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RFK Racing Accelerates Innovation with the Launch of the RFK TeK Alliance

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Official Release
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CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 29, 2024) – RFK Racing, one of the most successful teams in NASCAR history, is proud to announce the launch of the RFK TeK Alliance, a cutting-edge technology division aimed at pushing the boundaries of performance and innovation within the racing industry.

The RFK TeK Alliance represents a strategic move by RFK Racing to further strengthen its commitment to excellence and technological advancement. With a focus on developing state-of-the-art solutions for its racing teams and enthusiasts alike, RFK TeK will bring together a team of experts in engineering, data analysis, software solutions and other technologies to drive progress in the highly competitive world of motorsports.

“As we continue to evolve and seek new ways to excel in the world of racing, the launch of the RFK TeK Alliance is a natural progression for RFK Racing,” said RFK President Steve Newmark. “Our goal is to establish RFK as the premier ‘Tech’ Team in the NASCAR space – enticing cutting-edge companies to partner with RFK on both technological and marketing initiatives.

“This TeK Alliance will serve as a hub for innovation, fostering the development of groundbreaking technologies designed to enhance our own racing performance on and off the track.”

The RFK TeK Alliance will focus on a range of technological advancements, including vehicle dynamics, quality control, data analytics, and manufacturing operations among many others. The initiative brings together a wide array of tech-based companies with a focus on industry 4.0 and ensuring that RFK has the latest cutting-edge technology to continue pushing the boundaries of performance with speed, accuracy and precision.

RFK Racing was founded in 1988 by Hall of Fame team owner Jack Roush and has a rich history in motorsports innovation. The 2022 addition of team driver and co-owner Brad Keselowski, who also has a passion and business background in advanced technologies, further bolstered the strength of RFK’s technological prowess.

The launch of RFK TeK reaffirms the team’s commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation in the racing world moving forward.

About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, entering its 37th season in 2024, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

Rush Truck Centers Racing: Noah Gragson Clash at the Coliseum Advance

By
Official Release
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NOAH GRAGSON
Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum
No. 10 Rush Truck Centers Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview
● Event: Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum
● Time/Date: 6 p.m. EST on Sunday, Feb. 4
● Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
● Layout: Quarter-mile oval
● Format: 150-lap Feature with the 23-car field set by Heats and Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ)
● TV/Radio: FOX / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● History was made on Feb. 6, 2022 when the NASCAR Cup Series competed for the first time at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum was a bold way to unofficially kick off the start of the NASCAR season. On a temporary paved oval at a quarter-mile in length on top of what is typically the running track around the football field the Trojans of the University of Southern California call home, NASCAR thundered into America’s second-largest media market. The location was strategic, as was the event’s timing – held on the off-weekend between the NFL division championship games and the almighty Super Bowl. For all the unknowns beforehand, the event proved to be an absolute success. The buzz was palpable throughout the weekend as more than 70 percent of ticket buyers were first-time NASCAR attendees. When NASCAR returned to the Coliseum for the 2023 Clash, the event continued to stand out, drawing 3.65 million viewers on FOX while going head to head with the GRAMMYs on CBS. The race earned a total of 540 million tuning minutes, an 8 percent uptick from the 2022 Clash, which scored 501 million tuning minutes. It’s why NASCAR is back at the Coliseum for a third go-round this weekend.

● While NASCAR certainly made history when it began racing at the L.A. Coliseum, it’s appropriate to say auto racing history was remade. As World War II wound down, racing open-wheel Midget cars around the Coliseum cranked up. Beginning in 1945, the United Racing Association (URA) ran on a quarter-mile track that was paved right over top of the athletic track. Racing continued through 1948, but under the auspices of the Automobile Association of America (AAA). But with more permanent racetracks populating Southern California, racing at the Coliseum fell by the wayside. That is until 1979, when Mickey Thompson packaged off-road racing into his innovative stadium series, with the Coliseum serving as his first event of many. Broadcast on ESPN and TNN, it was where an up-and-coming off-road racer with NASCAR ambitions first started making a name for himself. You might’ve heard of him – seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and recent NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Jimmie Johnson.

● NASCAR kicks of its 76th season in 2024 and, for many of its years, the sanctioning body began its annual campaign at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Starting the year in California isn’t a break from tradition, necessarily. In fact, you could argue it’s a return to a previous tradition. The 2022 Clash at The Coliseum marked the first time since 1981 that NASCAR didn’t start its season at Daytona. But starting the year off in California was not new. In 1965 and again from 1970 to 1981, the NASCAR Cup Series’ season-opening race took place at Riverside International Raceway, a road course approximately 50 miles east of Los Angeles. Riverside is long gone, the site now home to the Moreno Valley Mall, but the L.A. Coliseum was at 311 Figueroa Street 34 years before Riverside opened its doors in 1957 and it’s still there today. It’s a juxtaposition of old and new, a microcosm of NASCAR’s brave new world.

● In true L.A. fashion, almost any NASCAR Cup Series team can show up at the Coliseum, but not everyone is getting past the velvet ropes to participate in the 150-lap main event. Because the track at the L.A. Coliseum is only a quarter-mile in length – the shortest track the NASCAR Cup Series will compete on in 2023 – only 23 cars can compete in the feature. Getting to the main event is much more arduous than walking the red carpet and slipping the bouncer a $100 bill. Here’s how it works…

● On Saturday, NASCAR Cup Series competitors will take to the track for a dual practice/qualifying session that determines the starting order for four, 25-lap heat races consisting of 10 cars each. Below is a breakdown on how Saturday’s heat races will be filled out:

  • The field will be split into three practice groups, with each group receiving three sessions. The fastest lap time from each competitor’s final practice session will determine the starting lineup for the four heat races. The top-four overall lap times in final practice will earn the pole for each heat race, while the fifth- through eighth-fastest lap times will make up the other half of the front row for each heat.
  • The complete field for each heat race will be filled using this methodology: Heat one will be made up of cars listed in overall positions one, five, nine, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37 on the final practice timesheet.
  • The top-five finishers (20 total cars) from each heat race automatically advance to the Clash, with the winner of heat one winning the pole and the winner of heat two earning the outside pole.
  • The winners of heats three and four will fill out the second row, with the remaining order being determined in the same manner.
  • The remaining finishing positions from each heat that did not advance will continue to Sunday’s 75-lap Last Chance Qualifying (LCQ) race. Below is a breakdown on how the LCQ will be filled out:
  • The starting order will be determined based on finishing positions in the heat races.
  • The sixth-place finisher from heat one will be on the pole for the LCQ race. The sixth-place finisher from heat two will be on the outside pole. This pattern will continue to fill out the remaining LCQ field.
  • The top-two finishers from the LCQ race will advance to the Clash, filling out positions 21 and 22.
  • The 23rd and final spot in the Clash will be reserved for the driver who finished the highest in the 2023 championship standings who does not transfer on finishing position in their heat race or in their LCQ race.
  • All other drivers will be eliminated from competition for the remainder of the event weekend.

● Noah Gragson, driver of the No. 10 Rush Truck Centers Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing, was a NASCAR Cup Series rookie in 2023, so he only has one start in the Clash. Gragson was 21st-quickest in qualifying for last year’s Clash, which lined him up sixth in his heat. He finished fourth in his heat to secure the 13th-place starting spot in the Clash. Gragson then completed all 150 laps in the Clash, finishing 14th.

● The 2024 season marks the 15th year of partnership between Rush Truck Centers and Stewart-Haas Racing, and it’s a partnership that goes well beyond a design on a racecar. All Stewart-Haas racecars are transported via tractor-trailers from Rush Truck Centers, the premier service solutions provider to the commercial vehicle industry. And those tractor-trailers are supported by the RushCare Customer Support team of parts and service experts, who also provide concierge-level service for scheduling maintenance, technical support, mobile service dispatch and roadside assistance, along with help locating the nearest Rush Truck Centers dealer, and more. Rush Truck Centers is the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in North America with 150 locations in the United States and Ontario, Canada, and takes pride in its integrated approach to customer needs – from vehicle sales to aftermarket parts, service and body shop operations, plus financing, insurance, leasing and rental, as well as alternate fuel systems and other vehicle technologies.

