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- Category: Road Racing
By: ST Racing
September 5, 2024
September 5, 2024
ST Racing will make a return to European endurance racing competition at next month’s 24H BARCELONA, with IndyCar star Pippa Mann and GT4 up-and-comer Fabian Duffieux alongside Samantha Tan, Neil Verhagen and Jon Miller at the 25th edition of the 24H BARCELONA.
ST Racing contested its first full endurance racing program in the 24H SERIES in 2021, securing both the Overall GT Teams’ championship and the Overall GT Drivers’ titles. The team will contest the 24H BARCELONA for a third time, aiming to defend their 2021 GT4 class victory with two newcomers to the driver line-up.
Team co-owner Samantha Tan and BMW works driver Neil Verhagen, who currently lead the PRO/AM standings in the GT World Challenge America, will continue their partnership in Barcelona alongside ST Racing staple, Jon Miller.
Samantha Tan, team co-owner / driver: “We’re very excited to return to the 24H BARCELONA with such a strong and diverse driver lineup. It’s always a thrill to compete at such a historic event, and having Pippa and Fabian join our team brings an exciting new dynamic. We will be racing with the new G82 BMW M4 GT4, and we’re eager to build on the successes we’ve had here in the past. The 24-hour race is one of the most challenging formats in motorsport, but I’m confident in our team’s ability to rise to the occasion and fight for a strong result.”
Kenneth Tan, team co-owner: “We are excited to be back racing with Creventic and at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, one of our favourite destination race tracks in the world. I come to Catalunya about four times a year and have many friends in the area so its always a fun time here. We have also raced well at this circuit over the years. I remember the last time we were here for the 24 hour in 2022 our BMW M4 GT3 was leading the race by a lap before an unfortunate engine failure caused us to retire at the 14th hour. We are therefore very motivated to race here once more and get back into 24-hour racing, which I find a lot more fun with all the challenging strategies and calls. Makes for a very interesting and exciting race where we have excelled in the past. On top of that, we have always enjoyed our time racing with Creventic over the years with the atmosphere being so family-oriented and the officiating consistently fair and logical. So yah, we can’t wait. Vamonos!”
Jon Miller, STR38 Motorsport team manager / driver: “The Barcelona 24 hour is one of our team’s favorite events. We’ve had success here in the past and are looking forward to returning with a strong group of drivers for our GT4 entry in 2024. Adding Pippa and Fabian to our lineup positions us with an experienced and formidable crew who all know how to win races.”
Pippa Mann and Fabian Duffieux are set to make their debuts with ST Racing in Barcelona.
Pippa, a former racer winner in Indy NXT is best known in America for her 7 starts at the Indy 500 from 2011-2019, where she became the 8th female driver (of 9 to date) to qualify for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Since then she has competed in a variety of sports car events and series across North America and Europe, including the Indy 8 Hour in a GT4 car, Pro Am podiums in Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, and a win in the SP8T GT4 class at the grueling Nurburgring 24 hour race. In 2023 she set the fastest lap in the class, and in 2024 she and her team-mates returned to the podium for the 4th time.
GT racing newcomer Fabian Duffieux completes the line-up. After whetting his racing whistle in the UAE’s Procar Championship in late 2021, this Belgian-born, Dubai-based athlete has gone on to race in the GT4 European Series. Like Samantha and Jon, Fabian is also a former 24H SERIES champion, having secured GT4 Drivers’ honours (also aboard a BMW M4 GT4) in the Dutch promotion’s 2023-2024 Middle East Championship.
Fabian Duffieux, driver: “I'm thrilled and excited to join ST Racing for the 24 Hours of Barcelona. It's an incredible opportunity to be part of such a dedicated and talented team, and I'm looking forward to giving my all on the track. Together, I believe we have the potential to achieve great things in this iconic endurance race.”
