Category: Other Series PR

Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3 No. 62:

Davide Rigon (ITA)
Daniel Serra (BRA)
Alessandro Pier Guidi (ITA)

(Braselton, Ga., October 12, 2024) … The No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3 finished on the podium in second place in GTD Pro class, at today’s 27th Annual Motul Petit Le Mans 10-hour race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, the final round of the season for IMSA.

Drivers for today’s action-packed race were Ferrari GT factory drivers Italian Davide Rigon, Brazilian Daniel Serra, and Italian Alessandro Pier Guidi, who joined them for this final round. All three drivers competed together with Risi Competizione last year at Petit Le Mans, where they finished third on the podium.

The Houston, Texas-based Ferrari team also finished second in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC) Championship, which they contested with all five endurance races this season. Risi Competizione trailed the winning team (Paul Miller Racing) by just two points, 43 to 41. The Risi Competizione team won the inaugural IMEC championship in 2022.

Although the team started today’s race from the 13th GTD Pro class position, their strategy to not pit during the first full course caution helped elevate them to second in class within the first 30 minutes of the race. They continued to run in the two positions most of the race, including leading many laps. There were a total of five cautions over the 10 hours with three within the first 90 minutes.

Serra clocked the team’s fastest lap in his final stint in the dark on Lap 388 out of a total of 413 laps with a time of 1:19.424.

The 2024 race stats for Risi Competizione this season included a class victory at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, a second-place finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring, 11th place at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, ninth at the 6 Hours of Indianapolis and another second-place finish at Petit Le Mans today.

Risi Competizione has celebrated an excellent history at Road Atlanta, having won the inaugural Petit Le Mans in 1998 with a Ferrari 333 SP. The team then collected additional victories in 2008 and 2009 with the Ferrari 430 GT, and then in 2016 and 2019 with the Ferrari 488 GTE.

Quotes:

Daniel Serra, driver, No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3:

“We tried to win the IMEC championship, but we just weren’t able, but it was our third podium in five races, so it’s been a very nice season. It’s always great to race with Risi and I’m happy for the team that we could do a nice season.”

Davide Rigon, driver, No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3:

“Well, I’m happy for the podium because for sure we didn’t expect to be so close in the end. We were surprised that we had a good performance, and I have to say it’s a pleasure to drive with Ale and Daniel and with a super team in Risi. We did a great job all together. We had a mistake on strategy, expecting a safety car in the fourth hour that didn’t come, so we missed the points for that segment of the (IMEC) championship. Then in the eighth hour we just missed being in P1 at the time mark for the IMEC points again so that was a disappointment. But looking at the race as a whole, we gave everything we had. I drove always on the lmit and the car was good and fun to drive. The championship was amazing, but I expected more. It was a positive season overall, especially with the Daytona victory, and we hope to get Petit Le Mans next year.”

Alessandro Pier Guidi driver, No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3:

“We tried to win the race and the IMEC championship and unfortunately, we couldn’t do it. We made some small mistakes at the fourth and eighth hour to get the points needed, but we still earned a podium which is a great result. Every time at Petit we show our performance. We began the year with the win at Daytona and finished it with a second place here, so it’s been a positive season and we can look forward to the future.”

Sponsors for the 2024 season for Risi Competizione include Pennzoil, Ferrari of Houston, OMP Racing and DEA.

Risi Competizione Team Principal, Giuseppe Risi, has not yet made any official announcements for plans for the 2025 race season.

For more information and social media about the team, please see www.risicompetizione.com and follow us on Facebook/RisiCompetizione and Twitter @RisiComp and on Instagram/RisiComp.

Jeremy Fletcher wins season finale race in a McCumbee McAleer Podium Sweep

BRASELTON, Ga. (Oct. 11, 2024) – The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin has its second repeat champion as Gresham Wagner (No. 5 McCumbee McAleer Racing) added the 2024 title to the first one he captured in 2021. His teammate and championship rival Jeremy Fletcher (No. 22 McCumbee McAleer Racing) won the final race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, but it wasn’t enough to surpass Wagner, who finished the race in third.

The podium for Round 14 was in fact a McCumbee McAleer sweep, with Nate Cicero (No. 83 McCumbee McAleer Racing) finishing second. All three drivers were in contention for the title and up against defending champion Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) and his teammate Aaron Jeansonne (No. 24 JTR Motorsports Engineering).