Noah Gragson, Driver of the No. 10 Rush Truck Centers Ford Mustang

Prior to last year’s Clash, what’s the shortest track you had ever raced on and what was that experience like?

“The smallest track I had ever raced on was a quarter-mile in Meridian, Idaho, and it was a K&N race up there. I had also raced a Late Model there. It was a flat quarter-mile. I’d say the corners were probably more like Martinsville, where they’re a little wider, and the straightaways were shorter. The Clash has like super-long straightaways in comparison, and very, very tight corners. I remember getting ready for the Clash last year, doing some sim and thinking, ‘Man, I feel comfortable.’ But you never really know till you get there and you feel it in person. I went into (turns) three and four my first time going through there and the corner was to my left and I was headed straight for the wall. I turned the wheel to about 9 o’clock, 10 o’clock and had to start turning it to 6 o’clock. It’s really tight corners. It’s a crazy racetrack. It’s tough to learn.”

When it came to the actual racing at the Coliseum, how did reality line up with your expectations?

“After that first lap of going into the corner, I figured, OK, I needed to turn the wheel more. You never really stop learning. The track is rubbering up because it’s new asphalt, they just paved it. The track gets rubber as the days go on, practice sessions, qualifying, heat races. And then everything was really tame in practice around other cars, you’re waving each other by. The heat races were pretty tame. I was able to transfer into the main – I finished fourth in my heat race and I started 13th for the main, so I thought we were in a good position. Everything was going smoothly, nobody was really too dirty, and then we got in the race it was like we all forgot how to drive and everyone’s just trying to get to the front as fast as they can and you’re just getting down as soon as you can if you start in the outside line on the restart, and you’re just hammering the guy in front of you. Usually, if you’re getting spun out, it’s not the guy behind you, and it might not be the guy behind him, it’s like the third or fourth guy in line. It’s that train effect where everybody’s just stacking up. It’s really hard. You either get hit out of the way, or you’re hitting someone out of the way.”

When it comes to the Clash, and short-track racing in general, what’s acceptable and what isn’t when it comes to on-track contact?

“I think it would be a little bit different if it was a points-paying race, but because it’s just a one-off exhibition race before the season starts, everyone’s out there just getting comfortable, shifting the cars again, driving the cars, getting on the brakes, on the gas, using the clutch – everyone’s kind of a little tame. But at the same time, it’s an exhibition race, so then we all get out there in the race and there’s nothing to lose, you’re not going after points, so the aggression meter is pegged when we get out to the Clash because it is an exhibition race. It’s fun, it’s challenging, but it’s a lot different than what we might do at Martinsville and Bristol and Richmond, the regular short-track races. They’re much longer, too, so you’re not in as much of a hurry to get to the front, so you’ll give a guy a couple of laps. But at the Clash, whenever somebody can get to you, you’re getting blasted or you’re blasting the guy in front of you.”

If you make a mistake and hit someone, do you think, ‘Alright, I probably have one coming now,’ or do you sort of erase it from your memory and just keep pressing forward?

“Well, it’s such a hard track to drive by yourself. You’re on edge the whole time just trying to make lap times. It’s a rhythm track, so it’s really hard to get into a rhythm. You’re hitting the outside wall on exit just trying to get all you can get. You’re just stabbing and steering. To me, personally, if someone gets into me there, I don’t take it too tough because I know three laps ago I got in there a foot too deep and I was missing the corner and all out of shape and sideways getting into the corner, and hard to stop, so I give guys more of the benefit of the doubt there than places we go to all the time and places where it’s a lot easier to get around. But if they did that to me at Bristol the first time they got to me, it’s like, ‘Hey, what the heck?’ At the Clash, it’s definitely one of those things where you give guys a break, at least for myself. A lot of it is not on purpose.”

How much are you looking forward to simply getting back in a NASCAR Cup Series stock car and going racing with Stewart-Haas Racing?

“I’m excited. We’ve got young guys, older guys, everyone in-between. Age-wise, there’s a lot of experience and there’s a lot of youth. I think the young guys kind of bring the youth out of the older guys, and the older guys, the more experienced guys, are bringing more of that veteran presence in helping us be better and be more mature. It’s definitely a good, happy medium, and everybody really complements each other on the 10 team. Drew (Blickensderfer, crew chief) is an unbelievable leader. His dad was a high school basketball coach, so Drew is the ultimate leader for our team and a guy I really look up to. I know as drivers, we’re leaders, as well, but Drew, to be able to work hand-in-hand with him, he’s really focused but he also enjoys his time. We want to work hard, we want to be successful, but it starts with building that comradery and team chemistry and just building the culture, and I think we’ve got that right now. The culture is really good and that’s what I’m really excited about. The first step, you’ve got to get everyone on the same page, tugging the same rope, and then you can start focusing on the little details. Unless everybody has each other’s back, you can’t move forward from that point.”

With the Clash being a non-points race, do you view it as the perfect place to learn the best way to communicate with your crew chief, Drew Blickensderfer, and interact with your crew?

“It is beneficial because it’s not a points race, it’s an exhibition race, but at the same time we go into it with the same mentality. It’s almost harder than a points race because you’re not locked in. They only take the top-23 guys and you have to race your way in, and it reminds me a lot of going to the Snowball Derby and having that pressure to qualify well, having heat races so you can transfer to the main, having a good starting spot. The pressure of that, it’s like, we’ve got to have all of our ducks in a row before we get there. We can’t be trying to learn and fine-tune stuff. We’ve got to be ready to go.”

Even though the Clash is a very different race than the Daytona 500 in two weeks, is it good to get some reps with your crew chief and your team before the regular season officially starts?

“It’s good to get an extra rep before the real season starts with the Daytona 500. Any chance you get to build your communication – it takes a long time to be like peanut butter and jelly with the crew chief, it takes a while to get that communication where you’re finishing sentences for each other. So any chance you get to spend with each other is valuable, whether it’s going to dinner or it’s in the racecar, and the Clash is definitely a good opportunity to learn each other.”

The Clash tees up our version of the Super Bowl – the Daytona 500. How big of a deal is that for the sport?

“I think there’s no better place for NASCAR to give a little preview and a little hint of our season than the Clash. L.A. is a different market, it’s a cool city, it’s young, pop culture, energetic, bright, flashy. The crowd there, I’m 25, I’ve never seen so many college kids at a race and young kids at a race my age. They’ve got DJs going on, Machine Gun Kelly is performing at halftime this year, it’s a different atmosphere than probably I’ve ever felt at any other race. We have the halftime break. I’ve never been vibing out to music and kind of moving my arms inside the car during a pit stop, but at the Clash we did. It brings a little bit more energy to our sport. It brings something different, some flair to it that we normally don’t get. So I like the change of pace, for sure.”

No. 10 Rush Truck Centers Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Noah Gragson

Hometown: Las Vegas

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer

Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Jerry Cook

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Engineer: James Kimbrough

Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Andy Houston

Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder

Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White

Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard

Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotten

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener

Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Chris Trickett

Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Beau Whitley

Hometown: Carmel, Indiana

Tire Specialist: Jacob Cooksey

Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Steven Casper

Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

Double podium to start the season for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

By
Official Release
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Toyota City, Japan, Jan 29, 2024 – (JCN Newswire) – TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team has started the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship season with a double podium finish at Rallye Monte-Carlo with Sébastien Ogier second and Elfyn Evans third.

Both Ogier and Evans were involved in an exciting fight for victory throughout the event, where drivers faced a challenging mix of conditions on the asphalt roads of the French Alps even if they were generally drier than usual.

Podium Ceremony
Ogier spectacularly claimed the lead during Saturday afternoon when he recorded the 700th stage win of his WRC career, and ultimately went into the final day on Sunday just 3.3 seconds away from first-placed Thierry Neuville (Hyundai).

Despite his best efforts in pursuit of a record-extending victory in Monte Carlo, Ogier and his co-driver Vincent Landais would eventually have to settle for second place, finishing 16.1s behind the winner.

Evans and his co-driver Scott Martin made an excellent start to their season when the rally got underway on Thursday night, claiming an early lead that they held until Saturday morning.

