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CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Twenty-Five Years and Counting

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Official Release
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Photo: Richard Prince, Chevrolet Racing

Celebrating the start of a landmark season at Daytona surrounded by Chevrolet vehicles

DETROIT (Jan. 25, 2023) – Twenty-five years ago, no one knew what to expect when two Chevrolet Corvette C5-R racecars showed up at Daytona International Speedway for the Rolex 24 At Daytona – the first event for the then-new factory sports car program.

The volumes of stories and successes that came after that first race are enough to fill up multiple books. That’s what happens when a single program with the same manufacturer, the same team and the same car wins 122 races around the world – including four at the Rolex 24 – to go along with 15 Team championships, 14 Manufacturers and Drivers titles in North American competition and more than 350,000 racing miles covered.

Chevrolet and Corvette Racing leaders, current and past drivers offer their thoughts on this monumental achievement and what Corvette Racing has meant to them personally.

JIM CAMPBELL, CHEVROLET U.S. VICE PRESIDENT, PERFORMANCE AND MOTORSPORTS: “Twenty-five years of Corvette Racing is a remarkable achievement. I remember being part of our first race at Daytona in 1999 and the excitement around our first race. Now 25 years later, that level of anticipation and thrill remains for everyone within our team and our Corvette owners and supporters. This program is a benchmark in our company for technology and development transferring from racetrack to showroom. Engine technology, advanced aerodynamics and light-weighting materials are hallmarks of how Corvette Racing has influenced Chevrolet vehicles for 25 years. I can’t thank the team members, our Corvette owners and our Corvette fans enough for their 25 years of loyalty, and we look forward to many more.”

LAURA WONTROP KLAUSER, GM SPORTS CAR RACING PROGRAM MANAGER: “Corvette Racing is very special to me personally. Coming from the production side of Chevrolet, I saw first-hand the influence that our motorsports participation – Corvette Racing, in particular – had in design and development. It was nothing new as the program already had established itself as a leader in technology transfer. But seeing that in real-life was very cool, especially given the Corvette I had in my garage. Moving to competition and working close with the Corvette Racing team – the crew, the engineers and the drivers – and meeting so many of our passion Corvette owners and fans has been an absolute thrill of a lifetime. As exciting as that is, I’m even more excited for what the future holds for Corvette Racing.”

ANTONIO GARCIA, CURRENT CORVETTE RACING DRIVER: “I knew when I joined Corvette Racing that my goal was to be here long-term. I’m really happy that it worked out that way. When I joined in 2009, I had the option to stay with another manufacturer, but I had discovered American racing a few years before that and my choice was to join what I thought was the best team, and I still think we are the best. I’m very thankful. It’s quite unique to see a 25-year relationship at this level. I’m happy to have driven Corvettes for 14 years and going on 15.

“The first time I saw Corvette Racing was watching footage of the win at Daytona in 2001. Even though I wasn’t racing in sports cars then, I still saw a lot of the Le Mans 24 Hours. You knew those yellow cars were going around and winning races. When I moved to GT in 2006, we knew that the bigger battles would be in America with Aston Martin vs. Corvette. I was on the other side then and experienced how hard those battles were when we would race at Le Mans and Sebring. My eyes were really opened to how hard Corvette Racing competed. The relationship between the two teams was great always.

“This is part of the Corvette Racing environment: My family has always been welcomed in and it is an extended family. During the week at home, I have my own family and on the weekends I have Corvette Racing. When I joined, I was 28 and was probably one of the youngest members of the team. Now it’s the complete opposite! I don’t know how many people on the team are older than me now! But I’m happy I can still provide experience and speed to the team. Consistency is big here and so is experience.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, CURRENT CORVETTE RACING DRIVER: “It’s amazing. In motorsports, I don’t know how many relationships make it to 25 years. For GM, Chevrolet, Pratt Miller and Corvette Racing to be this family for so long, it comes down to success. If they weren’t successful, I don’t think this relationship would still be going on. It speaks volumes for everyone involved. For me to be part of it for all these years is a very special feeling and something I’m very proud of. The last few years as a full-time driver have been amazing with winning a couple of championships and winning races like Daytona and Sebring and all the special ones that everyone talks about is huge, and that’s what Corvette Racing is known for.

“I was 10 years old at Le Mans watching my dad for the first time, and we shared hospitality with Corvette Racing. So I saw it first-hand back then seeing all the Corvette Racing guys on the biggest stage against the biggest manufacturers. It was always the goal back then to be in that position so for all of that to come full circle, it’s almost impossible to believe that it’s happened. It’s hard to picture that I was once a kid watching the team back then. It’s super special and something I’m always thankful for. I know the opportunity could have never come and I could have been doing something way different with my life. It’s always something I’m thankful for.”

TOMMY MILNER, CURRENT CORVETTE RACING DRIVER: “Twenty-five years is incredible for a team and car manufacturer partnership. To last that long is unheard of. It’s a testament to how well the foundations of the program from Day One have allowed it to continue this long. Each year, the team and Chevrolet grow that relationship and partnership with closer links to racecar and production cars. In many ways, it starts with the commitment that Chevrolet has toward sports car racing – not just in the United States but around the world.

“Car manufacturers oftentimes love to play for a little bit and then take a break or go somewhere else. But Chevrolet and Corvette have been consistently here for 25 years. Any car manufacturer looking at going racing needs to look at what Corvette Racing has done. The production cars have transformed from what they had been in the late 1990s when this program came about to where the eighth-generation Corvette is now. In terms of being faster, better handling and everything you want in a car, the Corvette has improved over the years. The racecars have gone hand-in-hand with those production cars as well in improving over the years. It’s a good mirror of having a great product for the road and a great product on the racetrack. I feel very fortunate to have been part of this program for as long as I have, and hopefully that continues on in the future.”

RON FELLOWS, CORVETTE RACING DRIVER FROM 1999-2007: “It’s amazing. I sat down with some of the Chevy leadership in September of 1997 and they talked about taking a Corvette to Le Mans. I was dumbfounded! But they were serious about it and said they wanted me to be part of it and lead the program as a driver. I couldn’t say yes fast enough!

