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Historic Mercedes – AMG GT3 Victory Anchors One-Two Mercedes – AMG Motorsport Customer Racing Finish in the Rolex 24 At Daytona

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VICTORY: Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Team Triumphs in Rolex 24 At Daytona Debut at Daytona International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – Winward Racing and team co-drivers Russell Ward, Indy Dontje, Philip Ellis and Maro Engel earned the first Rolex 24 At Daytona victory for the Mercedes-AMG GT3 on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway (DIS). The team and drivers secured a historic win in the team’s debut in the nation’s premier endurance race, which ran for the 59th time this weekend at DIS. Engel drove the winning No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 across the finish line just ahead of the No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing entry, anchoring a one-two Mercedes-AMG GT3 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Daytona (GTD) class finish.

The victory marked a string of “firsts” for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing and the Winward team and drivers. In addition to the first Daytona win for the Mercedes-AMG GT3 and Winward Racing, the victory was the first for all four drivers at the “World Center of Racing,” and came in the Rolex 24 debuts of Ward, Ellis, Dontje and the Winward team.

The No. 57 Winward Racing entry was the highest starting Mercedes-AMG GT3 of the three competing in the Rolex 24. Ward started the race in fifth and he and his teammates seldom ran lower than that throughout the twice around the clock race.

All four drivers led race laps in the No. 57 to combine for a GTD-class high 362 laps up front. Dontje first put the Winward Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the lead for 14 laps early Saturday evening in his second driving stint of the race. Ward followed and returned to the front of the GTD field after taking over from Dontje. From there, the No. 57 maintained or battled for the lead for the rest of the race.

For the final four hours, Winward’s toughest competitor was the No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Kenny Habul, Mikael Grenier, Luca Stolz and Raffaele Marciello.

The No. 75 drivers maintained a steady pace in the top-10 throughout the race’s opening hours on Saturday, but Stolz first gave a sign of things to come when he moved up to fourth in the seventh hour.

By Sunday morning, the No. 75 was lapping on pace with the Winward entry, with Stolz and Marciello frequently right on the No. 57’s bumper. The No. 75 led 13 race laps, but in the end, Engel built just enough of a gap to secure the win. Marciello followed Engel across the finish line to seal the first Mercedes-AMG GT3 one-two IMSA race finish since Long Beach in 2017.

Debuting Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing team and season-long IMSA GTD entrants Alegra Motorsports made it three Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the top-10.

Co-drivers Daniel Morad, Billy Johnson, Maxi Buhk and Mike Skeen, and the No. 28 Alegra Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 team, persevered through a myriad of typical endurance race issues for a hard-earned ninth-place finish.

Next up for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is the 12 Hours of Sebring, March 17 – 20, at Sebring International Raceway.

Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams competing in SRO Motorsports Group America series make their season debut at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California, March 5 – 7.

Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing: “I am very, very happy for our Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams, and for all of the people involved, so that we could achieve this fantastic victory here at such an iconic race. We’ve been able to put the name of Mercedes-AMG in the record book for the famous Rolex 24 At Daytona. I can only thank the teams, all of our three customer teams, which worked together from the Roar on in preparation and with the strategy to optimize the car for the end of the race. It’s amazing to see that we started the race just average and ended up with the perfect car to control the lead of the race. Thank you to all involved and to those back home in Germany.”

Russell Ward, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “We didn’t come here with a lot of expectations. It was a learning experience for us, a step up for us from GT4 to GT3. The crew and I have been preparing a long time for this, about an entire year. All the time off we had from April 2020 to when we started back racing, we’ve been preparing for this. I think it really showed off. At the end of the day, our team just wanted it more than everybody else out there.”

Indy Dontje, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I feel great. I’m still getting a lot of messages from Holland, from home, that I’m one of the five Dutch guys who won this race, so it’s really something to be proud of. Winning the Rolex 24 in GTD with this team as rookies, we were underdogs the whole weekend, and in the end to win it with such great speed, is unbelievable. The whole weekend was intense and really busy, but I really enjoyed every moment. I’m really happy.”

Maro Engel, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “This is absolutely amazing. Huge thank you to my three amazing teammates. It’s their first time at Daytona in a GT3 car – and HTP Winward Racing’s first time at Daytona in GTD – and what a performance they all did. And we had an absolutely fantastic Mercedes-AMG GT3. The car was such a pleasure to drive, and the strategy was just perfect. I’m overwhelmed and I’m just super happy.”

Philip Ellis, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I’m just speechless. When Maro crossed the line, I was standing on the pit wall bawling my eyes out. It’s crazy to think these guys at Winward are here for the first time. Russell, Indy and I being here for the first time in a GT3 car. It’s amazing to be a part of it, and amazing to be a part of the first Rolex 24 win for Mercedes-AMG at Daytona as well. And to make it a one-two just adds to it. In my opinion, it couldn’t be any more perfect.”

Raffaele Marciello, Driver – No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “It was a challenging race, and our car got damage pretty much at the beginning, so we had to fight quite a bit with the car. At the end, to finish second – I’m not happy, of course, I wanted to win – but the result for the Mercedes-AMG GT3 is a great result. One-two is really, really special, so I’m happy for everyone with Mercedes-AMG.”

Luca Stolz, Driver – No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I’m happy about second place, and a Mercedes-AMG GT3 one and two finish is awesome. It’s my third time here at Daytona, and it was two times really unlucky. It’s good to be finally in victory lane. The team did great. We had a great car and a great driver line-up, and thanks to Kenny for putting a great team together. It was not an easy race. We had to push really, really hard. In the end, we just fell 10 seconds too short, but that’s what racing is about. I hope we can come back again and win.”

Maxi Buhk, Driver – No. 28 Alegra Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3: “Ninth in the end was not the result we aimed for. We had quite high expectations coming from the Roar. In the beginning, it looked like we had some serious pace, but all of a sudden, we lost a bit. It didn’t work out as we wanted to, and in the end it’s a bit disappointing, but there is always next time.”

Billy Johnson, Driver – No. 28 Alegra Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3: “This was my first race in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 car and also my first race with Alegra in a Mercedes-AMG. We got the car at the last minute and didn’t have much time to prep it and test it, so we went into this race weekend learning the car. At the end it was a good points day for us. We brought the car home in one piece and we finished the race, so the car was reliable and excellent. We had a really good set up but there are still some things to learn. We’ll take what we learned for this weekend and apply it to the next race. Overall, it was a great weekend for the car, and for me, and the debut of the team with the Mercedes-AMG GT3.”

CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Rolex 24 GTLM Victory for No. 3 Corvette C8.R

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Official Release
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CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA:
Rolex 24 GTLM Victory for No. 3 Corvette C8.R

  • Garcia, Taylor, Catsburg team for Corvette Racing’s fourth Rolex 24 win
  • Milner, Tandy, Sims finish second in landmark Corvette 1-2 result
  • Two Corvettes combine to lead 716 of 770 laps

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 31 2021) – For the fourth time in its history, Corvette Racing stood on the top step of the podium in the Rolex 24 At Daytona as Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor and Nicky Catsburg won the GT Le Mans (GTLM) category in the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R.

The No. 3 Corvette trio led a 1-2 finish for the mid-engine C8.R, which scored its first endurance victory. Tommy Milner, Nick Tandy and Alexander Sims placed a hard-fought second in the No. 4 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette in the biggest race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The two Corvettes combined to lead 716 of 770 laps during Saturday and Sunday around the 3.56-mile road course at Daytona International Speedway. Sunday’s result came 20 years after the Corvette Racing’s first Rolex 24 win in 2001 and five years after another 1-2 team finish.