After banking good points under the championship’s new format by ending the penultimate day in third, Evans continued to push hard on Sunday when additional points were on offer for the fastest drivers. He took second in Sunday’s separate classification, plus fourth in the rally-ending Power Stage, to end the weekend with 21 points and third place in the standings. Ogier, who was second in the Power Stage and third-fastest across Sunday, is second on 24 points.

Takamoto Katsuta was among several drivers caught out on an icy corner on Friday morning, when he lost five minutes after sliding wide, but showed some strong pace as he and co-driver Aaron Johnston recovered to seventh place overall and also took third in the Power Stage.

With second and third in the overall results, in the Sunday classification and in the Power Stage, TGR-WRT leads the manufacturers’ championship by one point.

The GR Yaris Rally2 made its competitive WRC debut this weekend with three of the four entered cars completing the full rally distance in the hands of customer teams. Sami Pajari and Enni Mälkönen (Printsport) were the best-placed crew at the finish in 12th overall and fifth in class RC2.

Quotes:

Akio Toyoda (TGR-WRT Chairman)
“The start of our eighth WRC season was a new step for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT. Nine years ago, on 15 January 2015, I announced Toyota’s return to the WRC and explained the following: ‘Rally is the best place to strengthen people and cars because it is a sport in which you compete using cars based on production vehicles on the roads that our customers use in their daily life. We would like to come back to WRC to make ever-better cars and to make many people smile.’

After seven seasons, we were able to offer two more options for our customers in addition to the GR Yaris which we launched in 2020. The first are the two special editions supervised by the WRC champions: GR Yaris Sébastien Ogier Edition and GR Yaris Kalle Rovanperä Edition. They are not just commemorative models. Both world champions were involved in the development and achieved the taste they wanted. You can enjoy doing donuts with Kalle’s edition which I’m also looking forward to trying. Seb’s edition has ‘Morizo mode’. The “seasoning” Seb reached during the development was the same as what I liked. It should have been named ‘Seb Mode’ but thanks to Seb’s favour, my name was used. Thank you, Seb!

And the second is GR Yaris Rally2. Rallye Monte-Carlo was the very first competition for our Rally2 and we had four teams of customers on board. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all the teams who took on new challenges with the cars with unknown capabilities.

The first GR Yaris Rally2 in Japan is scheduled to be delivered to Morizo, ‘an ordinary man who loves cars’. When it’s delivered, I will try it right away and see if there’s anything we can improve. Then, the car will be rented out to a customer in Japan to participate in the Japanese Rally Championship (JRC).

In order to have the Rally2 cars ready for Monte Carlo and the first round of JRC, the team members in Finland have been working very hard. I am relieved that all four cars completed the rally in their debut round. This is just the start. We have to keep trying to improve the car itself and the support system to become the product to be chosen by customers. I‘m sure the team will continue their efforts.

For TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, WRC is not just a competition to win. We compete in WRC to make ever-better cars and make more people smile. The joys and disappointments we have experienced over the 85 events so far have led even closer to the cars for our customers. This is a very big step. We were not able to celebrate the victory this time, but the driving of three Rally1s and four Rally2s will certainly lead into future events. I trust Jari-Matti will lead the team like past years to continue to work hard and to make the 2024 season a great year.”

Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)
“Overall it has been a good weekend for us to start the season. Of course, we were in the lead of the rally earlier in the weekend and things were looking really good. Things then changed a bit and we hoped that we could bounce back today on the final day and take the victory. I think Seb did what he could but it seems that Neuville had one of those days where as a driver you can push yourself to an extra level. But it was a great fight that was exciting for everybody to follow, and in the end we got strong points as a team for the manufacturers’ championship. Elfyn also showed some great pace and confidence this weekend and I think he was clever too in the end to make sure he took away some good points.”

Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)
“We showed that the potential was there to win this weekend but we just missed the feeling on Saturday afternoon for some reason. Today was much better. There was a real mix of conditions again but we had to keep pushing to score some more points under the new system and it turned out OK. It’s been a solid enough weekend. We always want to win, but above all I really wanted to finish this rally with solid points and we’ve done that. Long term we want to win rallies and we will see what’s possible on the next rally in Sweden.”

Sébastien Ogier (Driver car 17)
“I think I can be proud of my weekend, I tried everything I could. It’s been a difficult week for me with a big rollercoaster of emotions. On Monday I had to say goodbye to someone very important to me who basically introduced me to motorsport. The start of the event was not easy for many reasons, so I’m happy that we managed to stay in the fight the whole way, and I think it was a super exciting fight for all of the fans to follow. In the end, Thierry was faster this weekend and he deserved the win. I still managed to bring strong points to the team. It’s also my 15th Rallye Monte-Carlo and 13th time on the podium, so I can be proud of my record on such a challenging rally.”

Takamoto Katsuta (Driver car 18)
“My rally changed after my mistake on Friday morning when we lost the opportunity to fight for a good result, which was a big disappointment. I’m happy that I could bring the car to the finish in seventh and also score some extra points on Sunday and in the Power Stage. The car was working very well and I enjoyed the driving. When I felt comfortable and the risks were not so high from the conditions, I felt able to push and the times were pretty good, so that’s positive. The next rally in Sweden is one of my favourite rallies so I will try my best to get a good result there.”

PROVISIONAL FINAL CLASSIFICATION, RALLYE MONTE-CARLO
1 Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1 HYBRID) 3h9m30.9s
2 Sébastien Ogier/Vincent Landais (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID) +16.1s
3 Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID) +45.2s
4 Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja (Hyundai i20 N Rally1 HYBRID) +1m59.8s
5 Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (Ford Puma Rally1 HYBRID) +3m36.9s
6 Andreas Mikkelsen/Torstein Eriksen (Hyundai i20 N Rally1 HYBRID) +5m34.6s
7 Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID) +8m28.5s
8 Yohan Rossel/Arnaud Dunand (Citroën C3 Rally2) +10m29.8s
9 Pepe López/David Vázquez (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +10m33.8s
10 Nikolay Gryazin/Konstantin Aleksandrov (Citroën C3 Rally2) +10m45.2s(Results as of 13:30 on Sunday, for the latest results please visit www.wrc.com)

2024 FIA World Rally Championship for drivers after round 1:
1 Thierry Neuville 30 points
2 Sébastien Ogier 24
3 Elfyn Evans 21
4 Ott Tänak 15
5 Adrien Fourmaux 11
6 Takamoto Katsuta 9
7 Andreas Mikkelsen 6

2024 FIA World Rally Championship for manufacturers after round 1:
1 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team 46 points
2 Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team 45
3 M-Sport Ford World Rally Team 19

What’s next?

Rally Sweden (February 15-18) is the only full winter event of the season taking place on snow and ice. Metal studs inserted into the tyres bite into the surface to provide grip and allow for some of the highest speeds of the year.

Follow TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TOYOTAGAZOORacingWRC
X: https://x.com/TGR_WRC (@TGR_WRC)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tgr_wrc/ (@TGR_WRC)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TOYOTAGAZOORacingJPchannel

How To Become a Professional Driver in 4 Steps

By
SM
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Professional driving requires dedication and training. If you want to become a professional driver, you should understand your goals. After understanding the goals, you should put a lot of effort into your driving skills.

 In addition, you should be in proper physical condition and develop your effective driving skills. There are many ways that can help you in becoming a professional driver. In this article, you will learn about the tips to become a professional driver. Keep reading the article!

  1. Develop Your Driving Skills

Excellent driving skills are a basic requirement whether you want to be a race driver or work in a company as a driver. There are a few ways to develop your driving skills. One way is to enroll in the training program, where your instructor will develop driving skills and also provide a license. 

If you are working in the transportation industry, where you may need to drive a heavy truck, you should get a license or training program to excel in your driving skills. 

If you live in Victoria and are looking for a heavy truck license, Excel in Transport: Obtain Your Heavy Rigid Truck Licence in Victoria is available for you to increase your driving skills. It will also help ensure your promotion in your company. 

  1. Obtain A Vehicle And Equipment

Having a reliable vehicle is important to become a professional driver. If you cannot afford to purchase your vehicle, you can buy the used vehicle and modify it. If you are a racer, you can also rent a vehicle to participate in the race and get the funds. 