“It’s great to see not only the success of Corvette Racing but also the development of generations of production Corvette. They both improved hand-in-hand. To see how both have evolved is awesome to look at.

“We certainly learned a ton at that first Rolex 24. And we continued to get better throughout 1999 and into 2000. When you look at how long development occurred, you realize how much work went into it. In 2000, we knew we had a fast car and it was a matter of putting all the pieces together to finish it off. But the evolution of the cars and people was phenomenal. There were tough times but everyone kept digging and we were all better for it.”

OLIVER GAVIN, CORVETTE RACING DRIVER FROM 2002-2020: “When I first tested for Corvette Racing in 2001, the team already was established and it was a force in the paddocks of the American Le Mans Series and at Le Mans. When you get into three or four years of a program, you think that something will change and something will happen to move on to the next thing. But it was amazing to see how Corvette Racing grew from C5-R to C6.R through the different competition we faced. The racing back then, thinking about it now, makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. It was fantastic fun and great, intense racing.

“You get to 2010 and I’d been there for nine seasons. You think how this keeps building and building every year. The competition level in any form of GT racing is so high, no matter where you go. But this team has constantly been running at the front. Part of that key is building on the foundation of the road car, and you see that from generation to generation. You see the lessons that have been learned and how they are applied in production and with the race team. It shows how hard everyone works together and the overall effort of the individual groups. Everyone is pulling in the same direction and wanting to keep progressing and continuing the level and standard that Corvette Racing has established for so long.”

Chevrolet on Display All Around Daytona

· Exciting Chevrolet products won’t be found just on the track at the Rolex 24. Starting Friday fans, can check out a large variety of Chevy models at three locations around Daytona International Speedway. The Chevrolet Experience Center, the Chevrolet Injector and Chevrolet Motorsports Display each will be full of Chevrolet vehicles that spectators can learn more about throughout the weekend.

Each location will open at 9 a.m., Friday and Saturday; and 8 a.m., Sunday.

The Chevrolet Experience Center is located next to Victory Lane. The main attraction for Corvette enthusiasts is the 2024 Corvette E-Ray – Chevrolet’s first electrified, all-wheel drive Corvette. In addition, multiple versions of the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 will be on display alongside Blazer RS, Corvette Stingray, Tahoe RST and Bolt EUV Premier.

The Chevrolet Motorsports Display in the Fan Midway will have a number of attractions:

• Production vehicles such as the Corvette Z06, Corvette Stingray with the Z51 package, Tahoe Z71, Colorado ZR2, Blazer EV RS, Silverado 1500 Crew ZR2, Camaro ZL1 a Corvette C8.R showcar and the Garage 56 Camaro ZL1 test car.

• Samples of Chevrolet engines, performance parts and accessories available to fans for purchase from local Chevrolet dealers

• Corvette Racing t-shirts for fans who sign up with Chevrolet

At the Chevrolet Injector, nearly 20 different Chevrolet vehicles are on display throughout the four levels of fan access. Models include Corvette Z06 and Stingray, Silverado ZR2, Corvette Z06, Bolt EV and EUV, Tahoe RST, Blazer Premier and RST, Camaro ZL1 and SS, Suburban Premier and multiple variants of Silverado: 1500, 2500, ZR2 and TrailBoss.

As at the Chevrolet Motorsports Display and Chevrolet Experience, Chevrolet product specialists will be on-hand to answer questions on each model of Chevrolet vehicle throughout the weekend.

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.

3D Systems & Stewart-Haas Racing Accelerate Innovation with Multi-year Partnership

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Official Release
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Stewart-Haas Racing relies on 3D Systems’ Figure 4 Standalone for the direct production of TV camera, pit gun, and pit cart components along with other prototype parts.

● Three-year technical partnership intended to catalyze Stewart-Haas Racing’s engineering prowess for competitive advantage

● 3D Systems’ solutions enable rapid design, testing, and production of critical components to increase speed, improve performance

ROCK HILL, South Carolina, and KANNAPOLIS, North Carolina, January 25, 2023 – 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) and Stewart-Haas Racing, today announced they have entered a technical partnership built for victory. The championship-winning NASCAR team has relied on 3D Systems’ ProX® 800 stereolithography and Figure 4® Standalone 3D printers to dramatically improve speed and performance in its racecars. With the help of 3D Systems and this three-year technical partnership, Stewart-Haas Racing can rapidly create durable parts, including design and prototyping with faster iteration, and production. This approach will enable the team to win not only on race days, but win the innovation race.

For a NASCAR team, perfecting automotive components designed to increase speed and performance is a vital ingredient for success. Stewart-Haas Racing uses the ProX 800 to rapidly design and produce large aerodynamic components with a smooth surface finish and precise dimensional accuracy for wind tunnel testing. Stewart-Haas Racing relies on 3D Systems’ Figure 4 Standalone for the direct production of TV camera, pit gun, and pit cart components along with other prototype parts. Oqton’s Geomagic Wrap® 3D scanning and imaging software is integral to their manufacturing workflow to collect scan data from the car components, process it, and create digital design files for shape deviation comparison. Additionally, 3D Systems’ 3D Sprint® software is used to prepare and optimize the CAD data and manage the additive manufacturing process on both 3D printers.

“At Stewart-Haas Racing, it is important that we have a technical partner like 3D Systems to provide the tools we need to develop components that ultimately increase the speed of our racecars,” said Reneau Van Landingham, production manager, Stewart-Haas Racing. “The Pro X 800 and the Figure 4 printers enable us to print very large and very small, accurate, smooth-surface finish parts as quickly as possible. The speed in which we can design the component, print it, and test it in the wind tunnel is our most valuable resource to making our cars faster at the racetrack. The materials that are available for these machines enable us to print a range of prototype parts and track capable parts for our cars. I am confident that this technical partnership between 3D Systems and Stewart-Haas Racing will enable both companies to win in the additive manufacturing space and on the racetrack.”

