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SunTrust, Ferrari win rainy 2012 Rolex Series Grand Prix of Miami
Max Angelelli and Ricky Taylor survived the sloppy conditions at Homestead-Miami to win the 2012 Rolex Series Grand Prix of Miami.
April 28, 2012: Daytona Prototype co-drivers Ricky Taylor and Max Angelelli returned to victory lane in the Grand Prix of Miami, as did Ferrari in the GT class with co-drivers Jeff Segal and Emil Assentato on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway in a race dominated by rain.
Rolex Series race cars and their Continental rain tires are designed to race in wet conditions, but a number of torrential downpours and standing water in various locations around the 2.3-mile circuit made conditions treacherous. With no relief in sight, GRAND-AM officials ended the race at 3 p.m. ET, 52 minutes shy of its scheduled finish.
Angelelli started the No. 10 SunTrust Corvette DP from the rear of a DP grid set on points following Saturday’s qualifying rainout, but moved all the way to third before turning the car over to Taylor on Lap 21. Seven laps later, Taylor took advantage of contact between leader Richard Westbrook and second-place Enzo Potolicchio on a restart to take the lead.
Potolicchio, who led 15 laps after starting from the pole position, passed Taylor for the lead on the following lap. However, he served a drive-through penalty plus five seconds on the following lap for what GRAND-AM officials determined to be avoidable contact.
Taylor led the final 12 laps run under green-flag conditions and another 13 laps under full-course caution to earn his and Angelelli’s first victory since the sprint race at Watkins Glen last August. It was the second consecutive win for the new Corvette DP program following a breakthrough victory last month at Barber Motorsports Park by co-drivers Westbrook and Antonio Garcia.
“It would have been nice for all the fans that are weathering all this rough weather, it would have been nice to get some more action out there,” Taylor said. “But for me I was very happy just to take the yellow flag and cruise around. It was very wet.”
Reigning DP co-champions Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas finished second in the No. 01 TELMEX BMW/Riley to take the lead in the DP point standings. They are two points ahead of a four-way tie for second among co-drivers Potolicchio and Ryan Dalziel as well as Alex Popow and Lucas Luhr, 87-85. Darren Law and David Donohue took third in the No. 5 Action Express Racing Corvette DP.
Ferrari made a heralded return to Rolex Series competition this season with its new, GRAND-AM-specific Italia 458 and it took just three races for the prancing horse to return to victory lane in GT competition courtesy of Segal and Assentato in the No. 69 FXDD Ferrari 458. It was the first GT victory for Ferrari since winning the 2003 Rolex Series season finale at Daytona International Speedway.
“I’m just really, really excited about the direction this program is heading,” Segal said. “Obviously, we have a lot of races left to go, but I think everybody is comfortable with the car. We're comfortable with each other, so we're hoping that this is the start of a good run this season.”
The victory also moved 2010 Rolex Series GT champions Segal and Assentato into the points lead by three points, 90-87, over No. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche GT3 co-drivers Andy Lally and John Potter, who finished seventh. Dane Cameron and Wayne Nonnamaker finished second in GT in the No. 42 TheRaceSite.com Mazda RX-8, while Robin Liddell and Ronnie Bremer took third in the No. 57 Stevenson Auto Group Chevrolet Camaro GT.R.
Source: Grand-Am
24 Hrs, OF DAYTONA: FIGHT TO THE FINISH
1/29.2012: With the minutes ticking down on the clock in Pit Row, there was an epic battle for the 2012 24 Hrs of Daytona title taking place on Daytona International Speedway’s 3.56-mile, 12-turn road course. Lead changes between three DP cars – Michael Shank Racing’s #60 Ford Riley, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates #01 BMW Riley, and the Starworks Motorsport #8 Ford Riley – had set the stage for the golden anniversary edition of this race to come to a dramatic close.
Scott Pruett (Auburn, Calif.), the owner of Pruett Vineyard and co-author with his wife of four children’s books when not on the track, was within striking distance of tying Floridian Hurley Haywood’s record five wins of the 24 Hrs of Daytona . With little more than an hour left in the race, Pruett lost first and second gear in the #01 BMW Riley gear box which, despite the herculean efforts of his pit crew, completely put him out of podium contention.
