The Mid-Ohio School opens 2021 course enrollments today

LEXINGTON, Ohio (March 16, 2021) – The 60th season of racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will feature its five traditional events in 2021. The legendary road course in Lexington, Ohio, will showcase some of the premier series in all of motorsports for fans as it returns to a full slate of racing starting in May.

On Tuesday, March 23, the renewal period begins for Mid-Ohio Season Race Pass and Season Motorhome spaces for 2020 customers. Then, on Tuesday, April 6, event tickets will go on sale at advance pricing at a savings before standard pricing begins on Tuesday, April 27. Renewal customers on file will be notified directly with further details.

“We sincerely thank our fans for their patience and understanding as our team worked tirelessly during the 2020 season to host as many events as possible,” said Craig Rust, president of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. “Now with the 2021 season and our 60th season of racing upon us, we are looking forward to getting back to a full schedule of racing and look forward to seeing the fans back at the track.

“Things will kick off in April with The Mid-Ohio School as today we open enrollments for our 2021 classes for teenage drivers, racers and our sportbike enthusiasts,” Rust continued.

Starting in 1993 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, The Mid-Ohio School offers defensive driving, high performance, racing, and corporate entertainment programs plus performance track riding for motorcyclists. Its range of course dates and pricing are posted at midohioschool.com.

The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course schedule for its 60th season follows:

May 14-16 – Acura Sports Car Challenge (IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship event)
June 4-5 – B&L Transport 170 at Mid-Ohio (NASCAR Xfinity Series / ARCA Menards Series)
June 25-27 – Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio (Sportscar Vintage Racing Association / Trans Am)
July 2-4 – The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (NTT INDYCAR SERIES event)
July 23-25 – AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days (AMA’s annual motorcycling celebration)

All courses and events will continue to be held based on the ongoing guidance of the CDC and mandates of national, state and local authorities regarding public gatherings surrounding COVID-19. All the necessary protocols for race fans and course participants can be found at midohio.com/covid19.

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course offers one of the best family values in all of live sports and entertainment. Children 12 and under always receive free general admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult. All the ticket options and pricing are posted online at midohio.com.

About Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course:
A comprehensive motorsports facility in Lexington, Ohio, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course sits on 380 acres and features a permanent road-racing circuit with two primary race track configurations: 2.4-mile, 15-turn or 2.258-mile, 13-turn layout. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the natural terrain road course is commonly referred to as the “Most Competitive in the U.S.” and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned race events for amateur, club and professional drivers and riders. It is also home to The Mid-Ohio School, featuring over 20 driving and riding courses, for teenagers to professional racers using Honda vehicles. Opened in 1962, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has been owned and operated by Green Savoree Mid-Ohio, LLC since 2011, just the raceway’s third private ownership group in its history.

For more information, visit midohio.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @MidOhioSportsCarCourse or follow updates on Twitter @Mid_Ohio and Instagram @officialmidohio.

About The Mid-Ohio School:
Based at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, in Lexington, Ohio, The Mid-Ohio School provides professional driving and riding instruction to drivers and motorcyclists of all skill levels. The school’s 14 different automobile courses include the renowned Teen Defensive Driving program, as well as High Performance and Racing programs. The motorcycle side features two Performance Track Riding formats. Students enjoy classroom sessions, skill drills, expert private instruction and lapping on the same track that challenges the world’s top racers. The school is a past recipient of the prestigious Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Partners for Safety Award and partners with Maria’s Message to teach young drivers about the dangers of distracted driving. In 28 seasons, The Mid-Ohio School boasts 79,125 all-time graduates, including 23,091 teenage drivers and 20,777 motorcyclists.

For more information, visit midohioschool.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @TheMidOhioSchool or follow updates on Twitter @MidOhioSchool.

Brownsburg, Ind. (March 16, 2021) The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 team has its sights set on another strong performance in the second endurance event of the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season having started the year with an extraordinary win at the Rolex 24 at DAYTONA. This weekend, Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque and Alexander Rossi will pilot the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 around the historic Sebring International Raceway 3.74-mile track in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

With seven starts to the team’s name in the iconic 12-hour race, the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 team has one victory, three top-two finishes and a total of 193 laps led. Ricky Taylor was behind the wheel when the team secured victory in 2017, which also came off the back of a victorious outing at the Rolex 24 at DAYTONA. As a result, Taylor hopes history can repeat itself with the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 team securing a second unofficial Florida 36 Hour with victories at both the 2021 Rolex 24 at DAYTONA and Sebring 12 Hour.

