and 2017), and back-to-back IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Championships (2020, 2021) which contributed to nine IMSA manufacturer championships for Acura, Pontiac, Corvette and Cadillac. In its brief 17-year history, WTRAndretti has accumulated multiple victories in sportscar racing’s most iconic events: Rolex 24 At Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring, Petit Le Mans, Mid-Ohio, Road America and the Six Hours of The Glen. With its back-to-back PRO Class Championship wins (2022, 2023), WTR also has ten North America Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship titles and a Lamborghini World Finals title.

Andretti Global, a Championship-winning motorsports organization, competes in additional racing categories worldwide, including the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Extreme E, Australian Supercars and the Mexico SuperCopa Championship. Additionally, the racing enterprise commits to driver development through competition in INDY NXT by Firestone and through support of Sebastian and Oliver Wheldon’s racing careers.

Defending champion enters six-hour Indianapolis race second, third in standings

DETROIT (Sept. 17, 2024) – Cadillac Racing will seek to add another signature victory in program history when it returns to iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the penultimate race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.

New for the second edition of the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks is extension of the September 22 race duration from 2 hours, 40 minutes to six hours on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course. The event, featuring 11 Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) entries in the 56-car field across four classes, is the fourth in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup series. The 10-hour Petit Le Mans on October 12 closes out the calendar.

Cadillac Racing is the defending and five-time IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC) Manufacturer champion, while the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R run by Action Express Racing claimed the team and driver titles in 2023. Cadillac and the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R contingent are second in their respective categories entering the race that awards points at the three-hour mark and checkered flag.

“It’s nice that the championship will now finish with two endurance races in a row, which can create a lot of interesting battles and different strategies around not only the overall championship but also the endurance championships,” said Pipo Derani, the 2023 GTP champion and endurance race champion who will share driving duties in both races with Jack Aitken and Tom Blomqvist.

The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R driven by Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande are a close third in the IMEC GTP standings. The duo, who tested on the road course earlier this summer, have qualified in the top three in all seven races including earning the pole at Laguna Seca.

Bourdais, who co-drove to the overall victory in the inaugural NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race at Indianapolis in 2012 and is a 10-time INDYCAR starter on the road course, said driving in the congested field spread across the four classes is a “game of patience.”

“In a six-hour race, I guess there will be more management because it will come down to what happens at the last safety car, so it might be a bit easier to manage frustration. In a 2-hour, 40-minute race, it’s trying to get track position the whole time,” said Bourdais, the four-time Indy car champion.

Blomqvist made two starts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May in INDYCAR competition: finishing 23rd on the road course and 31st in the Indianapolis 500. He co-drove to sixth place in the 2023 IMSA GTP race on the IMS road course with another manufacturer.

“You’ve got to be patient and pick your moments carefully, especially when the track gets crowded. Having raced here last year in IMSA and this year in INDYCAR, I feel confident in knowing the nuances of the track, but it’s always evolving and, with managing traffic, balancing risk and reward will be a key factor in the race,” he said.

Peacock and IMSA.tv will stream qualifications at 3:35 p.m. ET Saturday. Peacock (in U.S.) and IMSA.TV (outside U.S.) will stream flag-to-flag action at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, with NBC telecasting the final three hours starting at 3 p.m.

IMSA Radio (imsa.com), RadioLeMans.com will broadcast qualifications and be joined by SiriusXM (XM 206, Web/App 996) for the race.

Cadillac Racing 2023 at Indianapolis (2-hour, 40-minute race):

• Seventh (No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R) start fourth – Sebastien Bourdais, Renger van der Zande
• Fourth (No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R) start eighth – Pipo Derani, Alexander Sims

What they’re saying

No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R

Sebastien Bourdais: “Physically, it’s hard. It’s a track that doesn’t give you much rest and it’s seriously difficult in traffic. There are a lot of sections on the track where you can’t pass. Once you get into turn 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 you got to wait all the way until the backstraight and same thing when you get to 7, 8, 9, 10. If you don’t clear just before you get to the long right, the marbles build up and you can’t pass either. There are few places to clear traffic and it’s really a game of patience because if you try to force the issue it can go sour pretty fast. You have to be careful but at the same time you can’t be too careful. In a 2-hour, 40-minute race, you can’t take it that easy. In a six-hour race, I guess there will be more management because it will come down to what happens at the last safety car, so it might be a bit easier to manage frustration. In a 2-hour, 40-minute race, it’s trying to get track position the whole time. You’re fighting for a couple tenths and then you give up 5 seconds on a lap because you get stuck behind a GT or something for six corners. It’s a tough one.”