“As part of our work within motorsports, 3D Systems understands how critical speed is — not just on the track, but in technical development to improve car performance,” said Reji Puthenveetil, executive vice president, industrial solutions, 3D Systems. “By partnering with Stewart-Haas Racing, we are able to combine their capabilities with the benefit of 3D Systems’ advanced materials and printing technology to develop competitive advantages for them — on and off the track.”

Stewart-Haas Racing and 3D Systems will first appear together in the season-opening NASCAR Xfinity Series race February 18 at Daytona (Florida) International Speedway with the 3D Systems logo on the No. 00 Ford Mustang driven by Cole Custer.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In many cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “believes,” “belief,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “estimates,” “intends,” “anticipates” or “plans” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs, assumptions, and current expectations and may include comments as to the company’s beliefs and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the company. The factors described under the headings “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in the company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other factors, could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected or predicted in forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included are made only as of the date of the statement. 3D Systems undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made by management or on its behalf, whether as a result of future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law.

About 3D Systems

More than 35 years ago, 3D Systems brought the innovation of 3D printing to the manufacturing industry. Today, as the leading additive manufacturing solutions partner, we bring innovation, performance, and reliability to every interaction – empowering our customers to create products and business models never before possible. Thanks to our unique offering of hardware, software, materials, and services, each application-specific solution is powered by the expertise of our application engineers who collaborate with customers to transform how they deliver their products and services. 3D Systems’ solutions address a variety of advanced applications in healthcare and industrial markets such as medical and dental, aerospace & defense, automotive, and durable goods. More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.

About Stewart-Haas Racing

Stewart-Haas Racing is the title-winning NASCAR team co-owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation – the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. The Kannapolis, North Carolina-based organization has won two NASCAR Cup Series titles, one NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and more than 90 NASCAR races, including such crown-jewel events as the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. For more information, please visit us online at StewartHaasRacing.com and on social at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Cirkul, a Modern Beverage Platform and One of the Fastest Growing CPG Companies in US, Expands Partnership with Kaulig Racing for the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS)

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Official Release
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Lexington, N.C. (January 25, 2023) – Cirkul, a modern beverage platform known for its patented flavor cartridges, returns to Kaulig Racing for the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) as a primary partner on the No. 11 Chevrolet Camaro piloted by Daniel Hemric. Cirkul will sponsor 14 races throughout the 2023 season, deepening its partnership with Kaulig Racing.

Cirkul and Kaulig Racing joined forces during the 2022 season, where the modern beverage platform served as the primary partner for nine NXS races and one NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) race with Hemric.

“We’re excited to continue our partnership with Cirkul for the 2023 season,” Chris Rice, President of Kaulig Racing, says. “I love the product and the benefits it has; I know our team does too. We stress the importance of taking care of ourselves and the health of all our employees at Kaulig Racing. Having a partner like Cirkul that supports us on and off the track is huge.”

“Sports are an important way for us continue to reach more people as consumers from all walks of life prefer drinking water over other beverages,” said Andy Gay President and co-founder of Cirkul. “NASCAR’s vibrant and passionate fanbase is a fantastic vehicle to promote and grow awareness of Cirkul. Kaulig Racing and Daniel Hemric are amazing collaborators, and we’re excited to do more with the team this season.”

Cirkul’s innovative water bottle and cartridge system is taking the beverage industry into the future by giving consumers a healthier, more convenient, and customizable beverage. With over 50 delicious flavors, Cirkul makes drinking water easier by enabling consumers to flavor their water sip by sip. Truly allowing consumers to drink “your water your way,” Cirkul will continue to boast their bottle to NASCAR fans.

“I’m super pumped to have Cirkul back with the team for the 2023 season,” Daniel Hemric, driver of the No. 11 Chevrolet Camaro and 2021 NXS Champion, says. “Hydration is key to stay at peak performance, and Cirkul helps me achieve that. I am proud to represent them, and I look forward to continuing to grow together.”

The No. 11 Cirkul Chevrolet Camaro will return to the track with Daniel Hemric on Saturday, February 18 for The Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner 300 at Daytona International Speedway.
 
 
About Cirkul:

Cirkul, Inc. is a beverage technology company that’s bringing the bottled beverage industry into the 21st century by unlocking e-commerce and personalization with a patented flavor cartridge that reduces the shipping weight and volume of bottled beverages by over 95%, reduces plastics by 84%, and helps consumers drink more water by enabling them to personalize the flavor of their water, sip by sip. Through their cartridge technology, Cirkul offers over 50 unique beverages – all with zero sugar, zero calories, and no artificial flavors or colors. Cirkul is available at DrinkCirkul.com.

About Kaulig Racing:

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and has won back-to-back regular-season championships. Before becoming a full-time NCS team, Kaulig Racing made multiple starts in the 2021 NCS season and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team expanded to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 with Justin Haley piloting the No. 31 Camaro ZL1, and an all-star lineup featured in the No. 16 Camaro ZL1. Haley will continue to drive the No. 31 full-time in 2023, alongside AJ Allmendinger, who will drive the No. 16 Camaro ZL1. The team will continue to field three, full-time NXS entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by an all-star lineup that will be announced at a later date, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Daniel Hemric, and the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by Chandler Smith.

To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

Ferris Joins Ty Dillon, Spire Motorsports for Multi-Race Partnership in 2023

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Official Release
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CONCORD, N.C. (January 25, 2023) – Ferris Mowers, a leading commercial and industrial turf care equipment provider, will sponsor Ty Dillon in a select number of NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) races in 2023. Dillon, who embarks on his inaugural season with Spire Motorsports, will debut the No. 77 Ferris Mowers Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the 65th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. The announcement was made today in Concord, N.C., at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

This is the second consecutive year that Ferris has partnered with Dillon and marks the 10-year anniversary of the brand’s first sponsorship of the North Carolina veteran driver. The Ferris brand originally partnered with Dillon in the dirt late model series in 2013.