The funds will help you purchase your new car. Additionally, there are some safety tips you should follow while driving your vehicle. For instance, you should wear a helmet and gloves that can ensure your safety in case of any type of accident.  

  1. Practice And Train

Practice is necessary to develop driving skills and also make you a professional driver. While practicing, try to work on your skills that enable you to compete with the professionals. You can also make a schedule to practice driving, and it can help stimulate your skills and also improve your professionalism. 

In addition, you can also get classes from expert drivers for training and trying to improve your driving skills. 

  1. Keeping Your Body In Shape

Finally, the important tip to becoming a professional driver is to keep your body in shape. Your body should sustain the high temperature inside a car. Your body needs to be in proper shape to handle the stress while driving a vehicle. Crashes can happen during the driving of your vehicle. 

If your body is in the proper shape, there will be a high chance of your survival during the accident. To ensure that your body is in the proper shape., work on your diets. Think about eating a balanced diet that can improve your physical fitness. 

A balanced diet includes proteins, vegetables, and fruits. In addition, avoid eating junk foods because they are unhealthy for your body. 

Risi Competizione wins 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona GTD Pro Class

By
Official Release
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Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3 No. 62:

James Calado (GBR)
Alessandro Pier Guidi (ITA)
Davide Rigon (ITA)
Daniel Serra (BRA)

Daytona Beach, Florida (January 28, 2024) … The Risi Competizione team won the GTD Pro class at the Rolex 24 At Daytona at Daytona International Speedway by a full lap for the first round of the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series. The No. 62 Ferrari 296 GT3 won the class in the 62nd running of the historical 24-hour Florida race and finished 18th overall.

The victory was a popular one for the fan-favorite team who has fielded Ferraris for decades, mostly in the United States. Team Owner Guiseppe Risi has long been associated with racing in the U.S., based out of a Houston, Texas location. Today’s victory was only Risi’s second victory at the Daytona enduro, having first won in 2002 in the SRP II class in the Grand-American Road Racing Series in a Lola B2K/40. Mr. Risi has had a long relationship fielding Ferraris. This race was the first together for the pair, and the 19th year for Risi entering the 24 Hours of Daytona, with the team having a total of 21 entries over that time.

The four Ferrari Competizioni GT factory drivers, Daniel Serra (qualifying driver), Davide Rigon, James Calado, and Alessandro Pier Guidi expressed their appreciation to Giuseppe for his passion for racing and partnership with Ferrari, which allowed them to have the opportunity to take home coveted Rolex Daytona watches this weekend.

Additionally, Serra and Rigon will contest the IMSA Michelin Endurance Championship (IMEC) series with Risi Competizione this season, which includes the five endurance races on the 2024 IMSA schedule. Today’s overall class victory also allowed them to capture the lead in the IMEC series.

Pier Guidi clocked the fasted lap among his teammates and the quickest in the GTD Pro class with a time of 1:45.812. Serra was the qualifying and starting driver from the fifth class position who quickly found his way into the lead. Other than a couple issues in the pits, the car ran well and the drivers were pleased to run it through the paces during each of their stints with their eyes on the prize.

The last time that the Risi Competizione team stood on the podium at Daytona was in 2022 with a second-place class finish after leading much of the late race. They also finished second at the 6 Hours at the Glen in Watkins Glen, New York last summer and third at Petit Le Mans last October.

Ferrari factory drivers Calado and Pier Guidi paired to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans last summer in the new Ferrari 499 Hypercar.

Fifteen cautions were displayed during the race that lasted over four hours, leaving just shy of 20 hours of green flag racing time.

QUOTES:

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

Regarding the Rolex 24 victory:

“The BMW (competitor) had a problem just before the pits and then it was more about bringing it home for me. Then after the yellow, the Porsche was on our lead lap. You know, it’s never easy. You start to hear some noises in the car, and you think everything is out of control on the last lap. I’m just really happy. This is the race I was missing and really wanted to win. This might be the happiest day in my racing career.”

Regarding the level of competition you have experienced the last couple of weeks at Daytona?

“It’s great to see the GTD Pro (class) with more cars and more competition. I’ve always said that IMSA is one of my favorite championships, and I have to say I did a few last year. I did a few IMSA IMEC races, the WEC European series and the NASCAR stock car series in Brazil, because I still live in Brazil. And IMSA is one of my favorites. I like the championships. I like the tracks, the rules, the atmosphere, in the paddocks, so it’s nice to see the GTD Pro with more cars and more competition. I hope it’s getting even bigger and more cars for the next years.”

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

Regarding the Rolex 24 victory:

“Amazing, amazing. What a team! What a Ferrari! We really pushed so much since the beginning. Thanks so much to my teammates, all the engineers. I’m super, super happy now. I would like to enjoy (this experience) with my team.”

Regarding the level of competition you have experienced the last couple of weeks at Daytona?

“I agree with Daniel. Of course we are happy too. At the end the level is always so high. Last year it was just the single number seven car, but the level was super high.

“This year will be even higher, and I agree, it’s so nice to deal with the fight at the end and the rules in this championship. We also liked so much the tracks that they have here in the U.S., and together with the team at Risi, it’s like a second family.

“With Giuseppe and all the Ferrari group, we will be really pushing to achieve like we did in 2022 to win the IMEC championship. We will do our best.”

The No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3 drivers show their pride with the car after winning the Rolex 24 At Daytona GTD Pro class. (L-R: James Calado, Daniel Serra, Davide Rigon and Alessandro Pier Guidi)

James Calado, driver, No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3:

“I don’t know really. It’s rather easy just to worry during the end of the race. The team did a great job giving us a great car. I’m happy for Giuseppe, he really deserved it. I’m happy for us. It’s a great result for the start of the year and puts us in a great place for the rest of the year.”

What it’s like to win in a Ferrari:

“It’s been 10 amazing years which have gone by so fast. I remember the first one which was very, very special. But every time you win in a Ferrari, it’s hard to put into words. You get this special feeling. There’s no words really that put it into perspective. Not to say that we’re always under pressure being Ferrari drivers, so we need to win.

“We always want to improve. We win, but then we move on, and we try and improve for the next one. That’s the good thing about this team. We’re all one big family.”

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

Regarding how special it is to win the Rolex 24 with Ferrari and Risi:

“Well, it’s amazing. First of all, I think we deserved this victory. We were also trying a lot of times to achieve this victory. We finished twice second, and it’s a long-time partnership between Risi and Ferrari, and between them and with the other drivers we have been very close many times, but never been able to achieve this victory.

“Finally, we get it. If you see in the footage after the checkered flag and the picture is amazing. Everyone was crying, happy, and I went and I gave a big hug to Giuseppe, because all the passion he put in here in this effort, he really deserved this”

About putting two 24-hour wins together?

“It’s even difficult to dream, and we did it. Actually six months ago, we achieved this amazing historic victory in Le Mans, and now we are back here with Risi and Ferrari to complete another 24, to achieve another amazing success.“

“It has been a long time that Ferrari has been trying to win this race again, and it is quite surprising Risi and Ferrari have never won together. They won so much together, but never this race. Finally for Giuseppe and Ferrari together, we achieved this victory, we must be all proud of this.”

Rick Mayer, Race Engineer, Risi Competizione:

“This year was the 62nd running of the Rolex 24 with the 62 car so that was a special thing for Giuseppe. We had four fantastic drivers. The crew prepared a great car, and we had some luck and things went our way. Sometimes that’s what it takes to win. I’m happy for Giuseppe because he’s wanted to win this race again for a very long time.”

The next race for the No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3 will be the 12 Hours of Sebring, March 14-16 at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida. Serra and Rigon will compete in round two of the IMEC series.

Sponsors for the 2024 season for Risi Competizione for the Rolex 24 include Pennzoil, OMP Racing and the Ferrari of Ontario and Ferrari of Toronto dealerships.

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

No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 Team Complete 24 Hours of Intense Racing at Rolex 24 at Daytona

By
Official Release
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DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (January 28, 2024) – The No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 team made their debut at the Rolex 24 At Daytona to kick off the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) driver Kyle Marcelli began the 24-hour sportscar racing classic from fourth on the GTD grid. In the opening sequence of the race, multiple cautions kept the field together including for the first pit stop cycle. Unfortunately, the team received two drive-thru penalties in what looked to be a promising day for the WTRAndretti GTD team which sent the No. 45 DEX Imaging machine a few laps down early in the race.