“Sebring is such a difficult event,” commented Ricky Taylor. “It is always the one on the schedule that you earmark as the event you want to win because of the satisfaction of overcoming all the obstacles that come with racing at Sebring, such as the bumpy track surface and temperature changes throughout the day. And, for the championship, it sets a critical tone for the rest of the season. We are coming off a big win and have great momentum, so another strong result in the 12 hour will allow us to settle into the sprint season with some energy.”

Filipe Albuquerque hopes for his first Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring win after finishing on the podium three times. The Portuguese driver was an integral part of the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 winning team at this year’s Rolex 24 at DAYTONA and will continue to use that determination this weekend.

“Sebring is an event I’ve never won in my life,” said Filipe Albuquerque. “I really want to do it this year. We just had a test at Sebring, and we gathered important information about the car. I think we’re really ready, and we’re going to be very strong for sure and a contender for the win. But again, this year is going to be very competitive like it was at Daytona. The competition is very hard, but we are ready to go, let’s go!”

This will be Alexander Rossi’s third Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The American has one pole starting position and two top-ten finishes in the iconic race.

“Really excited to re-join my Wayne Taylor Racing teammates this weekend in Sebring,” said Alexander Rossi. “I feel like the Acura ARX-05 DPi car has a lot of momentum, even stemming back to the rescheduled Sebring race last year, then obviously most recently with our 24-hour win in Daytona a couple months ago. If we could go back-to-back with endurance wins, that would be pretty cool. Have no doubts the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 crew is ready to conquer Central Florida.”

Wayne Taylor has experienced great success in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring having won the event in 1996 as a driver and in 2017 as a team owner. The South African was inducted into the Sebring International Hall of Fame in 2014.

“After winning the Rolex 24 and having a fairly successful test in Sebring it seems like everyone is within tenths of a second, so it could make for a really good race,” mentioned Wayne Taylor. “I’m also happy that they have left the BOP as it was at the end of last year, so that’s a real positive. This race is going to come down to the same items as Daytona which is to stay off the curb and to only come into the pits for driver changes and fuel. I think we have three of the best drivers in the paddock and the best team in the paddock, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Practice for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring begins this Thursday at 9:05 a.m. ET. Green flag will wave at 10:10 a.m. ET on March 20th with live coverage beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET on NBC Sports.

About Konica Minolta
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. is reshaping and revolutionizing the Workplace of the Future™ with its expansive smart office product portfolio from IT Services (All Covered), ECM, Managed Print Services and industrial and commercial print solutions. Konica Minolta has been recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys for thirteen consecutive years, and the World Technology Awards recently named the company a finalist in the IT Software category. Konica Minolta, Inc. has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for nine consecutive years and has spent three years on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list. Konica Minolta partners with its clients to give shape to ideas and work 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.

Porsche team to run five cars in three IMSA series at Florida Event

BATAVIA, Ohio, (March 16, 2021) – The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is just days away, and Porsche customer racing team Wright Motorsports has a busy race week in store. The team will field five entries between the four races of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Michelin Pilot Challenge, and the new Porsche Carrera Cup North America, closing out the weekend with the 12-hour endurance racing fan-favorite event. Returning to defend their win of the headlining race, Wright Motorsports will be the team to watch this weekend.

“It has been an incredibly busy time for Wright Motorsports in preparation for this event, as well as our other programs,” said team owner John Wright. “We’ve been able to build some strong programs, and our new shop in Stuart, Florida has helped make the logistics of all these programs as smooth as possible. I’m proud of everyone on the team for getting us ready to not only resume our GTD and GT4 programs, but to also get everything ready for a three-car debut in the new Porsche Carrera Cup North America. I’m looking forward to getting the weekend started and fighting for the win in the Twelve Hour.”

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
The driver lineup for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring will look slightly different than originally announced at the beginning of the year, following Ryan Hardwick withdrawing from the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Involved in a heavy shunt during a Michelin Pilot Challenge practice session, Hardwick sat out of the remainder of the race weekend, nominating Trent Hindman to step into his spot. Hindman joined Patrick Long, Jan Heylen, Bachler, and together the group earned a fourth-place finish in the No. 16 Porsche 911 GT3 R. Following the strong finish, Hardwick has elected to sit this second race weekend out, with every intention to resume driving duties at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course May 14-16.

“There is nothing that I want more than to get back in the driver’s seat after what was a disappointing early end to my Daytona race weekend,” said Hardwick. “I’ve been working diligently in physical and cognitive therapy sessions over the past several weeks and making great progress. It was a tough decision, but I’ve made the call to sit this next one out at Sebring. I’m glad that Trent is stepping in once again, and I know he gives our team the best shot at becoming back-to-back Twelve Hours of Sebring race winners. I am focused on being back in the race car with my Wright Motorsports team at Mid-Ohio, and going after the IMSA Sprint Championship this season.”