Renger van der Zande: “It’s one of those tracks where strategy and track position will play a big role. It’s a fun track on your own. It’s not a typical IMSA track either. I did the 8 hours of Indy as well; finished second. It’s not the most exciting track but it’s the home for a lot of race teams, including our team. It’s a home race for them, so it’s a home race for me. I’m looking forward to Indy. The tough part for us in this part of the season is the hard tire, which we focused on getting it better and found some setup stuff that worked.”

No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R

Pipo Derani: “Indianapolis six hours will be a new challenge as it enters the endurance rounds of the championship. It’s also a very peculiar racetrack, one that can create a lot of marbles off track. It’s most likely going to create a very interesting endurance event, and I am looking forward to that. I also think it’s nice that the championship will now finish with two endurance races in a row, which can create a lot of interesting battles and different strategies around not only the overall championship but also the endurance championships. Last year we had a relatively strong race car apart from the Porsches who were on a league of their own and we weren’t so quick in qualifying. We will be looking to unlock some speed this year and hope that we can fight the Porsches during the race.”

Jack Aitken: “Indianapolis may be a new track for me, but it’s one I know from the simulator and having watched quite a few races there, so I’m not too concerned about getting up to speed. Going to a six hour this year will mean a bit more strategy playing out over the race, and as always traffic management will be a huge part of the game. Competing at such a historic venue will always be a cool outing, and Indy is a bit of a home away from home at this point, thanks to the Dallara simulator being just next to the Speedway.”

Tom Blomqvist: “Racing at Indy is always a special experience, and the new six-hour format definitely changes things and adds a new challenge for everyone. The circuit is tight and technical, so traffic management will be crucial to a strong result. Overtaking can be challenging, but there are a few decent spots to make moves, particularly heading into Turn 1 and on the backstretch. You’ve got to be patient and pick your moments carefully, especially when the track gets crowded. Having raced here last year in IMSA and this year in INDYCAR, I feel confident in knowing the nuances of the track, but it’s always evolving and, with managing traffic, balancing risk and reward will be a key factor in the race. To be back working with the team, Pipo and Jack is fantastic and I’m optimistic about our chances. We’re currently second in the Endurance Cup standings, so the goal for the last two rounds is to maximize every opportunity for points and try to win the title.”

Florida-based LMP2 team to sit out Indianapolis round of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship to shift attention to the 10-hour season finale

JUPITER, Fla. (September 12, 2024) – Sean Creech Motorsport (SCM) has made the decision to forgo next week’s Indianapolis round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship to focus on attendance at the Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

In light of Lance Willsey’s decision to suspend his racing career, the team is actively discussing options with alternate sponsors and drivers to contest the season finale with the No. 33 SCM Ligier JS P217.

Team principal Sean Creech remains committed to the SCM team – and the team members who have been with him for as many as 30 years.

“First and foremost, we wish Lance the best,” said Creech. “Going forward, I am absolutely committed to keeping this team going, preferably in the LMP2 category. We’re in discussions with several drivers and sponsors and are open to additional options.”

SCM has proven itself in numerous sports car series, having won two Ferrari Challenge championships (2015 and 2016) and the 2018 IMSA Prototype Challenge (now the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge). In the WeatherTech series, SCM earned a victory in the 2022 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, and captured three straight second-place finishes in the Rolex 24 at Daytona (2021-2023).

The 27th annual Motul Petit Le Mans takes the green flag Saturday, October 12 at 12:10 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live in the U.S. on Peacock, NBC and USA Network. International viewers can watch via IMSA.TV, with IMSA Radio also available at IMSA.com.

