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TR3 Racing Charges to Rolex 24 Lead ahead of Halfway Point

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Official Release
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Daytona Beach, Fla. (30 January 2022) – In their IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship debut, TR3 Racing has raced to the halfway point of the 60th Anniversary running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The team has made a strong first impression, taking the win in the qualifying race last weekend to score the GTD Pro pole for Saturday’s race start with the No. 63 Lamborghini of Miami Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo – GTD Pro.

Starting on the pole position, Marco Mapelli in the No. 63 Lamborghini led the field of GT entries to the green flag. Mapelli maintained the race lead through the opening laps when the first full course caution appeared. The Lamborghini team decided to amend their strategy bringing Mapelli to pit lane for a driver change to Rolf Ichenin.

On lap 98, quick handling by Ichenin kept the No. 63 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo from being collected in a multi-car incident. Unfortunately, the maneuver did result in slight body work damage that would require repair on the next pit stop on lap 139. Mapelli took over the controls of the GTD Pro entry and returned to the course two laps down but the team has fought back to the lead lap and is currently leading the race with 12 hours to go.

The sister No. 19 Piloti Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo – GTD of Jeff Segal, Bill Sweedler, John Megrue, Giacamo Altoe started the race from 17th on the grid, with Sweedler manning the controls from 51st overall at the drop of the green.

Making his IMSA debut, Megrue battled door-to-door on lap 89 through the international horseshoe before contact with a fellow GTD competitor spun the No. 19 Lamborghini. Megrue rebounded to complete his 36 lap stint before handing the car over to 2014 Rolex winner Jeff Segal as the entry raced back up the order to move to the lead.

At the seven hour mark, the TR3 Racing crew utilized pit stop strategy to extend the lead of the No. 19 in the GTD category by a full lap as the field returned to green flag racing.

That advantage was reduced when the No. 19 Lamborghini was issued a penalty resulting in a stop plus 3 minute, 30 second hold. Altoe resumed racing in 10th running next to the sister No. 63 entry, with the foursome pushing up to 8th as the race hit the halfway mark.

“So far the race has had some setbacks for us, but we’ve been able to fight back from everything and are ready to keep in contention here through the night,” said TR3 Racing’s Arther Romanelli. “We just need to keep executing as a team and then we can focus on going for a result at the close of the race. So we’re happy with where we are and just looking forward to keeping a good rhythm going with both of our Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo entries and be there at the end.”

Broadcast Schedule:

12:00-3:00am – USA Network
6:00-12:00pm – USA Network
12:00-2:00pm – NBC

Commercial free coverage available via Peacock in the United States. International coverage available on IMSA.tv

About TR3 Performance:

TR3 Performance was founded by Arthur, Oliver, and Gregory Romanelli in August 2012. Frustrated with the rising costs and plummeting quality from local shops, the brothers saw an opportunity to establish a shop of their own that would live up to their high standard of excellence, where they could hold themselves to the caliber of workmanship they had sought out in the marketplace as enthusiasts. In 2015, TR3 Racing was established as the team stepped into racing at the professional level. What started out as a modest 2,300-sq.ft. enterprise has now exploded into the premier performance shop in South Florida.

About Lamborghini Miami:
Lamborghini Miami was founded in 1988, as a franchise under Prestige Imports. Founder Irv David quickly grew Lamborghini Miami to be one of the leading franchises North America. Importing the last Countach ever made and importing the first Diablo into the US market, Irv David quickly set Lamborghini Miami to be a leader in the supercar market within North America. The franchise continued to expand and grow successfully and in 2007, the franchise opened their new showroom to achieve greater heights. Tragically in the same year, on January 20th, Irv David suddenly passed on his 56th birthday. His son, Brett David, overcame the tragic loss and to cold as CEO at the age of 19. Since then Lamborghini Miami has gone to become a global phenomenon, delivering Lamborghini’s most coveted hypercars and dominating the south Florida market. In 2022, Lamborghini Miami continues their World renowned legacy with record-breaking sales and recently recognized group 4 title as one of the nation’s most successful service departments.

About Canoe Studios:

Like our studio space, our devotion to our clients and their unique visions is limitless. Exceptional customer service is the framework for how our entire business operates. We welcome everyone into our event venue studio as a valued guest and prioritize their comfort and creativity above all. The incredible studio space and creative agency we’ve established is a direct reflection of that dedication. Warm, natural light pours into every inch of our space to ensure you feel enlightened and at home. And each studio features a glass-paneled entrance so we can continue to inspire one another.

Cadillac Racing drivers rave about 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V

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Official Release
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Renger van der Zande, Earl Bamber enjoy the drive at Daytona International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 29, 2022) – TV viewers got a peek of the 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V during coverage of the 60th Rolex 24 At Daytona.

They likely noticed the enthusiastic impressions of the Escalade-V during its introduction to the V-Series family at Daytona International Speedway from Cadillac Racing Daytona Prototype international (DPi) drivers Renger van der Zande and Earl Bamber.

“The Escalade is awesome; what a vehicle to come to the track in,” said Bamber, co-driver of the No. 02 Cadillac Accessories Cadillac DPi-V.R. “As soon as you get on the throttle, the noise that it makes is insane. We both had a smile on our face the whole time and we had a heap of fun driving around Daytona International Speedway.”

Cadillac recently announced it is expanding its V-Series lineup to include the Escalade-V, which will be the first SUV to don the high-performance V-Series badge. With nearly two decades of racing-inspired prowess, the Cadillac V-Series is an elevation of Cadillac design, performance and technology, and the purest expression of the passion that exists at the core of the Cadillac brand. More information about the 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V, including full vehicle specs, will be revealed in spring 2022.

Both drivers had the opportunity to briefly drive the Cadillac CT5-V and CT4-V Blackwings, too, at the racetrack.

