Category: Other Series PR

The Trio of RAFA Racing Sprint Challenge Drivers Will Drive a Fan-Designed Grid Finder Livery on the Championship Winning Porsche Cayman at Circuit of the Americas

AUSTIN, Texas (November 4, 2024) – Taking “Race As Family Always” to heart, RAFA Racing by JDX has unveiled the driver line-up for the Porsche Endurance Challenge North America finale at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), November 22-24.

Porsche Sprint Challenge series regulars Ian Porter, Caroline Candas and Rafael Martinez will team up in a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport for the first-ever six-hour race, which takes place at RAFA Racing’s home track of COTA. All of the RAFA Racing by JDX drivers are in either their first or second year of competition, foregoing any true experienced, professional drivers eligible to drive in the race.

The trio has had their successes, however. Porter captured the Porsche Sprint Challenge Cayman Pro-Am championship this season in the same car that will be driven in the endurance race, and currently sits in a tie atop the Endurance Challenge standings. The three-time Call of Duty World Champion and X Games medalist earned 10 wins in 14 races during the Sprint Challenge season on his way to a dominant season. Porter won the Road America round of the Porsche Endurance Challenge driving solo.

Running just behind him in many of those cases, and taking a pair of wins of her own, was Candas. The French driver joined RAFA Racing a year ago following her success at the RAFA Racing Female Driver Development Shootout and finished second in the Porsche Sprint driver standings. In addition to her two wins, Candas finished second to her teammate Porter on six different occasions.

Martinez jumped into the deep end as a driver during the 2024 season, competing in both Porsche Sprint Challenge and the SRO GT4 European Series Championship. The transition included new tracks, as this season marked the first as a driver in the States for the El Salvador-born driver and entrepreneur. Martinez co-drove to the podium in the GT4 European Series round at Hockenheim.

The trio will drive the No. 86 Porsche Cayman that Porter piloted to his season-long championship. Paige Morales, the team’s fourth Porsche Sprint Challenge driver in 2024, will join the trio and the team on site for additional and welcome off-track support and duties, though she will not be driving in the six-hour race.

That car will have a different look than the orange and white he drove during the season, thanks to partner Grid Finder. Grid Finder offered a livery competition to users of the platform with the opportunity to turn a virtual livery into the same one used in real life. The winner of the contest, and the look of the car during the six-hour endurance race, will be unveiled in the coming days.

The Texas-based RAFA Racing return to their home track of COTA for the event, which begins with a test day and pit stop practice on Friday, November 22. Saturday features two more practices, followed by qualifying, with the race scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST on Sunday, November 24. The race can be seen live on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube channel at YouTube.com/@PorscheMotorsportNorthAmerica.

RAFA Racing by JDX Quote Board

Caroline Candas, Driver: “Ian, Rafa and I have pushed each other all year, and now we get to do that in the same car. It will be my first real endurance race at six hours and I’m really exited about this because it’s my target for the future! We know the car and COTA so I think we can go really fast. This is an exciting way to finish a really awesome season with my RAFA Racing teammates.”

Ian Porter, Driver: “This is what I would consider my first true endurance race, and I’m really excited to drive it with Caroline and Rafa. There’s a lot to look forward to, including trying to stack up against the pro drivers and doing it at our home track. Grid Finder stepped up with the livery contest in a way that just brings us closer to our fans. We can’t unveil it yet, but it’s going to be the best looking car on the grid and hopefully at the end of the race in victory lane.”

Rafael Martinez, Driver: “We started this season with Ian and Caroline and I at Sebring in separate cars and I’m really looking forward to finishing it with all three of us in together to see how well we can do. We ‘Race As Family Always’ but this time it’s all in the same car and that makes this really special. Grid Finder helped us expand this weekend to include our racing family that isn’t always at the track with us and we’re going to have a fantastic livery because of that. The number one goal for a race like this will be to keep it clean, and if we can do that we’ll be in contention at the end.”

About RAFA Racing Club:

RAFA Racing, utilizing the motto “Race As Family Always,” is a motorsports club and race team founded by and made for high-performance auto drivers, supporters, and fans of all types. Started by Rafael Martinez, the Club aims to create a space for high-performance car enthusiasts to enjoy like-minded individuals, network and share ideas on and off the track, and bond as one team with a common interest. The RAFA Racing Team made its debut in 2023 with a runner-up finish in the McLaren Trophy Europe Series, and expands that footprint to include Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and SRO GT4 Europe in 2024. The Club’s off-track presence can be felt on social media and beyond, including YouTube, Instagram and Facebook and at RafaRacing.Club.

Team: Low Country Motorsports
Series: World Racing League
Date of Event: November 9th & 10th
Location: Sebring International Raceway

Mooresville, NC (November 4th, 2024) – Low Country Motorsports is excited to announce that Landen Lewis and Isaac Kitzmiller will be joining AJ Frank for the upcoming World Racing League event at Sebring, November 9th and 10th. While endurance racing is a new challenge for both Lewis and Kitzmiller, they bring valuable road course experience, with Lewis transitioning from Legend Cars to the ARCA West series with great success and Kitzmiller excelling in the Legend Cars. Team owner and co-driver AJ Frank believes that their addition will strengthen the team, having previously collaborated with Lewis in the Late Model forum alongside the KHI team “Working with Landen this year on the KHI Late Model team I was very impressed,” said AJ. He continued, “Seeing his abilities across the board and being able to win in any type of vehicle was a big part in my decision.”