Cicero started from pole but had some extra time to prepare for the start when Woody Heimann (No. 82 JTR Motorsports Engineering) got into the wall on the pace lap. This required the field to remain behind the pace car for an additional 10 minutes while the car was removed.

When the race finally went green, Cicero and Wagner worked together at the front of the field and were quickly joined by Fletcher, but Jeansonne was also on the scene to break up the MMR party.

Fletcher was the race leader when a full-course yellow was issued to retrieve a car stuck in the Turn 10 gravel trap. Circulating for six laps under yellow was helpful for Fletcher, who received 10 bonus points for leading the most laps of the race.

He continued to lead after the restart and had his sights firmly set on a race win, while his teammates shuffled back and forth with JTR teammates, Thomas and Jeansonne. The continuous passing prevented any pack of cars from pulling away and resulted in a long train of a dozen cars ready to pounce on any mistake.

Fletcher made zero mistakes and drove it home for the victory, although the final lap was under full-course caution after a nasty accident for Jonathan Neudorf (No. 55 BSI Racing) in Turn One.

Even with the race win and most laps led, Fletcher was not able to overcome the point deficit created by his Round 13 DNF. He ends the season third in the championship standings, only 70 points out of the lead.

“I really wish I could go home and celebrate a championship and a win with the team like they deserve tonight at the banquet, but things were out of our hands yesterday,” Fletcher said. “I’m pretty sure we had second place locked-up coming out of that last corner, but contact was made. I just kind of shrugged it off and came out here and did what I do and did it for the team. And I did it for my sponsors, the Holster Store, McCumbee McAleer Racing, The Gun Store, Home Restoration Exchange, Mazda Motorsports, Flis Performance and everyone who puts this on for us. I’m just happy to get my third win of the season, and it really proves that I had the car to beat throughout the season. I just wish I could have gotten the championship, because I feel like things that were out of my control and out of the team’s control are what really cost us that championship.”

Cicero was able to get around Wagner in the final laps to take second. He ends his sophomore season fourth in the championship standings.

“You have to balance working with your teammates versus trying to be a little selfish,” Cicero said. “We were 1-2-3, which is an extremely difficult spot. Jeremy and I going into that race were tied on points and he ended up one spot in front of me. We just have such a strong team this year. We all knew how to work together and when to battle. It’s been an amazing team effort. I’m disappointed to be on the short end of the stick, but still, ending up fighting for the championship and a couple wins this year, I can’t complain too much, and that happiness will sink in.”

Winning his first MX-5 Cup Championship in 2021, Wagner becomes the second driver ever to score two MX-5 Cup titles.

“I wasn’t necessarily trying to win the race,” Wagner said. “I was just trying to be at the front. There was a bit of a gap in points between me and Nate [Cicero] and Jeremy [Fletcher], so as long as I was there helping them, I was all right, and I was more than happy to try my best to work together.

Along with the champion’s trophy, Wagner receives the grand prize of $250,000 from Mazda.

“Winning two [championships] is an elite club. I mean, it’s hard enough to win one. Jared [Thomas] got his back-to-back, but I had to wait a bit longer. At the same time, I think that speaks to how long I’ve been here and had success, and that’s something everyone wants, to keep doing it and still be at the top. I’m really happy I could say I was the best.”

Series newcomer Noah Harmon (No. 77 AAG Racing) had a strong race and scored his best result in MX-5 Cup by finishing fourth.

Finishing fifth in the race, Thomas, the 2022 and 2023 champion, was unable to make it a three-peat, but did end the season runner-up to Wagner in the points.

Westin Workman (No. 13 BSI Racing) finished seventh but had clinched the Rookie of the Year title with a fourth-place finish in Thursday’s race. His rookie title earns Workman a $80,000 check from Mazda.

All Mazda MX-5 Cup races from the 2024 season are available to view anytime on the RACER and IMSA YouTube channels.

Though the MX-5 Cup regular season is over, in two weeks’ time drivers will suit up for an exhibition race at Martinsville Speedway, the series’ first-ever oval race on October 26.

About: The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. The series has been operated by Andersen Promotions since 2017 and is currently sanctioned by IMSA. Mazda-powered grassroots champions can earn Mazda scholarships for this pro-level series. The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup awards more than $1 million in prizes and scholarships.