“The power of these cars is phenomenal,” Bamber said.

The V-Series Blackwings were developed to be track-capable straight from the factory. Featuring a hand-built 6.2-liter supercharged V8 delivering 668 horsepower paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, the CT5-V Blackwing is refinement rooted in racing performance.

“I’ve been driving (the CT5-V) around the Nurburgring, I’ve been driving it around some other tracks, and now in Daytona and it’s pretty impressive,” said van der Zande, who co-drives the No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R. “And the nice thing is you can still cruise around in it if you want to, but once you need the go, go, go time, it’s alive.

“It’s an awesome car to go on the track with. I’ll order one if they don’t give me one.”

Added Bamber: “I’d like to have one but I’m afraid I’d get myself in big trouble with how fast they are. It’s a bunch of fun.” 
Cadillac Racing high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Cadillac
A leading luxury auto brand since 1902, Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio that features distinctive design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com. Cadillac’s media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com.

Everything You Need to Know About Helmet Head Shapes

By
SM
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Wearing a motorcycle helmet is a good practice to help ensure maximum safety in the event of an accident. It is as important as fastening seat belts when driving a car. A helmet covers your face and head, especially your eyes, when riding a motorcycle or scooter. 

Just wearing a motorcycle helmet is not sufficient to ensure your full safety.  You have to wear a helmet that is the proper shape and size for your head. Otherwise, you will face different problems while riding a motorcycle. And the problem will not be limited to the accident; dust, wind, and smoke from other cars can get into your eyes.

For that, it is crucial to wear a helmet with a perfect fit that provides the highest protection while riding a motorcycle. For your convenience, we will explain different aspects of a helmet’s head shape in this context.

Why You Need to Wear the Right Head Shape Helmet

A helmet is a crucial gear while riding a motorcycle that helps to prevent head injuries. Typically, helmets are designed to have a skull-shaped structure to make sure the perfect fitting. When you fall in an accident or your head tends to hit the ground, the helmet prevents your head from being hurt too much. And the shape of a helmet is the most important factor in getting a perfectly fitting one. In case of serious incidents, consulting the best accident lawyers can also help riders understand their legal rights and options after a crash.

In that case, the shape of the rider’s head plays an essential role in selecting a suitable helmet. Motorcycle helmets are designed to fit a particular head shape. According to the riders, helmet head shapes are divided into three primary designations: long oval, intermediate oval, and round oval. 

Although we all generally have a round or oval-shaped head, it is crucial to wear the actual shape. For example, if you have an oval skull, you may need to wear a round-head helmet. Now you may consider where you will find this particular type of helmet. Well, you will find the best motorcycle helmet for round head at both online and offline motorcycle gear stores. You will also find oval and intermediate head shape helmets as well. 

What You Need to Know About Helmet Head Shapes

Getting the right motorcycle helmet is challenging from a wide range of collections. Also, it is crucial to choose the right helmet that fits you so that you feel comfortable while riding a motorcycle. Otherwise, a poorly fitted helmet increases the risk of serious injury. That’s why below we have described some important things about helmet head shapes.

Measure your Head

Measuring your head size is the first significant thing in getting a fit helmet size. If your helmet is too large, it may loosen up in the event of an accident which will put you at total risk of a head injury. To measure your head, see the steps below:

  • First, take a soft measuring tape and enfold it around your head about half an inch outside your ears and eyebrows. Take the tape on the back of your head at the biggest point. This measurement will be difficult to do alone, so get someone to help.
  • After measuring the size of your head, compare this size with the size of the specific motorcycle helmet manufacturer. Each manufacturer provides different-sized charts for their helmets. So, you just have to compare the size of your head and the size of the brand.

Determine the Head Shape

After measuring the size of your head, you will need to determine the shape of your head. One of the easiest ways to determine the shape of your head is to ask someone to look you in the head or take a selfie from the top of your head. Although most people have an oval head shape, some people also have long and slender heads as well as wide heads. However, helmet manufacturers divide the size of the helmet into three main categories. Below we have briefly discussed these.

Long Oval

The shape of the long oval head is long and slender. If your head looks like a wide football, your head is probably a long oval in shape. A regular head shape rider can feel quite loose on the side but very tight on the front and back. So try to choose a helmet that feels much tighter and makes less pressure on your forehead and the back of your head.

Intermediate Oval

Most riders’ heads will fit this category. Although most people’s heads are oval, which is taller, the difference between them is not so great. Instead of a wide soccer ball, it looks like a squash soccer ball with an intermediate oval shape. Since this shape is very common, you will probably find numerous helmets that will give maximum comfort. So you should go for an intermediate instead of a round or long oval.

Round Oval

The shape of this head is almost as long as wide. A round-oval shape probably looks like a soccer ball. Since the round-oval head is wider than average, the regular head shape can put pressure on the side of your head. So, if the shape of your head is wide, then choosing a round-oval helmet is the best choice.

Wear Your Chosen Helmet

Before purchasing a helmet, you should always try it yourself to check whether the hamlet fits perfectly. Although most people prefer to buy online stores, reliable helmet stores offer a return or exchange policy if a helmet is not perfectly fit. Your chosen helmet should be fitted snugly without causing any discomfort or pain. A poorly fitted helmet will leave red marks on your head when you remove it. Besides, rotate the helmet and move it up and down to check whether it is too loose on your head. In this case, your helmet is too loose if you feel no discomfort doing so.

What Are Different Helmet Styles?

Motorcycle helmets come in numerous styles, and each of them provides particular advantages to address the rider’s need. Some riders like to wear full-around protection-type helmets, whereas others like slim helmets. Below we have provided some information about the different styles of helmets.