Landen Lewis showcased his impressive road course skills last year at Portland International Raceway, where he clinched a victory in the ARCA Series West. This achievement highlights his potential and determination as he prepares to take on new challenges in endurance racing. With his proven track record, Lewis is poised to make a significant impact alongside his teammates at the upcoming event. “I’m really excited about getting in this car again,” said Lewis. “When I tested it a couple weeks ago it was a blast, just like Ron Hornaday, Jr. told me. This racing is just a way different style of racing. I feel like you just have to pace yourself and just make all the laps. Working with AJ will be awesome. AJ and I have worked together before but on the Late Model team that I race for and we actually got a win already together, so I’m really looking forward to working with him again.”

Bringing on 15 year old Isaac Kitzmiller was a strategic move for the team. His experience and talent in the Legend Cars make him a valuable addition as they prepare for the challenges of endurance racing. Kitzmiller’s skills will complement the team’s dynamics, enhancing their overall performance on the track. The combination of his expertise and the team’s commitment sets the stage for him. “I’ve been watching Isaac through Team Hornaday Development and very impressed with his progression in a very short amount of time,” AJ said. “Along with the support from Candice and Ron and all at Hornaday Development as well as the relationship between him and Landen, it’s just a perfect fit.” Isaac Kitzmiller and Landen Lewis have worked together over the past two years in the U.S. Legend Cars, forming a strong bond and mutual respect both on and off the track. Their familiarity with each other’s driving styles and teamwork will be a significant advantage as they transition to endurance racing. “I am super excited to make my debut endurance road course racing at Sebring,” stated Kitzmiller. “It is a type of racing and in a type of car that I have never done before. I believe that this is a great spot to show my talent on a road course. Joe Ryan Racecars has helped me so much, from karting to racing a legend car. I am really excited to get the chance to work with Landen Lewis and AJ Frank. They both are really talented and have a lot of experience on a road course. I can’t wait to see all the things I can learn from them.”

GENERAL EVENT INFORMATION:

Date: Sat. Nov. 9th / Sun. Nov. 10th

Track information — Sebring International Raceway – 3.27 miles, 17 turns, Clockwise

Event Type — Test + 8h + 7h

Broadcast — Driver’s Eye Live, Flag to Flag– On YouTube.com

Team Hornaday Development:

Founded in 2022 by Candice Hornaday, daughter of NASCAR Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday Jr., is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of racing talent. THD specializes in guiding drivers through various levels, including Go-Karts, Legend Cars, Late Models, and ARCA, as they strive to reach the NASCAR ranks. For more information, visit their website www.TeamHornadayDevelopment.com.

AUSTIN, Texas (November 3, 2024) – Bruno Ribeiro won the Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) season finale at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) on Saturday afternoon. Earning IGY6 Motorsports their first-ever FR Americas victory, Ribeiro accomplished the feat during his debut weekend.

Notes of Interest:

• Making his debut this weekend at COTA, Bruno Ribeiro won in just his second FR Americas start.
• Brady Golan earned his first-career podium in FR Americas with a runner-up finish in Saturday’s race.
• Nicole Havrda earned her fourth podium of 2024 with a third-place result in Round 19 at COTA. She previously finished third at Road America (twice) and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
• Three teams were represented on the podium with IGY6 Motorsports earning their first-ever FR Americas win, Toney Driver Development earning their first podium with a second-place result, and Crosslink Kiwi finishing third.
• Completing her debut weekend in open-wheel racing, Hailie Deegan finished 10th in Round 19 at COTA to earn her first points in FR Americas. Deegan will race fulltime in INDY NXT next season.
• Earning his first FR Americas win in his debut weekend, Bruno Ribeiro was awarded the Omologato Perfectly-Timed Move of the Race and recognized by the stewards for an outstanding performance this weekend. The award includes a bespoke Omologato timepiece.
• Patrick Woods-Toth is the 2024 FR Americas Driver Champion, beating Vice Champion Ryan Shehan by 106.5 points. Jett Bowling finished third in the standings, just 1.5 points behind Shehan.
• Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport won the 2024 FR Americas Team Championship with 16 wins, 43 podiums and eight podium sweeps in 19 rounds.

With rain passing through the area just before the lights went out, drivers had a choice to start the race on Hankook racing slicks or rain tires. With everyone electing slicks, drivers had to be cautious during the opening laps. Titus Sherlock (No. 31 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) led the field down the starting grid with Brady Golan (No. 80 Toney Driver Development Ligier JS F3) to his outside. Racing in his hometown, Austinite Golan got a clean jump off the grid and led the field through Turn 1. Sherlock stayed close to Golan’s rear wing as they raced through the esses, while third-place starter Jett Bowling (No. 02 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) and fourth-place starter Bruno Ribeiro (No. 3 IGY6 Motorsports / Save22 Ligier JS F3) raced side by side behind them. Bowling slid on the wet course, while Golan, Sherlock and Ribeiro engaged in a fierce battle for the lead. Swapping positions multiple times during the opening circuit, it was Sherlock who led the first two laps. With such close racing out front, Nicolas Ambiado (No. 55 LIQUI MOLY Ligier JS F3) and Hayden Bowlsbey (No. 22 IGY6 Motorsports / Save22 Ligier JS F3) were able to pull up and join the fight, but the close racing led to contact between Ambiado and Bowlsbey sending both drivers spinning in Turn 2. The two recovered and continued on the circuit, which allowed the race to stay under green-flag conditions and the top-three drivers to continue a fierce battle for the lead.

Ribeiro was finally able to break away to control the race, while Sherlock and Golan fought for second behind him. At the same time, Cole Kleck (No. 11 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) was fighting forward after starting the race from the last position after a failed transponder in Friday’s race left him with no official lap times. Moving up to ninth by the completion of the first lap, Kleck was already in fourth by Lap 3. As the race neared its halfway point, Kleck pulled up to join the battle for second, taking the position just before a full-course yellow.