At 30 minutes to the checkered flag, A.J. Allmendinger (Denver, Colo.) had been behind the wheel of Michael Shank Racing’s #60 Ford Riley for more than three hours. He took over the lead with Ryan Dalziel (Orlando, Fla.), in the Starworks Motorsport #8 Ford Riley, chasing him down with each lap. Dalziel, a native of Scotland and the 2010 24 Hrs of Daytona champion, had earned his first career pole in the GRAND-AM Sports Car Series during qualifying for this race.
As the final laps were logged, Allmendinger’s lead went from 11 seconds to six as the white flag signaled the final lap of the race. He won by 5.198 seconds to earn Michael Shank his first 24 Hrs of Daytona win. Sharing the driving duties with the California-born Allmendinger was Brazilian native Oswaldo “Ozz” Negri, Jr. (Miami, Fla.), Justin Wilson (England) and John Pew (North Palm Beach, Fla.).
“The 24 Hrs of Daytona is such a prestigious race; it’s one you want on your résumé and you want to say that you were part of a victory,” said Allmendinger. “Ultimately it’s just amazing. I’m going to cherish this.”
“It’s the most fun three hours of racing I’ve ever done,” added Allmendinger regarding the push to the finish line and how he had worked hard to build up a gap and then manage the gap over the last 10 laps. “It was flat out. When Dalziel got in the [#8] car I knew that every lap I had to drive my butt off. I feel like it’s some of the best driving I’ve done in my life. It’s fun to walk up and down pit lane [at the Rolex 24 At Daytona] just as a pure fan of racing to see all the different drivers in this series. We’ve been close before, and something happened to take us out. Now to have Ozz and Justin, and John Pew … it’s the biggest win I’ve ever had.”
Finishing second was the #8 Starworks Motorsport Ford Riley driven by Dalziel, Enzo Potolicchio (Venezuela), Alex Popow (Venezuela), Lucas Luhr (Germany) and Allan McNish (Scotland), with Michael Shank Racing’s #6 Ford Riley -- driven by Michael McDowell (Huntersville, N.C.), Gustavo Yacaman (Key Biscayne, Fla.), Jorge Goncalvez (Brownsburg, Ind.) and Felipe Nasr (Brazil) -- taking the last podium spot.
“The thing that keeps you coming back to this event is you don’t have a watch yet,” said McDowell. “It’s a great event, and it’s become really an all-star race with great drivers from every series and world champions. So to win one of these races is very special.”
In the 45-strong GT class, managing the traffic due to the high number of entries was a common thread among the drivers at the top of the pack. Andy Lally (Northport, N.Y.), at the wheel of the Magnus Racing #44 Porsche GT3 Cup, dominated the class, beating the best of the best in one of the strongest fields of talent ever seen in a GT race.
“I don’t think anyone is ever going to win a race like this again,” said Lally, referring to the size of the GT field. “There will never be a race like this again. All month long everyone has been preparing for the 50th anniversary of this race; we had nine different makes of cars as well as champion drivers from all over the world, from Formula 1, NASCAR, Indy Cars and sports cars. It was absolutely epic to come home on the top step of the podium with John Potter (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Magnus Racing for the first race of the year. The Rolex series is super competitive and as the economy improves we’re seeing more and more teams coming out to race in our series. Porsche remains the strongest car especially in terms of reliability, but the Audi’s Camaros and Mazdas will become increasingly more competitive.”
Richard Lietz (Austria) and Rene Rast (Germany) shared the driving duties in the #44 car with Lally and Potter. “There was such great competition this year and everyone’s equipment is so good that many cars ran every lap and never went to the garage,” said Potter. “This was the most challenging race I have ever done and I am thrilled to go home with the win.”
Finishing second in the GT class was TRG’s #67 Porsche GT3 Cup, driven by Steven Bertheau (Aurora, Ill.), Marc Goossens (Belgium), Wolf Henzler (Germany), Spencer Pumpelly (Mason Neck, Va.) and Jeroen Bleekemolen (Monaco). Third was taken by Brumos Racing’s #59 Porsche GT3 Cup, driven by Leh Keen (Charleston, S.C.), Andrew Davis (Bogart, Ga.), Marc Lieb (Germany) and five-time 24 Hrs of Daytona champion Hurley Haywood (Jacksonville, Fla.).
“The pace was outrageous,” said Haywood, explaining that a miscalculation on fuel caught them 15 minutes short and that Lieb had no power steering the last stint. For Haywood, this was his 40th time racing the classic endurance race. While disappointed not to win, he made the podium and said, “this time I mean it,” as he bid farewell to the 24 Hrs of Daytona , for which he had come out of retirement.