Garcia and Taylor each won their third career Rolex 24, and Catsburg claimed his first. The trio also provisionally lead the GTLM Drivers Championship with the victory. A year ago, Garcia and Taylor won five times, claimed the Drivers’ Championship, and helped Chevrolet score its 13th GT Manufacturers title and Corvette Racing its 14th
Team Championship.

The two Corvettes were the class of GTLM and ran 1-2 for much of the race. Milner, Tandy and Sims combined to lead 478 laps and ran out front with 45 minutes left in the race before the two Corvettes made their final pit stops. Taylor and Milner waged a close but clean battle that reminded many of the 0.034-second margin of victory for the No. 4 Corvette team at the 2016 Rolex 24. The two cars swapped spots three times in four laps as they jockeyed for position to capitalize on the then-class leading Ferrari’s final stop with 20 minutes left.

This time, things went the way of the No. 3 Corvette as Taylor led the final 13 laps. Unfortunately, he and Catsburg could not celebrate their victory with Garcia, who was informed of a positive COVID-19 test following a double-stint with about six hours to go. Per IMSA Event Operations protocols, Garcia was removed from competition for the remainder of the event. Upon consultation with IMSA, the series determined Corvette Racing met all conditions under the IMSA event protocols, which allowed the team to compete in a safe and responsible manner.

Corvette Racing’s next event is the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring from Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway on Saturday, March 20.

JIM CAMPBELL, CHEVROLET U.S. VICE PRESIDENT, PERFORMANCE AND MOTORSPORTS: “Winning the opening race in the 2021 IMSA season keeps momentum going from the end of last season,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president Performance & Motorsports. “What a difference a year makes! I am so proud of the progress Corvette Racing team has made since last year’s race to win the 2021 Roles 24 At Daytona with the Corvette C8.R. It so special to win this endurance race at Daytona for the fourth time in our class.”

LAURA KLAUSER, CHEVROLET SPORTS CAR PROGRAM MANAGER: “What an amazing team effort by everyone at Corvette Racing to get the Corvette C8.R to Victory Lane with a one-two finish in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. It was a hard-fought battle for this incredible result. The months of work and preparation by everyone associated with this program were evident today on both sides of the Corvette garage. This truly is One Team. I’m proud and pleased for the teams, our Corvette owners and our fans. This is the best possible way to start a new season, and we are going to work hard to capitalize on this momentum.”

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – GTLM RACE WINNER: “This is both one of the best days of my career but also one of the most frustrating and disappointing. I did have COVID in late December with some symptoms. I isolated until I fully recovered, and followed all Spanish and CDC protocols to be cleared for traveling. It’s frustrating but there are protocols that are in place for this. It’s painful not to be able to celebrate with Jordan, Nicky and the rest of the team. We worked so hard over the past months and weeks to achieve an endurance win like the Rolex 24. We didn’t make mistakes, we had good pace with the Corvette. After winning the championship a year ago, this was the type or result we all wanted for the start of a new season.

“Ever since we started at Daytona with this new car, we knew it would be fast and competitive. Obviously, the preparation we had last year wasn’t enough to win this race. But after the lockdown, that gave us an opportunity to develop the C8.R and we went on to win six races as a team and the championship. Last year, we didn’t manage to win a long race so it was still in our minds to get this, and now we’ve started with a big one like the Rolex. We proved today that Corvette Racing was the strongest team.
“I have to say this was a flashback to the 2016 race (a runner-up finish in a Corvette 1-2). It was pretty nerve-wracking when it looked like it could happen again but I’m glad we came out on top this time.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – GTLM RACE WINNER: “It was an amazing day. All 24 hours in this class are always intense. I think every year you kind of forget how intense it is until it starts again. All the cars were within 10 seconds all race long. No one could make a mistake; any little mistake would put you on the back foot. For us, we had a flawless day at Corvette Racing. The No. 3 I don’t think missed a beat the whole race. All the drivers did a perfect job, the team did a perfect job, and it’s great for Corvette Racing to get its first endurance win with the Corvette C8.R. Last year, we won six sprint races and the championship but one thing that was missing was an endurance win. To start off 2021 with the Rolex 24 win is amazing. To do it with Antonio and Nicky… it’s our first win as a trio so that was definitely special and makes us want to be a little more hungry to win the Sebring 12 Hours on our next time out.”

ONCE YOU FOUND OUT ABOUT ANTONIO, WERE YOU CONCERNED YOU WOULDN’T BE ALLOWED TO FINISH: “No, I wasn’t too concerned. Corvette Racing takes safety and health very seriously. The protocols we have are super serious. The drivers don’t really interact. I didn’t see Nicky all race long. We pretty much just pass the car off to the next guy and then we see each other after the race. For me and Antonio, I saw him before the race and that was the last time. We’re always social distancing. We’re always observing the correct protocols. Surface-to-surface, we’re wearing gloves, we’re wearing balaclavas and helmets in the cars. So nothing in the car could be at risk for us. We didn’t have too much concern. We took the lead from IMSA and NASCAR to trust ourselves. We’re here to compete. They gave us this platform to race and to be here, so the last thing we want to do is break their protocols and do something unsafe and unhealthy. We stick to what they say. It’s definitely disappointing and sad that Antonio wasn’t there for the end. He was a huge part of our victory today. He leads this 3 car and has been here for years. He started the race off so well for us. It was sad he couldn’t share it with us at the podium, but we’ll definitely see him in a couple of weeks when he’s clear and we can go celebrate.”

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO NOW: “I’m fine to go sit in my house by myself for as long as it takes and caress my Rolex for awhile! I’ll get tested and make sure I’m safe. I just live with my dog we’ll be alright.”

WILL YOU QUARENTINE? IF YOU WANTED TO DO GO KNOCK ON YOUR DAD’S DOOR AND CELEBRATE WITH THEM, WOULD YOU? “Tonight I probably won’t. Every year after the Rolex, the tradition is our family gets pizza together. I think that one will be broken this year, which is unfortunate since we both won. But it’s better to be safe than sorry. I’ll go home and celebrate in the quiet, make sure I’m healthy and safe, and then I’ll go knock on my parents’ next door and congratulate them when I’m all clear.”

MORE DETAILS ON TEAM PROTOCOLS: “We’re in the same room part of the time, but not for an extended period of time. We wear our masks. Everyone sanitizes when then enter and exit the trailers. Safety is a huge concern. When we meet with the engineers, it’s super brief. It’s actually kind of odd how little interaction there has been in the past year with our engineers. A lot of it is via text, email and exchanges like that. We try to get in a couple of quick meetings throughout the weekend in-person. Even those are quick with masks, and we stay as safe as possible.”

WINNING IN THE NO. 3 CAR ON 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EARNHARDTS DRIVING FOR CORVETTE RACING: “It is amazing. I think everyone is a fan of Dale Sr., and Dale Jr. When I joined Corvette Racing in 2012, I was in the No. 3 car and obviously the No. 3 is so symbolic and historic, especially here at Daytona. Doing it in a Chevrolet it is super special. Dale Sr. had unbelievable success here at Daytona. Today we were making our passes on the high banks so maybe we had a little bit of Dale Sr. in the car with us this weekend.”