The race restarted with 10 minutes left on the clock, and Ribeiro once again led the field. Kleck initially held second, but Golan was determined to get the runner-up position. With a drag race down the straightaway, Golan and Kleck ran wheel to wheel through Turn 12 with Golan finally able to claim the position through the next turn. As the clock ticked down, the top three started to spread apart with each holding approximately a two-second advantage over the next.

As they crossed the finish line, Ribeiro led the way, followed by Golan in second and Kleck in third.

Following the race, a series of Stewards Decisions resulted in penalties that adjusted the finishing order. Drivers receiving a penalty, included:

• Cole Kleck: 10-second penalty, moving him to seventh
• James Lawley (No. 77 Kartbahn Racing Ligier JS F3): five-second penalty, moving him to fifth
• Titus Sherlock: five-second penalty, moving him to sixth
• Jett Bowling: 30-second penalty

“I want to thank IGY6 Motorsports, they gave me a great car for this race,” said Ribeiro after climbing from the car. “It was a bit hectic yesterday and we didn’t have the best results. There was too much fighting for position, but today I felt like I could capitalize on that. I knew that overdriving wouldn’t get me anywhere, so I just needed to get my exits right and my entries right. As soon as people started fighting, I just got away and was able to get the win, so I’m happy.”

FR Americas returns for the 2025 season at NOLA Motorsports Park, March 27-30. Prospective drivers looking to learn more about FR Americas should visit the series’ website, FRAmericas.com. Additional news and updates throughout the off-season will be shared on the series’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

AUSTIN, Texas (November 3, 2024) – In his debut weekend, Sacha van’t Pad Bosch put on a clinic in the Ligier JS F4 Series (JS F4) at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) on Saturday afternoon. After a technical infraction in Race 2 disallowed his time and sent him to the back of the lineup for Race 3, the Dutch driver drove through the field enroute to victory in the final race of the 2024 season.

Notes of Interest:

• At just 14 years old, Sacha van’t Pad Bosch earned his first-career win during his Ligier JS F4 Series debut weekend. Newly transitioned from gokarts, the COTA SpeedTour also marked van’t Pad Bosch’s first race in America.
• With three podiums at COTA, including a runner-up finish in Race 3, Teddy Musella earned the 2024 Driver Championship in F4 U.S.
• Harbir Dass tied his career-best finish with a third-place result in Race 3 at COTA. He previously finished third at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Round 11.
• In their debut weekend, Takumi Numata and Caleb Campbell both scored top-five finishes.
• Sacha van’t Pad Bosch was awarded the Omologato Perfectly-Timed Move of the Race and presented a bespoke Omologato timepiece in recognition of a strong performance during his debut weekend, which included his first-career win.
• Teddy Musella won the 2024 JS F4 Driver Championship with a 51.5-point margin over Vice Champion Kekai Hauanio.
• Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport won the 2024 JS F4 Team Championship after recording nine wins and 18 podiums this season.

As the field rolled down the starting grid, Scuderia Buell teammates split the field—Teddy Musella (No. 25 Scuderia Buell Ligier JS F4) led out front, while Sacha van’t Pad Bosch (No. 27 Scuderia Buell Ligier JS F4) brought up the rear. Musella pulled to the front of the pack through Turn 1, and behind him, Leonardo Escorpioni (No. 26 Champagne Racing Ligier JS F4) got a great start from third to immediately apply pressure to second-place starter Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N.E.Where Transportation / New’T Racing Ligier JS F4). With Musella pulling away, Drew Szuch (No. 28 Szuch Racing Ligier JS F4) and Harbir Dass (No. 23 Berg DMG Racing Ligier JS F4) pulled up to join the battle for second. Further back in the pack, van’t Pad Bosch was climbing through the field—up to 11th after the first lap, eighth after two laps, and into fifth as the race neared its halfway point.

Up front, Hauanio dove into Turn 11, initially outbreaking Musella to take the race lead, but leading to a three-wide battle between himself, Musella and Escorpioni racing down the long straightaway. Escorpioni held the preferred lane into Turn 12 to overtake the lead. The three continued to jockey for the top position for the next several minutes while van’t Pad Bosch pulled up to fourth. With just 10 minutes left on the clock, Escorpioni and Hauanio made contact at the exit of Turn 12 with both cars spinning. While Musella had to go wide to avoid the incident, van’t Pad Bosch was in the perfect place to capitalize on the mistake and take the race lead as the full-course caution was displayed.

A few minutes later, the field returned to green as the white flag also waved, giving competitors a one-lap dash to the finish. Van’t Pad Bosch had a great launch, solidly taking command of the race before contact further back in the field left two cars stopped on the circuit and once again brought out a full-course caution.

As they crossed the finish line, van’t Pad Bosch took the checkered flag, followed by Szuch, Musella, Dass and Takumi Numata (No. 17 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4).

Following the race, a series of Stewards Decisions resulted in penalties that adjusted the finishing order. Drivers receiving a penalty, included:

Drew Szuch (No. 28 Szuch Racing Ligier JS F4): five-second penalty, moving him to seventh
Conor Grant (No. 10 Champagne Racing Ligier JS F4): 30-second time penalty, moving him to 14th
Athan Sterling (No. 1 JENSEN Ligier JS F4): five-second time penalty
Parker Wallin (No. 34 SHAED Ligier JS F4): five-second penalty, moving him to 16th

“I just had a really good car—the team gave me a great package,” said van’t Pad Bosch after climbing from the car. “I had the speed and was able to overtake everyone to get P1. I’m so happy; I don’t have any words. I want to thank the team, my coach, my mom and family, my mechanic and everyone that’s supported me.”

JS F4 returns for the 2025 season at NOLA Motorsports Park, March 27-30. Prospective drivers looking to learn more about JS F4 should visit the series’ website, JSF4Series.com. Additional news and updates throughout the off-season will be shared on the series’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

AUSTIN, Texas (November 3, 2024) – Alex Crosbie earned his second-career win in Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) on Saturday afternoon. A lot was at stake in the season-finale race at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), including the 2024 championship for F4 U.S., which Daniel Quimby won by 4.5 points with a runner-up finish.