Source: Carracingnews.com
GRAND-AM To Add B-Spec Races
Jan. 28, 2011: GRAND-AM Road Racing announced today an exciting complement to its two existing sports car series, in the form of a new "B-Spec" level featuring sub-compact cars in six races this season.
Currently, the six sprint races - planned for between 30 and 45 minutes in length - will run in conjunction with GRAND-AM weekends at Homestead-Miami Speedway (April 27-29), New Jersey Motorsports Park (May 11-13), Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (June 8-9), Watkins Glen International (June 29-July 1), Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (Sept. 7-9) and Lime Rock Park (Sept. 28-29). Each of those weekends will also feature North America's most popular forms of sports car competition - the GRAND-AM Rolex Series and the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.
Regional racers who meet entry requirements are welcome at each event, with a concentration on event victories instead of a national championship. No currently licensed professional drivers will be allowed to participate.
A total of five manufacturers have committed to the new competition, with the following models involved: Mazda 2, Honda Fit, Ford Fiesta, Mini Cooper, and Kia Rio. Additional future manufacturer entries are expected.
One of the fastest-growing segments of the automobile business, B-Spec is among the most affordable classes for entry-level racers, and is expected to enjoy great support from club racers.
Cars will be 4-cylinder models, with a target cost range of $20,000-$30,000.
B-Spec features showroom stock racing cars utilizing stock engines and chassis, fitted with a competition roll cage, racing seat and other safety equipment; and manufacturer-approved suspension components, tires and wheels. Weight and other variables will be used to balance performance among competing manufacturers.
Each manufacturer will develop an approved performance kit which is subject to GRAND-AM approval. These will be the only alterations permitted to the respective cars. All practice sessions will also serve as qualifying to set race grids.
"This new form of GRAND-AM racing will attract new racers and in the process, new fans," said GRAND-AM Managing Director of Racing Operations Mark Raffauf. "The cars are cool and the competition will be door-to-door, which should be a lot of fun for everyone - a nice fit with what GRAND-AM already has happening at every event."
Source: Grand-Am
Premiere for Audi at the Daytona 24 Hours
- Debut for new Audi R8 GRAND-AM customer sport race car
- Private teams APR Motorsport and Oryx Racing are on the grid
- Driver line-up includes Audi legend Emanuele Pirro
1/27/2012: Premiere coincides with anniversary: The Audi R8 GRAND-AM will make its debut on the 50th running of the Daytona 24 Hours from January 26 to 29. Teams APR Motorsport and Oryx Racing are each fielding one of the newly developed customer sport race cars in the GT class of the endurance classic.
The “Rolex 24 at Daytona” ranks among the finest classics in international motorsport. The event has been thrilling the sports car fan community since 1962. Some of the greatest racers in history have entered their names on the winners’ list – from Jacky Ickx and Hans Herrmann through to Hurley Haywood, A. J. Foyt or Derek Bell. Reinhold Joest, the founder of Audi Sport Team Joest has personally won this classic race in Florida too. Current Audi factory driver Mike Rockenfeller decided the competition in his favor with an American team two years ago. On the event’s 50th anniversary the organizer is treating the audience to an unusual and spectacular experience. A champions party with numerous racing legends, an exhibition of historic overall-winning cars, a carnival complete with a Ferris Wheel, a 5-kilometer run on the track for all sports enthusiasts on Saturday before the race, autograph sessions and pit walks are just some of the attractions featured on the last weekend in January.
“We are proud to be part of the action for the first time at the event’s special anniversary,” stresses Werner Frowein, Managing Director of quattro GmbH, which has developed the Audi R8 GRAND-AM. “Two customer teams have already opted for our new race car and we are currently in negotiations with other buyers. Following its appearance at Daytona, the Audi R8 GRAND-AM will also be seen at the other twelve rounds of the GRAND-AM series. In the future, our customers will be directly supported by Audi of America. This presence in America is another important element of developing Audi Sport customer racing.” At the season opener, the Audi R8 GRAND-AM is competing against about 30 other vehicles in the extremely large field of the GT class while so-called Daytona prototypes are driving for overall victories. The Daytona 24 Hours marks the beginning of the 2012 GRAND-AM Road Racing season. In 2008, Audi was last represented in the United States for a whole season with a factory commitment featuring the Audi R10 TDI LMP1 sports car and won the title in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). This was followed by only isolated sports prototype commitments at Sebring and Road Atlanta. Now the APR Motorsport and Oryx Racing customer teams are flying the colors of Audi Sport customer racing as part of their own commitment.