Dillon will also feature Ferris branding in a select number of starts behind the wheel of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro SS in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

“Ty is a great ambassador for the Ferris brand, and we enjoy a great relationship with him,” said Christin Wam, senior director of marketing, Briggs & Stratton. “We’re excited to see what he can do this season with both Spire Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing.”

“I’m excited to be partnering with Ferris once again,” said Dillon, who is entering his sixth full-time season in NASCAR’s premier series. “Ferris has supported my career since 2013 when I drove dirt late models and I’m grateful for a continuing relationship. To carry and represent their brand 10 years later is an honor and I know we will accomplish great success on and off the track in 2023.”

The links between Ferris and racing run deep. The company’s patented suspension system is inspired by stock-car racing. That suspension system is unlike any other in the outdoor power equipment industry and is prized by lawn contractors for its comfort, traction and mowing efficiency.

The 65th running of the Daytona 500 will be televised live on FOX, Sunday, February 19 beginning at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). The first of 36 races on the 2023 NCS schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Briggs & Stratton …
Briggs & Stratton, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, provides innovative products and diverse power solutions to help people get work done. Briggs & Stratton is the world’s largest producer of engines for outdoor power equipment, and is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of lithium-ion battery, standby generator, energy storage system, lawn and garden, turf care and job site products through its Briggs & Stratton®, Vanguard®, Ferris®, Simplicity®, Snapper®, Billy Goat®, Allmand®, SimpliPhi®, Branco® and Victa® brands. Briggs & Stratton products are designed, manufactured, marketed and serviced in more than 100 countries on six continents. For additional information, please visit www.briggsandstratton.com.

About Spire Motorsports…
Spire Motorsports is a full-time, two-car NASCAR Cup Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2023, Spire Motorsports will field the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for driver Corey LaJoie and No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Ty Dillon. The team also fields a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entry in select events. Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway.

AO Racing Revs Up for WeatherTech Debut at Rolex 24

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Official Release
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DAYTONA, Fla., (January 25, 2023) – The longest event on the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship kicks off the 2023 sports car racing season this week, and AO Racing is revved up and ready for the series debut of the new No. 80 Porsche 911 GT3 R (type 992). Sporting a tribute livery inspired by the 1983 race-winning Porsche 935, AO Racing hopes to celebrate victory of their own in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, a 24-hour endurance event that will begin Saturday, January 28 and conclude the following afternoon.

Drivers PJ Hyett, Sebastian Priaulx, Gunnar Jeannette, Harry Tincknell, and the hardworking team just completed the Roar Before the 24, the first official several-day test of the new season. The test gave competitors the opportunity to conduct a thorough rollout of the new Porsche 911 GT3 R, the latest engineering feat from the German manufacturer. The Porsche is one of seven in the GTD class, racing against six other major manufacturers and 24 other entries. With the official test of the pre-season complete, competitors await the latest adjustments in the Balance of Performance (BoP): the restrictions the sanctioning body mandates in an effort to level the playing field of the various manufacturers.

The competition will be strong in this year’s race as the best drivers in the world converge on Daytona International Speedway for the prestigious endurance racing event. Though AO Racing is new to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Rolex 24, Priaulx, Jeannette, and Tincknell have completed 20 Rolex 24s between them, working with IMSA veteran mechanics and engineers as well. Their combined experience at one of the most challenging sports car races in the world will prove to be helpful in the rapidly approaching event. While AO Racing and the other Porsche entrants had hoped to receive some technical requirement changes (Balance of Performance) to bring them closer to the class’s other competitors, no changes were issued after the Roar Before the 24. Racing against established, championship-winning teams may be an intimidating endeavor for some, but the quality of drivers and crew combined with the reliability of the Porsche machinery will play into the hands of the Illinois-based squad, who will start the race from 21st.

As previously announced, the team is using the 40th anniversary of the No. 6 Swap Shop ANDIAL Porsche 935’s race win to pay homage in their IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut. Jeannette’s father, Kevin worked on the car in 1983 as the crew chief, and AO team owner Hyett currently owns the historic 935. The 1983 race winner came to the circuit with its modern-day counterpart and will be driven on track by Gunnar Jeannette in Saturday’s Heritage Expedition. The full-season No. 80 entry, with drivers PJ Hyett and Sebastian Priaulx, will change into a different livery for the remainder of the year following the Daytona event.

The 61st Rolex 24 At Daytona will begin airing live Saturday, January 28 at 1:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock, ten minutes before the field takes the green flag. Sixty-one entries will compete across five different classes on the road course for 24 hours, rotating drivers though, paying careful attention to minimum and maximum drivetime requirements. Crew will strategically rest between pit stops, saving energy for tire changes, possible mechanical work, and equipment preparation. The 40-plus hour workday will put man and machine to the test, delivering one of the most exciting races of the year. IMSA Radio will continue to offer comprehensive coverage of all sessions and the entire race without breaks on imsaradio.com.

Sebastian Priaulx

It was obviously a tricky qualifying session, but that was inevitable with how it’s been going at the moment. I’m looking forward to the race, of course. It’s one of the biggest ones in the world, so I’m looking forward to it. The team did a great job getting us to this point with the new car, and we’ll certainly be strong. We have a lot of time ahead of us to make gains on the competition.

Gunnar Jeannette

I’m very excited to finally be getting to the Rolex 24 race week. All the guys at AO Racing have been putting in a huge amount of effort to get here, so to see our GT3 R on the track in the Swap Shop tribute livery is truly awesome. We’ve learned a lot over the Roar test days, so we’ll apply that and give it our best shot to get a watch.

Harry Tincknell

It’s not where we wanted to qualify to begin the year, but the Porsches have all been clearly struggling with the Balance of Performance we’ve been given. We’re hopeful we’ll have a car to be competitive with come race time, because right now, it’s a different class compared to the leaders. I feel we worked well as a team all week. We missed the set up a little bit in qualifying, but ultimately, it’s a 24-hour race, so we’re not too worried about starting position. We’ll be working over the next few days to analyze everything and put our best foot forward going into race week.

