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NTE Sport Aims for Strong Finale at Petit Le Mans with Yount, Conwright, and Hites

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Official Release
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Dallas-based team adds additional Michelin Pilot Challenge entry for Finale

DALLAS, Tex., (November 9, 2021) – NTE Sport’s freshman season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will end next weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta as the team competes in the season finale, Motul Petit Le Mans. Don Yount, Jaden Conwright, and Benjamin Hites will drive the No. 42 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo, racing in the ten-hour endurance event on November 13. The young team has also expanded its program, adding a Michelin Pilot Challenge entry to the weekend, with Jean-Francois Brunot and Kerong Li driving the No. 41 Audi R8 GT4.

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
In their debut season, the team has completed three races in its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GTD class, impressively earning a top-five finish in their second round at the Six Hours of the Glen with drivers Don Yount, Jaden Conwright, and Markus Palttala.

“I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time,” said Team Owner Paul Mata. “Our program is small, but we’ve shown that we’re able to race well and work the strategy in what is a very competitive class. Don and Jaden have really adapted to the car well, and we’re excited to welcome Benjamin and see what we’ve got!”

Yount is the only driver to compete in each of NTE’s events this year, having previous experience in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Michelin Pilot Challenge, and Prototype Challenge. Conwright made his IMSA debut this year at Watkins Glen International, where his talent was first showcased to the field in his third-place qualifying session. The pair, with Markus Palttala, finished fourth, showing a competitive performance for a podium finish.

At 22 years old, Benjamin Hites will make his IMSA WeatherTech debut next weekend. The Chilean race car driver first appeared in sports car racing in 2017, competing in the Top Race Series Argentina, where he stayed for two years. By 2018, Hites was competing in the United States, participating in Ferrari Challenge North America, earning two wins and five podiums. He continued to gain experience around the world, participating in the Intercontinental GT Challenge, the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe, and the International GT Open, where he celebrated a win in September.

Forty-three entries are slated to run in the final race, and the GTD class will be comprised of 15 cars, each also running three drivers. While the partial-season team is not in the hunt for any championship titles, the group behind the No. 42 Audi will still be eager to finish the season on a strong note to provide momentum into the 2022 season.

“Even though we’re putting a lot of resources into the final race of the year, we’re also working hard to set up a strong 2022,” said Mata. “We are working on a couple of various things for next season, and hope that a great finish at Petit Le Mans will provide a strong momentum into the new year.”

Motul Petit Le Mans will take place from 12:10 pm to 10:10 pm Eastern on Saturday, November 13, with live coverage beginning on NBC, then switching to NBCSN starting at 3:00 pm. IMSA Radio will offer live, commercial-free audio coverage of qualifying and the race. International listings and full event information can be found on imsa.com.

DRIVER QUOTES | IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
No. 42 Audi R8 LMS

Don Yount
I’m looking forward to a return to Atlanta to run in Petit Le Mans. I’m excited to see what November weather brings to the race. I know NTE and my co-drivers will bring their best game to the event.

Jaden Conwright
I’m very thankful that everyone from NTE Sport is giving me another opportunity to run with them again in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship in their Audi R8 GT3. Like Watkins Glen, I haven’t been to Road Atlanta before in my career, but I’ll be looking to continue to build off the momentum that we created earlier this year. It looks like it’s shaping up to be a grueling and competitive Motul Petit Le Mans, but there’s no doubt that we have the right guys and equipment to take on the challenge and aim for that podium that we came just short of in Watkins Glen!

Benjamin Hites
I’m really happy to join NTE for Petit Le Mans and to make my IMSA debut in such an important race. I would like to thank Paul and the entire NTE Team to trust me the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo, and I’m looking to achieve a good race result alongside Jaden and Don.

Michelin Pilot Challenge
This weekend, the team will also return to its Michelin Pilot Challenge roots, racing the No. 41 Audi R8 GT4.

This weekend will mark a new chapter for Kerong Li, born in Xian, China, and now a student at Boston, University. Li started his motorsports career at the Primal Racing School in Atlanta, Georgia, then graduated to race radical cars. He advanced to the F4 US Championship and this weekend will make his sportscar racing debut in Friday’s Michelin Pilot Challenge race.

Born in Madagascar but now residing in Atlanta, Georgia, Jean-Francois Brunot will get to enjoy the home-race experience this weekend. His lifelong passion for competitive racing saw him racing his first Motocross bike at six years old and karting by age twelve. He climbed the U.S. sports car racing ladder, obtaining success in SCCA, NASA, Mazda MX-5 Cup, and more before joining the professional ranks of IMSA, 24H Series, and various other international sports car racing championships.