“Entering the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series is the biggest challenge APR Motorsport has taken on so far,” emphasizes Stephen Hooks, President of APR. “Our team prepared for this step at previous runs in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. APR is known around the world as one of the leading tuners of Audi, Volkswagen, Seat and Škoda vehicles. We’re looking forward to the Audi R8 GRAND-AM with huge anticipation, our customers and fans are really excited and since the ‘Roar before the 24’ test we’ve just been dying for the 24-hour race to start. The race team based in Opelika, Alabama, headed by Jeff Mishtawy, is relying on a five-strong international driver squad. The Americans Ian Baas and Dr. Jim Norman, Nelson Canache from Venezuela, Dion von Moltke with South African roots plus former Audi factory driver Emanuele Pirro from Italy form the driver team.
Oryx Racing will compete at Daytona with team owner and driver Humaid Al Masaood from the United Arab Emirates. He will be sharing the car with his compatriot Saeed Al Mehairi and the Briton Steven Kane. “2012 is a new chapter for Oryx Racing and Arabic motorsport,” says a delighted Al Masaood. “We’re entering a new car in a series that’s new to us. It was important to us to be involved in the project right from the beginning and help continue to develop this fascinating customer racing car from Audi to become as competitive as possible.” The team hails from the United Arab Emirates and has a team base in the United States in West College Corner near Indianapolis.
Source: Audi USA
APR Motorsport to run Audi R8 LMS in 2012
November 23, 2011 (Opelika, AL) - APR Motorsport is proud to announce that it will become the first team to compete in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series with the Audi R8 LMS, when the team takes the green flag for January's 50th Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 28, 2012 - and, hopefully, is first to the checkered flag on January 29.
Passion for the Audi brand runs deep at APR. Stephen Hooks, President and CEO of APR, was an aspiring driver and Audi enthusiast who raced Audis in the Motorola Cup - the predecessor to GRAND-AM. After leaving his driving ambitions to build APR into the largest aftermarket and motorsport company for Audis worldwide, Hooks returned to competition as a principal in APR Motorsport. The team was the first to race Audi's newest and hottest sedan, the B8 model generation Audi S4, in the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. Being the first team to field the R8 LMS in North America is a natural progression for APR Motorsport.
The winning pedigree of APR Motorsport's brand-new Audi R8 LMS, the first example built for the Rolex Series, is undoubtedly strong as well. Examples of the Audi R8 LMS have taken victory more than one hundred times in races in Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. Now, APR's customers - as well as Audi fans from Ingolstadt to Alabama - will cheer on the APR Audi R8 LMS as it seeks to add to the win tally.
Building upon experience gained in the CTSCC, APR Motorsport will now have the Rolex Series' Grand Touring class looking over its shoulders with the series' newest major contender, the Audi R8 LMS. Using the same team and infrastructure that has made the team a force to be reckoned with in the CTSCC, the team will now look to shake up the status quo of the Rolex Series - which has seen the series dominated by the same three manufacturers over the past several seasons.
The Audi R8 LMS, which is already a proven platform for success in GT racing the world over, will have the rest of the GT field looking over its shoulders. APR Motorsport also remains committed to discovering and developing the best driving talent found today in GRAND-AM.
Teams hoping that this will spell and end to APR Motorsport's efforts in the CTSCC will be disappointed, as the team will continue its CTSCC program in 2012, with an exciting announcement about that program coming soon. APR Motorsport will make further announcements about drivers for the APR Audi R8 LMS, as well as marketing partners, in the coming weeks.
APR Motorsport's Audi R8 LMS will make its on-track debut - dressed in the distinctive APR Motorsport livery - at the Roar Before the Rolex 24 test at Daytona International Raceway on January 6-8, 2012.
Source: APR Motorsport
EXTREME SPEED MOTORSPORTS EXPANDS 2012 CAMPAIGN TO INCLUDE THE PRESTIGIOUS ROLEX 24 HOURS OF DAYTONA
Stuart, FL, November 17, 2011- American Le Mans Series - Presented by Tequila Patrón challengers Extreme Speed Motorsports will supplement its 2012 ALMS GT schedule with the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car seriesTriple Crown which includes the prestigious, 50th Anniversary running of the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.