THE No. 93 HARRISON CONTRACTING COMPANY NSX GT3 EVO22 READY FOR IMSA WEATHERTECH GTD DEBUT AT THE ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA

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Official Release
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(Deland, Fla.) January 25, 2023 — The No. 93 Harrison Contracting Company Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 heads into the 61st Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway this week for the team’s debut in the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech Series Michelin Endurance Cup. The RELY on Red Acura machine will line up for the green flag on the third row of the overall GTD grid for the twice-around-the-clock event.

Racers Edge Motorsports with WTRAndretti gathered solid data and information over six on-track sessions throughout the ROAR Before The 24, dialing in a set up to hone in on qualifying last Sunday afternoon. The preparation set up Marcelli to clock a 1:46.8 lap time to put the Acura NSX P4 in the GTD class field.

The The No. 93 Harrison Contracting Company Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 effort by Racers Edge Motorsports with WTRAndretti is piloted by the stellar driver lineup of Ashton Harrison, Danny Formal, Kyle Marcelli, and Ryan Briscoe. Harrison and Formal are rookies to the Rolex 24, while Marcelli is a veteran to the twice around the clock event and Briscoe proudly owns three Rolex watches.

The Rolex 24 At Daytona is somewhat of a racing family reunion, and the camaraderie is evident among the quartet. In addition to Briscoe’s experience in a WTRAndretti DPi, with whom he won his most recent Rolex 24 in 2020, Marcelli, Harrison, and Formal have been WTRAndretti teammates in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America paddock for the past two years.

Harrison completed the HPD Academy in 2021 with Racers Edge Motorsports and won a championship with the team in 2022; Marcelli also drove with Racers Edge in an Acura NSX to win a title in 2019. In 2022, the Racers Edge Motorsports with WTRAndretti partnership made its IMSA WeatherTech Championship debut with a top-10 result at the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring.

The No. 93 Harrison Contracting Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 begins official practice sessions this Thursday, January 26th, around Daytona International Speedway’s historic 3.56-mile, 12-turn road course circuit, including the famed night practice enjoyed by fans and teams alike. Both the Acura NSX and drivers will be part of the stars and cars at the IMSA Twenty-Four Premier at One Daytona on Wednesday, January 25.

The green flag for the legendary endurance race waves on Saturday, January 28th at 1:40 p.m. Live coverage is available on Peacock for the full 24-hour cycle, alternate coverage on USA Network, and the final hours and victory celebrations available on NBC starting at 12:00 p.m. ET on the 29th.

No 93 Harrison Contracting Company Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 DRIVER QUOTES:

Kyle Marcelli:
“We put our No 93 Harrison Contracting Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 P4 on the grid in GTD qualifying, which is a great place to be to start the 24 hours. I’m really pleased with that result as we’ve had a great car all weekend. All of us drivers—Ashton, Danny, Ryan and I are all getting along really well, we’re looking for the same performance out of the car, and the Racers Edge WTRAndretti team is getting along really well. We’ve got good prep behind us and now we have to focus forward to the race.

Today’s modern era of sportscar racing is an exciting time to be a part of IMSA and a part of sportscar racing as a whole; lots of new technology in the field, huge cars counts and capacity grids. It’s just a thriving time to be a part of the series. The race is no longer treated like an endurance race. The technology of the race cars has come so far, and they’re usually so reliable, and the teams are so strong, that it becomes a sprint race for 24 hours. So that’s going to make it both challenging and exciting for the teams and the fans.”

Danny Formal:
“I’m just super excited to be here with Racers Edge Motorsports with WTRAndretti in the No 93 Harrison Contracting Company Acura NSX GT3 Evo22. Kyle put the car in P4 in class and P6 in GTD overall, and he just did a fantastic job. The team has prepped the car so well. For me, the NSX has felt really, really good, I’ve felt so comfortable in it. The bus stop has been one of my strong points, and Turn 1. The car really fits my driving style; it’s a car you have to drive hard, and I like to drive hard. I think the team and myself are accommodating each other really well.”

Ashton Harrison:
“I’m thrilled for our P4 spot in qualifying. Kyle did a mega job in the No 93 Harrison Contracting Company Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 setting us up for starting in the front of the GTD field and mixing it up with some of the GTD Pro cars. I think we’re in a great spot headed into the Rolex 24- for my first Rolex 24- and I’m just excited to be sharing the car with my teammates. We’ve had so much great prep work from the Racers Edge crew, and amazing support from Harrison Contracting and WTRAndretti. I think this sets the mood- everyone has a positive attitude, we’re excited, we feel like we’ve accomplished a lot at the ROAR. But then again, it’s a new week next week, and we still have the same goals. We’re going to test and tune and get the car dialed in and be ready to take the green flag, and hopefully get Ryan his fourth Rolex and my first. I’m getting better and better in every session and I feel comfortable behind the wheel. I feel like the traffic is going to play a big role for everyone and taking advantage of that traffic is key. And then making sure we keep ourselves safe and out of trouble. The Acuras are performing well, and I’m really excited for the Acura Motorsports brand and looking forward to bringing them a victory in GTD.”

Ryan Briscoe:
“Fantastic starting position for Racers Edge Motorsports with WTRAndretti. I know Kyle was really pushing hard out there and really wanted the pole, but I think we’re at a really great spot with the No 93 Harrison Contracting Acura NSX GT3 Evo22. We’re at the pointy end of the GTD field, hopefully ahead of a lot of the mess that could potentially be behind us. It’s always good to be up there at the start, especially with this many cars. But this is just the first step. The whole team has been working really well up to this point, and we’re just going to keep working hard. We have a long way to go here, still with a few more days of practice and then a 24-hour race. We can check qualifying off and be really proud of that result. Being in the Acura NSX has been really good for me. I’ve been learning the car and I’m really strong out there and comfortable, and actually quite at ease. So now it’s just all about the fine tuning, working on driver changes, just trying to make sure everything I can control, I can do right, and so far, it’s been really smooth.”