Pippa Mann, driver: “I’ve been following Sam’s career, and the STR team she has built from afar for years, and I met Sam briefly on the grid at the Nurburgring 24 hour race a couple of years ago, so I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to join her team for the upcoming Barcelona 24 hour race this September. The BMW M4 GT4 platform is one I’m familiar with from racing at the Nordschleife with the Girls Only team, and I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to work with them as we try to defend their race win from 2021.”
Following its championship success in the 24H SERIES in 2021, ST Racing started its first campaign with BMW’s M4 GT3 at the 24H DUBAI in 2022. ST Racing took victory with the BMW at Mugello – marking the first overall series win for the Bavarian brand in more than a decade –and marking the first global victory for the BMW M4 GT3.
Following the 24H BARCELONA on 13-14-15 September, ST Racing brings its GTWC America season to a close at the Indianapolis 8 Hours on 4-5-6 October.
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- Category: Road Racing
By:Dagobert Racing
September 4, 2024
September 4, 2024
Québec City, Quebec - Jean-Frédéric Laberge and Kyle Marcelli are gearing up for an exciting weekend as they head to Barber Motorsport Park for the next round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge. The challenging Alabama circuit is known for its technical turns and undulating layout, presenting a thrilling test for both drivers and teams.
For Jean-Frédéric Laberge, this race marks a significant milestone as he makes his debut at Barber Motorsport Park. Having already shown impressive pace in his first race of GT racing, Laberge is eager to face the new challenge head-on.
“Barber is a track I’ve always wanted to race at,” said Laberge. “It’s technical, it’s fast, and it requires absolute precision. I’ve been doing my homework, studying past races, and working closely with the team to get up to speed quickly. However, rain has been following us this season, first at VIR and Road America, and now at Barber on Friday. We’ll be going into qualifying without ever having ran on a dry track. I’m excited to take on the challenge and see what we can achieve this weekend.”
“The goal remains the same: to improve with each race, measure ourselves against the other Porsche teams, and ultimately make our way onto the podium,” stated Kyle Marcelli. “With just the last three races of the Championship ahead, I believe this is a realistic target for us.”
“I’ve raced at Barber before, though it’s been a while—back when the series was still World Challenge. My last time there was in 2017, and it's a beautiful track with great facilities. I think the circuit will suit the Porsche well, especially since it's much shorter than Road America.”
He continued saying, “JF is going to enjoy this place and do well, no doubt. I had a fantastic time at Road America—the folks at MMG are incredible, and the team dynamic has been great. I’m really enjoying working with the group and with JF. We’re always improving—whether it’s the team, the car, or our procedures—there’s constant progress.”
I’m looking forward to Barber and wrapping up the season with the Indy 8 Hour as we finish the last three races of this championship."
Laberge and Marcelli will be driving the No. 92 Dagobert / Éclair Porsche 992 GT3 R, prepared by GT Racing. The team has been hard at work preparing the car to handle the unique demands of Barber’s 2.38-mile circuit. With both drivers bringing their A-game, the duo is aiming for a strong finish to build on their momentum in the championship standings.
The Fanatec GT World Challenge at Barber Motorsport Park promises to deliver intense racing action as the season heats up. Fans can catch all the action live on YouTube.
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- Category: Road Racing
By: IndyCar
September 1, 2024
September 1, 2024
West Allis, Wisconsin – In a wild race that featured more twists than a pretzel factory, Scott McLaughlin held off six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon to win the second race of the Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s doubleheader Sunday.
New Zealand native McLaughlin earned his series high-tying third victory of the season in the No. 3 Gallagher Team Penske Chevrolet, finishing .4558 of a second ahead of fellow Kiwi Dixon in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Colton Herta placed third in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda of Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian.
“That was the most fun race I’ve had in INDYCAR,” McLaughlin said. “It was a blast. We just stuck with it. The car wasn’t quite good at the start, and we just tuned her up, and it was awesome. A lot better in traffic today, which helped a lot.
“Yeah, burn the house down tonight. That was awesome. I’m pumped.”