GETTING A ROLEX WIN THE SAME WEEKEND YOUR BROTHER DOES, AS WELL AS COMING 25 YEARS AFTER YOUR DAD’S FIRST WIN: “I didn’t realize it was 25 years. For me and Corvette Racing, it’s awesome to get a win. From a family point of view, it is amazing that my Dad and my brother won overall. I don’t know what that is…like three out of four years they’ve won or four out of five. It is amazing what my Dad has built over there at Wayne Taylor Racing and the success they’ve had, especially at this event. They are so strong in at Daytona and in endurance races. They’ve only had those cars for a month or two to prepare them with no testing except for the Roar last week. I think that speaks volume to the personnel there – the engineers, the mechanics, the crew, and all the drivers obviously did a great job. I don’t think they had the ultimate pace in the race, but it came down to strategy and execution. That is what that team is known for. So it’s an amazing day for the Taylor family. These days are so rare that it’s hard to imagine them; it could easily be the last time it happens that we both win on the same weekend. You have to savor these moments.”

IMPACT ON DRIVER ROTATION WHEN ANTONIO GARCIA COULDN’T CONTINUE: “It wasn’t great news, to be honest. I had finished my triple stint in the morning or whenever it was. I got out and was supposed to be done, go have a massage, relax and watch Nicky and Antonio go race. I was so excited to go just relax and then they said Antonio can’t get back in the car. To be honest, I was in shock. I was like, there is no way. Antonio is our guy and our finisher. That’s who we want in the car at the end. I was so disappointed for Antonio because I know how much this races means to him, how much he wanted to win it and finish the race. It was sad, but thankfully we train well. We have good support from the doctors here and keep us healthy and keep us fit. The physicality of it wasn’t too bad. It was more the mental strain that was difficult.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – GTLM RACE WINNER: “It means a lot to win this race, to be honest. Last year I joined Corvette, and they won the championship and races, but every time I was there we didn’t win! So I’m really happy to get this out of the way. I have my win so we can continue doing that! In all seriousness and like Jordan said, the team did an amazing job. The drivers did well, the strategy was nice, the C8.R was great. So it was a great day for us and I’m really proud of winning this great event.”

WINNING IN THE NO. 3 CAR ON 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EARNHARDTS DRIVING FOR CORVETTE RACING: “To be very honest, obviously I know about Dale Earnhardt and Junior, as well. I didn’t know so much about the history of the No. 3 car. I do now, and it is definitely a special feeling. I am very proud to be part of this. I always dreamed about racing in America. Now I’m here with a big race under my belt now and just looking forward to getting more.”

WINNING AT DAYTONA COMPARED TO 24-HOUR RACES AT SPA AND NÜRBURGRING: “I think it fits right in line with the other big events. It’s a race which is part of this lineup of big races: Le Mans, Spa, Daytona, Sebring, and now I have a couple of them. So hopefully we will do Sebring as well, then Le Mans later in the year. So I am just happy to write this one off the list.”

FINDING OUT ABOUT ANTONIO GARCIA: “I think it was after the 17th hour in the race. I’m not exactly sure, but I think it was the 17th hour. Me and Jordan did the rest of the race. For me, I also tested on Saturday and I tested negative. I will do another test tomorrow before I can go back to Europe. For me, I feel safe and I never felt any threat from his positive result.”

IMPACT ON DRIVER ROTATION WHEN ANTONIO GARCIA COULDN’T CONTINUE: “I fully agree with Jordan. To be honest, I was kind of tired from the triple stints. I also think we are one of the only crews that drives with three drivers, and then all of a sudden we were two. So it is definitely heavy. I must say, in the last bit of the race, I asked if I needed to do another stint and they said, ‘Yes, you need to do another stint.’ I thought, ‘Oh no, here we go again.’ But obviously it was it super nice and we made it happen. We had some support from a physio here. I feel fit actually.”

IT WAS VERY CLOSE WITH THE 4 CORVETTE BEFORE THE BALANCE CHANGED SUNDAY. DO YOU KNOW THE REASONS? “I think the 4 car was better suited to the softer compound tire. I think their car balance was a little bit different compared to ours, and that kind of has to do with what drivers like and what they prefer. Our car really came alive on the medium tire in the warmer conditions. Obviously that is when it needs to be done. I guess we got lucky there. It was super cool to fight our teammates the whole race. I remember in one of my stints during the night fighting Alexander Sims, who I also know from other places than Corvette Racing. I had a good fight with Philipp Eng as well, and it was just super cool to be so close for the whole race. That’s what GTLM is about – close racing and the best race drivers in the world. It’s so much fun to be part of it. It’s such a shame that we are going to have to say goodbye to it.”

ISSUE WITH A SLOW STOP LATE: “The car didn’t want to rev up. It’s almost like we had an engine issue and we weren’t really sure how to solve it. I just kept trying to start it up and eventually it worked. I think we got quite lucky there. A 24-hour race is always a big stress on your equipment and material. Corvette Racing builds great race cars, and this one survived and we won the race.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – FINISHED SECOND IN GTLM: “The race for us in the No. 4 Corvette and for us as a team really couldn’t have been better. Maybe on our side it could have been a little bit better in the last two hours… but we had a really, really fast car. We probably we had the car to beat for the first 20 hours of the race. Then the last four hours of the race, for whatever reason, we lost some of that pace in the car. We still did everything right. We had good pit strategy. Alexander and Nick both drove fantastic races. In the end when a yellow bunched us all back up again, the No. 3 car once the sun was beating down on the racetrack, it seemed like they were just a little bit better than us and everybody else. They had a great car at the end and definitely executed in the end. Congratulations to Jordan, Antonio, Nicky and all the No. 3 car guys. They did an awesome job.

“Certainly it stings a little bit to be that good for that long and not come away with first place. For us, we’ve at times spent time a little bit behind the eight-ball in certain situations. Today we were at the front for pretty much the whole race, so we can be proud of that and all the work and the effort that goes into trying to find what we were missing in the past. We’re just making sure we are doing everything right from every angle. Obviously we have new teammates, but it’s not just that. They are obviously did a great job today. I’ve had fantastic teammates in the past with Olly (Gavin) and Marcel (Fässler) and you go down the list… Simon Pagenaud… we’ve had phenomenal guys in the Corvette here. It was good to see the hard work from the crew guys and our engineers… to see the fruits of that labor with the car up front for so long. We can absolutely be proud about that. We can take that, go to Sebring and get a win there.”

NICK TANDY, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – FINISHED SECOND IN GTLM: “There are a whole loads of positives to take out. After one weekend, I already feel fully part of the team. Not that I didn’t expect to, but I feel part of the team and part of the Corvette Racing family. Of course everyone wants their car to win or their side of the garage to be victorious. We worked with the other drivers and the other crew on the No. 3 Corvette as much as our guys on the No. 4 car. To be part of a winning weekend, it’s been an awesome start. I’m happy to say my first weekend with Corvette Racing has been super successful – first and second in qualifying and first and second in the Rolex 24. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM DAYTONA: “I’m pleasantly surprised how well we gelled and worked together so quickly. From getting an understanding on how the car works and getting an understanding from the engineers of what we like out of a race weekend and a race car. Everything has gelled so smoothly that it makes me excited about the future and what this relationship can build on between us all as part of the team and lead to future successes. As I said, being new to the team but having sampled a faultless weekend with the results over the course of two weeks, I hope it’s a good omen of things to come. It’s obviously awesome to get the first away our endurance victory for the C8.R, and to have a 1-2 and double victory is pretty awesome, and it vindicates all the work that has gone on behind the scenes since last year.”

ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – FINISHED SECOND IN GTLM: “I think it is just massive for the whole team. Yes, from a sportsman’s point of view, there is obviously disappointment it couldn’t be us on the top step. But looking at the bigger picture, it is 1-2o for Corvette and that is what we came here to achieve. I’m just really, really proud of the whole team’s efforts. Having only coming into this team as a newbie as such and to be a part of the operation and to be part of the effort here at Daytona was a real privilege. Everyone worked their absolute socks off. I’m really pleased to be a part of it. We come here to win, all of us, but in the end there is only one winner. So if it can’t be you, then you want it to be your teammates so that the team does well. So, it’s a good day.”

Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

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Era Motorsport Claims Maiden Victory at Rolex 24 At Daytona

By
Official Release
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (January 31, 2021) – Just one year after making their IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut, Era Motorsport earned their first series win at one of the most challenging sports car endurance races in North America, the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Drivers Kyle Tilley, Dwight Merriman, Ryan Dalziel, and Paul-Loup Chatin drove the No. 18 Oreca LMP2 car to victory, scoring a class win at only the team’s second attempt at the iconic event.

Dwight Merriman and the No. 18 Oreca started the race on Saturday afternoon in perfect Florida conditions, with sunny skies and a clear track. There was some trepidation about the new LMP3 class joining the exciting four classes in the series, but Dwight Merriman enjoyed a relatively clean opening to the race. A series of cautions came early into the race, but the No. 18 Oreca stayed clear of any risk, racing clean and putting in consistent lap times, and smooth driver changes to maintain or gain position in the field.

Early into the race, the LMP2 car kept bettering the best laps of the class, slowly working its way up until the three-hour mark, when Paul-Loup Chatin brought the car to the lead. Darkness came over the track just four hours into the race, and the team remained focused on cycling all of the drivers through and keeping the car in fighting shape for the daylight. Contact in the later evening forced the team to replace the tail of the car, which was done efficiently and without much track time lost. The caution periods seemed to ease up during the night, and at the halfway point, the team found themselves in fourth place, and fairly quickly into the top three.

The team made it through the night relatively unscathed, thanks to a strong night run by Ryan Dalziel. As the sun came up over Daytona International Speedway on Sunday morning, the battle lines for a final fight to the finish line were forming. Kyle Tilley took over and immediately began to close the 20 second gap to the class-leading No. 8 Tower Motorsport. When Tilley finished his stints, he remarked how fun the competition was, fighting for the lead with fair competitors.

With less than four hours to go, the No. 18 Oreca was locked in to fight for a podium to the end. Anytime the White, red, blue, and yellow car would race to the front of the field, the team would pull a gap, increasing their lead by every lap. As race inched closer to the finish, the action increased, with competitors pulling riskier moves to take position.

The battle with the No. 8 Tower car intensified when purple car jumped a restart too early, resulting in a penalty that gave the lead back to Era Motorsport. For the final stint, tensions reached an all time high. With 44 minutes remaining on the clock, both teams had to make one more stop for fuel. While Era Motorsport had a decent sized lead over the No. 8, the other car was on an altered fuel strategy, and needed only a splash while Era needed a longer stop. Era driver Paul-Loup Chatin came in for his final stop, taking on a full tank of fuel and charging forward to catch up the No. 8, who had just taken the lead. Five seconds separated the two with just 30 minutes left of racing. In the final laps, the No. 8 had to come in to take its splash of fuel, bringing Era Motorsport back to the front of the field. Chatin maintained position and drove the team to victory for their first Rolex 24 At Daytona, and first professional sports car racing win.

To make the team’s win even more special, the livery sporting the No. 18 Oreca was designed by Owen, a six-year-old race fan from Ontario, Canada, who responded to a drawing contest the team held during the pandemic shut down. The car was wrapped in the livery for this one-off event, with young Owen’s artwork quickly going viral following the team’s announcement. Throughout the event, Owen and his dad stayed in communication with the team, sending well wishes via handwritten notes, emails, and videos. The young fan’s spirit was very present as the team celebrated their win on Sunday afternoon, basking in an unbelievable team effort for a sophomore attempt at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Kyle Tilley
Relief. Those final hours were probably the most stressful three hours ever. I can’t believe it. We just won Daytona. Winning with Owen’s livery just makes it even cooler. The whole car has looked awesome ever since we put the wrap on. It’s been a fun project. Super cool to have Owen involved and then put the car and his design in Victory Lane. I’m just blown away.

Dwight Merriman
I can’t believe it. I mean, everybody on the team did such a great job. We had a lot of little things in the race to overcome. Strategy was brilliant. The car was great. The crew did a great job and the drivers did, too. I can’t believe it, it’s very exciting.

Ryan Dalziel
I just came into this race really excited about being a part of this program and when I went to the shop for my first orientation I just knew there was something special about the group we had. We didn’t get any favors. This was execution and hard work from all the crew and drivers. The engineers just gave us a really fast car and we just kept lapping ourselves every time we ended up in trouble. It’s my 16th Rolex 24 At Daytona and second win, so it’s pretty mega.

Paul-Loup Chatin
It was incredible. One of the best race days of my life. I’m so happy to be part of the Era Motorsport team. They gave me the opportunity to be here for my first Rolex at Daytona. And we won, it’s just incredible. All the team did a great job. Dwight, Kyle, and Ryan drove super well during all of the race. There were no mistakes and I think this is the key. Just amazing to be here. It’s amazing to win and let’s see the future now.

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 sport car racing, fielding an Oreca 07 in the prolific IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 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 limited events and also contest in the full season of the Asian Le Mans championship.

No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 team Win the 59th Running of the Rolex 24 at DAYTONA

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Official Release
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Daytona Beach, Fla. (January 31, 2021) – The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 scored its third victory in a row at the 59th Running of the Rolex 24 at DAYTONA after numerous hard-fought battles throughout the prestigious 24-hour race. The result now means the Wayne Taylor led team equals Chip Ganassi Racing for most consecutive overall team victories at the Rolex 24 at DAYTONA. Most notably, the Konica Minolta team has won the iconic endurance event four out of the past five years and, today, garnered the first overall win for the Acura brand and the ARX-05.

Filipe Albuquerque started the race for the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura team from the fifth position, before quickly settling into a rhythm aboard the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05, maneuvering his way through the 49-car, five-class field. As the race transitioned into the night earlier than usual thanks to the later start time, the blue and black machine, also piloted by teammates Ricky Taylor, Alexander Rossi and Helio Castroneves, hit the front of the field to take the lead before having to pit for a necessary brake change during a timely full course caution with 11 hours remaining.

The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 maintained their pace throughout the night and well into the next day, and by the time there were five hours remaining, the team had made its way back to the top of the leaderboard and continued to extend its lead as the hours ticked away.

With the added excitement created by a handful of late race full course cautions, the blue and black Konica Minolta machine continued to demonstrate front running pace and was able to clinch a third Rolex 24 victory in successive years. With an all-new year driver line-up, along with embarking upon a new and exciting manufacturer relationship with Acura, this was a special moment for the team.

“It’s an amazing accomplishment from the whole team,” said (Ricky) Taylor. “Everybody from Wayne Taylor Racing, Konica Minolta, Acura, HPD and Harrison Contracting all have their own way of winning and doing things. So, to bring together a new manufacturer and team relationship and start off with such success at the most difficult race of the year, it puts an emphasis on what a talented group of people we have here. I’m really proud of my Dad especially, for the team he has put together as he works really hard. As a son, I am very proud, and as a team member, everyone pushed their hardest and all the effort that went in over the very brief off season was just a full team effort and executed to perfection.”

“What a start with Wayne Taylor Racing, Konica Minolta and Acura,” noted Albuquerque. “It could not have been better, and this was the craziest race of my life and probably for many of the other drivers as well. It was very tough, especially mentally because we had to fight hard drive fast all the time as we were probably lacking just a little bit of pace. But we had the advantage with the fuel, and we had track position so I was holding on to that for everything I could, and in the end, the car behind had a puncture which made our life easier. I’m just so happy, and a big thanks to Wayne, Ricky, Helio, Alex and the rest of the team as it was perfect execution by everyone.”