Full Face Helmets

All types of riders widely use this style of helmet for road riding. It is designed to offer the highest protection and coverage from the head to the neck portion. Full-face helmets are an excellent choice for long or unpredictable riders. Chin bar is one of the most useful features of this helmet, typically made of materials like fiberglass, carbon, and plastic. It helps to prevent injury to your chin and jaw during an accident. In addition, many full-face helmets are designed with good ventilation that helps to circulate air during the warmer months.

Half Helmets

You may understand this helmet style by its name. Half helmet shields the top portion of your head. This type of helmet doesn’t protect your face making it less appropriate to wear on challenging terrain or in bad weather conditions. Unlike full-face helmets, a half helmet doesn’t offer any chin bar to protect your chin and jaw. This helmet enables riders to wear face shields, goggles, or other masks. As a result, riders can protect their eyes from sunlight, dust, insects, and raindrops. Half helmets are very popular among scooter riders, cruisers, and vintage riders.

Open Face or ¾ Helmets

As the name implies, open-face helmets don’t provide enough protection on the front. This type of helmet offers less protection to your face. This is because open face helmets cover only the forehead down to the bottom of the skull. Besides, it also doesn’t offer any chin bars to protect your chin and jaw in accidents. The good thing about this helmet is riders can communicate, drink, eat, smoke without removing the helmet. As this helmet is DOT-approved, it is an ideal choice for cruisers, scooter riders, trousers, and racers.

Modular or flip-Up Helmets

Modular helmets are designed with combined features of open-face and full-face helmets. This helmet style offers a chin bar so that you can rotate your head up or down as required. The good thing is some versions of modular helmets offer a detachable chin bar. This helmet also has a flip-up visor to protect the rider’s eyes. Some models of this helmet style also offer a secondary visor for additional protection against the sun’s rays. For that, these types of helmets are perfect for everyday riding styles.

Off-Road Motorcycle Helmets

Off-road helmets are suitable for those whose riding is rough and strenuous. This helmet is made with a chin bar and elongated peak. Its extended chin bar allows riders to breathe easily and better get circulated air. For that, an off-road helmet offers maximum protection even in harsh biking conditions. Typically, this helmet protects riders from obstacles like dust particles, flying debris, as well as low-hanging branches.

Conclusion

We have tried our best to provide you with adequate information about motorcycle helmet head shape in this context. As a wide range of helmets in styles and shapes is available on the marketplace, you should choose suitable ones. If you read the entire article, you might have understood three different head shapes that you should consider before having a helmet. 

Whether your head shape is round oval, long oval, or intermediate oval, you have to find one that tightly fits on your head. And also doesn’t make you feel discomfort while riding. However, you will also find several helmet styles but check out the section above to get the right style.

7 Signs You Need to Replace Your Motorcycle Helmet

By
SM
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Your motorcycle helmet is arguably one of the most crucial gear ensuring maximum safety. So, you have to wear the right helmet to prevent possible injuries whenever you ride a motorcycle. Sometimes it may seem like you have reliable safety gear, but helmets aren’t built to last. 

Helmets will degrade over time because of various causes, including helmet age, usage duration, becoming loose, involved accidents, and many more. A damaged helmet can’t ensure maximum safety when you’re riding a motorcycle. You should wear a helmet that will offer the highest protection even if you have a dangerous accident. 

That’s why you have to immediately replace your helmet if you find any signs of degradation. In this context, we will let you know some significant signs that you need to know when replacing your helmet. So stay tuned by reading this article.

Do Motorcycle Helmets Need To Be Replaced?

Professionals suggest replacing a helmet worn frequently every three years or so. The main reason is that the helmet’s foam degrades because of heat, sun, salty sweat, and other environmental factors. These factors make the foam unable to give complete safety during accidents. 

Besides, a helmet can be damaged in a crash or even dropped on a hard surface. Some experts said that a helmet would be protective until it is damaged, no matter its age. There is no arguing that replacing a regularly used helmet every three years will help to keep you comfortable and safe. 

If we talk about purchasing helmets, several helmet brands are available on the marketplace. You should choose the best brand helmet that provides the highest protection while you’re riding. Remember, not all helmet brands offer maximum safety while riding a motorcycle. There are some motorcycle helmet brands to avoid if you don’t want severe injuries during accidents.

How to Quickly Inspect Your Motorcycle Helmet

Checking your helmet every day before and after usage is a good habit. You should pay attention to the following:

Exterior

Sometimes the helmet exterior gets large scratches or cracks from storage conditions, the circumstance’s environment, or rubbing against a rough surface. Using good polish small scratches can be removed easily. But for large cracks or splitting in the shell, you have to replace the helmet.

Visor

The helmet’s visor provides vision to the rider while protecting their eyes from dust and wind. If your visor has a large number of micro-scratches that may obscure your vision.

Balance 

Check your helmet’s balance by tilting your head right and left a couple of times. Even after firmly securing the chinstrap, the helmet might have accumulated internal damage if it feels wobbly.

Signs You Need to Replace Your Motorcycle Helmet

Here we have demonstrated seven signs to look for that will assist in determining if you need to replace your helmet. So check out the below factors to know whether you need a new helmet.

Helmet Becomes Loose

A newly purchased helmet will hug your head firmly, but you will feel looseness after a few years of usage. Whenever you find your helmet doesn’t hug your head firmly and feels loose, you won’t get maximum protection in accident times. For checking your helmet looseness, shake your head while wearing the helmet. Your helmet is loosened if you knock your head around its corner smoothly. This type of helmet opens automatically when you face any accident that will not protect your head.

The Interior Starts Decaying

We know the outer shell of an object is most susceptible to corrosion from natural and elemental sources. However, helmets tend to deteriorate most from the inside rather than the outside. In most cases, you will find flakes in the lining of your shoulders or hair. Flakes exist not the main concern here; it indicates that the stability and integrity of your helmet have been compromised. It will be unable to absorb the hit properly in accident times. In that case, your current helmet would need to be exchanged for a new one.