About SCM

Team principal Sean Creech has competed in a multitude of sports car series from 1988 until the present day, including Group C, IMSA GTP, WSC, Grand-Am, SRO World Challenge, and IMSA. http://seancreechmotorsport.com/

About Focal One

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

SCM Social Media

Instagram: @seancreechms
Twitter: @SeanCreechMS
Threads: @seancreechms
Facebook: Sean Creech Motorsport

ST. CHARLES, Ill., (September 9, 2024) – Just two races remain in the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and AO Racing’s Rexy the No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 Rawr is back from summer vacation, returning next weekend to resume his championship fight in the GTD PRO class. Michelin Endurance Cup addition Michael Christensen is poised to return for the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks, racing alongside full-season driver Lauren Heinrich in the six-hour endurance event at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sunday, September 22. Julien Andlauer will join the duo in the Porsche for Petit Le Mans, the 10-hour season finale at Road Atlanta,

“Roxy did a great job for us in the last two races, but Rexy is excited to be back for the remainder of the season,” said Team Principal Gunnar Jeannette. “Rexy is rested and ready for this last push. Our team is strong in the endurance races, and we feel good about our chances of fighting for the title. Both Michael and Julien have been great additions to our lineup, and we’re excited to have them in for the end.”

Christensen has completed two races with AO Racing this season, coming in second place at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January. With two wins in the GTD PRO class, the team and driver Laurin Heinrich lead the championship by 17 points with 385 points remaining up for grabs between the final two races.

“I’m looking very much forward to get back with AO Racing and Rexy,” said Christensen. “The team has performed very well over the season and is in a great position leading the championship! I’ll do my very best to support and strengthen the position further into the last round at Petit Le Mans.”

Andlauer previously raced with the team at Road America, where he, Laurin, and Roxy finished in fourth place in a race plagued with yellow flags.

“I’m looking forward to being back with the team,” said Andlauer. “We had a difficult, but successful, weekend at Road America, which was better than expected going into the event. I hope we can have better potential for the last two rounds. Teaming up with Laurin and Michael will be a strong lineup. I’m looking forward to working properly and giving our best for the best result possible, and to get the championship win for the team and Laurin.”

TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks will begin on Sunday, September 22 at 11:40 AM ET, airing flag-to-flag on Peacock in the United States and imsa.com/tvlive for international audiences.

About AO Racing

Founded in 2022 by PJ Hyett and Gunnar Jeannette, AO Racing has swiftly risen to prominence in the world of professional sports car racing. With an unwavering commitment to on-track excellence and fan engagement, AO Racing commands attention with its fun liveries and fan-friendly presence, becoming a dynamic force in the sport. Central to AO Racing’s success is its unique blend of performance and personality. The iconic liveries of “Rexy” and “Roxy,” the T-Rex Porsche 911 GT3 Rawrs and “Spike” the LMP2 Dragon have captivated fans worldwide, earning AO Racing a dedicated following. With a focus on making racing accessible and enjoyable for enthusiasts of all ages, AO Racing has become a beloved favorite among motorsport lovers. The team has a global footprint, with strong efforts in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Asian Le Mans Series, European Le Mans Series, and the FIA World Endurance Championship. With passion, precision, and a touch of flair, AO Racing is writing the next chapter in the annals of motorsport history.

• Nikko Reger and Shehan Chandrasoma Recover from Early Setbacks in Both Saturday Sunday Super Trofeo Sprints at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in the No. 21 Lamborghini Austin Lamborghini Huracan Evo2
• Saturday’s Charge From 41st at the Start to Fourth in Pro-Am at the Finish by the Lamborghini Austin No. 21 Team Nets TPC Racing’s Best Finish of a Challenging Weekend
• Mark Brummond Robbed of Saturday LB Cup Victory in the No. 02 Tons of Gas Auto Collection Lamborghini Huracan Evo2 After Weekend-Ending Hit Leading on Last Lap

AUSTIN, Texas (September 2, 2024) – A no-quit performance in a competitive but chaotic IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America doubleheader at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) saw TPC Racing rebound from early setbacks in both weekend races for a pair of finishes that keep the No. 21 Lamborghini Austin Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo2 team in the Pro-Am class championship picture with four races remaining on the 2024 schedule.