About Harrison Contracting
Harrison Contracting Company, Inc. (HCC) is a commercial painting and facility maintenance contracting company headquartered in Villa Rica, GA with divisional offices in Florida and Texas. HCC provides repainting/reimaging and facility maintenance services nationwide, and new construction painting across the southeastern US. At HCC, red is more than the company color, its culture. RED stands for Reliable, Experienced, and Diligent, and is the cornerstone for all we do. We are more than just your painter; we are your partner.

Racers Edge Motorsports with WTRAndretti is also proudly sponsored by Acura Motorsports and Honda Performance Development (HPD).

Georgia Peanut Commission and Popular Peanut Car Back with Gilliland

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Official Release
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Georgia Peanuts Continues with Gilliland at Atlanta and Talladega

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 25, 2023) – Making peanuts good luck, the Georgia Peanut Commission and its Georgia Peanuts brand will return to Front Row Motorsports (FRM) to once again partner with Todd Gilliland and the No. 38 team at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in July and at the Talladega Superspeedway in October.

The 2023 season will be the second consecutive season the Georgia Peanut Commission will partner with Gilliland. Most notably in 2022, the Georgia Peanuts scheme was on board for Gilliland’s seventh-place finish at the Talladega Superspeedway. That day Gilliland raced up front all afternoon, led the field, and made Georgia Peanuts the talk of NASCAR. This season, Georgia Peanuts is hoping to power Gilliland to an even better performance at both events.

“We’re excited to be returning with Front Row Motorsports in 2023 and to support Todd Gilliland,” said Joe Boddiford, Chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission. “Todd and everyone at Front Row Motorsports have been great ambassadors for Georgia Peanuts, our farmers, and all the race fans who love to snack on Georgia Peanuts on race day.”

Gilliland is once again proud to represent Georgia Peanuts and for what they do off the track as well.

“The Georgia Peanuts family is one I am proud to represent and be a part of,” said Gilliland. “They were instrumental in a lot of the work we were able to accomplish both on the track and in our local communities with a peanut butter donation and a visit to the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Georgia. I look forward to expanding that community outreach in this new season.”

The website, www.gapeanuts.com is the home for all NASCAR fans to learn more about the commission, download educational materials for the classroom, get health and nutrition information, recipe ideas, and more.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Inaugural GTP Rolex 24 Goes Green on Saturday

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Official Release
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The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 Starts Third for the 61st Running of the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA.

(Daytona Beach, Fla.) January 25, 2023 — The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 team and a champion driver lineup hailing from all corners of the globe, consisting of Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque, Louis Delétraz and Brendon Hartley, is poised to take on the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA this weekend. The blue and black team is chasing their fifth win in the last seven attempts, and a record-tying sixth overall win. The Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport (WTRAndretti) will start third for the historic endurance battle around Daytona International Speedway’s 3.56-mile, 12-turn road course circuit.

Practice for the Rolex 24 starts on January 26th, with the green flag for the legendary endurance race waving on the 28th at 1:40 p.m. Live coverage is available on Peacock for the full 24-hour cycle, alternate coverage on USA Network, and the final hours and victory celebrations available on NBC starting at 12:00 p.m. ET on the 29th.

“The WTRAndretti team has been really working well this month,” said two-time IMSA Champion Ricky Taylor. “Brendon, Louis, Filipe and I are all getting along—spending time together at the track and away. We are confident in the car and proud of all the development work by our No. 10 Konica Minolta crew, HPD, Acura and Oreca. All that is left is some preparation for the race through practice and we should be one of the cars to beat.”

“I just can’t wait to get the weekend started,” said 2020 Rolex 24 winner Filipe Albuquerque. “We arrived in Daytona a week ago and there’s been a lot of preparation. We love what we do, and we know what to do, This new car is so enjoyable to drive. I just want to drive more and more and more, so I can’t wait for the race weekend to get underway. We’re starting third which is very good, so bring on the race!”

“I’m extremely excited to get my first Rolex 24 going with the team and in GTP—the top class,” said reigning ELMS Champion Louis Delétraz. “So far the car has been fantastic and the No. 10 Konica Minolta team, HPD and Acura have been working so hard throughout the last few months to get the car ready and make it as good as it is. We have a lot of work ahead still and the 24 hours will be a challenge, but I can’t wait to get back in the car and get started.”

“It’s been a really positive Roar and qualifying,” said reigning WEC Champion Brendon Hartley.” We have all gotten up to speed and are happy with the balance of the car. Our team chemistry is brilliant, and I’m proud of all the hard work everyone has put in. It’s now all about fine tuning before the race and preparing driver change procedures, etc. We feel ready.”

“I’m happy the guys have done a great job getting us here,” said winning driver and six-time Rolex 24 winner, Wayne Taylor. “HPD, Acura, Oreca and all of our partners have done a great job getting the car ready. This will be the first race for our new partnership with Andretti Autosport. Both MSR and ourselves are competitive. Th whole grid is competitive really. It’s going to come down to strategy and reliability. Many things are out of our hands, but we are going to control what we can control. There are new tires, and a smaller allotment of tires this year so that will play a big role. There’s going to be lots of questions, but I believe that we have the best driver lineup and the best partners. I can’t wait for the race.”

ABOUT KONICA MINOLTA
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. is reshaping and revolutionizing the workplace to achieve true connectivity through the Intelligent Connected Workplace. The company guides and supports its clients’ digital transformation through its expansive office technology portfolio, including IT Services (All Covered), intelligent information management, managed print services and industrial and commercial print solutions. Konica Minolta has been included on CRN’s MSP 500 list nine times and The World Technology Awards named the company a finalist in the IT Software category. Konica Minolta has been recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys for fifteen consecutive years, and is proud to be ranked on the Forbes 2021 America’s Best-in-State employers list. The company received Keypoint Intelligence’s BLI 2021 A3 Line of The Year Award and BLI 2021-2023 Most Color Consistent A3 Brand Award for its bizhub i-Series. Konica Minolta, Inc. has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for nine consecutive years and has spent four years on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list. The company recognizes 150 years in global business in 2023. Konica Minolta partners with its clients to give shape to ideas and works to bring value to our society. For more information, please visit us online and follow Konica Minolta on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter.