Hindman will again sub for Hardwick, joining full-season driver Patrick Long and endurance addition Jan Heylen. The trio will be tasked with defending the team’s 2020 win at the Twelve Hours of Sebring, held just four months ago. The Wright Motorsports 1st Phorm Porsche ran competitively for all twelve hours, even with a damaged left rear shock. The blue Porsche was in the right spot in the final laps of the race, ready to put in that final competitive edge when it counted. The team jumped from third to first in the final 10 minutes of the race, earning Wright Motorsports their first endurance victory, and Ryan Hardwick his first IMSA race win. Armed with a strong lineup, Wright Motorsports will prepare a strong defense to return to victory circle this weekend.

Watch live as the field takes the green flag live on Saturday, March 20 at 10:10AM Eastern on NBC Sports Network. Domestic fans can also watch flag-to-flag on the NBC SportsGold TrackPass app, and international fans can watch via imsa.tv, with additional audio coverage available worldwide from IMSA Radio.

Patrick Long
No. 16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R
I love the challenge of Sebring. It has to be one of the most difficult tracks to pull a perfect lap together with bumps and varied surfaces from different decades. I believe the additional car count and influx of new drivers will bring a new tempo this year’s race, but in the end, it’s really you against the track. I am looking forward to getting back at it and trying to back up the team’s awesome 2020 victory at the Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Jan Heylen
No. 16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R
We’re all excited to go back to Sebring to try to defend our win. The team has been hard at work and I feel confident that we will have a car to fight for the top step of the podium. I’m incredibly grateful to be here with Wright Motorsports, Patrick, Ryan, and all our partners who make this happen. We wish Ryan was in the car with us, but we’re also happy to welcome Trent back.

Trent Hindman
No. 16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R
I’m incredibly fortunate to be back with Wright Motorsports in the 1st Phorm/Mountain Motorsports/Una Vida Tequila Porsche 911 GT3 R. Extraordinary circumstances in Daytona gave me a peek inside this team and I see why they’re the defending Twelve Hours of Sebring winners. Massive thank you goes to John Wright, Ryan Hardwick, and the entire Wright Motorsports team for their faith and trust in me to get the job done. Cannot wait to get back to work with these guys!

Michelin Pilot Challenge
The 2021 race season looked like it was off to a strong start for Wright Motorsports in the Michelin Pilot Challenge at Daytona International Speedway, but an incident in the second practice sidelined the team for the first race of the season. The team is back for round two, the Alan Jay Automotive Network 120, a two-hour race on Friday afternoon. Full-season driver Jan Heylen will be joined by Max Root, who just celebrated the GT World Challenge America Am championship title with Wright Motorsports last season. Root will replace Ryan Hardwick for this round only, as Hardwick shifts his focus to the next round at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in May. Heylen and Root, now a Porsche Junior Program driver, previously drove together in the 2020 Indianapolis 8 Hour, where the pair with Fred Poordad, secured a class victory in the No. 20 Porsche 911 GT3 R. This weekend, the duo will race the No. 16 1st Phorm Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, which showed a strong performance in the season’s opening test, the Roar Before the 24.

The entry list for the Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 boasts a competitive field of 19 other GS class entries and 15 TC class entries. The field will take the green flag on Friday, March 19 at 2:25PM Eastern, and fans can watch the race live on IMSA.tv or the NBC SportsGold TrackPass app, with additional live coverage provided by IMSA Radio.

Jan Heylen
No. 16 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport
Unfortunately, we had to miss Daytona, but we’re excited to get the season going and hopefully score some good points towards our championship fight. We’re blessed to have Ryan and his partners as part of the team and their continued support, and I’m excited to getting back in the car with him at our next event. For Sebring, Max will be stepping in to replace Ryan. Max has been with Wright Motorsports for the last couple of years, so he was the obvious pick for the seat, and we know he will be a great fit with mega speed. I look forward to working with him and hopefully we’ll find ourselves in a place to fight for a podium.

Max Root
No. 16 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport
I’m excited to be joining Wright Motorsports and their Michelin Pilot Challenge 1st Phorm GT4 program with Jan Heylen as my co-driver. Sebring is an amazing track for the Porsche. This is going to be a fantastic weekend I believe all the preparation that John and everyone at REI Motorsports has put into this program that’s going to set us up for success. We are going to keep our heads down, we’re going to respect the bumps, and I look forward to getting out there in my first GT4 race.