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

Providing Drivers, Engineers, and Mechanics Chances to Develop by Facing Challenges at the Pinnacle of Motorsports

Toyota City, Japan, Oct 11, 2024 – (JCN Newswire) – TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) and MoneyGram Haas F1 Team announced today that they have concluded a basic agreement on entering a technical partnership concerning MoneyGram Haas F1 Team vehicle development and collaborative efforts. Through this partnership, the two sides aim to contribute to the development of the automotive industry by creating an environment in which young Japanese drivers, engineers, and mechanics can gain experience and grow in the FIA Formula One World Championship (F1), the pinnacle of motorsports.

TGR continues to compete in motorsports to hone the three essential elements of car manufacturing: people, pipeline*, and product. In the “driver-first” carmaking strongly advocated by Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman Akio Toyoda, aka Morizo, cars are repeatedly broken and fixed in the arena of motorsports, and professional driver feedback is thoroughly incorporated into the development of production vehicles. In recent efforts to strengthen this approach, there is a growing need to enhance people by developing drivers, engineers, and mechanics, to effectively use the pipeline of data analysis and utilization, and to apply insights gained to products through vehicle development. Through the technical partnership announced today, TGR intends to further strengthen people and learn MoneyGram Haas F1 Team’s pipeline, which is one of the team’s strengths in F1, to accelerate the creation of ever-better motorsports-bred cars.

Specifically, the agreement entails the participation in MoneyGram Haas F1 Team test drives by TGR training drivers, engineers, and mechanics. This will enable the drivers to gain driving experience in F1, and it will allow the engineers and mechanics to learn how to analyze vast amounts of data, such as driving data, to effectively operate a pipeline for such at TGR. The agreement also entails the participation of TGR engineers and mechanics in MoneyGram Haas F1 Team racing car aerodynamics development to cultivate human resources―by having participants design and manufacture carbon-fiber parts in simulated extreme operational environments―who can play active roles on the front lines of the pinnacle of motorsports and reflect the technology and knowledge acquired in production vehicles.

Sharing a desire to contribute to motorsports and the automotive industry through human resource development, TGR and MoneyGram Haas F1 Team intend to continue their initiatives for strengthening their racing teams.

*The know-how and infrastructure for multi-point sharing of vast amounts of data, such as ongoing-race driving data, immediately analyzing such data, and promptly utilizing it in strategic planning for the race at hand

About Toyota

Toyota strives to be a strong corporate citizen, engaging with and earning the trust of its stakeholders, and to contribute to the creation of a prosperous society through all its business operations.

Our corporate principles form the basis of our initiatives, reflect values that enable action, and drive our mindset.

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Alex Sedgwick, Zachary Vanier Elias De La Torre and Madeline Stewart Searching For Wins, Solid Point Week as Season Approaches Finish Line

BRASELTON, Georgia (October 10, 2024) – JDX Racing has pulled its way into the home stretch of the 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup North America season with two cars in the top five of the standings and a visit for all four drivers to a track that is brand new to each of them, at least in a race setting.

Alex Sedgwick, Zachary Vanier, Elias De La Torre and Madeline Stewart visit Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta this week for Rounds 13 and 14 of the 16-race season. Sedgwick and Vanier sit second and fourth, respectively, in the Driver’s Championship with De La Torre ninth and Stewart 16th during her rookie campaign. As a support race for Saturday’s Petit Le Mans endurance race, Porsche Carrera Cup activities take place through the week. Practice began on Wednesday with a pair of sessions, with qualifying at 8:35 a.m. on Thursday morning and the first 40-minute race of the week at 5:05 p.m. EDT. Friday, October 11th’s race two is scheduled for a 10:55 a.m. EDT green flag.

Each race can be seen live at IMSA.tv or for subscribers on the Peacock streaming network.