“That was quite a dramatic 24 hours, but I’m really proud of the entire team and Acura,” commented Rossi. “I’m just so proud to be a part of an incredible accomplishment with Wayne Taylor Racing winning three in a row. To do it with a new manufacturer and start their journey together like this is something that is very special to be a part of, and I can’t wait for the next one.”

“What a day, I’m super happy and actually, I don’t want to leave at all!” enthused Castroneves. “I want to stay here as the 24 hours was an amazing experience with Wayne Taylor Racing, I can’t thank them enough for making me a part of this amazing group. The most joyful aspect is enjoying this with Ricky, so we carry the same momentum from last year and it’s just been amazing. What a day, I’m just so happy!”

“What a fantastic week,” an ecstatic team owner Wayne Taylor highlighted. “I know I’ve surrounded myself with great people from Konica Minolta, to Harrison Contracting, to Acura, to HPD and to all of my fans and friends. It was something really special for me having had a 28-year relationship with another manufacturer where we had a lot of success. So, to be able to get another program, with another manufacturer and to be as successful for both of us, is really just fantastic.”

The 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship continues on March 17th for the second longest endurance race on the calendar, the Mobil 1 Twelve hours of Sebring. Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque and Alexander Rossi will pilot the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 for the historic event, and the trio will be looking to achieve the team’s second victory at the iconic Florida venue.

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 and CIT.

RISI COMPETIZIONE FINISHES FOURTH IN CLASS IN 2021 RETURN TO ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA

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Official Release
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Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTLM No. 62:
James Calado (GBR)
Alessandro Pier Guidi (ITA)
Davide Rigon (ITA)
Jules Gounon (FRA)

(Daytona Beach, Fla., January 31, 2021)…The No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari Team came to the 59th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona with one goal in mind – to win the race. Team Principal Giuseppe Risi has fielded cars in this twice-around-the-clock endurance classic since 1998. This year’s Ferrari 488 GTLM is the 22nd entry for the Italian team owner and Ferrari of Houston and Ferrari of the Woodland Texas dealership owner.

Although the Risi crew and drivers ran a very strong race, they didn’t quite make it to the podium, finishing in fourth position in class. Two GTLM cars were on the lead Lap 770, and the third and fourth place cars were just one lap down after 24 hours of racing in the 59th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona at Daytona International Speedway.

Drivers of the Risi Competizione Ferrari GTLM entry for 2021 were Ferrari Competizioni GT factory drivers James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi, Davide Rigon and young French endurance hotshoe Jules Gounon. They all had very solid drives and the popular No. 62 Ferrari led on several occasions as Race Engineer Rick Mayer tried to use strategy to achieve a top step podium outcome.

Pier Guidi clocked the fastest GTLM lap of the race during the early morning hours, on Lap 429, with a time of 1:42.411.

The race was relatively by the book for the Houston, Texas-based team. They cycled through their drivers and tried to take advantage of the 11 cautions throughout the course of the 24-hour race.

Although a hit by another car on the first lap caused a bit of a fright for starting driver Pier Guidi and the Risi crew, fortunately they didn’t suffer any setbacks. Calado had a brief spin with a LMP3 entry at the Daytona “Bus Stop” that required a pit stop for flat spotted tires and check for damage.

The team had to serve two drive through penalties, one for Calado’s spin, for which he was found guilty by Race Control, and one when Pier Guidi had to make an emergency fuel splash when caught out at a caution.

The No. 62 Ferrari battled between first and fifth place in the competitive GTLM class most of the race, depending on pit stops, cautions and other circumstances and they battled with the two factory Corvettes and BMWs throughout the race.

The winning No. 10 Daytona Prototype car completed 807 laps. The Risi Ferrari completed 769 laps for its fourth-place finish in the GTLM class and 14th overall in the 49-car field which saw minimal attrition. Weather for race varied from mostly cloudy and windy today with highs of mid 70s degrees F to lows in the high 50-degree temperatures last night.

The last time that the Risi Competizione team stood on the podium was in 2019 with a second-place class finish after leading much of the late race. Risi Competizione finished fourth with this very same chassis at last September’s postponed 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

Risi Competizione pit stop shows James Calado getting out of the Ferrari 488 GTLM and Alessandro Pier Guidi ready to strap in

QUOTES:

Rick Mayer, Risi Competizione Race Engineer:
“We were not competitive again this year. The others all had a power advantage to our Ferrari. That’s just an imbalance in the rules and out of the team’s control. It was a race of attrition and luck for us, which didn’t go our way. The car balance was good; all the drivers were happy with the general car and we had great pit work and no strategy errors, but no pace. All the drivers and the crew did a great job. It’s rough to stay up 36+ hours knowing you’ll only move forward if others have issues, makes for a long two days.”

James Calado, driver No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTLM:
“Thanks to all the team, the mechanics, and everyone that helped out over the last two weeks. The guys did an amazing job in the pit stops. It was faultless. We did everything we could but we struggled with pace. Thanks to Giuseppe for coming back. You can see he’s massively passionate and it’s such a shame that it’s not recognized properly because we’re here to race fairly and it is unfortunate that it’s been another year where we’ve been at quite a large disadvantage compared to our competitors. It’s a tough one to take again but we’ll continue to do our job the way we’re doing and let’s see what happens in the future.”

Alessandro Pier Guidi, driver No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTLM:
“It’s a bit frustrating, all the years we’ve come here with the GTLM F488 we’ve not had a fair BoP. I really feel bad for Giuseppe, he’s so passionate and so much money and effort is spent to race for attrition and hope for others to falter so you can move up. I hope one time we will have a level playing field to compete in Daytona.”

Davide Rigon, starting driver No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTLM:
“The BoP was sadly not in our favor. The team, anyway, I have to say, did an amazing job. I have to say thank you Giuseppe and every single person on the team that did their job 110%. I’m super proud and happy of the team. The car was awesome but we were missing some speed on the straight line, especially the last few hours. I really enjoyed this race with my teammates; they all did an amazing job. I’m happy we gave it our all, but it was not enough. Fourth place…it’s always good to finish a 24-hour race but we deserve a bit more.”

Jules Gounon, driver No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTLM:
“It was a bit disappointing to finish fourth. It’s always a disappointment when you’re not on the podium but to be honest, the Risi team did a fantastic job. We did the maximum we could do with what we had, especially BoP-wise. It’s been an honor for me to be driving again for Giuseppe and the team. (We were) fourth for Le Mans and fourth for Daytona. Looks like this car is made to be fourth. Maybe next time we will have a better one. It was an amazing race though and I’m proud to have been part of it with Giuseppe and his team and hope to see everyone again soon.”

The Risi Competizione Ferrari team has not yet announced any additional racing plans for 2021.

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

CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: GTLM Winners Quotes

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Official Release
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 31, 2021) – Corvette Racing’s No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R of Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor and Nicky Catsburg won the GT Le Mans (GTLM) category of the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Sunday for the first long-distance victory for the mid-engine Corvette race car.

Taylor led a 1-2 Corvette C8.R finish to the checkered flag ahead of Tommy Milner’s No. 4 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette C8.R that he drove with Nick Tandy and Alexander Sims. This is the fourth Rolex 24 victory for Corvette Racing and first since 2016.