Porsche Carrera Cup North America
The newly-established Porsche Carrera Cup North America will begin its inaugural season this weekend at Sebring International Raceway in support of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts. Sanctioned by the International Motorsports Association (IMSA) and managed by Porsche Motorsport North America, the one-make series is scheduled to host 16 rounds at eight venues in North America, most often in support of the WeatherTech SportsCar championship. Two 45-minute races will take place each weekend, with drivers competing in three classes: Pro, Pro-Am, and Pro-Am 991. Wright Motorsports has joined the premier one-make series with three Porsche 911 GT3 Cup entries, to be driven by John Goetz, Hutton McKenna, and Max Root.

The race weekend festivities will start with a 30-minute practice series on Wednesday, March 17, followed by qualifying the following afternoon. The new series will officially begin its season with race one on Thursday at 5:30PM ET, followed by race two on Friday morning at 10:10AM. Both races will stream live for free on imsa.tv. For additional information, visit imsa.com.

John Goetz
No. 57 Porsche GT3 Cup
I’m excited to join Wright team in the Carrera Cup inaugural season. It’s been over five years since I last raced with Wright. Frankly, I’ve missed being part of the tight ship they run. As a ‘gentleman driver’, I’m honored to be sharing the space with two exceptional young drivers that I can learn from and also be supported by an excellent crew. Sebring is a challenging track with a challenging field—all the better to be pushed hard.

Hutton McKenna
No. 88 Porsche GT3 Cup
I’m very excited to be racing with Wright Motorsports this season. The level of professionalism from this team is unparalleled, and I look forward to achieving great results with an amazing team behind me.

Max Root
Moorespeed-Wright Motorsports No. 7 Porsche GT3 Cup
I’m extremely humbled to be joining the Moorespeed-Wright Motorsports collaboration in the inaugural season of the Carrera Cup North America in the Porsche Junior Program. This is an amazing opportunity, and I cannot wait to get down to Sebring, get my feet on the ground, and to really focus on the championship this year. It is an amazing driver field from all over the world, and to participate in such an amazing series as Carrera Cup with Carrera Cup Germany celebrating its 32nd anniversary this year. It is a really special thing to come to North America, and I can’t think everyone with this program together enough. Let’s do this.

1st Phorm
1st Phorm is a sports nutrition company based in St. Louis, MO. In 2009, CEO Andy Frisella and his business partner Chris Klein started the brand, and since then, it has become the fastest growing supplement company in the world. 1st Phorm has set the standards in the industry for quality and helping people reach their goals. This new racing partnership is not their first time in the exotic car scene either. 1st Phorm has been the title sponsor for the Gold Rush Rally for six years running. With over a million followers across social media, 1st Phorm has amassed a huge cult-like following known as, “The Legion of Boom.” They stand for a movement in the fitness world. To turn it back to what it was meant to be. Helping others improve their lives, to be a good human… and to drop the excuses and do the work. 1st Phorm is a winning brand and they don’t expect anything less when it comes to their race team. For additional info: www.1stphorm.com

Mountain Motorsports
Mountain Motorsports is a group of motorcycle and powersports dealerships with multiple locations in the southeastern United States. The company was founded by lifelong friends Ryan Hardwick and Justin Price when they opened their first location as a single-line Honda dealership in Sevierville, Tennessee in 1999. The company has since grown into one of the largest retailers of motorcycle and powersports vehicles in the nation, spanning nine dealership locations representing eleven of the industry’s most well-known brands. For additional info: www.mountainmotorsports.com

Una Vida Tequila
Una Vida translates to One Life. That is how this brand started. By people who want to live their “One Life” to the absolute fullest and to their highest potential. A group of guys from the Midwest who love great quality tequila, and want their One Life to have meaning and impact others.

One Life, One Tequila is our CORE BELIEF. We’re building the only tequila brand you will ever need to drink. Una Vida is bigger than just tequila we’re also building a culture of people who want to live their life to their utmost potential.

Our story begins and continues to grow bottle by bottle. It’s a life mission for us to create a community of people who all raise a glass knowing they’re living their ONE LIFE! For more information, visit unavidatequila.com

Wright Motorsports
Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series, international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013 and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. The 2020 season will see the team return to IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship. For more information, visit wrightmotorsports.com

· First race since 1-2 GTLM finish at Daytona to open 2021
· Twelve wins at Sebring for Corvette Racing program
· No. 4 Corvette looking for second Sebring win in nine months
· Chevrolet Motorsports Display, Chevy Ride and Drive a must-see for Sebring fans

DETROIT (March 16, 2021) – Corvette Racing seeks the second leg of sports car racing’s Triple Crown this weekend as it heads back to Florida for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Advance Auto Parts.