JDX Racing Pre-Race News and Notes

• Sedgwick leads the way among the JDX Racing drivers, all of whom are on pace for career-best finishes in Porsche Carrera Cup. Though a challenging start to the season means Sedgwick and his No. 98 PT Autosport/Byers Imports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup needs some luck to catch the leader, he holds a 19-point gap over third place heading into Road Atlanta.
• Vanier was the Porsche Sprint Challenge champion in the 992 Porsche a season ago and earlier this season in Miami became the first person to win a race in both championships. A strong weekend in the No. 9 Technica Mining/Byers Imports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup at Road Atlanta would put him in position to climb as high as second in the standings at season’s end.
• De La Torre has already more than tripled his point total of 29 from a year ago, scoring 91 points to sit ninth in the current standings. His No. 4 HCB Yachts/iKon Boats/Porsche Columbus Porsche 911 GT3 Cup has crossed the line for a top-five finish twice this season, at his home race of Miami and again at Road America.
• Stewart’s No. 82 Spool Imports/Byers Imports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in each of the past four races and in five of the past seven, showing her improvement as her rookie season has marched along. The strength of that run has allowed her to climb to 16th in the competitive field.
• In addition to the individual driver’s championship, JDX sits second in the Entrant Standings, 35 points behind the leaders.
• JDX Racing is no stranger to the track. The last time Porsche Carrera Cup visited Road Atlanta for a doubleheader in 2022, JDX Racing earned gold with Parker Thompson behind the wheel.
• This is the first official race visit to Road Atlanta for all four of the JDX drivers. Each participated in a test day prior to the weekend in preparation, however.
• Despite never racing there before, both Sedgwick and Stewart were quick to declare Road Atlanta among their “new favorite tracks” after the test.
• Team Principal Jeremy Dale is making a return to the race track this week while recovering from heart surgery early in the summer.
• The opening practice session on Wednesday was a success for all four JDX Racing drivers. Sedgwick was second, Vanier fourth, De La Torre 10th and Stewart 12th overall in FP1. De La Torre went even quicker in FP2, jumping to eighth overall in the combined results.

JDX Racing Quote Board

Alex Sedgwick, Driver, No. 98 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup: “We had a very strong test last week so it’s good to be going in with some recent knowledge, albeit a track I have not yet raced on. I think most of the front runners are in a similar boat so it will be interesting to see who figures it out first. We have done very well this season on the tracks with limited practice, so I feel good about it. We’re going to try to get another win, but above that we need to have a solid weekend and finish the year strong.”

Madeline Stewart, Driver, No. 82 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup: “Road Atlanta is my new favorite track. It’s a race I’ve looked forward to ever since I saw the schedule. It’s an exciting track to drive, and very high speed. I had a great couple of days testing and feel like I really made progress learning the track. I’m sure that will continue to evolve throughout race week and I’m looking forward to a couple of great races.”

Elias De La Torre, Driver, No. 4 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup: “Heading into the penultimate round of the championship we are recovering from a mixed weekend in Indy and are building off of the positives we left with. Arter our test here at Road Atlanta we had much positive feedback and runtime improvements that are trending us in a good direction. Now that we’re back again with the team, it’s time to put it all together and show what we are capable of.”

About JDX Racing:

Founded in 2008 and based outside of Denver, CO, JDX Racing represents the very best in professional motorsports. Competing in the IMSA sports car series, JDX Racing campaigns cars in events throughout North America. JDX Racing features world-class drivers, outstanding crew members and dynamic marketers from Champ Car, IndyCar, NASCAR, ALMS and the Champ Car Atlantic Championship series. For more information, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/jdxracing, on Twitter @JDXRACING and on Instagram @jdxracing.

Young Texan Targeting top three in F2 Championship to close 2024 and prepares for additional F1 outings and more

HOUSTON, TX (9 Oct. 2024) –While the FIA Formula 2 schedule takes a two month break between races, there has been no slowing down for aspiring American Formula 1 driver Jak Crawford, who has confirmed plans to return to F2 with his Lucas Oil DAMS Racing team for the 2025 season.

Crawford currently holds fifth in the F2 championship standings, and is looking to make a strong closeout of the year to move to third in the overall title standings in the final two events of the season.

“We look forward to finishing the season strong,” said the 19 year old Texan racer. “We are close to our top three goal, but we have never competed for the top spot. The new car just didn’t work for us at enough places this year, but we are hopeful we can turn it around with two race weekends to go.”

The new for 2024 F2 car created engineering challenges up and down the paddock. DAMS has been tested to be consistent from weekend to weekend, especially in qualifying.

“With DAMS, we are going to come back stronger in 2025,” said Crawford. “I have never been in a team for two years in a row, and we are determined as a group to win the championship in 2025. Racing is a team sport, not an individual sport. We will do it together and it will be rewarding.”

Beyond his F2 schedule, Crawford has continued to make progress on his ultimate ambition, to race in Formula 1. Having adapted quickly in his multiple outings behind the wheel of the 2022 Aston Martin Aramco 2022 F1 car, Crawford is looking forward to his upcoming F1 car outings as the season ends.

“Of course the highlights of the year have been the time in the F1 car, and there is still more to come with a couple of additional opportunities for me yet in 2024.”