The highlight of the hot and hard-fought COTA Super Trofeo weekend was a charge from 41st overall to fourth in the Pro-Am class by the No. 21 team in Saturday’s first 50-minute sprint. Starting driver Shehan Chandrasoma was slated to take the green flag 13th overall in the packed Lamborghini field but instead was one of half-a-dozen competitors forced to join the race from pit lane after a pre-race grid miscommunication.

Chandrasoma and the others joined the race at the back of the field after the start, and he methodically began passing competitors to move up the order. Chandrasoma handed the No. 21 off at the opening of the pit-stop window to closing driver Nikko Reger who rejoined the race just outside of the Pro-Am top five and in the top-10 overall. Reger quickly moved into fifth place and then advanced to fourth in Pro-Am only to see a late-race caution period slow his charge. With only a one-lap dash to the finish, Reger never had a chance to get close enough to make a move for third in Pro-Am, but the No. 21 did cross the finish line a solid seventh overall.

Reger started Sunday’s final race third on the Pro-Am grid and fourth-overall only to be punted by an overzealous Pro-class competitor on the opening race lap. Reger quickly recovered from the bump-and-run hit to join race-finishing driver Chandrasoma in a charge through the field for the second day, with the No. 21 crossing the finish line for a seventh-place Pro-Am finish.

Yet another charge from the back was nearly a winning one for debuting TPC Racing driver Mark Brummond who instead was robbed of a certain LB Cup-class victory and more in Saturday’s first race. After qualifying second for Saturday’s opener – in addition to winning the pole for Sunday’s race – Brummond’s No. 02 Tons of Gas Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo2 just missed the minimum ride-height rule in post-qualifying technical inspection.

Relegated to the back of Saturday’s overall starting field, Brummond joined his No. 21 teammates in racing through the field. He took the LB Cup lead before his mandatory pit stop and, after momentarily dropping to third, cycled back to the lead in the race’s closing minutes.

Unfortunately, the same one-lap dash restart to the finish that kept Reger from making a podium move was even costlier for Brummond. An LB Cup class competitor that took the restart a full four positions behind Brummond drastically overshot the turn leading onto the COTA backstraight and made heavy contact with the race-leading No. 02. Brummond was uninjured in the incident that not only cost him the Saturday race win but also sidelined his heavily damaged Lamborghini for Sunday’s race and took away a chance to convert the pole position into a victory.

Next up for TPC Racing on the IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo scheduled is the doubleheader at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), September 20 – 22, which is the final race weekend of the year in North America and the next to last event of the season.

Harris Levitas, TPC Racing Director of Race Operations: “The TPC Racing team did an amazing job. It was another long, hard and hot week at Circuit of The Americas, but we came in with two really solid cars. Our Lamborghinis were fast off the trailer. Nikko Reger did an amazing job in qualifying in Round 2, the car was good, and Shehan Chandrasoma and Nikko drove great. Unfortunately, Sunday’s results didn’t quite show for it after being taken out on lap one. We also came up just short on a podium with a late caution on Saturday, but all in all a competitive weekend in Pro-Am. Unfortunately, we had a post qualifying penalty that put Mark Brummond to the back of the field in Saturday’s race, but he charged his way forward. It was all going to plan, but on the final restart, Mark was taken out from the lead and unfortunately his car was too damaged to continue the weekend. I have to give Mark huge credit for being the car to beat in LB Cup for sure but sometimes things don’t work out like they should. We move on from here and see what the rest of the season holds for TPC Racing. We have to thank Lamborghini Austin, Lamborghini Squadra Corse for all of their support in the background, and really everybody at IMSA. It is a great series to be a part of, and we are very fortunate to be here.”

Nikko Reger, Driver, No. 21 TPC Racing/Lamborghini Austin Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo2: “It was a full-on rodeo out there all weekend. There was some drama at the beginning of Saturday’s race, some confusion about the start sequence and how to get to grid, and we were one of six or seven cars that had to start from the pits. We took it, Shehan drove an incredible stint, he really got us back in the fight. We had such a good car. We were fighting and we were fast. On Sunday, unfortunately, we got turned at the beginning of the race, we took it on the chin again and kept going. At that point I was at the back of the field, and I knew where all our friends were spectating, so I was just waving at them later under caution and having fun! Then when the green came out I was just charging as hard as I could, and I knew the TPC Racing guys were right there behind me. They put together an amazing car, and I was putting laps down whenever I had a clear track, and just kept charging through the field. For that last restart, we were just a little too far behind, but we did our best. On to the next one.”