The Fox Factory 120 will begin on Friday at 1:10 pm Eastern, airing live on imsa.tv and NBC SportsGold’s TRACKPASS. Fans can also listen to live IMSA Radio coverage throughout the weekend and follow live scoring all on imsa.com.

Kirkwood joins A.J. Foyt Racing for 2022 IndyCar season

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo credit: Chris Owens (Penske Entertainment).

The reigning Indy Lights champion Kyle Kirkwood has a new team to call home after it was announced that he will be joining AJ Foyt Racing and pilot the No. 14 Dallara-Chevrolet for the 2022 NTT IndyCar Series season.

Kirkwood, a 23-year-old native from Jupiter, Florida, who began his racing career through karting before working his way through the open wheel ladder, is coming off his first Indy Lights championship, where he won 10 races while competing for Andretti Autosport.

The partnership with AJ Foyt Racing will mark Kirkwood’s inaugural presence in IndyCar competition for the upcoming season.

“I actually met [team president] Larry [Foyt] for the first time in 2018 at Road America when I was driving in USF2000 with Cape Motorsports,” Kirkwood said. “He was the first person in the INDYCAR paddock to show me around the car and explain the dynamics of what it takes to be an Indy car team and driver. From that moment, I felt very comfortable with the atmosphere of the team and now it has come to fruition that I will be driving the No. 14. It’s hard to explain in words the excitement I have to drive for such an experienced and legendary team. I know I will be filling some very big shoes, but I think it’s the perfect timing and group to be able to do so. Considering I have 19 years of experience driving, and it’s all led to this moment to becoming a full time Indy car driver — It’s truly a dream come true,” the Floridian continued. “It’s incredible seeing the completely unexpected path I took in previous years blossom into something I’ve always hoped for as a kid in karting.”

In winning this year’s Indy Lights title, Kirkwood became the first competitor to achieve a championship in every Road to Indy program (US F2000 National Championship in 2018, Indy Pro 2000 Championship in 2019 and Indy Lights Championship in 2021). The Road to Indy program was established in 2010 to provide a scholarship-funded path for aspiring competitors to compete in the IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500. 

Having won all three titles in the program and with the scholarship prize, he is guaranteed a starting spot for three IndyCar events, including the 2022 Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Kirkwood, who is also a champion of the Formula 4 United States Championship league in 2017 and who won a Team USA Scholarship in 2016 while competing in F4, experienced his first taste in an IndyCar during a test session with Andretti Autosport at Sebring International Raceway in October. Since then, he participated in three IndyCar test sessions with his latest test occurring at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course for the Chris Griffis Memorial Open Test near the end of October.

“What I’ve learned in my three INDYCAR tests is that the Indy Lights car and the Indy car are not massively different,” Kirkwood added. “As we’ve seen with many drivers, it’s quite an easy transition. The best thing that you can take away from the RTI [Road to Indy] is the track experience. With minimal time during weekends, it’s crucial to maximize practice. Having the track experience eliminates a period of time spent learning, so you can solely focus on the car and driving. The biggest difference I’ve noticed in my tests is the tire. The Firestone tire creates a lot more grip. There are other differences, like steering weight, downforce and braking capabilities, but all of those are just a nice step forward from the Indy Lights car.”

Initially left without a full-time ride with Andretti for the upcoming IndyCar season, Kirkwood began reaching out to other teams for an opportunity to compete in the series before landing himself a full-time seat with AJ Foyt Racing.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kyle to the team,” Larry Foyt, Team President of AJ Foyt Enterprises, Inc., added. “Obviously, he has been very successful on his climb through the Road to Indy Championships and his record speaks for itself. This deal came together rather quickly, but I’ve already been impressed with how Kyle thinks about racing and the maturity he seems to have for such a young driver. The NTT INDYCAR Series is as competitive as ever, and the challenges are great, but we feel Kyle will be a great asset as we take on those challenges and work to grow as a team.”

Kirkwood replaces veteran Sébastien Bourdais, a four-time consecutive Champ Car champion who drove AJ Foyt’s No. 14 Chevrolet during the final three races of the 2020 IndyCar season before taking over the ride on a full-time basis in 2021. Bourdais is set to drive for Chip Ganassi Racing and its Daytona Prototype international (Dpi) program for the upcoming IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.

Kirkwood’s confirmation to compete for AJ Foyt Racing completes one of three planned entries for the team for the upcoming IndyCar season. The remainder of the team’s driver lineup is to be determined.

Kirkwood is set to make his NTT IndyCar Series debut in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg at the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, on February 27, 2022.