Danny Formal, Ashton Harrison and Graham Doyle got comfortable in the No. 45 DEX Imaging machine throughout their stints, with multiple cautions allowing the team to regain their laps back. The team then encountered a suspension issue after light contact during the overnight hours forcing the WTRAndretti crew to repair back at the garages.

Due to the multiple lap deficit to the GTD leader, the WTRAndretti used the remainder of the Rolex 24 At Daytona to gain valuable knowledge and experience on the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2. The No. 45 team ended the 24-hour event 17th in the GTD class.

Next on the schedule for the WTRAndretti GTD Lamborghini team is another iconic endurance event – the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 16, 2024, at Sebring International Raceway. As an endurance event, the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 will see full-time drivers Marcelli and Formal along with Doyle tackle the 12-hour race.
Wayne Taylor, Team Principal, WTRAndretti: “It was a good learning experience. My expectations were pretty high about that car actually. But other things happened. I’m really proud of all the drivers, Kyle, Danny, Ashton and especially Graham Doyle. It was a daunting situation for him to be in and he had the incident in the night. He got back in the car and thankfully he did, because he finished the race, and did a great job. Overall, it was a great learning day and I’m really proud of everyone on the team, the crew, drivers, and partners: DEX Imaging, Lamborghini, Harrison Contracting and Gainbridge, very excited to continue onto Sebring.”

No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2
Kyle Marcelli, 2024 Full Season Co-Driver: “These races are never easy. This one in particular tested our character and our strength. We didn’t really have the pace that we thought we were going to have. Certainly not the pace during the Roar and Qualifying. That sort of had us on our back foot. We had a little bit of attrition to deal with about halfway through the race. Just really proud of the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 team for never giving up. All the teammates just kept digging and put the time in, and the guys on the stand kept calling the strategy and doing the right thing. At the end of the day, we finished 17th in class, and we finished! Huge learning experience. This was the first race for the team in GTD and I think we have shown, a lot of potential. I think we have a lot of great relationships that are forming with Lamborghini, DEX Imaging, Harrison Contracting Company and all the partners. The future is bright, and I am looking forward to the next round at Sebring.”

Danny Formal, 2024 Full Season Co-Driver: “We finished, that’s the number one win we take away from this. A new team, new program, and new drivers, at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, so just finishing is a huge accomplishment. We had some issues in the middle of the night, but the team never stopped working. I’m so grateful for WTRAndretti, DEX Imaging, Lamborghini Squadra Corse, my teammates: Graham Doyle, Kyle Marcelli, Ashton Harrison and the entire crew. It’s a dream come true to be part of this organization. Obviously, it’s not the way we wanted it to end but this is just getting started for us. We’re a new program, but we have a great team behind us. We’re ready for the Sebring 12 Hour. I love that track and we did quite well last year. It’s where I signed my first contract with WTRAndretti at Sebring in 2020, so it brings back memories. I’m really excited to go there and show them what we’ve got.”

Graham Doyle, 2024 Endurance Co-Driver: “This race is definitely a special one. The start of hopefully many more endurance races to kick off to a great season ahead with WTRAndretti. The race didn’t exactly go to plan, we had an incident during the night session and went some laps down, but we really rallied as an entire team. WTRAndretti did an awesome job, and we got the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini back together, got back out there and were able to finish the race. That’s pretty special and it’s going to mark a good season.”

Ashton Harrison, 2024 Rolex 24 Co-Driver: “I can’t believe it’s actually over. Now I am looking forward to some much-needed sleep. I’m super proud of everyone in the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini GT3 EVO2 team. It’s been a long night with a lot of highs and lows. It was definitely a challenge, and we did our best. When we had hiccups on the road we overcame them, and the crew worked so tirelessly. It’s been very rewarding and I hope the WTRAndretti crew know how much we appreciate the hard work that they put in getting this car ready for the race and also throughout all the hiccups we had in the middle of the race. I’m looking forward to what’s to come and I’m excited for Danny and Kyle for their full season effort, plus to see Graham continue to perform in these endurance rounds.”

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

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

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

WTRAndretti’s long term partnerships include Lamborghini Squadra Corse, DEX Imaging, Harrison Contracting Company and Gainbridge.

Cadillac grabs Rolex 24 runner-up finish

By
Official Release
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Pole-winning No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R takes Endurance Cup points lead

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 28, 2024) – A twice-around-the-clock race evolved into a 30-minute sprint Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.

The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R, which started first, finished second in the 62nd Rolex 24 At Daytona to begin defense of its Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) championship and Cadillac’s Manufacturer title.

Tenacity of drivers Pipo Derani, Jack Aitken and Tom Blomqvist and the Action Express Racing team complemented a reliable and fast hybrid racecar and efficient pit stops to start the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season in the physically demanding race on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn course.

The runner-up finish is Cadillac’s 223rd podium in all classes/series since 2000, including seven in the GTP era. The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R grabbed the early lead in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup.

“It’s great to make it to the podium, building on last year’s success. Every member of the team can be very proud of their efforts on preparing the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R for success, from both a technology and durability standpoint,” said John Roth, global vice president of Cadillac. “For more than a century, racing has provided a testbed for Cadillac to transfer knowledge and technology between race cars and production vehicles, and our V-Series portfolio demonstrates how we seamlessly bring learnings from the track to the road.

“The podium finish today demonstrates the remarkable capabilities and determination of the people at Cadillac and is a significant milestone as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of V-Series. Of course, our goal is always to win so we will enjoy the moment, learn and look to Sebring.”

The 72nd Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is March 16. The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R is the defending GTP pole and race winner, and Derani has been victorious four times at the 3.74-mile course.

Derani earned the Rolex 24 pole with a track-record lap time in the 15-minute qualifying session January 21, and the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R led multiple times for multiple laps throughout the race.

Blomqvist, who was aiming to become the second driver to win the Rolex 24 three consecutive years, drove the final 2 hours, 56 minutes and battled drivers of eventual winner No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsports, taking the lead in Turn 1 with 1 hour, 18 minutes left. The No. 7 Porsche nosed in front exiting pit lane under full-course caution with 43 minutes left, held off multiple Blomqvist challenges over the duration won by 2.112 seconds.

The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R, with drivers Sebastien Bourdais, Renger van der Zande, Scott Dixon and Alex Palou, also started on the front row and was a serious contender for the victory until a surprise development in the wee hours Sunday.

van der Zande was making significant headway hours after the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R fell off the lead lap because of a cut tire and drive-thru penalty for a pit lane speed violation when, just shy of 3 a.m. ET, the Dutch driver coasted onto the Turn 1 apron without power.

After examination in the garage, the Chip Ganassi Racing-campaigned GTP entry retired.

Cadillac Racing issued a statement: The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R experienced a mechanical powertrain issue in the second half of the grueling race that resulted in retirement of the entry. Cadillac Racing will investigate to find the root cause and prepare for the 72nd Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Runner-up finishes in Rolex 24 At Daytona

2023: Cadillac Racing (Pipo Derani, Jack Aitken, Tom Blomqvist)
2021: Action Express Racing (Jimmie Johnson, Simon Pagenaud, Mike Rockenfeller, Kamui Kobayashi)
2019: Whelen Engineering (Eric Curran, Felipe Nasr, Pipo Derani)
2018: Whelen Engineering Racing (Eric Curran, Felipe Nasr, Mike Conway)
2017: Mustang Sampling Racing (Joao Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi, Filipe Albuquerque)

An interview with Pipo Derani, Jack Aitken and Tom Blomqvist, drivers of the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R:

TOM, TALK ABOUT THE CLOSING STAGES OF THE RACE, AND THE BATTLE WITH FELIPE (NASR)…

“First, I want to say what a fantastic job that the whole Whelen Cadillac team has done this whole two weeks. My teammates have been absolutely fantastic. Not a single stint wrong all race, really. It was kind of between the last, well, what feels like the whole race, between the No. 7 Porsche, they were really, really quick at times. We were quick at times. I think, if I look back, we were maybe a little bit better taking care of tires when we were double-stinting. They were really strong at the restarts, especially during the night when it was a little bit cooler and there was rubber on the track. It kind of came down to those that couple of stints. I was slowly chipping away. Managed to close the gap. We then decided to take an early stop to try and undercut them. Thankfully, I was able to get by on-track. The whole goal there was then to make a gap, because obviously we were going to have a little bit longer of fuel stoppage time at the next stop. That yellow basically ended our chances, really, especially where we are on pit lane, coming under yellow and not really being able to react to the car behind in terms of pulling early, for example. That hurt us, really. I think it was going to be a bit closer if that yellow hadn’t of come out, because I felt there at the end of the race we had the pace advantage. It was just so difficult to pass. The Porsche was really strong on the straight. We were really good in the infield. It was hard to make anything count. I felt like there weren’t many cars there at the end of the race in terms of traffic to find an opportunity. And then Felipe (Nasr) at the end there, I think he made one small mistake where he went wide by a few meters, but other than that, there was no opportunity. Huge hats off to them. They were fantastic, really.”