The team's Ferrari F458 Italia will be piloted around the 3.56 mile historic road course at Daytona International Speedway by team regulars, with specific driver lineups to be announced at a later date. The Extreme Team will once again feature the black and green livery of Tequila Patrón for 2012.
The addition of the Grand Am series Triple Crown events gives ESM the opportunity to also compete at the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen at Watkins Glen, and the inaugural three hour race at the world-renowned Indianapolis Motor Speedway--which expands their current foothold in sports car racing.
The Grand American Road Racing Association was founded in 1999 and sanctions six unique series, including the premier Rolex Sports Car series. Featuring both prototype and grand touring classes, Grand-Am has cemented its place in the American motorsports scene.
The Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona began as a 3 hour endurance race on the Daytona International Speedway road course in 1962 and evolved into a twice-around-the-clock sports car classic. The 24 hour format, adopted in 1966, has become a feature of Daytona Speedweeks and marks the beginning of the American motorsports calendar.
Ferrari's last win at Daytona was in 1998 and team owner/driver Scott Sharp is looking forward to returning to Daytona in 2012 with the Italia 458 powerhouse to blaze their own trail on such an auspicious anniversary.
"I'm excited for ESM to take the next step and compete in the Rolex 24 and the Triple Crown. I've won the 24 and finished second there twice and it's absolutely one of my favorites. Guy Cosmo and Johannes van Overbeek have both had great success there as well, and Ed Brown ran quite fast at a recent test. So, I am excited to bring Patrón, Ferrari and our entire program to this unique and challenging event."
Brown, who has driven for ESM since its inception, is equally excited.
"I got a chance to test at Daytona recently and it was a blast! The 24 hours of Daytona is one of the most prestigious events in the world and I think the Triple Crown will be an important part of our 2012 platform for both ESM and Patrón. I'm excited to get a chance to compete in this series, and at the Rolex 24--it's such a classic race."
Source: ESM Racing
2012 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series schedule released
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 9, 2011) – GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series competitors will compete for an exciting new three-race endurance championship, highlighting the 2012 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series schedule announced today.
The inaugural North American Endurance Championship will feature the 50th anniversary running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 28-29, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International on June 29-July 1 and the Rolex Series’ three-hour debut race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27 during the inaugural "Super Weekend at the Brickyard."
The 13-race schedule also includes GRAND-AM’s first visit to Detroit – the automotive capital of the world – on June 2, and the return to many of North America’s premier circuits, including Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal; Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.; Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio; Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala.; Homestead-Miami Speedway; New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, N.J.; and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif.
"This is without doubt the strongest schedule in GRAND-AM history," said GRAND-AM President Tom Bledsoe. "Highlights are everywhere you look … new races, new places – and a new three-race championship. We’re going to make a lot of sports car history in 2012."
Teams in both the Daytona Prototype and production-based GT classes will compete in the North American Endurance Championship. Point structure and purse for the championship will be announced in the near future. Awards for the championship will be presented at dusk on the Victory Podium at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, following the historic race on the 2.605-mile road course.
In addition to featuring GRAND-AM’s solid lineup in both classes, several top teams have indicated they will field additional cars with all-star drivers to compete in the three endurance races.
"I think the North American Endurance Championship adds more excitement to an already exciting schedule," said four-time Rolex Series Daytona Prototype champion Scott Pruett. "The Rolex 24 is clearly the highlight of our season, and I’m very excited with the addition of Indianapolis. The new championship gives further emphasis on our three endurance races."
The Rolex Series will combine with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series twice – on Indianapolis’ historic tripleheader weekend (July 26-29) and at Watkins Glen International – and with the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Road America and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Two Rolex Series events will be in companion with IndyCar, at Detroit and Barber.
Following the season-opening events at Daytona and Barber, the Rolex Series moves to Homestead-Miami Speedway, followed by a visit to New Jersey Motorsports Park. Following the Detroit Belle Isle race, the series returns to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. In addition, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s event shifts to September.
The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will run in conjunction with the Rolex Series at 10 of the 13 weekends, including Indianapolis.
Potential season-ending events for both series are still to be announced.
(Note: Dates listed below are for event weekend, excluding the Daytona, Indianapolis and Detroit Belle Isle races. Remaining specific race days for each series will be announced in the near future.)