Innovation and redemption define 2021 NASCAR season

By
Angie Campbell
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Photo by David Myers for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Change is inevitable but it can often serve as a catalyst for self-reflection and rejuvenation. Kyle Larson and NASCAR are proof of that.

Most of the NASCAR post-season reviews will focus primarily on statistics such as races won and laps led as a way to assess a particular driver’s season. And, by any measure, 2021 Cup Series champion, Kyle Larson, had an extraordinary year.

But Larson’s racing prowess goes far beyond his 10 NASCAR Cup Series victories with 20 top fives, 26 top 10s and 2581 laps led, the most laps led by any driver since Jeff Gordon led 2,610 in 1995. During his off time, he also won a variety of dirt track events including the Chili Bowl, Knoxville Nationals, World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and World of Outlaws late models.

Those numbers, however, only tell half the story.

Larson’s road to success began in April 2020 after using a racial slur during an iRacing event. His subsequent suspension from NASCAR and release from Chip Ganassi Racing sent him on a journey to redemption that led him to Hendrick Motorsports in 2021.

His first steps began much earlier with a personal introspection that inspired him to go beyond NASCAR’s mandated sensitivity training.

In an essay posted on his website in October, Larson said, “Since April, I’ve done a lot of reflecting. I realized how little I really knew about the African-American experience in this country and racism in general,” Larson writes. “Educating myself is something I should’ve done a long time ago because it would’ve made me a better person — the kind of person who doesn’t casually throw around an awful, racist word. The kind who makes an effort to understand the hate and oppression it symbolizes and the depth of pain it has caused Black people throughout history and still to this day. It was past time for me to shut up, listen and learn.”

Larson was reinstated by NASCAR for the 2021 season and found a home at Hendrick Motorsports. He has continued to educate himself and others about racial injustice.

After winning the championship title at Phoenix Raceway, an emotional Larson, said, “I cannot believe it. I didn’t even think I’d be racing a Cup car a year and a half ago.”

As Larson has worked to rebuild his life and cleanse his tarnished reputation NASCAR was on a similar quest to redefine itself amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

NASCAR President Steve Phelps addressed the media, the fans and the organization in his state of the sport address before the weekend championship finale. He spoke about not only finding a way around the obstacles that were a result of the pandemic but thriving despite the circumstances.

With the cooperation and dedication of everyone involved, NASCAR took the lead in the sports industry by completing its full schedule of races while adhering to stringent protocols to provide a safe environment. In 2020 NASCAR was acknowledged as the Sports Business Journal League of the Year.

“It really took an industry coming together in order to make that happen. It took race teams, our broadcast partners, our sponsors, tracks that we own or tracks that we don’t own, that all came together to create an opportunity for our sport to grow, which is exactly what’s happening.

“Every single person who is part of this industry, including the folks in this room, were part of that. Last year wasn’t an easy year. But we persevered. Frankly, we are a stronger sport today than we were pre-pandemic. I would argue with anyone who would say otherwise.

“I think it’s good for our sport, I really do. I think it’s healthy to infuse it not just with new fans but new ownership, new brands that are coming into the sport. We’re seeing all those things.”

As NASCAR looks ahead to the 2022 season and the implementation of the NextGen car, they are anticipating an ongoing trend of resurgence to bring more fans into the sport with a commitment to continually evolve.

Change is inevitable but it can often serve as a catalyst for self-reflection and rejuvenation. Kyle Larson and NASCAR are proof of that.

Justice Brothers looking to continue success at Motul Petit Le Mans

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Official Release
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Roar Before the 24, IMSA, Daytona, January 2021(Photo by Brian Cleary/bcpix.com)

BRASELTON, Ga. (8 Nov. 2021) – After starting 2021 off in a big way with Wayne Taylor Racing’s win in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Justice Brothers will look to end the IMSA season on another high with a big result in this weekend’s Motul Petit Le Mans.

After enjoying success in both IndyCar and NASCAR racing since 1950, Justice Brothers’ involvement in sports cars began in 2015, when Ed Justice Jr. sponsored the winning GTD Park Place Porsche. Justice Brothers joined Wayne Taylor Racing in 2016 and scored an overall victory at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2017. They also won Motul Petit Le Mans with the team in 2018 and 2020.

Wayne Taylor Racing also scored the overall victory in America’s third-oldest consecutive- running endurance race in 2014, while team principal Wayne Taylor was lead driver in winning the inaugural Petit Le Mans in 1998, driving a Doyle-Risi Racing Ferrari 333SP. Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque and Alexander Rossi will share the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05, looking to also clinch the season championship in the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship finale.