The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 effort and Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport is supported by an outstanding lineup of partners including Harrison Contracting Company, Acura Motorsports, Honda Performance Development and Hammer Nutrition .

Hennessey Performance and Sherco Partner for Ultimate Off-Road Adventure Package in First of Its kind Collaboration

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Official Release
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  • Hennessey’s VelociRaptor 600 ‘Sherco Edition’ truck is outfitted with a pair of Sherco 300 enduro motorcycles
  • The ultimate high-performance package for adventurous individuals who enjoy pushing two- and four-wheeled vehicles to the limit
  • Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 ‘Sherco Edition’ boasts 558 bhp, robust six-piston Brembo brakes, bed rack, fuel can, distinctive Sherco racing livery, plus two upgraded Sherco enduro motorcycles
  • Complete package, including VelociRaptor 600 and both Sherco motorcycles, is priced at $205,000

San Antonio and Sealy, TX – Hennessey, the Texas-based hypercar manufacturer, and high-performance vehicle creator, has created the ultimate pairing for thrill-seeking individuals who enjoy pushing two- and four-wheeled vehicles to the limit. The Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 ‘Sherco Edition’ combines the off-road power and prowess of a 558 bhp 4×4 VelociRaptor 600 pickup with the agility and exploration capabilities of high-performance Sherco enduro motorcycles.

Both the truck and motorcycles have been uniquely configured for the pairing. The VelociRaptor 600 is enhanced with a distinctive Sherco racing livery, six-piston Brembo brakes, a bed rack from Risk Racing for securely transporting two bikes, a five-gallon fuel jug and mount, also from Risk Racing plus a bed extender that doubles as a bike loading ramp. The Sherco bikes (customers may opt for two-stroke 300 SE or four-stroke 300 SEF) feature single-cylinder liquid-cooled engines. As part of the Hennessey package, the SE has an upgraded high compression head from S3, while the SEF employs a Race Tech race head. In addition, both bikes feature upgraded radiator and rear rotor guards from BulletProof Designs, skid plate with linkage protection from AXP Racing, enduro grips, and S3 perch clamps, alongside several other enhancements.

John Hennessey, founder and CEO: “Our customers drive our trucks hard, both on- and off-road, participating in a variety of motorsports activities. The collaboration with Sherco aligns our high-performance VelociRaptor 600 with equally as capable enduro bikes.”

Sherco bikes are respected worldwide for their performance in the most extreme environments. From tackling the grueling Dakar Rally to competing in top-level Enduro and Trials events. Backed by first-class engineering, nothing phases the agile and responsive range of machines.

Ron Sallman, president of Sherco USA: “We are thrilled to partner with Hennessey Performance, a world-class organization with deep roots in the off-road world – it’s a match made in heaven. We are excited to launch our enhanced Hennessey-edition Sherco’s alongside the Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 Sherco Edition.”

Beyond the power, performance, and capability enhancements for the truck and bikes, owners looking to get hold of a special Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 Sherco Edition will benefit from the truck’s comprehensive three-year / 36,000 Mile Limited Warranty. Customers will also be reassured to know that Hennessey is the world’s largest producer of modified Ford F-150 Raptors. Over the past decade, the company has built thousands of high-performance VelociRaptor trucks for customers all over the world.

Available for global shipping, the Sherco edition Hennessey VelociRaptor and accompanying Hennessey Edition Sherco motorcycles are available directly from Hennessey at +1 979.885.1300 or HennesseyPerformance.com, or via Sherco at ShercoUSA.com.

About Hennessey
Based in Sealy, Texas, the Hennessey business comprises Hennessey Special Vehicles, Hennessey Performance (HPE), Tuner School, and the Lonestar Motorsports Park. The company has re-engineered more than 12,000 vehicles for performance enthusiasts worldwide to deliver unparalleled driving thrills. Alongside modifying a diverse range of sports, and muscle cars since 1991, the company also applies its high-performance expertise to trucks and SUVs – and boasts its own hypercars – the Venom G.T. and the Venom F5.

Every Hennessey product is dyno-proven, fully track-tested, street-legal, and warrantied. Customers can choose from road-ready performance-enhanced cars by Hennessey from a wide variety of brands, including Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, and Jeep, all benefitting from a host of high-performance upgrades.

With its own test track, engineering curriculum for aspiring tuners, more than 85 team members, and capacity to work on 40-50 vehicles at a time, Hennessey Performance is one of the world’s leading specialist vehicle engineering companies. The twin-turbocharged, 6.6-liter V8 Venom F5 hypercar sold out in 2021, with customer deliveries taking place from 2021-2023. A Roadster variant joined the F5 coupe in 2022, also boasting 1,817 bhp and capable of speeds in excess of 300 mph. The company is delivering like never before on its mission of ‘making fast cars faster.’
HennesseySpecialVehicles.com | HennesseyPerformance.com

About Sherco
Sherco, a French company, is the leading motorbike manufacturer in France, with its US headquarters in Texas. The company was created in 1998 by Marc Teissier and Andreu Codina, both former trial riders. Sherco manufactures Trial and Enduro bikes. It currently has a range of more than 25 vehicles. More than 15,000 motorbikes are currently produced each year on the Gard site in southern France.