The Exterior Starts Decaying  

If you use an object excessively, it will be exposed to extreme sunlight daily or for other reasons. For that, the outer surface of the helmet can become deeply brittle. As a result, the helmet shell can develop cracks which indicate signs of safety failure in your helmet. Also, the outer shell surface of your helmet can get large cracks, falling from your hands.

Broken or Compromised Visor

Numerous minors can occur when you’re riding a motorcycle on the road. For that, a visor is equipped with every helmet to cover the rider’s head and eyes, the most fragile piece of human. The core function of the visor is to protect riders’ eyes from dust and other small particles. On the other hand, the visor helps to provide a clean and better view. If your helmet’s visor gets damaged due to any cause, you have to change the visor or replace the helmet immediately.

Strap or Lock Failure

A chin strap is the most crucial component to keep the helmet lock tight on your head. For that, it is integrated into almost all types of helmets. Often chin straps become corroded and damaged because of weather and dirt. In case of breaks or damage, it is better to replace your strap chin with a new one. If your helmet has an inability to change the chin strap, you should replace the helmet with a new one.

Falling Into Accidents

Involved accidents are the most common cause of your helmet being damaged. For that, you should check the helmet thoroughly after falling into an accident whether it will still provide you with the needed protection. A damaged or broken helmet will not ensure the safety of your head in an accident. In that case, checking your helmet on an X-ray is the best way to find any damage. If you encounter any defect, you should replace the helmet.

Helmet Age and Usage

After wearing a helmet continuously, it will be more than likely weakened. This is because the helmet becomes exposed to weather, UV rays, dirt, and other elements that affect the helmet’s integrity. And ultimately lose the resins and glues that hold the helmet together. Different manufacturers offer their helmets with a three-year age expiration date. Several factors can influence a helmet’s lifespan, but three years is the recommended timeframe for replacing one.

How to Extend the Life Span of Your Helmet

You can easily significantly improve the lifespan of your helmet with proper maintenance and storage facilities. For your help, below, we have pointed out some crucial tips that can help you extend your helmet’s lifespan.

  • Always store your helmet at room temperature and away from any heaters or radiators that may be present in the garage.
  • Ensure your helmet is kept above ground level to prevent an unwilling contract while working in the garage.
  • Do not expose your helmet to chemicals, as this may damage the integrity of the helmet.
  • Clean your motorcycle helmet every 3-6 months at the latest. Avoid using any petroleum-based cleaning fluids that can damage your helmet.
  • If you find your helmet’s visor gets lots of scratches that barrier clear view, replace the visor to keep your helmet functional.   

Conclusion

Riders should be able to diagnose and analyze the condition of their helmets. This is because helmets are crucial gear that help provide maximum protection of your head during accidents. Apart from accidents, a helmet prevents your eyes from entering dust or small other particles. But with a damaged helmet, you will not get such advantages. 

That’s why you have to ensure you are wearing the right helmet. For that, you will need to keep track of when to replace your helmet. Through this context, we have presented some signs to replace your helmet. If you find a sign discussed above on your helmet, you will need to replace your helmet with a new one.

Motul Teams Charged Up for 24 Hours of Daytona

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Official Release
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  • 2022 IMSA SportsCar Championship to kick off with 24 Hour endurance at Daytona
  • Motul supporting GTD Pro teams Pfaff Motorsports and BMW M Team RLL
  • IMSA and Motul continue partnership for 2022 season

Singapore, Jan 28, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is set to get underway with one of the most historic races of the calendar. The 2022 Rolex 24 at Daytona will mark the 60th running of the 24-hour endurance classic at Daytona International Speedway to be held on 29th and 30th January. Motul will be powering the efforts of 2 teams, Pfaff Motorsports and BMW M Team RLL with their range of high-performance racing-grade lubricants, in the newly introduced GT Daytona Pro (GTD Pro) category.

The 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is set to get underway with one of the most historic races of the calendar. The 2022 Rolex 24 at Daytona will mark the 60th running of the 24-hour endurance classic at Daytona International Speedway to be held on 29th and 30th January. Motul will be powering the efforts of 2 teams, Pfaff Motorsports and BMW M Team RLL with their range of high-performance racing-grade lubricants, in the newly introduced GT Daytona Pro (GTD Pro) category.

Pfaff Motorsports secured the GTD Championship in 2021 after a dominant performance. Motul’s collaboration with the team began in 2020 and has been a fruitful one on and off the track. The #9 Motul Porsche 911 GT3 R concluded the previous season with 6 podiums and 4 unmatched class victories. They will be returning with the familiar “Plaid Porsche” livery and a brand new driver line-up featuring Porsche works drivers Matt Campbell (AUS) and Mathieu Jaminet (FRA) for the full season, along with 2-time IMSA DPi champion Felipe Nasr (BRA) for the seasons’ four endurance rounds. Pfaff Motorsports continues to place its trust in Motul lubricants for the 2022 season too.

Motul is also a long time partner of BMW M Team RLL, which will also be making its GTD Pro class debut at this event with the new and highly anticipated BMW M4 GT3. In 2021, BMW bid farewell to the M8 GTE at Petit Le Mans, which was racing in the now-defunct GT Le Mans class. Starting this season, the BMW team will be competing in the GTD Pro class with their refreshed 2-car line-up, the #24 Motul BMW M4 GT3 and #25 Motul BMW M4 GT3. The #24 will be driven by Philipp Eng (AUT), Marco Wittmann (DEU), Nick Yelloly (GBR) and Sheldon van der Linde (ZAF) whilst the #25 car will be piloted by Connor De Phillippi (USA), John Edwards (USA), Augusto Farfus (BRA) and Jesse Krohn (FIN). 6 of the 8 drivers racing at Daytona also contested in the M8 GTE last year, with the other 2 having plenty of previous experience in the series. Both teams look strong going into the season opener, which is gearing up to be an exciting race weekend.