TOM, YOU DID A TRIPLE (STINT) AT THE END. WAS THAT ALWAYS THE PLAN FOR YOU TO BE IN FOR THE END?

“We didn’t change our driver rotation the whole race. It was always kind of the way it was going to work out was for me to finish, even if we were running a completely green race. And then we decided to just put more time because there was only three of us. Obviously, we had to spend more time in the car to maximize rest out of the car. That was kind of the strategy we went with. These guys did some math and stints during the night doing four so I could get enough rest to jump in and not have to do four, basically. That was always the plan. We just basically extended our driving, so there was a lot of tenuous seat time. It worked out. I think overall it was a good way to go.”

TOM, ROUGHLY 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE END OF THE RACE, THE GAP WAS DOWN TO 0.8 SECONDS. YOU MENTIONED ALREADY THE YELLOW AND TRAFFIC. WAS THIS THE REASON THE GAP INCREASED AT THE END?

“At the end there, I think Felipe (Nasr) just got a little bit more lucky on the last two laps where some of the traffic was slowed up into the bus stop. It just kills you. He got away there at the very end because of that. And then in terms of the fuel consumption, we had the least amount of energy to use. Obviously, our car was the lightest, but we had the least amount. Maybe they were a little bit better, but we also rolled the dice a little bit in terms of stopping early to try and create an opportunity to actually get ahead on track. It’s always easier, you know, when you’ve got track position. You can figure out a way to maintain that. They maximized what they had.”

PIPO, TALK US THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE TEAM IN THE PITBOX AT THE END.

“First of all, it’s always a thrill. We are here to enjoy those moments. It’s made it a fantastic race to watch for the fans. Obviously we are competitors and we want to be out there. But there is nothing better than fighting wheel-to-wheel with great competitors and having such an amazing finish to a race that had been like that for the beginning to the end. So yeah, a nail-biter I think. We had our moment. Tom did a fantastic job to come out to undercut and get by Felipe. Obviously with Daytona being the way it is, the pit is inverted so they could see where we were and short-fueled to come out ahead. At the end of the day, that is part of the game. We gave everything we could. It was definitely harder to be on the outside than in the car. I’m sure it was the same for Jack. We knew Tom was going to do the job, and we came up just short. I’m really proud because I think we did a fantastic job… everyone involved in the team. We didn’t make a single mistake the whole week. We came here with a very competitive car. We were out front from the beginning to the end of the race. I had great battles. There is nothing better to enjoy and celebrate motorsport with a race like this. Next time if I’m not finishing the race, I hope these guys can make it a little bit easier on the heartbeat.”

PIPO, TALK ABOUT STARTING YOUR TITLE DEFENSE WITH A STRONG RESULT.

“It’s great. I think last year if you look at how we started the year, I think we finished fifth here in an up-and-down season. So we had a winter where we said we have to improve this and this and this. We’ve been checking those pockets and mark sure we can come back stronger in ’24. We certainly rolled out with a very competitive car and we did a fantastic race. Hats off to the entire team. We were flawless the whole race. So to begin the season with a pole position and a second-place, it gives us great hope that we are on the right path to fight for another championship. Hopefully it’s not going to be as up-and-down as it was last year. But we’re very happy with how Daytona went, despite coming just short. Everyone should be proud and looking forward to the next one.”

JACK, TALK US THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE TEAM IN THE PITBOX AT THE END.

“It’s a different kind of pain finishing second by that little. We’ve said it many times already this week that we have a lot of confidence in our lineup that we felt comfortable with anybody being in the car for the finish. Tom did a great job, and I really thought he possibly secured us the win with the move on Felipe before the yellow. Just watching from the sidelines like Pipo said, it’s definitely a bit hard on the nerves because you can’t really do anything at that point. It was still heartwarming to see the reaction in the garage that everyone on the Cadillac crew were able to hold their heads high because they put a lot in over the last two weeks after a pretty intense year last year as well. It’s not a long offseason. We’ve come out swinging. So hopefully that is a good indication for the rest of the year. But it definitely stings right now, rightly or wrongly.”

TOM, DID YOU THINK YOU WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FORCE THE PORSCHE INTO A MISTAKE?

“I tried. But like I said before, I remember him running wide just one. We were both really on it because the lap times came down at the end. We did all we could to secure victories for our teams. It was fun. There was a lot of adrenaline in the car, but it was so close. That’s motorsports sometimes.”

No. 1 Cadillac V-Series.R quotes

Renger van der Zande: “I was really moving; I came through the field so easily. The car was lightning fast and credit to Cadillac and the Ganassi team to give us such a big car to win a race like this. It’s just a shame it has to end like this so early. This is motorsport, we’re fighting with the very best and we’re on the limit with everything to have a competitive car. I have three amazing teammates, a whole team here to win and I think we had the best chance to win. It’s just a shame.”

Sebastien Bourdais: “This end result is obviously disappointing because everyone at Cadillac and Chip Ganassi Racing has put in so much work to get to this point. We showed that we had the pace to compete in this race, but things just didn’t fall our way. We continued to push until the very last minute.”

Scott Dixon: “The team did an amazing job. We worked well together and had great speed with a lot of possibilities, but it’s sad to go out of the race like we did so early on. That’s the way it rolls sometimes. I’m just thankful for everyone from the team at GM and Cadillac. I know there’s an amazing amount of effort that goes into this race and the whole season. The only way is up from here.”

Alex Palou: “Very sad that we couldn’t finish the race after an amazing couple of weeks in Daytona preparing for this big race. We were looking really good, and the Cadillac was super quick in all track conditions. It was an absolute pleasure to drive the 01 and share car with Renger, Sebastien and Scott. Thank you to the team for all the hard work and I know it will pay off down the road.”

Disappointing opener for Sean Creech Motorsport and Ligier at Daytona

By
Official Release
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IMSA Rolex 24 2024

After several trips to the garage, the No. 33 Ligier JS P217 LMP2 retires from the Rolex 24 with electrical and bodywork-related issues ahead of the checkered flag

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (28 January 2024) – Despite months of preparation and team effort, the 2024 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Rolex 24 at Daytona was not the opening event that the Sean Creech Motorsport (SCM) team was looking for, as a multitude of issues with the reintroduced Ligier JS P217 saw the team end the day in the garage.

The result was especially difficult given the pace and reliability the Ligier had displayed at last weekend’s Roar Before the Rolex. But it was a case of “that was then, and this is now” for the team, as they finished the race ninth in the LMP2 class.

The Jupiter, Fla.-based team, in concert with Ligier engineers and Ligier North America motorsport manager Chris Lowe, have worked to develop an information database for the Ligier JS P217 through several pre-season test sessions, with steady progress at the Roar that saw the team lead the LMP2 class early in two sessions. The car’s continued pace in official sessions this past week had drivers Lance Willsey, João Barbosa, Jonny Edgar, and Nolan Siegel feeling confident in their No. 33 SCM Focal One Ligier JS P217 going into the race weekend.