JIM CAMPBELL, CHEVROLET U.S. VICE PRESIDENT, PERFORMANCE AND MOTORSPORTS: “Winning the opening race in the 2021 IMSA season keeps momentum going from the end of last season,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president Performance & Motorsports. “What a difference a year makes! I am so proud of the progress Corvette Racing team has made since last year’s race to win the 2021 Roles 24 At Daytona with the Corvette C8.R. It so special to win this endurance race at Daytona for the fourth time in our class.”

LAURA KLAUSER, CHEVROLET SPORTS CAR PROGRAM MANAGER: “What an amazing team effort by everyone at Corvette Racing to get the Corvette C8.R to Victory Lane with a one-two finish in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. It was a hard-fought battle for this incredible result. The months of work and preparation by everyone associated with this program were evident today on both sides of the Corvette garage. This truly is One Team. I’m proud and pleased for the teams, our Corvette owners and our fans. This is the best possible way to start a new season, and we are going to work hard to capitalize on this momentum.”

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – GTLM RACE WINNER: “This is both one of the best days of my career but also one of the most frustrating and disappointing. I did have COVID in late December with some symptoms. I isolated until I fully recovered, and followed all Spanish and CDC protocols to be cleared for traveling. It’s frustrating but there are protocols that are in place for this. It’s painful not to be able to celebrate with Jordan, Nicky and the rest of the team. We worked so hard over the past months and weeks to achieve an endurance win like the Rolex 24. We didn’t make mistakes, we had good pace with the Corvette. After winning the championship a year ago, this was the type or result we all wanted for the start of a new season.

“Ever since we started at Daytona with this new car, we knew it would be fast and competitive. Obviously, the preparation we had last year wasn’t enough to win this race. But after the lockdown, that gave us an opportunity to develop the C8.R and we went on to win six races as a team and the championship. Last year, we didn’t manage to win a long race so it was still in our minds to get this, and now we’ve started with a big one like the Rolex. We proved today that Corvette Racing was the strongest team.
“I have to say this was a flashback to the 2016 race (a runner-up finish in a Corvette 1-2). It was pretty nerve-wracking when it looked like it could happen again but I’m glad we came out on top this time.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “It is definitely different. My two previous ones were in prototype with my Dad’s team. I never had a chance to finish the race when we won, so I think that part of it was definitely daunting and intimidating. I was extremely nervous the hour leading up to my last stint, just knowing what was at stake and how big of a deal this race is for Corvette Racing and to Chevrolet. To have everyone here and seeing the history of the team at this event… the success is kinda down to your hands in that last couple of hours when you are in the car. I wanted to do my job well and hit my marks and not make mistakes. I had an amazing battle with Tommy (Milner)… super respectful. I thought it was a great race. I’m just so happy. It’s my first class win at Daytona and third Rolex. So unbelievable and I never could have dreamed it any better to be honest.

“It is just a testament to Corvette Racing. It just speaks volumes about the team and proof of what they’ve done in the past and how well they execute these big events. The Corvette C8.R has only done one 24-hour race, and that was last year. So to come back in their second year and finish one-two with no issues is just unbelievable. We had perfect strategy, perfect pit stops and none of the drivers made mistakes. It’s all down to the team and execution and teaching the drivers what they need to do to win these events. It’s an honor to be a part of it. The driver is just a small piece of the whole puzzle. We get to stand on the podium but all the people on the team deserve it. They are the ones that put in the hard work in the offseason to make it all possible.

“It was bittersweet to end the day like we did with Antonio having to leave the track after the test. I was super upset and disappointed for him when I got out of the car after what I thought was my last stint and was told he couldn’t get back in the car. He lives for these events, especially this one. He really wanted to finish this race to capitalize on when they finished second in 2016 to kind of make up for that. So I felt bad for him in that respect, but he should be unbelievably proud of this whole team. He is the leader of this No. 3 car. He’s the one that drives the setup of it which is why we were so quick at the end of the race. He’s taught me so much as a driver, understanding the tires, how to do drive the car and understanding this new GT world that I’m in. If it wasn’t for Antonio, there’s no way I would have driven that last stint the way I did. Huge thanks to him. I know I’ll see him in a couple weeks when he can come back into the country and we can hang out and celebrate in person. I know he will hold this Rolex proud. I’m so honored and happy to be a part of this with him. We’ve never won an endurance race as teammates so this is the first one and very special.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “This feels amazing. The Rolex 24 is a race I always wanted to win, and now we did it. It’s a little weird with what has happened with Antonio, but we still did it together and it is an awesome victory. It’s the first endurance win with the Corvette C8.R so yes, this is amazing!”

DID THIS COME AS A SURPRISE: “It doesn’t come as a surprise but you still need to make it happen, drive for 24 hours and make no mistakes. The C8.R showed it could do it. It won the championship last year. After a year of development and coming back to Daytona, I always knew we were going to have a shot at this one. The team, the car, the drivers… everything needed to work perfectly and it did.”

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.

4 Car Gadgets and Accessories for A Smooth Driving Experience

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SM
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Photo by David Emrich on Unsplash

Although they fulfill different roles, car gadgets and accessories are designed to make driving safe, stress-free, and enjoyable. They can prevent annoyances or dangerous situations and thus lead to an overall smoother experience behind the wheel. 

Here are four car gadgets and accessories to consider for a smooth day-to-day driving experience. 

  1. Navigation System 

Many drivers choose to use their phones as a navigation tool because they don’t see the advantages of investing in a separate navigation system. Yet, an in-dash navigation system has a wide range of unique features that can drastically improve your driving experience. A major benefit is the larger screen size that makes it easier to see what’s going on just with a glance. When you use a smartphone, you are forced to move your whole attention from the road to the small screen, which is dangerous. Navigation systems also include much more accurate map routing and mapping software that ensures you’ll never get lost or miss your destination. 

  1. Backup Camera 

A smooth driving experience is only possible when you feel extremely confident in the car. Do you often fear that you might miss a detail on the road or in the parking lot that can put you or others in danger? A backup camera is precisely the type of gadget that can boost your confidence when driving because it significantly improves your visibility. Mounted in the rear of the vehicle, a backup camera is connected to an in-dash video screen or small monitor so you can see everything that happens behind you. This makes driving and parking much safer. 

  1. Smart USB Car Charger

The more time you spend in your car, the more you depend on your mobile devices. Whether you use your phone for communication, entertainment, or as a navigation tool, having no battery left is never pleasant. It can be downright dangerous if you’re driving across remote areas. So, add a smart USB charger with a quick charge feature and at least two USB ports to your car so you can conveniently charge any mobile device on the road. Smart chargers such as zappi charger can boost up your battery significantly in as little as thirty minutes.

  1. Air Purifier 

In-car air pollution can affect your driving experience. Although the effects are subtle, their compounding nature can lead to serious health issues. Poor air quality can reduce your ability to focus and cause nose or throat irritations. It can also cause respiratory problems that manifest as shortness of breath. And, in the long-term, it can lead to cardiovascular problems. If you spend a lot of time in your car, it’s thus vital to purchase an air purifier. Opening the window while driving will expose you to fuel emissions from other cars. Only an air purifier can keep the air clean and fresh inside the cabin. 

Conclusion

Car gadgets and accessories can revitalize an old car and transform a new one. However, only purchase useful car gadgets and accessories that match your driving needs and habits. This will bring you more long-term satisfaction than following tech trends. 

5 Reasons Why You Need Car Insurance

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SM
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Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash

Buying a car (be it new or used) requires a lot of money. So, when it comes time to purchase insurance, or even renew it for that matter, you’re probably thinking, “Is it even worth it?”. 

Well, the short answer is yes, but to give you an explanation, we are going to discuss five different reasons why.