The company is present throughout the world on five continents, in more than 74 countries, and works with more than 1,100 sales outlets. The company employs over 150 people in France and abroad. It is a team of enthusiasts who work every day with know-how and expertise to write the most beautiful pages of the motorbike. Sherco is involved in the World Enduro, Extreme Enduro, Rally Raid, and Trial championships. Since 1998, it has won more than 10 world championship titles in all categories. And the adventure is not about to end there.
Sherco | ShercoUSA.com

Social media
YouTube: HennesseyPerformanceF5 | Instagram: HennesseyPerformance | Facebook: @hennesseype | Twitter: @HennesseyPerf

YouTube: @ShercoUSAOfficial | Instagram: @shercousa_official | Facebook: /shercousa | Twitter: @shercousa

Wright Motorsports 1st Phorm Porsche Poised and Ready to Defend Rolex 24 Win

By
Official Release
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NEXT UP: IMSA ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY | JANUARY 26-29

DAYTONA, Fla., (January 25, 2023) – The Rolex 24 At Daytona has arrived with Wright Motorsports and the No. 16 1st Phorm Porsche entering the week armed and ready to defend the team’s 2022 win in the GTD class. Last week, the team completed the Roar Before the 24, conducting the first shakedown of the new Porsche 911 GT3 R (type 992) at Daytona International Speedway. With official testing complete, race week activities begin, and thus the assault on the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship title and the top honors in the iconic endurance event, January 28 – 29.

“Our win last season is the perfect motivation entering into this year’s Rolex 24 and the 2023 championship,” said Team Owner John Wright. “All the pieces and all the hard work came together, and we proved that Wright Motorsports has what it takes to win. The 1st Phorm Porsche finished the Roar as the top Porsche but we still have some work to do in the upcoming days to keep making gains on the rest of the field. We’re feeling good heading into this weekend, and we’re excited to be back.”

Ryan Hardwick, Jan Heylen, and Zacharie Robichon have returned to defend last year’s win, this time joined by Intercontinental GT Challenge champion Dennis Olsen. The 26-year-old finished the 2022 Rolex 24 in third, racing a Porsche in the GTD Pro class.

The present-day field of entrants has yielded nine new Porsche 911 GT3 R race cars, which were delivered to teams at the end of 2022. While programs may have conducted private tests leading up to the start of the new season, last week’s Roar Before the 24 brought all the new entries together for several days of on-track shakedowns. The drivers noted an increase in the car’s drivability, as well as more efficient aerodynamics and torque. Both were key targets of Porsche when the newest iteration of the iconic 911 racer was designed.

Unofficially, the No. 16 1st Phorm Porsche will start the race from 13th place in the GTD class, one of five classes competing in the event. The GTP, LMP2, and LMP3 classes consist of varying types of prototypes while the GTD Pro and GTD classes strictly run with machinery based off of street cars from the world’s leading manufacturers. The GTD Pro class features all-professional driver lineups, while the GTD class driver lineups offer a mixture of professional and amateur-ranked lineups. The GTD class is the biggest run group, making up 40 percent of the 61-car field.

Activities for the Rolex 24 At Daytona will begin on Thursday, January 26 with the first of five practice sessions in two days. The start of the 61st Rolex 24 at Daytona begins at 1:40 PM Eastern on Saturday, January 28, concluding exactly 24 hours later on Sunday afternoon. The broadcast will air live from the wave of the green flag to the drop of the checkered flag on Peacock, NBC Universal’s streaming platform. The first hour of the race will also air live on NBC before switching to the USA Network. IMSA Radio will offer live coverage worldwide without brakes on imsaradio.com. For all event information, follow the team on social media or visit wright motorsports.com or imsa.com.

Ryan Hardwick

I’m really looking forward to returning to the Rolex 24 with my Wright Motorsports team and teammates. Winning the race last year was truly one of the most special moments of my life. Experiencing something like that just leaves you yearning for more, so that is our focus going into this race. The Roar was a bit of a head scratcher for us. The BOP that was given to the Porsches had us all between three and four seconds off the pace of the other GTD cars, so we have our work cut out for us at a track that is so dependent on top speed. But if anyone can overcome challenges like these, it is our team. We will be ready to go to battle for 24 hours come race day.

Jan Heylen

I’m excited to be back and I am really looking forward to next week. We’re obviously coming off a strong season last year but it’s a new year, and a new car. It’s nice to be here with the same team while we learn all there is to learn about this new car. This is my favorite event, so I’m really happy to be back and can’t wait to get started.

Zacharie Robichon

Going into the race, we’ve been working very hard on the car to try and understand this new platform and finding the best way to exploit the speed out of it. Obviously at this point, there’s certain things out of our control, that may be hindering our performance. That being said, our job is to get the most out of the package we have and we’re checking all our boxes. We’re making steps to best understanding these new 911 GT3 R Porsches, and we’re looking forward to improving from where we started, as we have been.

Dennis Olsen

The Roar Before the 24 and qualifying is done. We expected to be a little bit further up the field, but we’re working hard with the car and the team is doing a good job. It seems like the other manufacturers have a bit of an edge on the straight-line speed. Hopefully we’ll get some help there from the series organizers and we can be able to fight for the win. It has been nice to get started with the new car, and it’s definitely a huge challenge. We’re doing a lot of different things to understand the package best. We have a great team around us to do the right things, and I’m looking forward to the race. I think we will have a great chance.

Wright Motorsports

Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series and international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy, and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013, and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team, and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. In 2020, the team captured the GT World Challenge America Am championship. In 2021, Wright Motorsports had a wildly successful season, capturing nine championships across their five racing efforts.

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

Motul

Motul is a world-class French company specializing in the formulation, production, and distribution of high-tech engine lubricants (two-wheelers, cars, and other vehicles) as well as lubricants for the industry via its MotulTech activity. Present in more than 120 countries, Motul USA was established in 1989 as a subsidiary of Motul France and is based in Southern California. Motul is recognized as the specialist in synthetic lubricants. As early as 1971, Motul was the first lubricant manufacturer to pioneer the formulation of a 100% synthetic lubricant for automotive engines, the 300V lubricant, making use of Esters technology from the aeronautical industry.

Throughout the years, Motul has gained experience as an official supplier for many racing teams and manufacturers to further technological development in motorsports. Motul is supporting those teams in international competitions such as 24 Hours of Le Mans (cars and motorcycles), FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Super GT, Formula Drift, Pikes Peak, Dakar, Le Mans Classic, MotoGP, World Superbike, World MX, IOM TT, and score of others.

We represent the highest quality in racing safety with the intention of maintain our position at the top. With 50 years in the industry, Sabelt is the world’s premier safety equipment manufacturer. A result of intense research and development.

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