Motul became the “Official Motor Oil” of the IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2018 to support the top teams on the grid with the highest quality of synthetic lubricants. Their proprietary 300V along with RBF 700 brake fluid and other critical lubricants are vital in a championship series that features a mix of long and short races. Motul is a major part of the series, being title sponsor for Motul Petit Le Mans along with established partnerships across seven venues and events on the calendar. The Rolex 24 at Daytona is guaranteed to showcase thrilling multi-class racing action as the teams gear up to tackle the constantly changing conditions. The round the clock race also presents Motul with the opportunity to understand how their products perform in different machinery and constantly improve formulation to bring similar performance to everyday customers.

60th Rolex 24 at Daytona Schedule (all times in GMT -5)

Race Start – 29 January | 1:40 PM | Saturday
Race End – 30 January | 1:40 PM | Sunday

About MOTUL

Motul is a world-class French company specialised in the formulation, production and distribution of high-tech engine lubricants (two-wheelers, cars and other vehicles) as well as lubricants for industry via its Motul Tech activity. Motul offers a whole range of products for everyday car use, including the 8100, H-tech, RBF series, ATF, CVTF and DCTF among others. Motul products ensure all parts of the car are kept in pristine condition to extract maximum performance and reliability.

Unanimously recognised for more than 150 years for the quality of its products, innovation capacity and involvement in the field of competition, Motul is also recognised as a specialist in synthetic lubricants. As early as 1971, Motul was the first lubricant manufacturer to pioneer the formulation of a 100% synthetic lubricant, issued from the aeronautical industry, making use of esters technology: 300V lubricant. In 2021, Motul launched the newest iteration of the 300V with revolutionary technology, setting a new benchmark for high-performance lubricants.

Motul is a partner to many manufacturers and racing teams in order to further their technological development in motorsports. It has invested in many international competitions as an official supplier for several championship winning racing teams.

Motul is committed to its growing business presence in Asia Pacific. Over the years, the company has expanded operations significantly. Currently it has 3 major manufacturing facilities and 2 R&D centres across the region to cater to the ever-growing demand. These centres focus on refining the lubricant technology for Asian climate and driving conditions, which are vastly different from Europe.

Leland Honeyman Joins Young’s Motorsports for 2022 ARCA East Season

By
Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C.: Young’s Motorsports confirmed today that Leland Honeyman Jr. will join the organization to pilot the No. 02 LH Waterfront Construction | Besecker & Maynard Group Chevrolet full-time in the ARCA Menards Series East this season beginning with the season-opener at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway on Tues., Feb. 15, 2022.

Honeyman, 16, aligns with the Mooresville, N.C.-based team after a successful 2021 season competing in the Carolina Pro Late Model Series, where he earned championship-runner up honors and picked up an astounding victory in the annual Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway Fall Brawl.

The Phoenix, Ariz. native began honing his racing skills at the tender age of two racing Quads. By four years old, he moved into Trophy Karts and then subsequently collected three series championships in off-road racing Trophy Karts.

After an instrumental tenure in Go Karts, he moved into Bandolero competition in 2015 and two years later was crowned a Bandolero National Champion. From there, he moved into Limited Late Models before graduating to the Carolina Pro Late Model Series division in 2021.

Set to turn seventeen next month, Honeyman is embracing the opportunity to race in ARCA.

“I’m so excited about this next chapter in my racing career,” said Honeyman. “The ARCA Menards Series East is going to teach me so much and allow me to showcase my potential in front of a more national platform.

“I cannot thank Tyler (Young, team principal) and my partners LH Waterfront Construction and Besecker & Maynard Group enough for the opportunity to chase a championship in the ARCA Menards Series East and I am devoted to putting the time and effort into making sure I can go to the track each week and put our Young’s Motorsports team in contention for the victory.”

For Tyler Young, he is happy to bring another young driver into the team’s portfolio for the 2022 season and is looking forward to seeing his family-owned operation have a more predominant presence in the ARCA Menards Series East this year.

“Leland is going to do an excellent job for us in the ARCA Menards Series East this season,” Young said. “He has been successful in everything he has raced and we don’t expect the ARCA Menards Series East to be any different. We know that he is going to go out there every week and put the team in a position to not only win but keep us in the hunt for the ARCA East championship.

“The East schedule is only seven races in 2022, but it’s stacked with tracks that offer some of the best racing in the country. We are looking forward to getting to New Smyrna and getting our season underway.”

In addition to the ARCA Menards Series East, Honeyman is also slated to make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut with the Young’s Motorsports team in the fall of 2022.

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports) and follow on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

For more on Leland Honeyman Jr., please visit LelandHoneymanRacing.com, like him on Facebook (Leland Honeyman Racing) and follow on Instagram (@lelandhoneymanjr) and Twitter (@lelandhoneyman3).

The Race to Stop Suicide 200 presented by Place of Hope (200 laps | 100 miles) is the first of seven ARCA Menards Series East races on the 2022 schedule. A combined practice and qualifying session begins on Tues., Feb. 15 from 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 7:30 p.m. with live coverage on FloRacing.

Thomas Wins Incident-Filled Daytona Mazda MX-5 Cup Race

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Official Release
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 28, 2022) – The non-stop excitement of Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires racing at Daytona International Speedway was slowed by three lengthy full-course yellows on Friday. But it was with Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) taking the win in Round Two of the 2022 championship as the race ended under a full-course caution.

Despite a slight drizzle, all of the 31 Mazda MX-5 Cup cars were able to start on slick BFGoodrich tires. Leading them to the green flag was the latest MX5-Cup Shootout winner, Connor Zilisch (No. 72 Hixon Motor Sports).