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

Strong Showing for WTRAndretti Lamborghini Super Trofeo Stable at Circuit of the Americas

AUSTIN, Texas (September 1, 2024) — The Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) stable of four entries in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo (LST) North America Championship continued their season, returning to Circuit of the Americas (COTA) for the first time since 2021. WTRAndretti’s championship focused performance shown through on track as the team collected five wins and four poles across the PRO, PRO|AM, and AM classes throughout the Rounds 7 and 8 doubleheader, tightening the Championship title race in all classes.

Starting the weekend off with power, Danny Formal and Ryan Norman qualified their No. 1 WTRAndretti Lamborghini ST on pole position for both races of the doubleheader event. Starting the first race, Formal capitalized on the strong pace behind the wheel of the No. 1 and handed over the reins to Norman with the lead. Competition on track shifted around the running order but Norman stayed with earshot of the leaders. While attempting to overtake for the lead in the final laps, Norman made contact and cycled back to finish fourth in Race 1. With a fresh start for Race 2 on Sunday, Norman once again flexed the strength of the No. 1 car and created a key gap to pit and give the driver’s seat to Formal to finish out. Formal took and ran with the lead and was able to award the No. 1 pairing their second win of the season. Two solid top five class finishes at COTA keep the No. 1 team in the heat of the PRO Class Championship standings.

For Nate Stacy and Nick Persing, it was podium-perfect weekend as the pair in the No. 8 WTRAndretti ST captured the win in the PRO|AM classes in both races in the Lone Star State. Starting from pole position for the first race, Stacy dominated the opening half before trading places with Persing to control straight to victory lane. In Race 2, Persing qualified in second for the PRO|AM class, but was aggressive and intentional early to take over the lead in the class before pitting near the end of the mandatory pit window to put Stacy at the wheel. Stacy and the No. 8 WTRAndretti ST once again cycled to the front of the PRO|AM class and survived on-track action to bring home the win. With two class wins at COTA, Stacy and Persing have closed the gap to the PRO|AM Class Championship lead and are very much in contention heading into the final races of the year.

Graham Doyle and Ashton Harrison set their sights on the COTA weekend ready to capitalize on their momentum from the previous doubleheader at Watkins Glen. Despite qualifying seventh for Saturday’s Race 1, Doyle and Harrison showcased impressive pace on track and were able to avoid incidents on track to propel and fight their way into podium contention for the closing stages, ultimately finishing fourth in the AM class for the day. After an impressive forward progression in Race 1, Harrison and Doyle knew they have a strong car in their No. 10 DEX Imaging Lamborghini ST as they entered Race 2. Again, the No. 10 duo quickly found themselves in podium position again after the pit stop sequences. Unfortunately, a mechanical issue late in the race plagued their potential podium and the pair finished seventh in Race 2.

Anthony McIntosh and Glenn McGee saw a dominating weekend in their No. 69 Global Power Components Lamborghini ST as they collected the top step of the podium for both AM Class races. Like their WTRAndretti teammates, the No. 69 displayed blistering pace and strength on track all weekend long. For Saturday’s Race 1, a start from pole position for McIntosh opened the opportunity to run with the lead of the AM Class before passing off the driving duties to McGee. With the impressive speed and performance, McGee continued to hold the lead that McIntosh built all the way to the checkered flag to earn the victory. Ready to repeat the success from Saturday, McGee challenged for the AM Class lead early and was able to gain the lead once again. Capitalizing on the track position, McIntosh held strong the second of half of Race 2 and collected the second win on the weekend for the duo in the AM Class. As the season winds down, McGee and McIntosh are in full force to pressure for the lead of the AM Class Championship.
Next on the schedule for the WTRAndretti LST stable is the team’s home race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The final on-track Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America rounds on U.S. soil before the World Finals will take place on September 20-21, 2024.