Notes of Interest:

• Alex Crosbie earned his second-career F4 U.S. win in the final race of the season at Circuit of The Americas. The New Zealander finished the season with two wins and six podium results.
• Daniel Quimby earned his 10th podium of the season with a runner-up finish in Round 14. Quimby was one of three drivers with 10 podiums this year—tying both Nicolas Stati and Connor Roberts.
• Connor Roberts earned his seventh consecutive podium after finishing third in Saturday’s race. Since Round 8 at New Jersey Motorsports Park, the 20-year-old driver has accumulated one win, two second-place and four third-place finishes.
• Alex Popow was awarded the Omologato Perfectly-Timed Move of the Race in recognition of his outstanding performance this weekend, which included two wins during his F4 U.S. debut weekend. As part of the recognition, he was awarded a bespoke Omologato timepiece.
• Daniel Quimby won the 2024 F4 U.S. Driver Championship by 4.5 points over second-place Nicolas Stati.
• Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport won the F4 U.S. Team Championship. Fielding up to four different drivers this season, including Nicolas Stati, Alex Crosbie, Barrett Wolfe and Seth Gilmore, Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport tallied five wins and 18 podiums.

Recording the fastest lap in Race 2, Alex Crosbie (No. 41 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) started Saturday’s event in the point position and immediately took control of the race as the field charged toward Turn 1. To Crosbie’s outside was Alex Popow (No. 55 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS F422) who won back-to-back races in the first two rounds of the weekend. However, their mirrors were filled with championship rivals Daniel Quimby (No. 24 Cruise America / MIR Raceline / FIJI Airways / GalvanizeIns Ligier JS F422) and Nicolas Stati (No. 15 AGI Sport Ligier JS F422), who comprised the second row. Quimby entered the round knowing exactly what he needed to do to win the championship—win the race, or beat Stati by at least two positions. Anything less, wouldn’t be enough. With no time to waste, Quimby charged toward Turn 1 on the opening lap looking to gain as much ground as possible. He overtook Popow, leaving the MLT Motorsports driver as a buffer between himself and Stati. Not willing to give up the position or the championship that easily, Stati worked to chase down Popow and quickly engaged in a three-car battle for third, which also included Connor Roberts (No. 46 ApexSpeed.com / Entropy Cellars Ligier JS F422).

While the battle ensued for third, both Crosbie and Quimby were able to pull away. Showing the strength of his Ligier JS F422 and Ligier Storm engine, Crosbie opened up a 4.648 gap over Quimby. However, his advantage was erased with just under 10 minutes left on the clock when the safety car deployed. The field returned to green as the white flag also waved, giving competitors a one-lap dash to the finish. Unphased by the restart, Crosbie once again pulled away from the field to take control of the race. In second, Quimby was under attack by Roberts, Popow and Stati; however, the pressure only lasted a few turns as contact further back in the field left two cars stopped on the circuit and once again brought out a full-course caution.

Crossing the finish line, Crosbie was followed by Quimby, Roberts, Popow and Stati. With Quimby ahead and two cars separating the championship contenders, the Australian gained enough points in the final round to overtake Stati and win the championship.

“This was a big weight lifted off my shoulders—I was a bit nervous this morning,” said Quimby after climbing from the car. “It was a really good race. I’d like to thank everyone who’s come on board this year—Motorhome Republic, Cruise America, Crankhouse, Galvanize Insurance, FIJI Airways, MIR Raceline. The boys from Atlantic Racing Team have done an awesome job all weekend.”

Crosbie, who won earlier this year in Round 6 at New Jersey Motorsports Park, returned to victory lane.

“It definitely was a good race that one,” said Crosbie atop the podium. “I kept my cool and finally found the speed I needed for this weekend. It’s great to finally get the win for the last race of the season. I’d like to thank Golden Homes and my parents for everything they’ve done.”

F4 U.S. returns for the 2025 season at NOLA Motorsports Park, March 27-30. Prospective drivers looking to learn more about F4 U.S. should visit the championship’s website, F4USChampionship.com. Additional news and updates throughout the off-season will be shared on the series’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Evan Slater Finishes Fifth, Carson Kvapil Sixth To Lead the Charge;
Tristan McKee 16th After Midrace Incident, Barry Boes Podiums in Pro-Am

Overview:

Date: Nov. 3, 2024
Event: COTA SpeedTour (Round 12 of 12)
Series: Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli
Division: Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series
Location: Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas
Layout: 3.4-mile, 20-turn road course
Format: 30 laps or 75 minutes
Weather: Partly cloudy, upper-70s
TA2 Winner: Brent Crews of Nitro Motorsports

TeamSLR:

● Evan Slater – Started 13th, Finished 5th (Running, completed 28/28 laps)
● Carson Kvapil – Started 1st, Finished 6th (Running, completed 28/28 laps)
● Tristan McKee – Started 10th, Finished 16th (Running, completed 28/28 laps)
● Barry Boes – Started 16th, Finished 19th (Running, completed 28/28 laps)

Noteworthy:

● The 18-year-old Slater’s fifth-place finish was his second top-five in two TA2 outings with TeamSLR and M1 Racecars equipment this season. The first came by way of his runner-up finish from his front-row starting position May 25 at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut.

● In just his fifth career TA2 Series race and third of the season, Kvapil qualified on the pole Saturday. He rallied for Sunday’s sixth-place finish after lap-one incident dropped him to 14th.

● Boes entered the weekend having already clinched the TA2 Pro-Am Challenge championship within a championship behind seven class victories in the first 11 events. He added his eighth class podium in Sunday’s 12th and final race of the season. Boes also contested the Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Western Championship in M1 Racecars equipment this season, where he scored his first career victory July 27 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway, and finished with five top-five finishes in eight races, including the last four in a row.