Zilisch had no problem holding the lead through the first lap, but by lap two, Thomas had made his way into the lead with Chris Nunes (No. 32 Formidable Racing) hot on his heels. That’s when the first of three full-course cautions came out for Michael Carter (No. 08 Carter Racing Enterprises) who made contact with the wall in NASCAR Turn Four.

On the restart, defending series champion Gresham Wagner (No. 5 Spark Performance) moved into second and worked with Thomas to try and build a gap to the rest of the field. Making it to second so soon in the race was a remarkable accomplishment in itself for Wagner, who started 29th on the grid because of a crash in qualifying.

Thomas and Wagner didn’t even get a full lap of green flag before the full-course caution came out again, this time for a trio of cars that tangled at the entrance to the Bus Stop. When the cars were cleared, the return to green was just as short as the first restart as two cars came together in Turn Three and were unable to continue.

Less than 10 minutes remained on the clock when the third full-course caution was issued, which wasn’t enough time to clear the cars in Turn Three in time for a restart.

It was sweet redemption for Thomas, who nearly won at Daytona last year, but missed out because of a late full-course yellow.

“This feels great!” said Thomas. “I think we built off the momentum that we had last year. And it feels good to get one here at Daytona. Because, for one, you know, I felt like I had one taken from me last year with the caution. So to win one under caution like that, I’ll take it you know, you win and some you lose some.

“You know I’m from Indiana, so the Indianapolis 500 is always supposed to be the biggest race for you. But as a kid, watching the Rolex 24 every year was the thing I always looked forward to the most. So to finally come here to the top step of the podium is just awesome. I just tried to use my experience as far as putting the car in the right position. You know, sticking inside the corner on a slick track. You never want to be on the outside, so I kept it kept it on the inside and it paid off.”

After a crash in qualifying, and a drive-through penalty in Race One, a runner-up finish was a win as far as Wagner was concerned. The qualifying crash meant that Wagner started the race from 29th on the grid. His charge to second place also earned him the Hard Charger Award, which comes with a $1,000 check for him and a $1,000 check for his crew chief.

Earning his first Mazda MX-5 Cup podium finish was young Joey Antanasio (No. 43 Formidable Racing). The rookie came from 11th on the grid to third place and showed he was capable of a win had there been more green flag laps.

“I’ve got a lot of adrenaline running through me right now,” Antanasio said. “Yesterday in the rain I had a little trouble figuring out where the grip was, but today it was dry. I’m really proud of my team and my parents for helping me with all of this. I’m feeling great right now.

“When the first yellow came out, it was okay, but when two more came out it got a little frustrating.”

Antanasio was followed across the finish line by his teammate Chris Nunes (No. 32 Formidable Racing) who finished second in Thursday’s Round One race.

Sam Paley (No. 28 McCumbee McAleer Racing), the 2021 Mazda MX-5 Cup Rookie of the Year, finished fifth.

Selin Rollan (No. 87 Hixon Motor Sports) was third in Thursday night’s barn-burner finish, but made hard contact with the wall just after the finish line. Rollan went to a backup car for Round Two and started at the back of the field, but made his way up to sixth by the finish.

The Mazda MX-5 Cup stays in Florida for Rounds Three and Four. The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is the only temporary street circuit on the series’ calendar and takes place February 24 – 26. Live coverage will be available on RACER.com and IMSA.com/TVlive.

Full Results

About: The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. The series has been operated by Andersen Promotions since 2017 and is currently sanctioned by IMSA. Mazda-powered grassroots champions can earn Mazda scholarships for this pro-level series. The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup champion is awarded $250,000 as the top rookie nets $80,000.

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

Justice Brothers looking to continue success at Motul Petit Le Mans

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Official Release
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Sponsors contenders Taylor Racing, JDC Miller and Performance Tech in 60th running of classic enduro

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (27 Jan. 2022) – Justice Brothers looks to continue its winning ways in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, and will have three top contenders poised to vie for the 60th edition of America’s premier sports car race – including both of the front-row starters.

Justice Brothers is riding a three-year winning streak in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Racing event, backing Wayne Taylor Racing’s Konica Minolta DPi in 2019-21, in addition to victory with that team in 2017.

This weekend, Wayne Taylor Racing looks to win the event for an unprecedented fourth-consecutive time, with Justice Brothers backing the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 of Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque, Alexander Rossi and Will Stevens.

Ricky Taylor will start on the pole when his father Wayne Taylor gives the command to start engines in his role as co-Grand Marshal. Taylor and Albuquerque took the top position by winning Sunday’s 100-minute qualifying race to highlight the Roar Before the Rolex 24.

Justice Brothers also sponsors the No. 5 JDC Miller MotorSports Mustang Sampling/Galp/Mishara Cadillac DPi, set to start second after Tristan Vautier and Richard Westbrook finished second in the qualifying race.

The pair will be joined by Loic Duval and Ben Keating. Vautier and Duval gave the team its biggest victory in the 2021 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. JDC Miller finished third in the Prototype Challenge class in its IMSA WeatherTech Championship debut in the 2015 Rolex 24, and won the PC class in that event to open the 2016 campaign. The team’s sporting director is Christian Fittipaldi, who scored two of his four overall triumphs in the Rolex 24 carrying the familiar Mustang Sampling colors.

JDC MotorSports also competes in IMSA’s Prototype Challenge. Memo Gidley and Alexsander Koreiba finished third during the Roar’s three-hour season opener. The team also fields Duqueine D08s for brothers Keith and David Grant, 10th at the Roar, and 16th-place finishers Joe Robillard and Stevan McAleer.