Ryan Norman, No. 1 WTRAndretti LST (PRO): “Overall I think it was a good weekend here at COTA for the No.1 car. Danny and I were able to grab two points for grabbing both pole positions and even though we didn’t end the day yesterday how we should have with contact late in the race, we gained valuable points by grabbing the win today. The car was absolutely amazing and everyone on the team out there head down and worked so hard to give us the best opportunity. In Race 2, I made sure Danny had a lot of tire life and managed the gap behind in case of a yellow and he put in a beautiful drive pulling away to bring us the win. We are in the championship hunt, and Danny I will be pushing to continue chipping away at the points in Indianapolis. We had an incredible car there last year, so I’m feeling really good about the last few race weekends to close out the season.”

Danny Formal, No. 1 WTRAndretti LST (PRO): “What a weekend! The No. 1 WTRAndretti Lamborghini was just so fast this weekend. Race 1 we had a great lead at the beginning of my stint, but unfortunately, we couldn’t complete it, and we finished P4. Then in Race 2, Ryan – we’re going to call him ‘Never give up Ryan / Redemption Ryan.’ He did a fantastic stint and gave me a great car in the lead. I was able to extend the lead over 10 and half seconds and get my win number 20, breaking my record, all wins coming with WTRAndretti in the Pro class, feels so amazing. We also go home with the track record in qualifying and the track record in the race, so grateful and so proud of this WTRAndretti team. We’re back in the championship hunt behind the leaders. We’re going to Indy where Ryan’s extremely fast. We’re really motivated and the team is super motivated and super excited.”

Nate Stacy, No. 8 WTRAndretti LST (PRO|AM): “What an amazing weekend. Shoutout to everyone at WTRAndretti for working so hard all weekend and giving us the best equipment possible. Super happy to finally get the clean sweep! Nick and I have been chasing that all season and I’m glad we could deliver. As for Indy, I’m super optimistic as we have had some fantastic testing there recently and I think the race will be amazing for us!”

Nick Persing, No. 8 WTRAndretti LST (PRO|AM): “Amazing weekend for the team being able to take home wins in three classes. I’m just glad Nate and I were able to do our part in that. Our cars were fast the moment they got out of the trailer, so we capitalized on that, and Nate and I came away with the PRO|AM sweep this weekend.”

Graham Doyle, No. 10 DEX Imaging WTRAndretti LST (AM): “Another weekend in the books for the 2024 Super Trofeo season and another successful one at that. While we had a mechanical issue that stole away a podium position in the second race the weekend, as a whole, it was a true success. Ashton and I were able to move ahead in both races finishing with two good points positions. Looking ahead to Indy, I truly believe we will be able to display the true potential of our car and land on the podium!”

Ashton Harrison, No. 10 DEX Imaging WTRAndretti LST (AM): “I’m super proud of everyone at WTRAndretti with our Super Trofeo program. Clearly a lot of success this weekend and our engineering team is top notch and providing us with a setup that can be raced all times throughout the track. I’m so happy and thrilled for DEX Imaging because although we missed out on the podium both days, our car was a rocket. I’m just honored to be a part of this team and Graham did an incredible job. Podium contention today was taken from us due to a mechanical issue, but nonetheless, we showed pace, and we showed what our car is capable of doing. Clearly our WTRAndretti team is capable of winning.”

ABOUT WTRANDRETTI’S DRIVER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Wayne Taylor Racing, now with Andretti Global (#WTRAndretti), is a leader in sportscar racing, recognized worldwide for fielding championship winning racing efforts since 2007. WTRAndretti has run a stable of championship winning cars and drivers in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series for over half a decade, forming the basis of its Driver Development Program. Since its inception in 2015, the team has clinched eight North American PRO Driver, Team and Dealer Championship titles, fielded the first woman World Finals race winner and became the overall 2017 Champions at the World Finals in Imola, Italy. In addition to its Lamborghini Super Trofeo stable, WTRAndretti fields a two-car GTP program with it Championship winning No 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 and No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 effort as well as GTD program with the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2.