The two-car team is coming off a 1-2 class finish in Rolex 24 At Daytona to start its 2021 season. Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor and Nicky Catsburg were winners in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) category of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R. They were only a handful of seconds – 3.519 to be exact – ahead of No. 4 Corvette teammates Tommy Milner, Nick Tandy and Alexander Sims.

That puts Corvette Racing and Chevrolet 1-2 in the early-season GTLM points standings. The No. 3 Corvette group leads over the No. 4 C8.R in full-season points, but the positions are switched in the Michelin Endurance Cup. The four-race championship is made of IMSA’s four long-distance races with Milner, Tandy and Sims claiming the most points at the pre-determined marks of the Rolex 24. Sebring serves as the second round of the MEC.

All signs point toward Corvette Racing contending for its 13th victory at Sebring International Raceway and 12th in the annual 12-hour enduro. The program’s last two Rolex 24 victories in 2015 and 2016 led to race wins at Sebring only weeks later.

The Sebring 12 Hours is steeped in Corvette Racing history. The event has witnessed the team take 11 class victories since 2002, and four of the six drivers have previously won there. Garcia is a three-time winner with Corvette at the event, and Tandy has won the last three years at the 12 Hours. Milner has three Sebring wins with Corvette – two in the 12 Hours plus July’s sprint race – and Taylor was part of one overall winning effort in the 12 Hours.

This is the third race at Sebring for Corvette Racing and the WeatherTech Championship in the last nine months. The team finished 1-2 in July’s Cadillac Grand Prix of Sebring with Tommy Milner and Oliver Gavin winning in the No. 4 Corvette C8.R. Garcia and GTLM pole-winner Taylor were second on their way to the GTLM Drivers, Manufacturers and Team championships; Garcia also was the GTLM pole-winner for November’s 12 Hours.

The mid-engine C8.R and Corvette Stingray street car were developed simultaneously, and the race car and production vehicle share more technology and parts than any previous-generation Corvette. When initial Corvette C8.R design and development work began more than six years ago, Corvette Racing engineers worked closely alongside Corvette production personnel with a heavy emphasis on wind tunnel and simulation testing.

Chevrolet Motorsports Display, Ride and Drive Return to Sebring
In addition to happenings on the racetrack at Sebring, fans will have no shortage of things to see and do from Chevrolet. That’s because two locations at the circuit – Chevrolet Motorsports Display and Chevrolet Ride and Drive – will be full of Chevrolet vehicles that spectators can learn more about throughout the weekend.

The Chevrolet Motorsports Display opens at 9 a.m. Thursday, 8:30 a.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday in the Sebring Midway. Numerous Chevrolet vehicles and other highlights include:

• Coupe and convertible models of the mid-engine Corvette Stingray.
• Additional Chevrolet products such as Blazer, Silverado, Tahoe and the Bolt EV.
• An opportunity to receive a Team Chevy t-shirt via a QR code scan.

The Sebring Skidpad outside of Turn 17 can sample a Chevrolet vehicle for themselves at the Ride and Drive event. Starting at 9 a.m. each day, spectators have the chance to test a wide variety of Chevrolets include Tahoe, Camaro, Bolt EV, Blazer, Trailerblazer, Colorado and Silverado.

The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 20. The race will air on NBCSN from 10 a.m.-noon and 7-10:30 p.m. ET. The full race will be streamed on TrackPass via NBC Sports Gold and the NBC Sports App. IMSA Radio will air full qualifying and race coverage at IMSA.com along with Sirius 216, XM 392 and SiriusXM Online 992.

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “Getting the Rolex 24 win is the best way we can start the season. We now have that elusive endurance win for the Corvette C8.R. Naturally we want the next win to be Sebring. This always has been a fantastic event for Corvette Racing. We have completed many miles in testing, practicing and racing. I feel like I’ve been over every bump around the circuit! The 12 Hours is always a really big challenge for what lies ahead of us for the balance of the year. This is another excellent chance to test ourselves.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “The Sebring 12 Hours last year was crucial to the success we’ve already had this year. Development-wise from a performance point of view, we learned a lot of stuff throughout that weekend. Sebring is a great test track. From a reliability and durability point of view in 2020, an endurance win was the only thing missing. The Sebring 12 Hours last year set us up perfectly. It pointed out some of our weaknesses and things we needed work on. It forced us to do that and learn and develop. Already in 2021, that’s showing in our success at Daytona. It’s exciting for us to start the season so strong that like, and it gives us more confidence going into Sebring.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “It will be a thrill going back to Sebring again after a few visits in recent months. I feel like the Corvette continues to get stronger but there is nothing you can take for granted at Sebring. It is the hardest, most physical 12 hours of racing we will do this year. The bumps, the layout of the track and the heat this time of year can take a lot out of a driver. But I personally feel very prepared just like everyone at Corvette Racing. Even though we finished 1-2 at the Rolex 24, we all feel like we have something to prove again at Sebring.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “To be honest, this feels normal… going to Sebring in March for the 12 Hours. That feels normal to us. It doesn’t feel weird going back already. We’re not too far removed from the 12 Hours, but there have been quite a few changes for us with new drivers and a renewed push on the engineering side to buckle down and tighten up all the issues we had in November. One thing we always do at Corvette Racing is learn lessons from the past and use those to improve ourselves. Daytona obviously was a strong race from both cars and the team as a whole. The cars were quite reliable on all fronts. With two new teammates, it’s all very different driving with Alexander and Nick. They both have so much experience at big events like Sebring that it doesn’t feel like a big change from the driving aspect. We’ve had a couple of tests at Sebring with everyone, so it should be business as usual for everyone once we get to the race.”