● This was the second career TA2 start for McKee, who became eligible to drive in the series when he turned 14 on Aug. 3. He debuted Oct. 5 at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, where he qualified sixth and finished fourth.

● Other top M1 Racecars finishers included Austin Green of Peterson Racing, who came home 10th . Green’s Peterson Racing teammate Jordan Anderson finished 17th in his first career TA2 race.

● Western Championship regular Tim Carroll drove his M1 Racecars entry to a top-10 finish Sunday to lock down fourth in the final standings. Carroll was victorious in the July 28 round at Portland.

Evan Slater, Driver, No. 8 Cube 3 Architecture/Willis & Smith Capital/Paul Racing SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro:

“We were able to move up there at the end. I think it was a fun race, for sure. Qualifying didn’t quite go our way. We qualified P13 and really wanted to be up higher, but we had a fast TeamSLR racecar today. So we started 13th and made our way up to fifth. I think if the race had fewer cautions, more green laps, I really believe we could have gone all the way up to the podium, it was a really fast car. I’m super thankful to my sponsors – Cube 3, Will & Smith Capital, Paul Racing Enterprises – for the support, I really appreciate them. They are the ones that made this weekend happen. It was so great to be back in the car. Hopefully, I can figure out some more races for next year. It’s always fun running with TeamSLR.”

Carson Kvapil, Driver No. 17 SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro:

“Truthfully, I don’t know what happened there on the opening lap. It’s unfortunate, really, because we got a pretty decent start and got in there to protect from the inside and laying it pretty late off into the corner, then trying to rejoin on the racing surface, I guess you’d say. We just didn’t have room, or someone didn’t give us room, or someone hit us. Something happened, I haven’t even seen the video, really, but all I know is I was driving the heck out of it and it was all kind of a blur. I didn’t think it was one of those deals where I just drove off track, though, by any means. So, definitely a little disappointed, and it probably it wouldn’t hurt as bad if I just made a mistake and went off track. But I think we got helped off the track. Either way, the Lagasses and the whole team really prepared a really fast car. We fell all the way back to 14th just in the first turn and, after a while, our car started to come to us and we just fought our way back up to sixth. It’s nice to start on the pole like we did, for sure. It’s just a big learning curve coming and doing these races, but having a team like TeamSLR to rely on and to help teach me kind of what to do and how to drive these tracks is really one of the big keys to it. So, really having a good team around us is the biggest deal, and it’s a huge help for a circle-track guy like me.”

Tristan Mckee, Driver, No. 28 SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro:

“We were really fast in practice, and then some issues in qualifying with some dirt on the track and different things like that. I think we had a really good qualifying going until those things happened. And then during the race, I started 10th, I gained one spot on the first run, and the second run I gained more spots. I think I was up to sixth, and then I was making a pass and got hit in the rear and my tire went flat, so we had to pit and went all the way back to 37th. We made our way back up to 13th after a lot of cautions and stuff. It’s frustrating getting caught in the back, where they kind of lag around and it’s difficult to get past all those people. But overall it was a good weekend.”

Barry Boes, Driver No. 27 Accio Data/SLR-M1 Racecars Ford Mustang:

“It’s been a fantastic year. I came into the COTA race knowing that we had the (Pro-Am Challenge) championship won, so I had the opportunity to drive a little more aggressively than I drove the rest of the season. Had the TeamSLR guys set up the car a little more aggressively and in the race took a few chances to see if I could go faster and place a little higher. But I let the car get ahead of me once early on and I dropped back some, and then I ended up getting involved in a lot of elbows-out racing. I had a really, really good time. Got caught up in several incidents, but I was still able to make it back onto the podium in Pro Am. It was just a fun race and I’m really looking forward to doing it again next year.”

Next Up:

TeamSLR, proud to be racing on behalf of partners Franklin Road Apparel, Cube 3 Architecture, and Powered by Hixon, kicks off the 2025 Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series season Feb. 20-23 with the traditional Sebring SpeedTour at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway. The weekend schedule and broadcast information will be announced at a later date.

About TeamSLR:

TeamSLR (Scott Lagasse Racing) competes fulltime in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series in a multifaceted effort that includes dedicated entries in the TA2 division, customer programs, driver coaching and car construction. Its history dates back to 1985 and covers a wide spectrum of motorsports, including NASCAR, IMSA, SCCA, ARCA and ASA. TeamSLR is a family-owned organization run by Scott Lagasse Sr., and Scott Lagasse Jr., The father-and-son duo have combined to win more than 120 races and seven championships across a variety of series and styles of racecars, from paved ovals to road courses to dirt tracks. For more information, please visit us online at www.TeamSLR.com, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram and on LinkedIn.

Jake Drew Clinches Rookie of the Year Honors with Seventh-Place Finish;
Newcomer Vincent Apple Top-20 in Debut; Late Incident Derails Boris Said Jr.

Overview:
Date: Nov. 3, 2024
Event: COTA SpeedTour (Round 12 of 12)
Series: Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli
Division: Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series
Location: Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas
Layout: 3.4-mile, 20-turn road course
Format: 30 laps or 75 minutes
Weather: Partly cloudy, upper-70s
TA2 Winner: Brent Crews

Silver Hare Racing:

● Jake Drew – Started 7th, Finished 7th (Running, completed 28/28 laps)
● Vincent Apple – Started 30th, Finished 20th (Running, completed 28/28 laps)
● Boris Said Jr. – Started 20th, Finished 36th (Accident, completed 20/28 laps)

Noteworthy:

● Drew clinched 2024 TA2 Rookie of the Year honors with his seventh-place finish Sunday. He also finished second in the Young Guns championship for drivers age 25 and under, and fourth in the overall national championship, all despite not joining the series until the second round of the season.