• Shehan Chandrasoma and Nikko Reger Motivated for More Victories on COTA Home Track Following First Win of the Season at Watkins Glen in June in the No. 21 Lamborghini Austin Lamborghini Huracan Evo2
• Mark Brummond Makes TPC Racing Debut in No. 02 Tons of Gas Auto Collection Lamborghini Huracan Evo2

AUSTIN, Texas (August 29, 2024) – A more than two month break between races has done little to diminish the podium and race-winning momentum TPC Racing and the No. 21 Lamborghini Austin Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo2 team, and co-drivers Shehan Chandrasoma and Nikko Reger, bring to a “home game” this weekend for an IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America doubleheader at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), August 30 – September 1.

On Friday and Saturday, June 21 – 22, TPC Racing and the Lamborghini Austin team broke through for their first all-podium and race-winning weekend in TPC’s first appearance at the Upstate New York Watkins Glen road course since 2022. The Glen Pro-Am class race win and podium sweep for Chandrasoma and Reger was their first in North American competition since the No. 21 duo paired up with TPC Racing a year ago. The No. 21 team and drivers won Friday’s first race at The Glen and followed it up with a third-place finish in Saturday’s second 50-minute sprint.

Now TPC Racing and its Texas-based drivers and Lamborghini dealership partner look for more podium and race-winning success in a city and on a track the No. 21 team drivers and their dealership partner call home. Chandrasoma and his family live in Austin while the Lamborghini Austin premier dealership obviously calls the Capital City of Texas home. Reger also helps keep Austin wheeled as a resident of South Austin.

The Glen victory was also the first for TPC, Chandrasoma and Reger since the final race of 2023 at Vallelunga, Italy, and a repeat win in either of this weekend’s races would be the first time TPC Racing and its drivers pulled off back-to-back race weekend wins in a season.

The TPC Racing onslaught at COTA also includes new team driver Mark Brummond bringing his LB Cup campaign over to the team for the remainder of the season. Brummond and his previous team actually paddocked under the TPC Racing awning at Watkins Glen where they secured second-place finishes in both weekend races. Now Brummond and his No. 02 Tons of Gas Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo2 will be fully entered and operated by TPC at COTA and beyond.

Despite missing the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca event in May, Brummond is still in the hunt in the LB Cup title race after The Glen runner-up showings and a victory in the opening race of the year in Sebring last March. He arrives in COTA tied for third place in the LB Cup championship standings, just three points behind the second place competitor.

A three-day race weekend, the COTA Super Trofeo schedule gets underway with morning and afternoon practice sessions on Friday. Saturday begins with qualifying at 9:30 a.m. CDT with the weekend’s first 50-minute race scheduled to start later that afternoon at 6:10 p.m. CDT. Sunday’s final race of the weekend is set to go green at 10:50 a.m. CDT.

Both races stream live on NBC’s online Peacock Network in the U.S. while international viewers can watch free flag-to-flag coverage on IMSA.TV.

Harris Levitas, TPC Racing Director of Race Operations: “We are really excited to get back to Circuit of The Americas. This will be our third trip there this year, and we have achieved a lot of success at that track in the past. We had the opportunity to run the Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo2 platform at COTA in Super Trofeo competition earlier this year, so I feel like we already have a bit of a head start despite missing the Lamborghini supported test at the track more recently. The team knows what direction to go in to get the drivers off to a good start to do well. We are coming off of a very good weekend at Watkins Glen, with a victory for Shehan Chandrasoma and Nikko Reger, and we hope to keep that momentum going. This is the home track for both Shehan and Nikko and, of course, the home track for Lamborghini Austin. We welcome Mark Brummond in the No. 02 entry, and we are very excited to have him under our tent for the remainder of the season. He has done extremely well in the LB Cup class, and I know with the right support behind him, and what we have available for him at TPC Racing, he will succeed.”

Shehan Chandrasoma, Driver, No. 21 TPC Racing/Lamborghini Austin Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2: “This is my home track and I grew up watching it built from dirt to what it is today. This now my third year in Super Trofeo and I am becoming stronger, enjoying the tracks and getting to know the car. We are working with the right team, a great car and, with my co-driver Nikko Reger, I’m looking forward to the rest of the 2024 season. Huge thank yous to TPC Racing, IMSA and Lamborghini Squadra Corse for putting such a great program and a great racing series together. We are looking forward to bringing a win home for all of my family and friends!”

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