Santino Ferrucci finished fourth in the No. 14 Phoenix Investors Chevrolet of A.J. Foyt Enterprises, mirroring his result in the first race Saturday. Marcus Ericsson ended up fifth in the No. 28 Delaware Life Honda of Andretti Global, his best result since placing fifth July 7 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Defending series champion Alex Palou will carry a 33-point lead over Will Power into the next race, the season-ending Big Machine Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway on Sept. 15. Palou finished 19th in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, while Power placed 10th in the No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet in a day of disappointment and lost chances for both.
McLaughlin, who started sixth, passed Colton Herta on Lap 218 to take the lead for good. That decisive dive under Herta in Turn 1 came after a feisty three-lap joust between the two young stars, as McLaughlin took advantage of fresher Firestone Firehawk tires and traffic in front of Herta to erase Herta’s seven-second lead in just 14 laps.
It appeared Alexander Rossi might have a chance to challenge McLaughlin after the Kiwi took the lead, as Rossi was gaining ground quickly in his No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. But Sting Ray Robb crashed his No. 41 Goodheart Vet/Pray.com Chevrolet of A.J. Foyt Enterprises in Turn 2 on Lap 228, triggering the last of six caution periods.
All five cars on the lead lap at the time had to decide whether to pit for fresh tires or stay out, and the entire quintet dove to pit road on Lap 230. McLaughlin powered away from the field on the restart on Lap 239, and Dixon passed Rossi for second in Turn 1.
Then Herta and Dixon engaged in a spirited fight for second, racing side by side, inches apart, in Turns 3 and 4. Dixon finally passed Herta for second on Lap 241 and set his sights on McLaughlin, but never got closer than six-tenths of a second. McLaughlin took the checkered by leading his race-high 85th lap.
“I think had it gone a few more laps, it looked like he was starting to burn off his fronts (tires) a little bit,” Dixon said. “But congrats to McLaughlin. Pretty sweet to have a Kiwi 1-2 there.”
McLaughlin’s victory was just one of the thrilling ebbs and flows in the race, which featured a series track record 13 lead changes on the historic 1.015-mile Milwaukee Mile oval.
Perhaps the one lead change that appeared probable early in the race didn’t happen. Palou held on to the championship lead despite one of his most challenging days of the season.
Palou finished 29 laps down after an electrical problem on the pace laps sent his car to the pits and the garage for repairs. Power placed 10th as the last car on the lead lap, losing a chance to gain more ground and perhaps take the championship lead after spinning in Turn 4 on a restart on Lap 131 while running in the top five.
“It was not a great day, but it could have been a lot worse,” Palou said. “It could have been a lot better, obviously. On to Nashville.”
Said Power: “A long shot now. God gave us a chance then, but kind of let it go. That’s the season, man. You just can’t have those mistakes.”
McLaughlin is the only other driver mathematically eligible for the title at Nashville, 50 points behind Palou. But it should come down to a two-driver duel for the Astor Challenge Cup at Nashville between two-time season champions Palou and Power, as McLaughlin will be eliminated if Palou starts the race.
Palou, strategist Barry Wanser and the entire Chip Ganassi Racing crew stayed calm and avoided catastrophe when Palou’s car stopped at the exit of pit lane at the start of the pace laps with an apparent electrical problem. The car returned to the track but then had to return to the paddock for more diagnosis and repairs, and Palou returned to the track at speed on Lap 37, 28 laps down.
“We couldn’t really do anything,” Palou said. “We tried everything to try and not lose many laps.”
Palou was the most notable of a handful drivers struck by mechanical misfortune in this race. Another was Race 1 winner Pato O’Ward, who finished 24th after completing just 87 laps due to a gearbox problem.
The race took an eventful tone right from the start. Besides Palou’s car shockingly sitting silent at the exit of pit lane, NTT P1 Award winner Josef Newgarden was eliminated from the race in a three-car incident on Lap 1. The race start was called off because the rear of the field wasn’t in order, and the No. 8 American Legion Chip Ganassi Racing Honda of rookie Linus Lundqvist hit the rear of the No. 11 Ridgeline Lubricants Chip Ganassi Racing Honda of teammate Marcus Armstrong, who then pinballed into Newgarden’s No. 2 Snap-on Team Penske Chevrolet, punting it into the inside wall.