NICK TANDY, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “I’ve won the last three 12-hour races there and hope to keep that going to make it a fourth. The first few times I raced the 12 hours, it wasn’t my favorite event because we never got on particularly well. Recently, it just seems to be a race that has come to me at the end of it. There have been situations and circumstances that suited me, along with a bit of luck. Being able to be around to pick up the pieces and be quick when needed is key. I’m hoping to bring some of that magic and use it this year.”
“The thing about Sebring is that it is the toughest track on man and machine that we go to. It’s normally pretty hot that time of year. Starting in the day and going into the night makes it a long race. What has made it special to me is the people that are there and the ones that create the atmosphere around Sebring. It’s been one of the most fun events I’ve competed at over the years.”

ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “Sebring is one of the big events that I have looked forward to since joining Corvette Racing. The track and event have a fantastic history, and the fans there create a great atmosphere. It’s a shame we can’t interact with them like normal but hopefully that day is coming soon. The race itself is one of the toughest any driver can do around the world. It’s an absolutely brutal lap around Sebring but also one of the most memorable the times you get it right. The bumps and tarmac changes present challenges you don’t find anywhere else in motorsport. It will be good to get back there.”

2021 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – GTLM (After One of 10 Events)
Driver Standings

1. Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor/Nicky Catsburg – 382
2. Tommy Milner/Nick Tandy/Alexander Sims – 355
3. Augusto Farfus/Jesse Krohn/John Edwards/Marco Wittmann – 325
4. Davide Rigon/James Calado/Jules Gounon – 308
5. Bruno Spengler/Connor De Phillippi/Philipp Eng/Timo Glock – 286
6. Cooper MacNeil/Gianmaria Bruni/Kevin Estre/Richard Lietz – 280

Team Standings

1. No. 3 Corvette Racing – 382
2. No. 4 Corvette Racing – 355
3. No. 24 BMW Team RLL – 324
4. No. 62 Risi Competizione – 308
5. No. 25 BMW Team RLL – 286
6. No. 79 WeatherTech Racing – 280

Manufacturer Standings

1. Chevrolet – 385
2. BMW – 348
3. Ferrari – 330
4. Porsche – 312

CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: By the Numbers
• 1: As in one team, one manufacturer and one model of car for 23 years at Sebring: Corvette Racing and Chevrolet.
• 3: Tracks where Corvette Racing has competed in each of its previous 22 years: Sebring, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
• 4: GT class pole positions at Sebring for Oliver Gavin and Ron Fellows, tied for most in event history.
• 8: Sebring victories – a race record – for Johnny O’Connell, a Sebring Hall of Famer who drove for Corvette Racing from 2001-10. It includes one overall and seven class wins.
• 12: Number of Sebring victories for Corvette Racing – the most of any venue in program history. Eleven of those have come in the 12 Hours.
• 13: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001.
• 22: Number of GT Le Mans wins in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for Corvette Racing since the start of 2014.
• 25: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, Charlotte, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Daytona, Detroit, Houston, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Miami, Mid-Ohio, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen.
• 31: Number of drivers for Corvette Racing since 1999. Nick Tandy and Alexander Sims are the newest.
• 113: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 105 in North America and eight at Le Mans.
• 239: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999.
• 49,259.70: Number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing at Sebring. That’s more than two full trips around the Earth at its equator (approx. 24,900 miles).
• 310,897.63: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing since its inception. To put that in perspective, Corvette Racing is nearly halfway to the distance traveled by Apollo 13 – the longest manned spaceflight in history – at 622,268 miles.