Justice Brothers has a top contender in LMP3, Brent O’Neil’s No. 38 Performance Tech Motorsports Cardio Access/ DOGOH.jp/Copec/ Emasa/ AIG Ligier JS P320 JS P320 driven by for Nico Pino, Dan Goldburg, Hikaru Abe and Garett Grist. Pino was the second-fastest qualifier in the class in qualifying, and joined Abe in a seventh-place finish in the 100-minute qualifying race.

The team is a former winner of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup, showcasing the classic events at Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Brothers Zeke, Ed and Gus Justice founded the Justice Brothers Race Car Repair and Fabrication shop in California in 1946. Two years later, they relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, where they became the first major sponsor for the fledgling NASCAR stock car efforts.. The family returned to California in 1956, and began developing its own brand of quality automotive products 10 years later.

Over the years, Justice Brothers has enjoyed success in major events. The company’s breakthrough came when it sponsored Johnnie Parsons’ winning efforts in the 1950 Indy 500, and also sponsored Johnny Mantz that year in winning the inaugural Southern 500 at Darlington – NASCAR’s first 500-mile race. Prior to supporting Castroneves’ fourth Indy 500 triumph, the company sponsored A.J. Foyt in becoming the first four-time winner of the open-wheel classic in 1977.

Reigning champion Derani, new teammate Nunez developing synergy

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Official Release
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  • Cadillac Racing DPi-V.R entries run 1-5 in final practice session
  • Three-time Rolex 24 winner Christian Fittipaldi relishes role with JDC-Miller MotorSports
  • Earl Bamber seeks to end his chase of Rolex 24 overall victory

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 28, 2022) – Reigning IMSA DPi Driver Champion Pipo Derani sees a synergy quickly developing with Tristan Nunez, co-driver of the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R.

“With Tristan coming into the team, he’s going to learn over the next two-three races as he gets used to the team how things are going to fall into place and how things are going to work,” Derani said. “Between me and him, our relationship has been great and I think we’re going to complement each other really well.

“I come from three years partnership with Felipe (Nasr) and coming into a new season with a guy you already know is easier, but not in a way that will make things so difficult for Tristan. He picks things up really quick and we’ve been working really well together.
“It will be interesting because in this sport it is important you have camaraderie between yourself, the team and the other driver because you have to give up so much for the greater benefit of the team. When you have a good relationship with your teammate, that only helps.”

Likewise, Nunez said he feels at home with Action Express Racing, the 2021 DPi Team Champion following seat time during the Roar Before the Rolex 24 weekend, including the 100-minute qualifying race.

“Pipo and I have been working well together right from the start. Action Express is a strong team that is committed to going for the win,” he said. “I’m confident going into the 24 hours that I have a good feeling for the Whelen Cadillac. The qualifying race gave me valuable experience in traffic in the car and the overall race craft of the car. We have a good team, good drivers and I am looking forward to getting to race day and go for the win.”

Cadillacs run 1-5 in final practice
Cadillac DPi-V.R entries were 1-5 on the time chart in the final test session on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway road course as drivers/teams completed on-track preparations.

The No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R was quickest of the contingent with a lap of 1 minute, 36.024 seconds. The No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R, which will start on the front row for the race, was second with a best lap of 1:35.095.

The No. 48 Ally Cadillac DPi-V.R was third at 1:35.235, while the No. 02 Cadillac Accessories was fourth at 1:35.587. The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R was fifth with a best lap of 1:35.959.

Fittipaldi relishes opportunity to help JDC-Miller MotorSports
Three-time Rolex 24 At Daytona overall winner Christian Fittipaldi likes what he’s seen of the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R. Fittipaldi is a consultant for the JDC-Miller MotorSports team.

“To have the opportunity to win three times here – all within the GM family (2004, 2014, 2018) – has been big for me,” he said. “Winning Daytona is always special. It’s a survival races but you also need to be fast the whole time because the reliability of the cars in general is very high and there is little attrition.

“I’m trying to bring my experience – all the right things I’ve done and especially all the wrong things I’ve done during my racing career – to try and help the program as much as I can. Things started very well here. We were on pole for the 100-minute qualifying race and we finished second in the race. None of that counts for the real race, but it’s a good indication.”

New name for Prototype class in 2023
Cadillac Racing’s new Le Mans Daytona h (LMDh) prototype entries will compete in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship beginning with the 2023 Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The current Cadillacs are entered in the Daytona Prototype international (DPi) class. From 1981 to 1993, IMSA GTP featured innovative prototypes from a variety of manufacturers.

Bamber seeks to end his chase
What inspires Earl Bamber, co-driver of the No. 02 Cadillac Accessories Cadillac DPi-V.R?

“We all come here to win. To start a new season the goal is to win the championship. It’s nice to win individual races, but the championship is an accumulation of everyone’s effort for a whole season,” he said. “Then we have the Rolex 24, which is the biggest race of the season. For me, I’ve been chasing it for seven years. I definitely want to check off that box. I have three Rolex watches; I’m just missing one from here.”
Cadillac Racing high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Cadillac
A leading luxury auto brand since 1902, Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio that features distinctive design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com. Cadillac’s media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com.

Ford Performance to Develop Mustang GT3 Race Car to Compete Globally; Will Compete at Daytona in 2024

By
Official Release
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  • Ford is returning to factory-backed GT3 racing with an all-new Mustang® GT3 IMSA race car that will also be available for customers, starting with 24 Hours of Daytona in 2024
  • Created by Ford Performance and Multimatic, the Ford Mustang GT3 powered by a 5.0-liter Coyote-based V8 engine will deliver the full endurance racing potential of a Ford Mustang for customers globally
  • Joey Hand, one of the winning drivers in the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours GTE Pro class in the Ford GT, will be one of the test drivers for the new program

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Jan. 28, 2022 – Ford Mustang, the iconic sports car that created the pony car segment, will lead Ford’s return to global sports car racing as Ford Performance prepares a new GT3 race car for competition in 2024.