Jak has been involved even more with Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team than anticipated coming in to the season, as the squad has tapped into his strong contributions in the sim, as well as expanding his role with the commercial marketing support for the growing team.

“I have found a great new home at Aston Martin Aramco and for 2025, and into 2026 we will continue to add extensive F1 sim time while building on the commercial relationships, especially in the USA as we end the year,” said Crawford.

Beyond the confirmation of his return to Formula 2 next season, there are some additional exciting future announcements to come before his return to race action in Lusail, Qatar in November.

“I have been chasing F1 since I was 12 years old and we are close now and not going to give up now,” said Crawford, who has also grown his management team. “I will continue to build on my professionalism and take on short term pro driver opportunities that don’t get in the way of my F1 future.”

Crawford is staying put for 2025 but also making some big internal changes. Having left the Red Bull program following last season, decision making was purposely slowed down, but now with sound footing found there are various support personnel changes that have occurred.

“I have another year promised with Aston Martin Aramco. Maybe I will find an F1 opportunity with them, or maybe not, said Crawford. “One change we made is bringing in Harry Soden and the team at Infinity Sports Management to assist with how I can be on the F1 grid as early as 2026, but no later than 2027.”

As the pace continues for Crawford, he continues to keep his eyes on his ultimate goal and will look to make more progress as he eyes the upcoming outing for F2 in Qatar on November 1.

Wins and series vice championship finish is the goal for the sophomore team as they head to the Porsche Carrera Cup North America’s penultimate event

MILLVILLE, NJ (October 8, 2024) – PT Autosport with JDX Racing and driver Alex Sedgwick head to the penultimate Porsche Carrera Cup North America this weekend with a clear set of goals in mind: finish the season strong, add to the win column, and capture a hard-fought second place in the series championship.

For Sedgwick, who earned two podium finishes in the Carrera Cup weekend three weeks ago at Indianapolis behind the wheel of the No. 98 PT Autosport Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Car, and competed in the Porsche Endurance Challenge by Yokohama two weeks ago at Sonoma Raceway, a recent test at Road Atlanta completed the clean sweep – recalibrating the 25-year-old Warwickshire, UK native’s top three favorite U.S. racetracks.

“Road Atlanta definitely became one of my top three US tracks,” said Sedgwick. “Indy was already up there, and Sonoma has been added as well! The Road Atlanta test went really well. I got up to speed with the track reasonably quickly – I’d had a conversation with Parker Thompson (2022 Carrera Cup champion with JDX Racing) earlier in the year that gave me some insights from someone who had been there for the first time previously in a Cup Car and he warned that it might take a bit of time to get up to speed. So to have hit the ground running and make the most of the test session hopefully bodes well. We had good pace and tried a few wildly different things with setup, and it seemed like a few different things that we might not have expected to work actually worked quite well. We’re looking forward to getting out there.”

The Carrera Cup title might be out of reach, but Sedgwick is focused on finishing second in the title chase and continuing to earn the notice of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship teams looking for a solid FIA Silver-ranked driver for their 2025 lineup.

“It’s important for me to continue to prove that I can compete here and am ready to move up for the 2025 season,” said Sedgwick. “I’m hopeful that my performances to date, as well as a strong finish to the season, will put me in a good spot to move forward in my career. This is of course all down to the support of PT Autosport, with a large part of the project being to collectively advance both my career and the awareness and presence of PT Autosport across the professional motorsport landscape. I would not be where I am at this point without PT, and I intend to keep working hard to ensure we meet our shared goal of being part of an IMSA entry in the very near future.

As PT Autosport team principal Jason Myers details, the team plans to continue the fight down to the final checkered flag – and beyond.

“We’re very excited to see Alex race at Road Atlanta for the first time,” said Myers. “He did well here during the test days and is confident in the car JDX has given him. Also, it’s a steep slope but he’s still within theoretical reach of the championship, though the leader is an amazing opponent, hasn’t put a wheel wrong this entire year and still has a commanding lead. We believe in Alex and know he will fight until the last lap of the last race at COTA in a couple weeks’ time. We are really proud of the season he has run this year and we’ve got more than a few pending deals on the table for 2025 – it’s just deciding which one is best for alignment with progressing Alex’s career and with PT Autosport and our partners.”