“It’s always dramatic to come to the end of the season with an endurance race,” said Ricky Taylor, oldest son of the car owner. “This race track rewards an aggressive style and some risk, but also carries a high penalty for risk as well. Balancing that, especially given the tight points battle, brings a lot of drama, but we know that coming to these big endurance races, the No. 10 car is always there.”

Justice Brothers joined Wayne Taylor Racing in winning the 2021 season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, with the team leading the DPi championship throughout the entire season.

“I think a lot of our success comes down to our experience and attention to details,” Taylor said. “There’s a core group of guys who have been here for 14 years, and with that accumulated knowledge they know what they need to focus on, and then communicating that to the drivers. Although we are pushing ten-tenths, they let us know the little things we could do to make the car last longer and keep it in better condition. Strategically, they make sure we’re there at the end and in a position to win.”

The team recently had a successful test at Michelin Raceway, but Albuquerque said the race – especially the closing hours – could be a different story.

“Petit is one of the best races in the world,” Albuquerque said. “It’s a challenging track when you are testing, and then it’s a totally different track when you are racing. Those final hours here at night – with the traffic and fighting for the championship – is still another thing. You start passing everywhere, and it just goes wild. It’s great for the fans, and crazy for the drivers.”

The Justice Brothers will be sponsoring another leading contender for overall honors with the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing No. 60 Acura ARX-05 DPi with Juan Pablo Montoya, Dane Cameron and 2021 Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves. Justice Brothers helped Shank to back-to-back IMSA GT Daytona crowns in 2019 and 2020, and has moved up to continue to sponsor car owner Mike Shank at sports car racing’s highest level, in addition to co-sponsoring Castroneves’ record-tying fourth Indianapolis 500 victory for MSR in May.

Justice Brothers, Inc. is a manufacturer and worldwide distributor of over 100 car care products, fleet, farm, and industrial lubricants and cleaners. Since their beginnings in the additive industry, the Justice Brothers Corporation has been an innovator in the development of technically advanced products to solve problems in the automotive service industry. During their over 85 years in the automotive industry, Justice Brothers has built a large and loyal customer base that encompasses quick lubes, dealerships, and independent auto stores.

Atlanta Speedwerks Enters Michelin Pilot Challenge Finale As Hometown Favorite

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Official Release
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Photo credit Halston Pittman

Atlanta Driver Ryan Eversley Joined by Tyler Stone Carrying Atlanta-based Hella Pagid on the No. 94 Atlanta Speedwerks Honda Civic TCR at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta

BRASELTON, Georgia (November 9, 2021) – Atlanta Speedwerks is bringing their own hometown flavor to its home race for this week’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, where the team’s No. 94 Hella Pagid/Sabelt Honda Civic TCR will be piloted by Ryan Eversley and returning driver Tyler Stone.

Friday’s two-hour Fox Factory 120 is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. EST and can be streamed live via TrackPass on the NBCSN app. The race will be rebroadcast at 1 p.m. EST on Tuesday, November 23 on NBCSN.

Atlanta Speedwerks is based in nearby Gainesville, Georgia, and team owner Todd Lamb calls Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta the team’s home track. Eversley, who is from Atlanta, currently sits sixth in the driver’s championship point standings heading into his home race.

Eversley and Stone will carry the logo of partner Hella Pagid once again, whose U.S. base of operations for their performance brake systems is in suburban Atlanta.

Atlanta Speedwerks had a successful run at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta a season ago, where Lamb and Brian Henderson earned the TCR class pole position and finished on the podium with a third-place finish.

Henderson will miss this year’s season finale for the impending birth of his first child, opening the door for a return to Atlanta Speedwerks for Stone.

Stone has driven with Atlanta Speedwerks before, driving the No. 94 Honda Civic TCR at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in 2019, pre-pandemic. That was the most recent of 15 career starts in IMSA competition, coming mainly in Touring Car classes in Pilot Challenge and previous iterations of the championship.

In addition, the No. 94 Hella Pagid/Sabelt Honda Civic TCR will carry an in-car camera for the television broadcast of the Fox Factory 120 on Friday afternoon.

The race event, the season finale for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season, begins on Wednesday, November 10 with a 2:15 p.m. EST practice session. Thursday, November 11 features a second one-hour practice followed by qualifying at 3:55 p.m. EST. That qualifying session sets the grid for the two-hour Fox Factory 120, which takes the green flat at 1:10 p.m. EST.