Ford Performance revealed plans for its all-new Mustang GT3 race car that will compete in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) 2024 race season, including the 24 Hours of Daytona.

The new Mustang effort, announced in advance of this weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, will be a joint program between Ford Performance and long-time racing collaborator Multimatic Motorsports. It will feature both a two-car factory-backed IMSA GTD Pro works team managed by Multimatic, as well as customer Mustangs for the GTD class starting at Daytona in 2024.

“Mustang was born to race from the start and we’re thrilled to introduce the GT3 version to compete head-to-head against some of the greatest manufacturers in the world,” said Mark Rushbrook, Ford Performance Motorsports global director. “With 58 years of global endurance racing heritage, including NASCAR and Australian Supercars today, we are ready to take Mustang to the next level of global performance.

“There’s no question that Multimatic Motorsports is the perfect partner on this project for us,” said Rushbrook. “Not only have they worked with us to develop numerous customer Mustang programs in the past, but its work on the Ford GT program and the new Bronco® DR customer race programs has shown together we can provide championship-level race programs for Ford and its customers.”

“We’re excited to work on this new IMSA program as well as the GT3 customer program with Ford Performance,” said Larry Holt, Executive Vice President of Multimatic Special Vehicle Operations. “We have a long, great working relationship with each other, both at the highest levels of professional sports car racing, and in developing competitive customer race program and vehicles. We appreciate their faith in us, and together, we can’t wait to show the world what’s coming down the road with Mustang.”

The new Mustang GT3 racer will be powered by a Ford 5.0-liter Coyote-based V8 engine developed by Ford Performance and built by long-time racing collaborator and world championship winning team, M-Sport of Cumbria, England.

The two organizations have a rich history in the FIA World Rally Championship and recently collaborated on the development and preparation of the Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1, which finished 1-3-5 in its debut race at the Monte Carlo Rally this past weekend.

“We are delighted to be broadening our relationship with Ford and extending it into the racing world after a very successful 25 years together in the World Rally Championship, which is once again delivering stunning results with the Puma Hybrid Rally1,” said Malcom Wilson, owner of M-Sport. “M-Sport has a wealth and depth of circuit racing knowledge and expertise, particularly from our GT3 programme that used an M-Sport developed V8 engine for GT3 that powered us to victory in the 2020 Bathurst 12-hour race and 2019 1000km of Paul Ricard.

“Our most recent engine project has seen us become the official British Touring Car Championship engine supplier which also uses Ford engine architecture,” Wilson added. “We are very excited about working directly with Ford Performance and Multimatic on the Mustang GT3 and will be working very hard, leaving no stone unturned as we join forces to fight for more victories around the world.”

The race-specific powerplant will continue the heritage of high performance naturally aspirated V8s in the Mustang platform. The engine will carry the heart and soul of the world-renowned Ford Coyote® and have performance and packaging modifications to make it championship ready for world class GT3 endurance racing.

The new Mustang GT3 race car will feature bespoke Short-Long Arm suspension front and rear, rear-mounted transaxle gearbox, carbon fiber body panels, as well as a unique aero package developed to meet GT3 targets.

Ford and Multimatic will make both factory-backed and customer-ready GT3 Mustangs available to teams from the start of the 2024 season.

Joey Hand, one of the winning drivers in the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours GTE Pro class in the Ford GT, is going to be one of the test drivers for the new program, as well as continuing on in his role as a development driver and coach for Ford Performance. As part of that, he will also drive six NASCAR Cup road course races in 2022 in a Rick Ware Racing Ford Mustang.

“It’s awesome to be on the ground floor of another amazing sports car racing program with Ford,” said Hand. “As much as I like to compete and win on the track, I also enjoy being part of the development of new race vehicles like this Mustang. We did a lot of testing with the Ford GT program, so it will be great to be working again with a lot of the same people at Ford and Multimatic as we get this car ready for competition.”

New Mustang GT4 On The Way Too

Although the Mustang GT3 for IMSA is new, Ford and Multimatic confirmed that the successful Mustang GT4 customer race program will continue into the future, with a new Mustang GT4 expected to debut in the 2023 season.

“It’s important to us to continue to support the Mustang GT4 effort as well,” said Rushbrook. “We’ve had a lot of success both here and in Europe with the current Mustang GT4, and we look forward to being able to provide our customers with a brand new car for competition in the GT4 category starting next season. We’ll have more to say on that in the near future.”

The new Mustang announcements for sports car racing adds to a series of new racing Mustangs coming in the near future for Ford Performance. The 2022 Next Gen Ford Mustang will debut in the NASCAR Cup series Feb. 6 at the LA Coliseum and then at the Daytona 500 two weeks later. And Ford Performance is developing its new Gen 3 Mustang for the Supercars Series that will debut at the start of 2023.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of connected, increasingly electrified passenger and commercial vehicles: Ford trucks, utility vehicles, vans and cars, and Lincoln luxury vehicles. The company is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, connected vehicle services and mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 182,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company is available at corporate.ford.com.

About Multimatic

Multimatic is a privately held, global enterprise supplying engineered components, systems and services to the automotive industry. Multimatic’s core competencies include the engineering and manufacturing of complex mechanisms, body hardware, suspension systems and body structures, as well as the design and development of lightweight composite automotive systems. In addition, Multimatic delivers niche vehicle design, development and production for road and race applications. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Multimatic has manufacturing divisions and engineering facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, and alliance relationships with partners around the world. Multimatic comprises five operating groups: Multimatic Mechanisms, Multimatic Structures & Suspension, Multimatic Engineering, Multimatic Niche Vehicles, and Multimatic Special Vehicle Operations. For further information, please visit www.multimatic.com and www.multimaticmotorsports.com.

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