Corvette Racing at Sebring International Raceway
1999
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Chris Kneifel/John Paul Jr. – 4th in GTS (Fellows pole)
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Scott Sharp/John Heinricy – 7th in GTS (Pilgrim fastest race lap)

2000
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Chris Kneifel/Justin Bell – 6th in GTS (Fellows pole)
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins/Franck Freon – 5th in GTS

2001
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Chris Kneifel – 3rd in GTS
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins/Franck Freon – 2nd in GTS

2002
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Oliver Gavin – 1st in GTS (Fellows pole)
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins/Franck Freon – 4th in GTS

2003
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Franck Freon – 1st in GTS
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Oliver Gavin/Kelly Collins/Andy Pilgrim – 3rd in GTS (Gavin pole)

2004
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Max Papis – 1st in GTS (Fellows pole)
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen – 6th in GTS (Gavin fastest race lap)

2005
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Max Papis – 2nd in GT1
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen – 3rd in GT1

2006
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Max Papis – 4th in GT1
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen – 1st in GT1

2007
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Jan Magnussen – 2nd in GT1 (Magnussen pole, fastest race lap)
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Max Papis – 1st in GT1

2008
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Jan Magnussen – 1st in GT1
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Max Papis – 2nd in GT1 (Gavin fastest race lap)

2009
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell/Antonio Garcia – 1st in GT1
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Marcel Fässler – 2nd in GT1 (Gavin pole, fastest race lap)

2010
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell/Antonio Garcia – 8th in GT2
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Emmanuel Collard – 9th in GT2

2011
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Tommy Milner/Antonio Garcia – 3rd in GT
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen/Richard Westbrook – 4th in GT

2012
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 2nd in GT (Magnussen pole)
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Richard Westbrook – 3rd in GT

2013
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 11th in GT
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Richard Westbrook – 1st in GT

2014
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Ryan Briscoe – 8th in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Robin Liddell – 6th in GTLM (Gavin fastest race lap)

2015
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Ryan Briscoe – 1st in GTLM (Daytona/Sebring double)
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Simon Pagenaud – 9th in GTLM

2016
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Mike Rockenfeller – 9th in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Marcel Fässler – 1st in GTLM (10th Sebring team win)

2017
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Mike Rockenfeller – 1st in GTLM (3rd straight Sebring team win)
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Marcel Fässler – 10th in GTLM

2018
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Mike Rockenfeller – 8th in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Marcel Fässler – 6th in GTLM

2019
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Mike Rockenfeller – 3rd in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Marcel Fässler – 8th in GTLM
No. 63 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Mike Rockenfeller – 8th in GTE Pro (FIA WEC)

2020*
No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 2nd in GTLM (Taylor pole)
No. 4 Corvette C8.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 1st in GTLM

2020
No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor/Nicky Catsburg – 5th in GTLM (Garcia pole, Catsburg fastest race lap)
No. 4 Corvette C8.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Marcel Fässler – 6th in GTLM

*July 18, 2020 sprint race
Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 75 countries with nearly 4 million cars and trucks sold in 2019. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found www.chevrolet.com.

BATAVIA, Ohio, (March 16, 2021) – The newly-established Porsche Carrera Cup North America begins its inaugural season this weekend at Sebring International Raceway in support of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts. Wright Motorsports has joined the premier one-make series with three Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car entries, to be driven by John Goetz, Hutton McKenna, and Max Root.

“I’m very proud of the program we’ve been able to assemble,” said Team Owner John Wright. “The new Porsche Carrera Cup is the perfect addition to the North American sports car racing ladder. This will make for excellent proving grounds for John, Hutton, and Max, now a Porsche Junior Program driver. I’m excited to see how this series will go, and grateful we get to be a part of it.”

Sanctioned by the International Motorsports Association (IMSA) and managed by Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA), the one-make series is scheduled to host 16 rounds at eight venues in North America, most often in support of the WeatherTech Sports Car championship. Two 45-minute races will take place each weekend, with drivers competing in three classes: Pro, Pro-Am, and Pro-Am 991.

As the sole gentleman driver on the team, John Goetz is returning to Wright Motorsports with ample experience racing a Porsche with Wright Motorsports. He previously competed in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama after a decade of club racing in the Porsche Club of America and the Trophy East Series. Goetz will race the No. 57 Porsche this season in the Pro-Am class.

“I’m excited to join Wright team in the Carrera Cup inaugural season,” said Goetz. “It’s been over five years since I last raced with Wright. Frankly, I’ve missed being part of the tight ship they run. As a gentleman driver, I’m honored to be sharing the space with two exceptional young drivers that I can learn from and also be supported by an excellent crew. Sebring is a challenging track with a challenging field—all the better to be pushed hard.”