Todd Lamb, Owner: “We’re really looking forward to coming back to our home track of Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, to welcome back Tyler and pair him with Ryan. It’s a chance to race in front of some friends and partners at Hella Pagid, and friends and family of both the team and of Ryan’s since we’re so close to home. Obviously we’ll miss Brian Henderson this week, but he’ll be rooting us on from home. This is always a difficult race but we’re hoping to repeat our podium performance from a year ago and finish the season on a high note.”

Tyler Stone, Driver, No. 94 Honda Civic TCR: “I am really excited about the opportunity to be back with Atlanta Speedwerks and am looking forward to teaming up with Ryan Eversley. I believe with Tod and the guys behind the wall we should be in a great position for a strong finish.”

Ryan Eversley, Driver, No. 94 Honda Civic TCR: “It’s the last race of the year and I’m happy that it’s my home track, and the team’s home track as well! I know we’ll have a lot of fans cheering the Atlanta Speedwerks team on all week. Tyler and I will have our work cut out for us getting gelled quickly but with his experience at Road Atlanta and racing in TCR before, I think we’ll be able to fight for a result. This crew has been working hard all season long and I’d love for us to bring home a trophy to thank them for their efforts this year.”

About Atlanta Speedwerks
Atlanta Speedwerks is a professional road racing team and prep shop, providing road racing services, car builds, roll cages, arrive and drive programs, and performance parts. Headquartered near Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, the company runs winning arrive & drive programs in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, Mazda MX-5 Cup, Porsche Club of America and SCCA Spec Miata, among others. Professional coaching and driver development round out the company’s offerings.

Rebel Rock Ready for Road Atlanta Finale

By
Official Release
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Rebel Rock looks to strong finish in return to Road Atlanta for season finale

BRASELTON, GA (Nov. 8, 2021) – Coming off its second-best result of the season, Rebel Rock Racing is looking to finish the 2021 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge campaign with a strong showing in the Fox Factory 120 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Frank DePew led the first laps of his IMSA career in joining Robin Liddell in a fourth-place result in the most recent race at Virginia International Raceway, driving the No. 71 Urban Grid Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R. The pair combined to win at Sebring International Raceway earlier in the season.

“We’re looking to end the year on a high note,” DePew said. “We had a pretty good performance at VIR. If not for that long yellow once I cycled to the front, I think we would have ended up in better shape with a podium or even winning the race.”

A long caution bunched the field prior to Liddell taking over the car, ending his steady forward progress. He wound up fourth at the checkered flag, 4.611-seconds behind the winner.

“We had a good run at VIR, and it wasn’t a bad race, really,” Liddell said. “Of course, we would have liked to have finished on the podium. Frank drove very well at VIR and made good decisions. He was patient and made passes. It was quite fun that he got to lead the race, because he had a lot of family, friends and Urban Grid staff at VIR, so it was great to see him in the lead and getting a lot of coverage.”

Now, the team is looking to wrap up the campaign at a track where they have won and finished third in the closing months of the 2020 pandemic-jumbled season. Liddell and DePew were joined by Andrew Davis in winning the four-hour September race by more than 10 seconds, and came back a month later and DePew and Liddell took third in the 2 hour race, 0.982-seconds behind the winner.

“I think we’re very well prepared and looking forward to the race,” Liddell said. “If the team executes and Frank and I drive well, I see no reason why we can’t get on the podium. The Camaro should suit the track well and hopefully we will be a bit stronger.”

DePew agrees with Liddell’s optimism about the finale weekend.

“I think we’ve got a shot at Road Atlanta,” he said. “I just saw the Balance of Performance, and hopefully it looks like it’s a more level playing field. I think we’ve got a good shot. We’ve always performed well there. I feel my driving has come on, and I think I should apply some of those tools to Road Atlanta. Certainly I’d like to have a good qualifying effort. We’re looking forward to it and ending the season on a high. We haven’t tested there lately, so we’re a little rusty from the track standpoint, but I think we should get up to speed there pretty quickly.”

The Fox Factory 120 takes the green flag for two hours of racing at 1:10 p.m. ET on Friday.

No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 Set for Championship Battle at Petit Le Mans Season Finale

By
Official Release
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Brownsburg, Ind. (November 9, 2021) – The 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will be decided this weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta at the Motul Petit Le Mans. After winning the Rolex 24 at DAYTONA in January, the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 has led the championship for the entire season and currently holds a 19-point lead over second position rivals, the No. 31 Action Express Racing entry. Alexander Rossi will once again join full-time co-drivers Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque for the 10-hour season finale at the 12-turn, 2.54-mile track.

