Former chassis comes back home for qualifying fight
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (January 24, 2021) — Exactly 365 days after Black Swan Racing purchased a Porsche 911 GT3 R chassis from Wright Motorsports to run the 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona, the car is coming back to its previous owner to race on track in Sunday’s Motul Pole Award 100 and next week’s Rolex 24. An incident in night practice resulted in Wright Motorsports needing to acquire a replacement chassis, and just as one team was able to help the other team last year, Black Swan Racing was able to return the favor this weekend.
The No. 540 Porsche 911 GT3 R was slated to run the opening event for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, but the entry was withdrawn following a positive COVID-19 test for team owner and driver Tim Pappas. Luckily for Wright Motorsports, the car remained in Daytona, and immediately following the diagnosis of the No. 16 Porsche 911 GT3 R from Saturday’s incident, owner John Wright had called Pappas.
The team received the car first thing Sunday morning and the crew has been working quickly and methodically to prep the new chassis for this afternoon’s Motul Pole Award 100, which the team still aims to compete in. Although the team captured pole position on Saturday, they will be starting from the rear following the chassis swap. If Saturday’s qualifying session was any indication, the Porsche 911 GT3 R should be a strong contender in the already stacked GTD class. The field will take the green flag at 2:00PM Eastern and can be streamed live on NBC Sports Gold’s TRACKPASS, or imsa.tv for international audiences. A tape-delay of the qualifying race, which will set the grid for the Rolex 24 At Daytona, will air on NBC Sports Network at 4:30PM.
Bringing the story full circle, the Black Swan Racing chassis has not competed since finishing in fifth-place at the 2020 Rolex 24. The rear-engine Porsche will have a chance to add to its success in one of the world’s greatest endurance races on January 30 – 31 with the 59th Running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
“We would like to thank Tim for taking our call and helping us out,” said Wright. “We’re so grateful that the car was on site and we were able to get the deal done, get a hold of the car, and get to work quickly. We hope he’s doing well, and we wish him the best.”
1st Phorm
1st Phorm is a sports nutrition company based in St. Louis, MO. In 2009, CEO Andy Frisella and his business partner Chris Klein started the brand, and since then, it has become the fastest growing supplement company in the world. 1st Phorm has set the standards in the industry for quality and helping people reach their goals. This new racing partnership is not their first time in the exotic car scene either. 1st Phorm has been the title sponsor for the Gold Rush Rally for six years running. With over a million followers across social media, 1st Phorm has amassed a huge cult-like following known as, “The Legion of Boom.” They stand for a movement in the fitness world. To turn it back to what it was meant to be. Helping others improve their lives, to be a good human… and to drop the excuses and do the work. 1st Phorm is a winning brand and they don’t expect anything less when it comes to their race team. For additional info: www.1stphorm.com
Mountain Motorsports
Mountain Motorsports is a group of motorcycle and powersports dealerships with multiple locations in the southeastern United States. The company was founded by lifelong friends Ryan Hardwick and Justin Price when they opened their first location as a single-line Honda dealership in Sevierville, Tennessee in 1999. The company has since grown into one of the largest retailers of motorcycle and powersports vehicles in the nation, spanning nine dealership locations representing eleven of the industry’s most well-known brands. For additional info: www.mountainmotorsports.com
Una Vida Tequila
Una Vida translates to One Life. That is how this brand started. By people who want to live their “One Life” to the absolute fullest and to their highest potential. A group of guys from the Midwest who love great quality tequila, and want their One Life to have meaning and impact others.
One Life, One Tequila is our CORE BELIEF. We’re building the only tequila brand you will ever need to drink. Una Vida is bigger than just tequila we’re also building a culture of people who want to live their life to their utmost potential.
Our story begins and continues to grow bottle by bottle. It’s a life mission for us to create a community of people who all raise a glass knowing they’re living their ONE LIFE! For more information, visit unavidatequila.com
Wright Motorsports
Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series, 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. The 2020 season will see the team return to IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship. For more information, visit wrightmotorsports.com