Jake Drew, Driver, No. 57 Silver Hare Racing/Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro:

“We worked our tails off, for sure. I mean, we all kept our heads in it. I think we started a little bit behind the 8-ball, but we kept working till the very end and qualified pretty well, had a good start, and we were in the hunt, for sure. There definitely were a lot of cautions and what not. I was trying to save the equipment early on, but we had a fast car – maybe not the fastest, but the best racecar. It was tough to make moves out there. I tried to go for maybe a little too much and gave myself some damage that put us on the back foot for the last 10 laps or so. I was trying to hang onto it there and lost it coming to the white (flag). Overall, I would have liked to have seen what would’ve happened, points-wise, if I had run the first race. I feel like I made steady gains all year, just kept learning the car, learning this team, and just keeping on working with this family oriented team. It’s been a blessing, for sure.”

Vincent Apple, driver, No. 5 Silver Hare Racing/Hope for the City Chevrolet Camaro:

“Considering I’ve never driven one of these cars before Friday, I’ve never seen this track before, it’s just been a whole learning experience every single lap and every single lap of the race. It was definitely enjoyable and definitely different, coming from open wheels to fenders and trying to push people around so they don’t keep you too much on the inside. It’s a lot of fun, very physical. Working with Silver Hare for the first time, I mean, the whole team’s been fantastic. Jake (Drew) was such a massive help for me to watch his videos and just talking to him on how he’s driving the car. Yesterday after qualifying, I spoke with him a lot, and then again this morning. And then as I was doing the race each lap, I was thinking about the stuff he said and making those changes, and I could definitely feel the difference in the car just coming alive a bit more and trying to work through people and catching everybody. It was definitely enjoyable. The team was unbelievable. Everybody was fantastic.”

Boris Said Jr., Driver, No. 75 HendrickCars.com/Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro:

“Overall, I think it was a good season. It was just a rough way to end it. That was blatant. But, other than that, it was good. It was all about growing and getting faster every time we went to the track.”

Laura Hull, Co-Owner, Team Manager, Silver Hare Racing:

“You know how they say things are bigger and better in Texas? Well, we had some big successes and we had some things that weren’t. First off, I want to thank each and every one that’s part of the Silver Hare Racing family. Our guys, they work so hard. Maurice and I couldn’t be more proud of each and every one of them, they’re like part of our family. A big thank you to every one of them. We’ll look forward to the 2025 season. This weekend didn’t turn out exactly as we had hoped. We did have a newcomer, Vincent Apple, who has past racing experience in open wheel, and I think he clearly showed us and everyone he’s still got it. Hopefully we’ll see him with Silver Hare Racing again in 2025. Jake Drew, the kid never gave up, there is no quit in him. We’re extremely proud of him. He had a small incident with the front end of the car that slowed him down toward the end of the race, but he never gives up. We’re extremely proud of him and look forward to what will be a very bright future in front of him – a successful one, for sure. He came here this weekend with a huge lead for Rookie of the Year, even with missing a race, so talk about a big victory for us, having Jake Drew come here and do that. So that alone is an awful lot to celebrate. Boris Said, Jr., he fought the entire race. Unfortunately, he also had an on-track incident that did some damage to his left-rear tire, just very unfortunate. But we want to thank the Saids for running with us. We enjoy their company and having them around, we very much do. They have a great family, a lot to be proud of. I want to congratulate our competitors and we look forward to another strong season in 2025. It’s great competing with everyone. Last but not least, I want to thank my husband, Maurice. This is a dream that he’s always had, and I’m just privileged and proud to be a part of that dream of his. We don’t know exactly where life takes us, where we’re going to be, but he and I are going to do it together, and I couldn’t enjoy life any more than I do with the original ‘Silver Hare.’”

Next Up:

The 2025 Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series season kicks off Feb. 20-23 with the traditional Sebring SpeedTour at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway. The weekend schedule and broadcast information will be announced at a later date.

About Silver Hare Racing:

Silver Hare Racing is a fulltime competitor in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series. The multicar team has won the TA2 Masters class championship three times (2018, 2019 and 2020) with driver and team co-owner Maurice Hull. Under the leadership of Hull’s wife, co-owner and team manager Laura Hull, Silver Hare Racing provides a variety of services that includes private testing and arrive-and-drive programs. The team offers six professionally built and maintained TA2 chassis from Howe Racing and operates from a state-of-the-art facility in High Point, North Carolina. For more information, call 336-870-5151, or visit SilverHareRacing.com.

Vesti, Eastwood, Juncadella drive the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R in WEC rookie test

MANAMA, Bahrain (Nov. 3, 2024) – For Frederik Vesti, Daniel Juncadella and Charlie Eastwood, the opportunity to drive the Cadillac Racing Hypercar V-Series.R during the FIA World Endurance Championship rookie test was “an experience.”

The group totaled 103 laps in two sessions on the 3.36-mile (5.412km), 15-turn at the Bahrain International Circuit.

“It was really positive. I expected to have a difficult car to drive as I’ve heard in the past about these cars, but I think I had a lot of confidence with the car. For sure, there is some technique that needs to be fine-tuned,” said Vesti, who will make his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut in the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R in January at the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The 2023 FIA Formula 2 Championship vice-champion and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One reserve driver will be a new teammate of Earl Bamber and Jack Aitken with the Action Express Racing-run Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) program. He turned 30 laps, with a best of 1 minute, 52.513 seconds.

Bamber, who teamed with Alex Lynn and Sebastien Bourdais to drive the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R to sixth place in the WEC season-ending Bapco Energies Eight Hours of Bahrain less than 12 hours earlier, set up the hybrid racecar in the two-hour morning session with a chart-topping lap of 1:49.566. The time stood up through the three-hour afternoon session.