The defending Motul Petit Le Mans winners’ rich history at the monumental event began with a win by Wayne Taylor at the Inaugural Petit Le Mans in 1998 along with three dramatic team victories, five podium finishes and 444 laps led.

Ricky Taylor, the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Champion, won the Motul Petit Le Mans in 2014 with Wayne Taylor Racing and has seven top-five finishes and four podium finishes at the endurance event.

“It’s felt like ages since we were in Long Beach,” said Ricky Taylor. “We just need to get to the track and do our jobs. We are prepared and ready for the challenge. The expectations are for very cold temperatures and a long, tough race. The other non-title contending teams aren’t going to give us, nor the No. 31, any breaks so we will have to race as if everyone else has nothing to lose. Everyone at WTR and Acura/HPD have done such a wonderful job this year coming to grips with the new car. The team has overcome some serious challenges against rivals who are competing with equipment that they’ve had for four full seasons already, yet they’ve matched every challenge. This last challenge of the year will be a big one to close it out. Everyone is very excited to execute our plan and utilize all of the lessons we’ve learned throughout the season to win a championship together.”

With a top finish of fourth position, Filipe Albuquerque looks to not only finish on the podium, but claim his first victory at the Motul Petit Le Mans while clinching the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

“The 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship has unfolded in the best way possible for the fans,” mentioned Filipe Albuquerque. “Whoever finishes ahead, between the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 and the No. 31 car, will be the title winner. It’s not ideal for us because we had a bigger gap at an earlier stage in the championship, but it’s going to be great for everyone else. It will be a hell of a final race! Petit Le Mans is always an amazing race for everyone watching, for the engineers and for the drivers. It’s a very unique track. It’s a lot of fun. We tested there recently, so we’ve done our homework. We’ll see how it goes, but I’m very motivated for it and ready to fight for the win and finish the job.”

Alexander Rossi’s sole run at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta produced a second-place finish at the 2020 Motul Petit Le Mans.

“It all comes down to this – Petit Le Mans,” commented Alexander Rossi. “It’s so exciting to be able to go into this event with a chance at helping bring the championship back to WTR and to help Acura defend their title. It is going to be an incredibly tough weekend with some great competitions, but we know what the 10 car is capable of and we have the upmost faith in each other to get it done. I’m so honored to have been able to race for this team in 2021 and I will do everything I can to help them finish on a high.”

The Petit Le Mans Inaugural winner, Wayne Taylor, is hoping to not only win the Motul Petit Le Mans, but the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

“We started this year with a new partnership with HPD and Acura and came out of the box and won Daytona,” mentioned Wayne Taylor. “We maintained the points lead right up until now and while 19 points sounds like a lot, it’s actually not. So, we are really going to a shootout and whoever finishes ahead of the other car is going to win the championship. If the 31 finishes 6th and we finish 5th, then we win. I know we have a great team, the best drivers in our car and our guys in strategy will be really good. The other thing is that there are 43 cars entered into this race, so can you imagine a 2.54-mile tour with 43 cars on it? It’s going to be chaos. We’re going to go out to stay out of trouble and see where we go into night. And night is going to be very long, so it’s going to be a lot on pressure on everyone. This team, with Konica Minolta, Harrison Contracting and HPD, is going to do our best and that’s all we can do. We’re certainly going there to win this. We’re not going there for another reason. Win or nothing.”

Practice for the Motul Petit Le Mans begins this Thursday, November 11, at 9:20 a.m. ET. Qualifying for Saturday’s 10-hour endurance race begins at 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday. Green flag for the Motul Petit Le Mans will wave at 12:10 p.m. ET with live coverage beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET on NBC.
ABOUT KONICA MINOLTA

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. is reshaping and revolutionizing the Workplace of the Future. 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 recently 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 fourteen consecutive years, and 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. 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. Wayne Taylor Racing’s existing lineup of partners that also features Harrison Contracting, Acura Motorsports, Hammer Nutrition and CIT.

Era Motorsport Crayon Car Returns for IMSA Petit Le Mans Season Finale

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., (November 9, 2021) – Era Motorsport is closing out the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season in style this weekend, returning to the fan-designed “Crayon Car” livery the No. 18 Oreca LMP2 car sported for the first race of the year, the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The team drove to victory at the 24-hour endurance race in January, earning their first IMSA win in a livery created by Owen, a then six-year-old fan from Ontario, Canada. This weekend, the Indianapolis-based team will proudly wear the livery once again for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season finale at Petit Le Mans.