GRAND-AM Rolex Series 2012 Schedule of Events
Jan. 28-29 Daytona International Speedway
Mar 30-April 1 Barber Motorsports Park
April 27-29 Homestead-Miami Speedway
May 11-13 New Jersey Motorsports Park
June 2 Detroit Belle Isle
June 8-10 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
June 22-24 Road America
June 29-July 1 Watkins Glen International
July 27 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Aug 10-12 Watkins Glen International
August 17-19 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Sept. 7-9 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Sept. 28-30 TBA
GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge 2012 Schedule of Events
Jan. 27 Daytona International Speedway
Mar 30-April 1 Barber Motorsports Park
April 27-29 Homestead-Miami Speedway
May 11-13 New Jersey Motorsports Park
June 8-10 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
June 22-24 Road America
June 29-July 1 Watkins Glen International
July 27 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Sept. 7-9 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Sept. 28-30 TBA
(Note: Dates listed below are for event weekend, excluding the Daytona, Indianapolis and Detroit Belle Isle races. Remaining specific race days for each series will be announced in the near future.)
Source: NASCAR
The Grand-Am Ferrari F458 Italia
Don't Believe the Hype!
By Tony Castaneira Sept. 28, 2011
The Grand-Am spec Ferrari F458 Italia was presented to the motorsports world back in July to much fanfare and chest pumping. Press releases were dispersed. Videos were posted on YouTube. Sportscar racing stars like Jamie Melo and Guy Cosmo along with IndyCar driver Raphael Matos were brought in to test drive. But if you saw our show you heard our "SportsCar insider", Josh Hurley report how the Ferrari was slow around the Daytona Motor Speedway even though it was delivered not in compliance with Grand-Am regulations (You can watch the interview here at ( http://youtu.be/hLbidzSpCpU )
Since Josh's report we have not only verified his report but our sources connected to the project have confirmed that the Ferrari of Fort Lauderdal team have given up on making the F458 Italia competitive and will be selling the car shortly. The sale will in all probablity be to a private collector instead of another team as the cost to modifiy it to conform to regs at the same time making it competitive is astronomical. We were told the cost would be almost equal to the cost of the Ferrari itself.
Grand-Am has been promoting of late the addition of big name sportscar manufacturers to its series such as Mercedes Benz and Aston-Martin in hopes to convey the notion it is winning the popularity battle against the rival ALMS series. The addition of Ferrari to the series was considered a major coup in its drive towards relevancy in the world of motorsports. The failure of the Ferrari to be competitive casts a shadow on the potential of the other new factory's entries. Neither of which have yet to turmn a wheel in Grand-Am spec.
Hopefully they will wait until they are sorted out before they start the Hype campaign.
News - Longtime NASCAR executive Ed Bennett named GRAND-AM CEO
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 29, 2011) – To further strengthen its executive leadership team and create stronger links to key NASCAR assets, GRAND-AM Road Racing announced today that longtime NASCAR executive Ed Bennett has been named chief executive officer of the sports car sanctioning body.
Bennett will continue as an officer of NASCAR, serving as a vice president and chief administrative officer. In his new role with GRAND-AM, he will report directly to NASCAR President Mike Helton.
Tom Bledsoe will continue as president of GRAND-AM with primary responsibility for day-to-day operations of the organization and providing leadership to the industry from a competition and membership perspective.
Bennett, who has been at NASCAR since 1998 and an officer of the company since 2000, will focus on further leveraging the collective strength of both companies through enhanced strategic planning, project management leadership and the acceleration of new business opportunities.
While he will work closely with Bledsoe on competition matters, Bennett will be the primary conduit between GRAND-AM and NASCAR on marketing, sales and communications efforts.
"This move is highly significant, as we continue to grow sports car racing in this country," said Bledsoe. "This will advance our ability to combine the resources and experiences at NASCAR with the vast knowledge of international sports car racing at GRAND-AM to improve the overall environment and opportunities for stakeholders across the board."
Added Bennett: "I look forward to working diligently with both GRAND-AM and NASCAR to take our sports car racing property to the next level. There are a number of exciting initiatives in development at GRAND-AM – and exciting challenges of bringing both organizations closer together to achieve collective goals."
A native of the Daytona Beach area, Bennett graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in Finance and also earned an M.B.A. from Stetson University. Bennett resides in Lake Mary, Fla., with his wife, Mindy, and daughter, Ailey.