However, near the end of final practice on Friday, Willsey experienced an issue coming out of turn one that sent him into the turn two wall. With significant damage to the Ligier, the team set about repairing both mechanical parts and bodywork damage. Team mechanics worked hard and fast to be ready for Saturday morning, when the red, white, and blue-liveried Ligier assumed its position on the sixth row of the LMP2 class.

Over the first two hours of the race, multiple incidents depleted both the LMP2 and GT fields while Willsey stayed out of trouble and laid down consistent laps. Barbosa took the next double stint, taking the car to P7 before handing back to Willsey on used tires – but with increasing braking and rear stability issues.

Those issues came to the fore as Willsey’s stint continued, with several quick spins, including one to avoid a GTP car who’d made a very tight pass. But shortly after sunset, a slowly draining battery began showing up on the pit box telemetry. Realizing there was an ongoing battery/alternator issue, the team made several trips to the garage to diagnose and fix the issue.

Once the team had affected repairs, Siegel headed out on track just after 9:30pm. After Siegel’s double stint, Edgar took the helm for the first time in the race, and his first laps of night racing – and proceeded to set lap times consistent with the leaders.

Willsey drove a solid early morning double stint before the round of Barbosa-to-Siegel-to-Edgar that the team hoped would take them to the finish. The trio took the car easily through the morning’s racing, until a sudden failure of the rear decklid – which had been checked to be secured on the pit stop – sent the car back to the garage and out of the race.

All four drivers expressed significant disappointment that the crew’s hard work and dedication did not show in the final result – full season drivers Willsey and Barbosa (who have 36 Rolex 24 appearances between them), Edgar (experiencing his first endurance race), and Siegel (who helped the team to a second place finish last year at Daytona).

“Coming off the highs that we experienced at the Roar to, well, to the agony of defeat that we faced here in the race, it’s very, very unfortunate,” said Willsey. “It’s also, quite frankly, unacceptable. The team did a great job throughout; it was all hands-on deck. We especially appreciate the heroic efforts by Chris Lowe, who helped us wherever he could all weekend.

“We lost over half our test days (to either weather or the Bus Stop re-pave) and that lack of testing became quite obvious to us and to everyone who saw our performance here,” continued Willsey. “It’s not who we are. But we will learn from this and come back stronger at Sebring. We have a long list of things we need to go through and accomplish and while it’s a gravely disappointing race performance, it was through no fault of the team. It was just a variety of circumstances, primarily electrical related loss of power steering at inopportune times, and a lack of available parts when we needed them. It was unfortunate but we will learn from it and come back stronger.”

“We had such a promising performance at the Roar, a great baseline setup for the car,” said Barbosa. “But obviously it’s a new car for the team and this was the first time we’d really run the car for this long – and unfortunately, some of the weak points of the car came through and that put us behind a little bit. But the pace was there. We were not the fastest, but we were very consistent, able to keep up with the guys up front. It’s just a shame not to be able to finish the race, given all the hard work that the team put in.”

“Over the past week, there have been times that I think the car’s been quick, quicker than any of us – and probably the rest of the grid – expected, which was nice to see,” said Edgar. “But obviously there are some issues that came forward, most of them unfortunately showing up in the race. We expected problems with the car, since it hadn’t been raced in a few years. But for me, plenty of positives throughout the race – my first proper endurance race and two double stints running at night. So in those terms, I’m happy with the experience: I’m just sorry we didn’t have a better result to show for all the work that all of us, everyone in the team, put in this last week. But I’m still very thankful for the opportunity to race and happy to have been here.”

“It was a super challenging day,” said Siegel. “Probably the most challenging day that a lot of people on this team have ever had in racing. But when you start a program like this with a new car, new everything, I don’t think anyone expected us to go through the race with no issues. The team is working through all the issues, and I know things will get sorted out for the future. I was appreciative of all of the guys on the crew for pushing through and staying up all night during the race, working on the car – we came to the garage multiple times and each time everyone got straight to work, with no complaint: everyone was just fully focused on the task at hand. We had some really competitive hours in the car overnight, and I felt the pace and balance of the car was the best that I’d felt it – which in a way is even more frustrating, but we made a ton of progress and I think it’s promising that there’s pace there and hopefully, when everything gets sorted out, the car will have a fighting chance in the rest of the races.”

For Creech, the work toward the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring has already begun.

“We’ve spent a great deal of time with Ligier this weekend, and we anticipate that will continue as we figure out everything that happened here this week,” said Creech. “We have an idea of where the weaknesses are and we will all address that in the coming weeks, in the shop and in testing.”

SCM thanks partner Focal One for its continued support.

Next up for Sean Creech Motorsport will be the second of two home state events to start the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring March 13-16.

About SCM

Team leader Sean Creech has competed in a multitude of sports car series from 1990 until the present day, including Group C, IMSA GTP, WSC, Grand-Am, SRO World Challenge, and IMSA. SCM will contest the full WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2023 with João Barbosa and Lance Willsey. http://seancreechmotorsport.com/

About Focal One

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

CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Rolex 24 Final Report

By
Official Release
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  • Corvette Z06 GT3.R made its worldwide competition debut to open the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Daytona.
  • Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports No. 3 and No. 4 Z06 GT3.Rs combined to lead 118 of 773 laps in incredible GTD PRO fight
  • Antonio Garcia, Alexander Sims, Daniel Juncadella led the Corvette Z06 GT3.R runners with a fifth-place finish in No. 3 Oshkosh/Mobil 1 Corvette.
  • New Corvette showed impressive performance in deep GT field with 36 entries from 11 manufacturers
  • Despite retirements, first Corvette Z06 GT3.R customer team AWA logged a considerable number of laps and miles in first race with the Corvette brand
  • Focus for Corvette Racing program is to learn from Daytona experiences ahead of FIA WEC race in Qatar and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in IMSA competition

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 28, 2024) – The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R showed promise during its competition debut in the Rolex 24 At Daytona with four of Corvette GT3 cars in the hands of teams Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports and AWA.

Although Sunday’s checkered flag flew without a Corvette win, there are plenty of positives and lessons to carry forward to the Z06 GT3.R’s upcoming events in IMSA, the FIA World Endurance Championship and GT World Challenge America.

Both Corvettes from Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports completed the full 24 hours with the No. 3 of Antonio Garcia, Alexander Sims and Daniel Juncadella led the way with a fifth-place finish. The trio led 118 laps during Saturday and Sunday with the sister No. 4 Z06 GT3.R of Tommy Milner, Nicky Catsburg and Earl Bamber leading 38 additional laps.

Both of the Pratt Miller Corvettes experienced separate mechanical issues – the No. 3 had a cracked oil tank and the No. 4 had to replace a power steering pump inside the final six hours.

In GTD, AWA decided to withdraw the No. 13 Corvette (power steering) and the No. 17 Corvette (electrical), also in the last quarter of the event. The team and Chevrolet Competition Engineering will work together to determine the root causes and address ahead of the next race at Sebring. Chevrolet thanks the AWA team for its hard work and collaboration leading up to and during the Rolex 24.

Despite missing out on a fifth class victory for the Corvette Racing brand since 2001, the competition groups learned a considerable amount while running all four cars in the season-opening race. Throughout its history, Corvette Racing has prided itself in taking lessons away from the racetrack and making its racecars – and production vehicles – better. That will continue being the case as the Corvette Z06 GT3.R moves forward.

The next race for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R is the Qatar 1812 Kilometers to open the FIA World Endurance Championship on Saturday, March 2. TF Sport will field two of the Corvette GT3 racecars for the full season. Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports and AWA will next compete at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on Saturday, March 16.

ANTONIO GARCIA/ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 3 OSHKOSH/MOBIL 1 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – FINISHED FIFTH IN GTD PRO: “This is always a tough race, and this one was flat-out. The Rolex 24 is hard on equipment, and unfortunately we had our one issue. It is always great to be in the hunt and put pressure on our competitors so they may make mistakes. It’s a shame, for sure. I would have loved to be in contention late with the new Corvette. We learned a lot that we can use to push the Z06 GT3.R forward. We will use all those lessons to improve for the next race Sebring. It’s a classic event for us and we’ll definitely try to go for the win there.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 OSHKOSH/MOBIL 1 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – FINISHED EIGHTH IN GTD PRO: “Overall I’m proud of our effort today and what we showed with this new Corvette Z06 GT3.R. The pace was good and the balance was good. I think all of us as drivers were happy. Unfortunately for us, we had one main item that set us back and cost us time. But this is a new car and we’ve never seen that problem in testing. That’s why these 24-hour races in some ways feel like sprint races. This is a great learning opportunity for us, as well. There are things we will find and be better for the rest of the year. Realistically when you look at all the cars in the GT classes today, I don’t think anyone had a clean run. It shows how hard everyone was pushing, especially us. So yes, it’s somewhat disappointing because both cars led and were in the top-three for most of the race. These require perfection from everybody. Our race wasn’t perfect, but it was close. We can be proud of that.”