Interested in learning more? Then keep on reading.

It may be required

Apart from New Hampshire and Virginia, all other states in the US require you to have your car insured, but even if you live in one of these two states, you won’t get off scot-free. Virginia law states that a $500 uninsured fee will be paid yearly if you choose not to get it. In New Hampshire, you also need to be able to satisfy the motor vehicle financial responsibility requirements. This includes being able to cover damages and injuries that you might cause. It becomes very important to find car insurance cheap that will cover at least the minimum that is required for each state.

It will protect you and others 

Vehicles are dangerous, and even the most skilled drivers can sometimes end up in an accident. If this does occur, insurance helps ensure that you can pay for both yourself and your passenger’s medical care as well as any damages to your vehicle. While your coverage depends on your plan, it can be a lifesaver. 

However, if you’ve been injured in an accident, you should also seek legal assistance, especially if you believe you are a negligence victim. In some cases, you may be able to secure a higher settlement than what was initially offered. Check out State Farm accidents for more information.

It saves time and hassle

If you crash your car without insurance, the fallout is going to be extensive. You need to do everything yourself, from negotiating with other involved drivers to handling all of the expenses. This is an extremely time-consuming process and can make anyone stressed and anxious. Having that extra backup means it will be sorted out much more quickly, and you can get back to living your everyday life.

It offers financial protection

As mentioned above, medical care and car repairs can be costly if you’ve been involved in an accident, sometimes costing tens of thousands of dollars. Insurance ensures that you don’t need to dip into your savings so that your finances are protected. If you’re worried about the initial cost, then check out these ways to save money on car insurance. You might be eligible for a discount.

You’ll have peace of mind

Lastly, because of all the above, you’re going to have greater peace of mind when you purchase insurance. Whenever you’re on the road, you can rest assured knowing that you are financially protected and can take care of both yourself and your passengers. Yes, it’s another expense to budget for, but at the end of the day, it’s worth it. However, you should keep in mind that although the bare minimum will be the most affordable, it’s not going to get you fantastic coverage compared to going fully comprehensive.

CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: 18-Hour Report

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Official Release
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IMSA WEATHERTECH SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA
CORVETTE RACING 18-HOUR REPORT
JANUARY 31, 2021

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 31, 2021) – Corvette Racing found itself locked in a fierce five-car GT Le Mans (GTLM) battle and continued to run 1-2 in the category as the Rolex 24 At Daytona entered the final six hours.

Nick Tandy held a five-second lead in the No. 4 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R that he took over from teammate Tommy Milner inside seven hours to go. Milner, Tandy and Alexander Sims combined to lead 407 of the 574 laps at the 18-hour mark of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s biggest race.

Their biggest challengers so far have been No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette teammates Jordan Taylor – who ran second behind Tandy – Antonio Garcia, and Nicky Catsburg, who have combined to lead 133 laps heading into the final six hours. The result is far from over as the top four GTLM cars were within 14 seconds of each other entering the final stretch run.

A victory this afternoon would be Corvette Racing’s fourth at the Rolex 24 and first since 2016.

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “It’s really tough out there, and it’s not going to be easy to the end. You can tell BMW and the Ferrari are coming fast. I expect a pretty close fight all the way to the end.”
INTER-TEAM BATTLE: “No question that just as good as our Corvette has been, they (the No. 3 C8.R) has the same package that we do. They are certainly quick and we’ve been basically nose to tail in one form or another for the entire race. That will be a big fight at the end, there’s no question about that. As we saw in 2016, the team is OK with some racing at the end. With an hour or two to go, they’ll let the guys race a little bit than we have been. At the moment, the pace of the two cars seems to be almost dead-on. There hasn’t been a point in the race where I’ve had to maintain by them or the 3 car has to maintain behind us. It’s been really good racing. It’s easy in these situations when you have guys that are so close to you all the time to keep your focus. It’s been a 24-hour race that has gone by pretty quickly.”

MORE ON THE 2016 FINISH: “It’s looking that way right now, for sure. There is still quite a ways to go so there’s a lot that can still happen. There’s a lot going on the track and a lot that can go wrong on the track, through traffic, on pitlane, with some car gremlins. It looks like the 25 is having some issues. We’re definitely not counting our chickens. We have a long way to go to get to 3:40. It would be fun if we could have two Corvettes up front at the end racing hard. It wouldn’t surprise me if there was a red or black car up there, too.”

ANY FURTHER SHIFTING PROBLEMS: “We haven’t had the same problem as at the start of the race where I lost drive for a moment. It’s just a function of us knowing what to do if it does get to that point. It is a concern for us, but it seems like for the last 10 hours or so that the three of us have been able to manage the problem a little bit. It doesn’t really hurt us on pace and laptime. If the problem does occur, then it costs us some time but we all know what to do quickly to get the car back in gear. As long as it stays like it is, I don’t think it will be any problem for us. But in a 24-hour race, you’re always concerned about these little issues that could potentially get worse. We’re all that we can as drivers to minimize the problem area. Let’s see what happens.”

PACE OF BMW IN THE FINAL HOURS: “It’s definitely in the back of my mind. On one of the restarts recently, they certainly had quite a bit of horsepower and were able to drive right past me. We’ll see how it goes. It seems like our long-run pace is a little bit better than the BMWs and possibly the Ferrari as well. I think they’re both a little quicker at the beginning of the stint. It’d be nice if it would go green all the way to the end because I think that would benefit us. But I’d be very surprised if there weren’t a couple more cautions.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “We had some hard racing last year between the Corvettes. Mid-Ohio was one in particular that I remember well. This is the staple and style of racing that we see from Corvette Racing, like 2016 when Oliver (Gavin) and Antonio (Garcia) battled over the last hour nose to tail just like this. I think it’s going to come down to the wire again. It’s nice to see Corvettes battling 1-2 but everyone else is still fast. It will be tough to the end.
“Last year was an amazing race for Corvette Racing as a whole coming out with the C8.R in its first year and being so dominant. It was great to win the championship but coming in 2021, it’s like a full reset for the team. Last year was great but now it’s all starting again, and everyone wants to win a Rolex. A win last year would have been a tough order in the car’s debut race. We came back strong and won here in July. We won six races but they were all sprint races. We definitely want to get one on the endurance side.”

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.

Motorsports Hall of Fame of America 2021 Induction Class Unveiled at Daytona International Speedway

By
Official Release
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  • Davey Allison (Stock Cars), John Cobb (Historic), Larry Dixon Jr. (Drag Racing),
  • Janet Guthrie (Open Wheel), Nicky Hayden (Motorcycles), Robin Miller (Media), Fran Muncey (Powerboats), Ray Nichels (Historic), and Judy Stropus (Sports Cars) in 2021 Hall Induction Class
  • 33rd Induction Class Includes Three Women Honorees Among Nine Motorsports Legends Welcomed into the Hall

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 30, 2021) — Nine legends from the world of motorsports, including an unprecedented three female honorees, were named to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) as the 33rd class was unveiled on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway in advance of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The Class of 2021 includes one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers, Davey Allison (Stock Cars), three-time land speed record holder John Cobb (Historic), three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon Jr. (Drag Racing), Indy and NASCAR trailblazer Janet Guthrie (Open Wheel), 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky “Kentucky Kid” Hayden (Motorcycles), legendary Indy correspondent Robin Miller (Media), seven consecutive APBA Gold Cup winner Fran Muncey (Powerboats), multi-time USAC and NASCAR champion Ray Nichels (Historic) and world class timer/scorer Judy Stropus (Sports Cars).