The Cadillac Hypercar moved up one position on the points table post-race after a podium finisher was penalized and dropped in the classification.

Eastwood and Juncadella also enjoyed a productive outing with TF Sport and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R. The No. 81 Corvette of Eastwood, Tom Van Rompuy and Rui Andrade were runners-up in the LMGT3 class, just ahead of the No. 82 Z06 GT3.R trio of Juncadella, Hiroshi Koizumi and Sebastien Baud.

Eastwood turned 34 laps with a best of 1:52.512, while Jucadella got in 30 laps with a best of 1:52.719.

The 2025 WEC season begins Feb. 28 with the Qatar1812Km at the Lusail International Circuit, preceded Feb. 21-22 by the annual Prologue.

What they’re saying

Frederik Vesti: “I’m extremely happy to get my first laps in the Cadillac. It was really positive. I expected to have a difficult car to drive as I’ve heard in the past about these cars, but I think I had a lot of confidence with the car. For sure, there is some technique that needs to be fine-tuned. It’s a heavy car compared to what I’m used to. There are a lot of systems to use to help to go quicker so that’s something that I need to get into in the winter before starting next year, which I’m really excited about. (about difference in cars he’s driven) It’s a fairly big change. I can’t drive directly on instinct. I have to think a bit more as I jump in a car like this, but with more laps and test days I’m sure I’ll get it. (advice from Bamber, teammate in IMSA in 2025) Earl helped me a lot to set up the car, using his suit and seat. I’m looking forward to working with him in 2025.”

Charlie Eastwood: “First test in Hypercar, what an experience and what an honor to have the chance to do it. Big thanks to GM, Corvette and the team for setting this up. The car was great to drive. So fast on the straights, which we see in the races as they come past the GT cars like we’re stopped. A tricky car to drive and complex as well, and I think once you start to drive it more and more it will come quite rewarding. I had a really good last run in the car, good consistency throughout the run, which isn’t straightforward here in Bahrain. All in all, just loved the experience and hopefully it’s not my last time.”

Daniel Juncadella: “It was great to get the experience driving a high-downforce car. It’s been seven, eight years since I drove a high-downforce car and I enjoyed it a lot. It was great to get my first test in this kind of car, so thankful Cadillac and Chip Ganassi Racing for giving me the opportunity. It was a great way to finish off the season after yesterday’s great result. Looking forward to more in the future.”

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

TF Sport’s No. 81 Corvette second, No. 82 Z06 GT3.R third in LMGT3

SAKHIR, Bahrain (Nov. 2, 2024) – TF Sport and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R climbed on the class podium to close the FIA World Endurance Championship with second- and third-place finishes after the Eight Hours of Bahrain.

The No. 81 Corvette of Charlie Eastwood, Tom Van Rompuy and Rui Andrade were runners-up in the LMGT3 class, just ahead of the No. 82 Z06 GT3.R trio of Daniel Juncadella, Hiroshi Koizumi and Sebastien Baud. Not only was it the first podium result for the Corvette GT3 program in this season’s championship, but it also is the first double-podium finish for the Corvette brand in FIA World Endurance Championship competition.

“Congratulations to TF Sport, team owner Tom Ferrier, the drivers and all the members of the team on today’s double-podium to close the FIA WEC season in Bahrain – the first in this championship for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R,” said Mark Stielow, Director, GM Motorsports Competition Engineering. “It has been exciting to watch the team continually work and extract more and more from their Corvettes at each event this year. This is a great way not just to end 2024 but also use this as a springboard to bigger and better things in 2025.”

After having potential podium finishes taken away in the previous two races, fortune finally went the way of the TF Sport squad in Bahrain. Both Corvettes led at one point, and the No. 81 ran in front six times for a race-high 121 laps.

The runner-up Corvette raced its way from eighth to first twice in the race – once in the opening hour and again following the race’s second safety-car period with less than two hours. Van Rompuy charged and passed six cars to go from eighth at the start to second by the end of his first stint. Eastwood emerged from the pitlane in the lead following the class pitstop cycle.

Both Eastwood and Andrade drove single stints to firmly establish the No. 81 Corvette by as much as 30 seconds at the end of the first driver rotation. Van Rompuy and Andrade drove double-stints in the middle of the race, but the first of two safety cars sent the race way from the No. 81 as it went from first down to eighth due to competitors behind the Corvette being on fresher tires.

Andrade survived and handed over to Eastwood with an hour, 45 minutes to go and the No. 81 Corvette in eighth place to set the stage for Eastwood’s charge.

The No. 82 Corvette had a thrilling drive-back of its own from early in the race. Koizumi picked up a spot from 10th at the start but was assessed a five-second, stop-and-go penalty for avoidable contact in the opening 20 minutes. That dropped Koizumi down to 16th but he, Juncadella and Baud clawed their way back toward the front over the next four hours.

While the safety cars hurt the chances for the No. 81, the opposite was true for the sister Corvette. Juncadella found himself in 10th with about 90 minutes to go. He worked his way forward just as rapidly as his factory teammate Eastwood and gained two spots coming out of a full-course yellow period to fourth just ahead of the seven-hour mark.

Juncadella made his final stop two laps after Eastwood and emerged from the pitlane just ahead of the sister Corvette with 40 minutes to go but ceded the position on colder and newer tires than the No. 81.

The 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship starts February 28 in Qatar.

TF SPORT POST-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES

CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “The race was great from start to finish from us. We got super-unlucky with the first VSC and the timing of it. We weren’t able to change tires and most of the class were. We dropped down the order by the time of my last double-stint. Our pace on the first set of tires was really strong, and the same with the second set as well. I just came out close to the No. 60 Lamborghini who ended up passing me on the outlap then we got to the back of the 54 who hadn’t boxed and had a drive-through. So maybe a little bit of team owners to slow us down. We didn’t give up until the very end. We got it down to three seconds but it wasn’t enough. But ultimately for the team to finish with a double-podium is a fantastic result.”