“It means a lot to us to have Owen’s livery back on the car,” said Driver and Team Owner Kyle Tilley. “It not only brought us good luck for the Rolex 24, but through that livery and our first victory our earned a lot of new fans who have come out to support us this year. Ending the season with the crayon wrap, and even a podium finish is a great way to close out the year on a positive note and thank our fans for cheering us on this year.”

After the team’s memorable win in January, Owen’s family kept in touch with the Indianapolis-based squad, hoping the Canadian and US borders would open so that the young livery designer could attend the Six Hours of the Glen in July. Sadly, COVID restrictions kept the border closed over the summer, but opened earlier this month, allowing Owen to attend the final race of the year and finally get the chance to see his design on the Oreca LMP2 prototype in person. The young fan will be on site all weekend, eager to at last meet the team and drivers, and cheer them on in the final race of the season.

“I am excited to go to the Petit Le Mans because I’m excited to see my car in real life, and maybe sit in it,” he said. “I can’t wait to meet the drivers and wish them good luck.”

With two wins and three podiums, Era Motorsport sits in third place for the Michelin Endurance Cup, the four-race endurance championship within the full season championship. A series of points will be awarded based on where each competitor is running four, eight, and ten hours into the event. The team will also be eager to beat out the other four class entries to finish the season with another memorable victory with their biggest fan in attendance.

On-track sessions for Petit Le Mans start on Thursday, November 11 beginning with three practice sessions. On Friday afternoon, the field will qualify, setting their starting positions for the 12:10 pm Eastern race start time on Saturday, November 13. IMSA Radio will again offer its comprehensive audio coverage, and the race will air live in the United States on NBC for the first three hours before switching to NBCSN. For full event information, visit imsa.com.

DRIVER QUOTES
Kyle Tilley
I’m so proud of the season we’ve had to date, and I’m looking forward to a strong finish at Petit Le Mans. We’ve proven we’re strong in both sprint and endurance races, and we’ve got the right group of people to get that third win of the season.

Dwight Merriman
After earning two wins and a podium so far this year in our sophomore season, I’m looking forward to closing out the 2021 season on a high note. I feel I’ve grown a lot this year as a gentleman driver, and I’m hoping all that work pays off alongside my teammates, Kyle and Ryan.

Ryan Dalziel
We have had a fantastic season to date at Era, and are looking to finish out how we started with a win. We will be doing our best to get our third win of the season and if all goes to plan, bringing home a Petit Le Mans win and a Michelin Endurance Cup championship.

About Era Motorsport
Era Motorsport was formed in 2018 with the idea of providing unmatched excellence in historic racing. Just two years later, the team expanded to the world of professional sports car racing, fielding an Oreca 07 in the prolific IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2021, the team went on to win at the iconic Rolex 24 At Daytona, in what was their second attempt competing in the event. Motorsport isn’t just a hobby, it is a way of life: a passion that is in the team’s blood. Whether you find us in the IMSA WeatherTech paddock with modern prototypes or chasing down lap records in our fully restored classic sports cars, or even globetrotting to experience historic F1 at some of the world’s most iconic circuits, Era Motorsport has something for everyone. In 2021, the team will return to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for the full LMP2 season and also contest in the full seasons of the Asian Le Mans championship and European Le Mans Series.

Orlin Alexiev did not participate, but awarded the winners in “Samokov Trophy 2021”

By
SM
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Delay of the new car prevented him from taking part in the race, but he was the one awarding this year’s winners.

The third round of the National Off-Road Championships in Bulgaria finished in Samokov. Bulgaria’s most successful representative for the Dakar Rally, Orlin Alexiev, was unable to start due to a delay in the delivery of his new machine and failed to make the planned tests. However, he awarded the winners in the Rally category and told fans and competitors about his future plans.

The final races and the awarding ceremony at the Rido Motor Park were watched by more than 5000 spectators in the fine Sunday weather. The start of the race was given by the Mayor of the Municipality of Samokov Vladimir Georgiev. 53 cars from Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Romania, and Greece stood in the city centre for the ceremony. Organizers from the local club “Motor Sport Samokov” prepared over 500 racing kilometers for the three days.

The race is part of the sports calendar of the Automobile Federation of Bulgaria and is supported by the Municipality of Samokov.

In the heaviest prototypes, Daniel Gospodinov and Ivan Penchev overcame the strong competition from Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Greece, and in the fastest rally category debutants, Metodi Paunov / Vladi Radenkov were unreachable with their perfect navigation and high average speed. In the standard cars, Emil Dimitrov / Andon Andonov from Petrich were a pleasant surprise with their victory, and in the hard standard cars, father and son Tsvetan and Kaloyan Naidenov with the Jär Cherokee were again unreachable in this race with their perfect navigation and high average speed.