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in nearly 80 countries with nearly 2.7 million cars and trucks sold in 2021. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Cooper Webb Wins Anaheim 2 Triple Crown Supercross

By
Official Release
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First place 450SX Class - Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Levi Kitchen Wins 250SX Class, Marking Eight Different Winners In Four Events

Anaheim, Calif., (January 27, 2024) Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb became the fourth different Monster Energy AMA Supercross winner in four rounds when he took the victory at the Anaheim 2 Supercross in front of 43,753 fans in Angel Stadium. Anaheim 2 was the first of three Triple Crown events this year which combine the results from three races to determine one winner on the night. Webb won the overall with (2-2-5) race results.

Angel Stadium delivered clear skies for the racers and great racing for the fans. After two consecutive mud races many riders went into the Anaheim 2 Supercross viewing it as the “real” start of the season due to the normal conditions. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Going (5-7-1), Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac had the crowd cheering when he earned second place overall with a win in the final race of the evening as the sport celebrates 50 years of racing this year. Last week’s winner, Red Bull KTM’s Aaron Plessinger, earned third place with (6-4-3) and retains the points lead heading into Round 5. In the Western Regional 250SX Class, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen fought hard for the overall win with (1-2-3) race scores. And Supercross Futures, a part of SMX Next, held its first of five races to feature the future stars of Supercross; in what was the best battle of the night. Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Cole Davies emerged with the victory over Monster Energy Star Yamaha’s Gavin Towers.

“If you do really well the first two [races], the third one sometimes is easy… I had a lot of wiggle room [in Race #3] and could just, honestly, have a solo ride in fifth place. But it is a little bit weird, for sure, to not go over the checkered flag first. But I think that’s kinda the unique thing about the Triple Crown, is we’ve seen a lot of this happen. You can have big point swings, and you can have one bad race and then have two good ones [and] you end up on the podium and something like that. So it’s never over for sure in these kind of situations… I saw Jason [Anderson] right in front of me [in Race #3], he went down, and it probably wasn’t the best thing for me, because it was instantly like, ‘All right, I can just kinda chill,’ but I was grateful to put myself in that situation.” – Cooper Webb

“I was pretty frustrated after those first two [races]. I was like, ‘Okay, here I’m just – what am I now, fifth – seventh place guy right now?’ I don’t know. I just had to go do something, I had to get off the gate there, so it was good. It was good. Had a good flow. I was able to get the whoop combo down, and I felt like that was important for me, and yeah, felt good.”.” – Eli Tomac

“I knew Detroit was the next race and I really, really wanted to carry the red plate into Detroit given the events that happened last year.” [Plessinger crashed while leading Detroit 2023] “That’s gonna be a special race and yeah, I’m ready for it. I’m ready to get back to Florida this week and put in some work and then go up to the freezing cold and hopefully my moustache doesn’t break off in the 20 degree weather [laughs]. But no, I’m ready to get back up there and do some damage.” – Aaron Plessinger

The Western Regional 250SX Class held its second round and Levi Kitchen became the fourth rider in four rounds to take home a win. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire battled hard in the first two races but a flat tire in the third Race took his chances at an overall victory. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher followed up a win last weekend with a third place finish at Anaheim 2.

“We’re all really close right now. Obviously I want to be the dominant guy, but yeah, it’s closer now. You can’t start in like fifth and sixth with these guys and have them up front. You’d have to have a pretty amazing – I don’t even know what you’d have to do to be able to get up to them. I think it’s tighter than in years’ past. Especially the top five of us, we’re all pretty experienced by now, so it’s definitely tight racing.” – Levi Kitchen

“For the first time in my career I had a flat tire on a Supercross track, so yeah, it was eventful. I knew something was wrong, didn’t necessarily know what until it shot me off in the whoops… I was fine the next couple laps, and then once that rear tire breaks the bead and it’s off the rim, that’s when it gets really, really scary. But overall it was an awesome night. That first and second moto were sick. If we could do that every weekend, I mean, we’d probably get paid a lot more because that was a show. [smiles]. But like I said, that was fun. All in all, it was a really solid day.” – RJ Hampshire

“[The new bike is] the same motor package but a whole different chassis. So all the suspension characteristics are completely different. So we’re still leaning, but I think I got a good package this weekend. I felt like it was a big step in the right direction for me, and we’re still learning, still working, still trying to get a little bit better, but last week [in testing] I think we found a little bit and it showed this weekend… It was a very hardpack track out there today and on the bike I was racing a couple weekends ago I was struggling pretty bad with the hardpack. So yeah, it was definitely a little bit better spot for me.” – Nate Thrasher

“It was an awesome battle. We were just going back and forth. And it was super tiring, I was breathing so hard and, you’re just glad to be on top… I couldn’t even feel myself. I was like so frickin – I was like in a dream it felt like.” – Cole Davies (#17)

Off the track, members Green Day were in attendance at Angel Stadium to take in the Triple Crown action. Drummer Tre Cool showed up with keyboardist Jason Freese ahead of the band’s 2024 The Saviors tour. Photo Credit: Getty Images/Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Others in attendance include: USA Olympic Skateboarder Nyjah Huston, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire director Gil Kenan, Influencers Ben Azelart and Hayes Grier, world-renowned drummer Jason Bonham of Bonham and Sammy Hagar’s “The Best of All Worlds” Van Halen Tour, rock guitarist Carlos Cavazo of Quiet Riot and Ratt, who was also recently inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame. Images HERE.

Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan hosts Round 5 of the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship next Saturday, February 3rd. The Detroit Supercross will run on a daytime schedule rather than under the lights. The racing starts at 3:00PM Eastern Time. Doors open for fans attending the race at 8:00AM Eastern Time. The race will kick off the 9-round Eastern Regional 250SX Championship.

Each Supercross round also pays points toward the 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship. In its second year, the SuperMotocross League combines the Supercross season and the 11-round AMA Pro Motocross season to seed riders into two Super Motocross World Championship Playoffs and a Final in September.

Every race is available live on PeacockTV, with select rounds also viewable on NBC, USA Network, CNBC, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app. Fans around the globe can catch the action live, with both English and Spanish commentary, through the SuperMotocross Video Pass (supermotocross.tv).

For video highlights, race results, schedule information, broadcast airtimes, and to purchase tickets, please go to SupercrossLIVE.com.

Facebook: facebook.com/supercrosslive
X: twitter.com/supercrosslive
Instagram: instagram.com/supercrosslive
YouTube: youtube.com/supercrosslive
TikTok: tiktok.com/supercrossliveofficial
Official Merch: SupercrossSuperstore.com

About Feld Motor Sports:

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the SuperMotocross World Championship. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc. Visit monsterjam.com, SupercrossLIVE.com, and feldentertainment.com for more information.

About Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship:

Monster Energy AMA Supercross is the most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing championship on the planet. Founded in America and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) since 1974. Over 17 weeks, Supercross attracts some of the largest and most impressive crowds inside the most recognizable and prestigious stadiums in North America to race in front of nearly one million live fans and broadcast to millions more worldwide. For more information, visit SupercrossLIVE.com.

About the SuperMotocross World Championship:

The SuperMotocross World Championship™ is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series that combines the technical precision of stadium racing with the all-out speed and endurance of outdoor racing. Created in 2022, the SuperMotocross World Championship combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Pro Motocross Championship into a 31-event series that culminates in a season-ending two round playoff and SuperMotocross World Championship Final. Visit SuperMotocross.com for more information.

About the American Motorcyclist Association:

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.

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