TOM VAN ROMPUY, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “We started the season on a high with pole position at Qatar. In between we had some dips but we have finished on another high – two podiums today. I’m a very happy man. There has been great progression that we have made with the team. It was a great effort by everyone, my co-drivers and the team.”

RUI ANDRADE, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It kind of sums up our season again – a story of what could have been without the safety car. We were ahead by about 40 seconds and the race for us was in a good place. We were in a good rhythm and good pace. Tom, myself and Charlie did a really good job and I’m proud of what we did. I was kind of in no-man’s land because we didn’t take tires on my second stint. We were hoping the strategy would pay off, and Charlie got new tires and back into the lead. I’m really happy to finish the season with such strong races back-to-back-to-back. Since COTA, the car has been super-strong and the team has done a great job making it faster and faster. It’s good to end the season on a high.”

DANI JUNCADELLA, NO. 82 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It’s great to finish the season on a high like this – second and third for the team. This is incredible and I’m happy for TF Sport and Corvette Racing. This is the best way to finish the season with two cars on the podium and third for myself, Hiroshi and Seb. This has been a long time coming and I think we deserve it. It was a hard race at the end. The Lamborghini behind me was flying and I had good duel with him for 25 to 30 minutes. It was a tough one but we made it and I’m really, really happy and proud about that.”

HIROSHI KOIZUMI, NO. 82 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “This is a great finish and great way to finish the season. I’m really happy with my race throughout. It was my first time at this track, and during practices I feel I did very well. So I’m very happy with the result and weekend.”

TOM FERRIER, TF SPORT OWNER: “I feel like this has been a long time coming. I think at COTA we could have had a podium and at Fuji we could have had a win were it not for some contact. So it’s really nice to finish in this way. To get both cars on the podium is a massive team effort. I’m incredibly happy for all the guys and girls who have worked so hard. It’s been a dry year for podiums but we’ve been getting better and better. Everyone at GM and Corvette Racing have been working tirelessly in the background. It’s a lovely result for everyone involved. It sets us up for next year with a good starting point. We should come out of the blocks firing on all cylinders.”

About General Motors
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R climbs six positions from qualifying spot in WEC finale

MANAMA, Bahrain (Nov. 2, 2024) – Cadillac Racing concluded its second season of FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Hypercar competition with a spirited drive to seventh place in the Bapco Energies Eight Hours of Bahrain.

Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn and Sebastien Bourdais co-drove the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R, which qualified 13th and started 12th in the 18-car field after a qualification infraction was levied on a competitor, in the race that transitioned from 89 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature at the mid-afternoon green flag to not considerably cooler at the checkered flag under the lights.

The result was the fourth top 10 of the season for the Chip Ganassi Racing-run team and 10th in its two-year run covering 15 races.

Energy and tire management on the abrasive 3.36-mile (5.412km), 15-turn racing surface that is original to the Bahrain International Circuit that opened in 2004 was significant throughout the 235-lap race to keep the hybrid Cadillac in points-scoring position.

Bamber climbed the ladder by overtaking the No. 83 AF Corse Porsche 963 with 24 minutes left and No. 38 Hertz Team JOTA with six minutes left to finish 55 seconds behind the winning No. 8 Toyota GR010.

The pole-sitting No. 8 Toyota GR010 won the race to clinch the Hypercar manufacturer title for Toyota Gazoo Racing. The No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 (Kevin Estre, Andre Lotterer, Laurens Vanthoor) won the drivers season championship. Hertz Team JOTA, which will become the Cadillac factory team in 2025, registered its second successive FIA Hypercar Team World Cup Championship for privateers.

Through the eight races totaling 72 hours and 1,859 laps, the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R displayed remarkable durability and speed. The Hypercar entry earned its maiden WEC pole position last month at Fuji Speedway and had a string of five races in which it qualified fourth or higher in Hyperpole.

Fourth place at Cadillac Racing’s home race at Circuit of The Americas in early September is the team’s best finish of the season.

The 2025 WEC season begins Feb. 28 with the Qatar1812Km at the Lusail International Circuit, preceded Feb. 21-22 by the annual Prologue.

For more than a century, racing has provided a testbed for Cadillac to transfer knowledge and technology between racecars and production vehicles, and a way to build a fanbase for the brand around the world.

The Cadillac V-Series.R marks the third-generation Cadillac prototype and the brand’s first hybrid electrified racecar. Codeveloped by Cadillac Design, Cadillac Racing and chassis constructor Dallara, the racecar incorporates key Cadillac V-Series production car design elements such as vertical lighting and floating blades.

What they’re saying

Earl Bamber: “It was a good race for us at the end. I think we maximized what we could today. I don’t think we had the best car, but we definitely maximized as a team and to come away with points is a great result. It’s definitely building and building each time out. I think if you told we’d get seventh when we started the race I think we’d take it, so I think it’s a good one.”

Sebastien Bourdais: “Given the circumstances because we struggled pretty much all week with rear grip for the most part and weren’t super confident going into the race and starting P13 was certainly a challenge because it’s so hard to pass around here. Earl (Bamber) did a heckuva job, particularly at the end on the medium (tires), and got us back to a very respectable P7 for a tough week. Not super happy with myself. I made a mistake on the full-course yellow and got a (drive-thru) penalty for it. I got the time back, but we still got the penalty. Overall, pretty satisfied with the result from where we started.”

Alex Lynn: “It’s been a tough weekend, but I think scoring points is a positive from where we started. We put on a strong performance and scored some good points. A good way to end the season.”

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.