“The Class of 2021 is history-making in so many respects,” said MSHFA President George Levy. “Janet Guthrie, Fran Muncey and Judy Stropus comprise the first ever class with three female inductees. Fran joins inaugural class inductee Bill Muncey as the only husband and wife inductees. And Davey Allison, Bobby Allison and Donnie Allison join Bobby Unser, Al Unser and Al Unser Jr. as the only families with three individually inducted members.”

The MSHFA Class of 2021 was unveiled in an on-line press conference at DIS featuring Levy, new-class representative Stropus, 2005 inductee Hurley Haywood and Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile.
Each of the MSHFA’s inductees is elected by a straight vote of 200 motorsports experts — half of them inductees themselves. Regular voters include Hall of Famers Mario Andretti, Tom D’Eath, Chip Ganassi, Don Garlits, Parnelli Jones, Scott Parker, Richard Petty, Don Prudhomme and other titans of the sport.

Each year, the MSHFA classes are formally inducted in a celebration featuring motorsports legends and fellow Hall of Fame members at a black-tie gala. Plans for the 2020 induction ceremony, postponed last year at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Class of 2021 celebration will be announced in the near future.

Including the 2020 and 2021 classes, 269 “Heroes of Horsepower” are in the MSHFA. The induction of Guthrie, Muncey and Stropus increases to 10 the number of women enshrined in the Hall.

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Class of 2021:

Davey Allison (Stock Cars) — Named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers, the eldest son of Hall of Famer Bobby was on his way to becoming one of its all-time greats when his life was cut short at 32 by a helicopter accident. Allison joined his father as a Daytona 500 winner in 1992 and would finish with 19 wins. His career winning percentage put him well ahead of several Hall of Famers and just behind superstars like Dale Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip. The 1987 NASCAR Rookie of the Year topped the series in races led (23) in 1991 and laps led (1,377) the following year. Allison won a career-best five races both seasons.

John Cobb (Historic) — Englishman John Rhodes Cobb earned prominence in the U.S. by setting the Land Speed Record on the Bonneville Salt Flats. In 1939, he drove his piston-engine, wheel-driven Railton Special to a new world mark of 369.70 MPH. In 1947, Cobb upped his own record to 394.2 MPH in a completely redesigned Railton Mobil Special. Cobb’s record lasted longer than any other LSR for the flying mile, finally surpassed by Craig Breedlove (MSHFA Class of 1993) in his jet-powered Spirit of America (407.45 MPH) in 1963 and the Summer Brothers’ piston-engine, wheel-driven Goldenrod (409.277 MPH) in 1965.
Larry Dixon Jr. (Drag Racing) — The three-time NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel champion (2002, 2003, 2010) has the second highest Top Fuel win total in the sport’s history behind Tony Schumacher and ahead of MSHFA inductees Joe Amato, Kenny Bernstein and Don Garlits. Dixon won his first NHRA national event in just his second start and went on to become 1995 NHRA Rookie of the Year. In addition to his 62 wins, Dixon was top qualifier 51 times, had 46 low ETs and 33 top speed passes. He was also the first Top Fuel driver to record a sub-4.5-second pass. His 2010 title included 12 wins and a perfect 12-0 in final rounds.

Janet Guthrie (Open Wheel) — The first woman to compete in the Indy 500 and Daytona 500, she paved the way for other women at the top levels of the sport, including Lyn St. James, Sarah Fisher and Danica Patrick. She was also the first woman to earn Top 10 starting positions and finishes in both the IndyCar and NASCAR Cup Series. She was the first woman to lead a Cup race (Ontario, 1977), and is tied with Patrick for highest Cup finish (6th). Guthrie’s driving suit and helmet are in the Smithsonian Institution.

Nicky Hayden (Motorcycles) — “The Kentucky Kid” is best known for winning the 2006 MotoGP World Championship, breaking Valentino Rossi’s streak of five straight titles. Hayden emerged in 1997, winning the inaugural AMA Horizon Award in recognition of his flat-track prowess. In 1999 he was named AMA Athlete of the Year after capturing the AMA Supersport title and his first Grand National win. Three years later he became the youngest ever winner of the AMA Superbike Championship, including the 2002 Daytona 200. He was killed bicycling in 2017. That year, the AMA renamed the Horizon Award in his honor.

Robin Miller (Media) — For many he’s the ultimate voice of IndyCar racing, having covered the sport for over half a century. In 1968, age 18, he became a writer for the Indianapolis Star, where over the next 33 years he became one of the nation’s most influential motorsports journalists. Miller has provided IndyCar expertise for ESPN and the Speed Channel. He is currently in his 10th year as an analyst for NBC’s IndyCar coverage and seventh year as a featured correspondent for RACER magazine and RACER.com, including his popular column Miller’s Mailbag.

Fran Muncey (Powerboats) — Before her husband, 1989 Inductee Bill Muncey, perished in a 1981 racing accident in Acapulco, he asked Fran, should anything happen to him, to continue the race team. She not only fulfilled his wish but carried on with astonishing success. Over the next seven years she amassed one of the greatest records as a team owner in the sport’s history. From 1981-88, Fran Muncey led Bill Muncey Enterprises to 24 wins and a record seven straight Gold Cups, in the process successfully transitioning the organization from piston-powered to turbine boats.

Ray Nichels (Historic) — Nichels Engineering was a major force in stock car racing in the 1950s and ‘60s. The “house” racecar builder for Pontiac (1956-63) and Chrysler (1964-70), Nichels won titles in USAC, NASCAR, ARCA and IMCA. Nichels-built Pontiacs dominated stock car racing in 1961 and ‘62. Paul Goldsmith captured the USAC crown both years; Joe Weatherly took the ‘62 NASCAR title. Don White won the 1967 USAC title. In 13 years of NASCAR competition, Nichels Engineering tallied 89 Top 10s, 62 Top 5s, 12 poles and 11 wins, seven at Daytona.

Judy Stropus (Sports Cars) — Best known for her savant-like ability to score and time even 24-hour races singlehandedly, without a break before the dawn of computerized timing, Stropus was sought out by top teams such as Penske, Bud Moore Racing, BMW, Al Holbert and Brumos Racing. Perhaps the ultimate recognition of her talent was that sanctioning bodies would come to her to correct glitches in their own scoring. A sports car racer herself, she won the 2008 AARWBA Jim Chapman Award for Excellence in Public Relations. In 2015, the Road Racing Drivers Club bestowed on Stropus its coveted Bob Akin Award.

The MSHFA is housed in the Speedway’s Ticket and Tours Building located in front of the famed 2.5-mile DIS tri-oval. Access to the MSFHA is included with every Daytona International Speedway tour, which run throughout each day, or as a museum-only ticket. The attraction is open daily nearly year-round except holidays and on major DIS race and event days.

For more information, visit the MSHFA at www.mshf.com or contact George Levy at (248) 895-1704 or glevy@mshf.com.

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MotorsportsHOF/ and Instagram and Twitter at @MotorsportsHOF.

About the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America: The MSHFA is the only hall that honors all American motorsports: cars, motorcycles, airplanes, off road and powerboats. Its mission is to celebrate and instill the American motorsports values of leadership, creativity, originality, teamwork and spirit of competition. Founded by Larry G. Ciancio and Ronald A. Watson, it held its first induction in 1989. Watson spent the next 30 years tirelessly building it into the nation’s premier such hall of fame until his passing in 2019. The original museum in Novi, Mich., relocated to Daytona Beach, Fla., in 2016 and greets more than 100,000 guests a year. MSHFA is operated by the nonprofit Motorsports Museum and Hall of Fame of America Foundation, Inc.

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