PT Autosport would like to thank partners STEAM Sports Foundation, Classic Car Club Manhattan and New Jersey Motorsports Park, as well as JDX Racing partners Byers/Porsche Columbus, and Renier Construction.

The Porsche Carrera Cup North America series will contest two races at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Race one takes the green flag at 5:05 p.m. Thursday, with race two Friday at 10:55 a.m. ET. The races will be broadcast live in the U.S., on IMSA.tv, the NBC Peacock streaming app and PorscheCarreraCup.us.

About PT Autosport — Discover Unique Talent. Develop Champions.

PT Autosport, based at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ, campaigns rising star Alex Sedgwick (UK) in the 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup North America series with JDX Racing, 2022 Aspiring Driver Shootout winner Henry Drury (UK) in the Toyota GR Cup North America series with Precision Racing LA.

PT Autosport is dedicated to providing merit-based motorsport industry opportunities for diverse individuals with high integrity, grit, and coach-ability, achieved through a development program for young aspiring drivers, engineers, mechanics, and other professionals. The first step of this process is applying for the annual Aspiring Driver Shootout, in which aspiring drivers aged 18-23 can compete for a team racing partnership with the team.

A rigorous evaluation process of applicants determines the final competitors for the driver shootout. The winner earns financial support of up to $250,000 ($50,000 guaranteed) to pursue their racing career. The review process also provides the team the chance to identify unique talent for other roles in motorsport, including race engineers, mechanics, and professionals.

PT Autosport is building a community that fosters the development of young talent to find a place where they can make an impact in the motorsport community as a career.

PT Autosport social media

Instagram: @pt_autosport
TikTok: @ptautosport
Twitter: @PtAutosport
Facebook: PT Autosport
YouTube: PT Autosport

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., (October 8, 2024) – Sunday evening in Indianapolis at the SRO America end-of-the-year awards banquet, Flying Lizard Motorsports concluded their three-series championship efforts with the prestigious award of GT3 Crew of the Year, also with driver Damir Hot receiving the Rookie of the Year award.

“Running multiple cars in multiple classes made for an extremely busy 2024 season,” said Program Manager Darren Law. “Although we did not come away with a championship this year, we had multiple podiums and have great momentum as we go into the offseason. We already have a busy winter testing schedule set up and look forward to the start of the 2025 season.”

The season-finale weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway held five races for the Lizard’s four cars, beginning with the team’s two-car entry in the GT America series. Jason Bell concluded his first season in the GT3 ranks of the amateur-rated series with a strong fifth-place finish to add to his two podiums, bringing him to a total of four top-five results in his rookie GT3 racing season.

Damir Hot led the team charge in GT America’s GT4 class, finishing his rookie season with a pair of podium finishes, and closing the year out with a season-best result of second place. Racing the No. 5 Nissan Z, he once again picked up the Hard Charger award, given to the competitor who gains the most positions during a race. He finished in the top three for all four of his GT America races in 2024, earning the Rookie of the Year title at Sunday’s award banquet.

In GT4 America, Hot and co-driver Baptista showed great promise in the pair of 60-minute GT4 America races, but the cautions failed to play into the hands of the Nissan, though the pair closed out the season with a fifth-place result. With three podiums and an additional three top-five results, the pair showed a strong debut together in their first season of their GT4 America effort.

The Lizards had high hopes for their No. 8 BMW M4 GT3 in the weekend’s headlining Indianapolis 8 Hour. Drivers Elias Sabo and Andy Lee were joined by BMW works driver Nick Yelloly for their first endurance race as a pair, after only just a handful of races in their new BMW. The No. 8 entry showed great pace in the practice sessions, however, a mechanical issue during the race set the team back many laps in the first half of the race. Still eager to learn more about the machine and make the most of the track time, the Lizards continued the event, determined to finish what they started, completing the first Indianapolis 8 Hour for Sabo and Lee.

The team behind Bell’s No. 2 Aston Martin GT3 entry and Sabo’s Aston Martin and BMW GT3 racing effort earned the Phoenix-based team the GT3 Crew of the Year award, as voted by their peers.

Though Todd Parriott’s GT4 racing efforts, along with Tom Dyer, were not racing at the Speedway last weekend, the pair contributed to the Lizard’s success over the course of the 2024 season. Altogether, the team earned 10 podium finishes and 27 top-five results. After 20 years of racing, the team continues to grow, racing as many as seven entries in one weekend under the SRO America umbrella. Plans are already well underway for the 2025 season, which will be announced at a later date.