Hutton McKenna, son of IMSA race winner Danny McKenna, is setting out on his own professional racing journey. After a successful run in the Porsche Trophy West USA where he earned six wins and two second place finishes, McKenna is now stepping up to the next level of competition to race the No. 88 Porsche, which will sport a special livery for the occasion. The car’s look will pay homage to the Alex Job Racing Porsche his dad raced in the 2000s, sponsored by McKenna Porsche dealership.

“I’m very excited to be racing with Wright Motorsports this season,” said McKenna. “The level of professionalism from this team is unparalleled, and I look forward to achieving great results with an amazing team behind me.”

After winning the GT World Challenge America Am championship last season with Wright Motorsports and Fred Poordad, Root is back to continue his racing career, now as a Porsche Junior Program North America driver. He closed out the 2020 season with seven wins and an additional four podiums to add to his resume, including a class victory at the Indianapolis 8 Hour. He’ll run the No. 7 Porsche this season, as a partnership effort between Moorespeed and Wright Motorsports.

“I’m extremely humbled to be joining the Moorespeed-Wright Motorsports collaboration in the inaugural season of the Carrera Cup North America in the Porsche Junior Program,” said Root. “This is an amazing opportunity, and I cannot wait to get down to Sebring, get my feet on the ground, and to really focus on the championship this year. It is an amazing driver field from all over the world, and to participate in such an amazing series as Carrera Cup with Carrera Cup Germany celebrating its 32nd anniversary this year. It is a really special thing to come to North America, and I can’t think everyone with this program together enough.”

The collaborative effort between old friends David Moore and John Wright came together after last minute sponsorship changes to Moorespeed’s program resulted in the loss of their driver. Wright learned of the news and extended an offer to Moore, presenting an option for the two to join together and create an opportunity for Max Root to drive.

“Others had offered to buy the car, but I was pretty adamant that I wanted a young driver in the car, as we’ve steered our program lately more towards preparing young drivers for the top ranks,” said Moore. “Johnny [Wright] was the only guy that suggested a plan that put a young American, Max Root, in the seat. It was all his idea. Our relationship as friends and competitors goes back to the mid-90s, and I’m really humbled that our friendship took the lead helping Max get in the car.”

The deal came together just days before last week’s series test at Sebring International Raceway, allowing Root to participate in the final two sessions. The 2009 Rolex 24 At Daytona race winner and longtime Porsche racer RJ Valentine contributed to the effort, helping pull together the resources needed to support the youngster.

“Even though David Moore and I have been competitors over half of our lives, we have always shared a passion for racing and giving young drivers opportunities to grow and develop in order to rise through the ranks,” said Wright. “I’m grateful to David and his help to get the third car on the grid. Our friendship goes back over 25 years, and I’m proud to be working with him on this effort.”

The race weekend festivities for the Porsche Carrera Cup North America will start with a 30-minute practice series on Wednesday, March 17, followed by qualifying the following afternoon. The new series will officially begin its season with race one on Thursday at 5:30PM ET. Race two will follow on Friday morning at 10:10AM. Both races will stream live for free on imsa.tv. For additional information, visit imsa.com.

John Goetz
No. 57 Porsche GT3 Cup
I’m excited to join Wright team in the Carrera Cup inaugural season. It’s been over five years since I last raced with Wright. Frankly, I’ve missed being part of the tight ship they run. As a ‘gentleman driver’, I’m honored to be sharing the space with two exceptional young drivers that I can learn from and also be supported by an excellent crew. Sebring is a challenging track with a challenging field—all the better to be pushed hard.

Hutton McKenna
No. 88 Porsche GT3 Cup
I’m very excited to be racing with Wright Motorsports this season. The level of professionalism from this team is unparalleled, and I look forward to achieving great results with an amazing team behind me.

Max Root
Moorespeed-Wright Motorsports No. 7 Porsche GT3 Cup
I’m extremely humbled to be joining the Moorespeed-Wright Motorsports collaboration in the inaugural season of the Carrera Cup North America in the Porsche Junior Program. This is an amazing opportunity, and I cannot wait to get down to Sebring, get my feet on the ground, and to really focus on the championship this year. It is an amazing driver field from all over the world, and to participate in such an amazing series as Carrera Cup with Carrera Cup Germany celebrating its 32nd anniversary this year. It is a really special thing to come to North America, and I can’t think everyone with this program together enough. Let’s do this.

Facebook ‌ Twitter ‌ Instagram ‌
View as PDF

Wright Motorsports
Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series, international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013 and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. The 2020 season will see the team return to IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship. For more information, visit wrightmotorsports.com