For the first time in this race the automatic system for satellite tracking with results processing website developed by the Varna company EasyTrасking, was successfully presented, and on the last day the system was attacked by hackers, but the delay was only 15 minutes.

In the hard stages of the first day, 5 crews failed to finish, but after fixing the faults they were able to participate in the second day of the race.

The last round is in the vicinity of Rousse from 26 to 28 November, this is when the champions and the winners of the rally will be revealed.

How To Consistently Observe Due Diligence On The Road

By
SM
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Vehicles driving down highway seen through the side view mirror of a white sportscar.

There are traffic accidents every day. Most drivers believe they’re cautious and follow all traffic laws, but they’re unaware of other minor details that they overlook or fail to notice, putting them in danger. Take extra precautions while driving and keep an eye out for other drivers and road users. This will save both your life and the lives of other motorists. 

This article will go over a few things to think about when it comes to maintaining due diligence while driving.

1. Carry Out Simple Safety Checks 

Simple checks can save your life. Otherwise, you could be driving a defective vehicle without even realizing it. It’s a good idea to double-check your car’s lights and signals to ensure they’re all operational.

Break lights are important because they alert the driver behind you that you want to slow down or come to a complete stop to avoid colliding with them. It’s also critical to check your tire pressures and make sure they’re all at the recommended maximum. Inspect the undercarriage of your vehicle for leaks and loose objects. While you’re at it, double-check that your steering wheel isn’t loose and that your seat belts aren’t stuck. 

These are simple things that people often overlook, but they contribute to the increasing number of accidents.

2. Check Mirrors And Seatbelts Before Igniting Your Car 

Check your mirrors and seat position before starting your vehicle. The person who drove it before you may not have used the same position as you. Adjust both mirrors to see more of what’s behind you, and your blind spots will be reduced. Check that your seat is comfortable and that you can see in your mirrors. Once everything is in working order, you can start your vehicle.

3. Don’t Use Mobile When Driving 

Using your phone while driving can be dangerous, but many people disregard this risk. When you use your phone while driving, you increase your chances of being involved in an accident. Most drivers fail to recognize that using a phone while driving requires complete concentration, causing you to take your mind and eyes off the road.

If you believe something urgently requires your attention, it’s best to park your vehicle and attend to your phone, then resume driving when finished. If you’re a passenger and your driver is on the phone, tell them to put the phone down. And if there’s anything you can do to help, do it.

4. Don’t Overspeed

High-speed driving puts you in danger. Ensure that you adhere to the posted speed limits on the road. On the freeway, you can go a little faster, but stay alert at all times. If you’re driving in a small town or a congested area, keep your speed down to a minimum.

5. Practice Defensive Driving 

Driving defensively prepares you for major risks and hazards. When you’re alert while driving, it’s easy to spot potential hazards. And once you’ve seen them, you can react quickly.

Here are some defensive strategies that you might find useful:

  • Don’t go too quickly.
  • Keep an eye out for the intentions of other drivers.
  • Be prepared to react to other drivers.
  • Even if you have the right of way, proceed with caution at intersections.
  • Maintain your focus on the road.
  • Be certain that there are no distractions.

6. Watch Out For The Other Drivers


You may be a careful driver who obeys all traffic laws and drives at a low speed with no distractions, but you must be aware of other drivers. Unexpected stops, swerving, unsignaled turns, and poor driving are to be expected. It pays to be on the lookout. 

When drivers assert that they’re correct, it’s preferable to apologize rather than argue with them. Being a fool can keep you out of a lot of trouble.

7. Look Ahead And Don’t Follow Closely

When driving, you must maintain complete concentration on the road. Pay attention to what’s going on around you and react with caution. Always look ahead to see if you can accelerate, decelerate, or come to a complete stop.

Because it’s difficult to predict the intentions of the driver in front of you, it’s best to maintain a safe distance. Maintain a safe distance between yourself and the other driver so you have enough time to react if the other driver makes an unexpected turn or stop. 

It’s recommended to leave a three-second gap or the length of a car. The speed at which you’re traveling will assist you in determining how wide of a gap you should leave. For example, if your speed is 45 km/h, you should leave a three-car gap. If the driver in front of you passes an object, wait for three seconds before passing it yourself; but at night, wait at least seven seconds. This will keep you from colliding with the vehicle in front of you.


Conclusion

Nobody can ever be completely safe on the road. But after reading this article, you should have some ideas for how to stay safe on the road. Following these can help reduce the likelihood of a collision. Road rules and other safety precautions must be observed.

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