About Flying Lizard Motorsports

Based out of Sonoma, California, Flying Lizard Motorsports is one of the most iconic sports car teams in motorsports, having celebrated ten driver and team championships, as well as competed internationally at the 24 Hours of Le Mans eight times.

The Lizards burst on the American Le Mans Series scene in 2004, competing in the GT class until 2012. In 2013, the team moved to the GTC class, still competing in legendary events such as the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Daytona. In 2014, the team expanded its program to include running two Audi R8 LMS in the TUDOR Championship, and in 2015, again expanded the program to include two Porsches in Porsche Club racing. Flying Lizard closed out the season with a dominating win at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill with Toyo Tires, a win they repeated in 2016, 2017, and 2018. The 2020 season proved the team’s most successful to date, earning four titles in the GT4 America championship. Flying Lizard Motorsports has proven to be a championship contender no matter the race series or race car. For more information, visit lizardms.com.

About 5.11
With offices around the globe, 5.11 ABR Corp. and its subsidiaries, including 5.11, Inc., work with end users to create purpose-built apparel, footwear and gear designed specifically to enhance the safety, accuracy, speed, and performance of tactical professionals and technical enthusiasts worldwide. 5.11 products exceed rigorous standards, which have allowed the brand to establish a reputation for innovation and authenticity, and become the premier choice for those who always have to be ready. 5.11 products can be purchased online, through authorized dealers and retailers, as well as at 5.11 company-owned retail stores.

Learn more about 5.11’s best-selling gear and accessories at www.511tactical.com. Find a full list of 5.11 company-owned retail stores at https://www.511tactical.com/locations/. Connect with 5.11 on Facebook, Twitter @511Tactical and on Instagram @511Tactical and #511tactical

5.11 ABR Corp. is a subsidiary of Compass Diversified (NYSE: CODI).

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About Apex Motor Club

Apex Motor Club is Arizona’s premier motorsports club located just 35 miles southwest of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and the only private motorsports club located within a major metropolitan area. APEX is the ultimate country club for automotive enthusiasts where car culture, racing and country club lifestyles converge. Enjoy an hour of track time in your latest acquisition, drive off track, into your privately-owned garage and join like- minded enthusiasts in the clubhouse for food, beverages, and activities.

To learn more about the newest racing circuit in the country, visit https://apexmotorclub.com

KENLY, N.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – INEX Bandolero Bandit North Carolina State championship leader Delaney Gray earned her 21st victory of the season Sunday and it was a big one for her and her family.

In her 22nd attempt, Gray earned her first Southern National Motorsports Park overall Bandolero victory Sunday. By doing so, she joined her father Brandon Gray as a main event winner at the four-tenths-mile oval.

The win was her second of the weekend after Gray was credited with winning in the Bandolero Bandit division on Saturday at New River All American Speedway.

“There is so much work and emotion that went into this,” said Brandon Gray. “Delaney always wanted to win at Southern National because this is where I had so much success during my racing career. I’m so proud of Delaney and I’m so thankful for everything that Blaise Brinkley and Zach Darden do to help make this possible.”

Her 21st victory of the season has allowed Delaney to further pad her lead in the INEX Bandolero Bandit North Carolina State standings, which she hopes to clinch in the near future.

“It means a lot to me that I was able to win at Southern National just like my dad,” Delaney Gray said. “It’s really cool and special to me. I think it was just so amazing to win there. I know it means just as much to my dad too.”

Delaney would like to thank her family and all of her sponsors, including Carolina Family Pool & Patio, MPM Marketing, Bob’s Muffler Shop of Goldsboro, W.G. Speeks Inc., Carolina Mobile Refrigeration, K1 RaceGear and Swift Springs.

About McCallister Precision Marketing

McCallister Precision Marketing (MPM) focuses on assisting up-and-coming race car drivers with career advancement and promotion. McCallister Precision Marketing helps drivers build confidence in front of and behind the camera, giving them the tools they need to advance to the next level. The company also provides companies with a strategic plan for their sales, marketing and promotional needs. We believe in building positive relationships with our clients so that we may provide them with the most professional, yet personal guidance they need, in order to achieve their racing goals. Our clients include race car drivers, race team owners, companies and racing series’. We also work closely with charities and charity events. For more information on McCallister Precision Marketing, visit www.MarketWithMPM.com, email TonyaMac44@MarketWithMPM.com or call 803-361-6199.