After that melee, the race settled into a pattern of nonstop action. There were a season-high 763 on-track passes – a season high and the most on record in an INDYCAR SERIES race at the Milwaukee Mile – and 56 passes in the top five, another track record. Ferrucci once again put on a show with 63 on-track passes, the most of any driver in one race this season.
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- Category: Road Racing
By: Danny Dyszelski Racing
September 4, 2024
September 4, 2024
With one program coming to a close last week at the Portland International Raceway, multidiscipline racer Danny Dyszelski is back behind the wheel this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park. Joining VPX Motorsport and set to pilot a Porsche 718 GT4 RS alongside co-driver Alex Ellis, Dyszelski will look to continue his learning curve at the picturesque Leeds, Alabama facility from September 6-8.
Based in Toronto, VPX Motorsport was formed in 2021 by Vince Partap. The core group of VPX has been winning races in the Porsche Ultra 94 North American series from 2014 to 2019, and more recently at the Toronto Honda Indy, and Grand Prix du Trois Rivières in the Sports Car Championship Canada. VPX Motorsport is a dynamic company developed to provide the best racing and customer experience at all levels of motorsport from professional to amateur racing.
“Our goal is to develop drivers and help them achieve their goals of being a professional in motorsports,” explained Vince Partap. “Danny is a talented young driver that has had success in both open wheel racing and Radical Cup, and we are looking forward to this weekend and hopefully some more events in the future.”
“I am ready to go,” added Dyszelski. “This whole deal came together rather quickly, and because of that, we have set realistic goals. As a racer, I want to win, but I am also looking to improve my skill set, race craft, and driving dynamics by working with VPX Motorsport and getting behind the wheel of every race car I can.”
Dyszelski continued, “While this is a one race deal for now, we are looking to possibly add more events in the future.”
With the official weekend kicking off on Friday with a pair of practice sessions, Saturday will be the home of qualifying and the first wheel-to-wheel race of the weekend. Race two will take place on Sunday. All the weekend’s racing action can be streamed live at GT4-America.com.
For more information on Danny Dyszelski, please visit him online at www.DannyDRacing.com. For results, news, photos, and more details from race weekends, please follow Danny Dyszelski on social media by searching Danny Dyszelski Racing.
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- Category: Road Racing
By: Formula Regional Americas
September 1, 2024
September 1, 2024
Bowmanville, Ontario – Patrick Woods-Toth swept the weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP), winning all three Formula Regional Americas Championship presented by Mosport Karting Centre (FR Americas) races this weekend. A native of Saint-Lazare, Quebec, Woods-Toth got his start karting next door at Mosport Karting Centre, and locked in the 2024 FR Americas driver’s championship title while at CTMP this weekend.
Notes of Interest
Patrick Woods-Toth is the 2024 FR Americas Championship drivers champion, having locked in the title this weekend at CTMP.
Jett Bowling tied his career-best finish with a second-place result. His last runner-up finish came at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Round 8.
Hayden Bowlsbey tied his career-best finish with his third-place result in Round 17, marking his third-career podium.
Also tying their career-best finishes were fourth-place finisher Landan Matriano Lim, fifth-place finisher James Lawley and seventh-place finisher Ricco Shlaimoun (No. 25 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3).
With three wins in three races, Patrick Woods-Toth was awarded the Omologato Perfectly-Timed Move of the Race and recognized by the stewards for an outstanding performance this weekend. The award includes a bespoke Omologato timepiece.
Leading every lap this weekend, Patrick Woods-Toth (No. 27 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) once again led the field down the starting grid with Titus Sherlock (No. 31 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) to his outside. Behind them, Jett Bowling (No. 02 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) and Hayden Bowlsbey (No. 3 IGY6 Motorsports / Save22 Ligier JS F3) lined up third and fourth, respectively. When the lights went out, Woods-Toth jumped to the point position with Sherlock tight on his gearbox. Behind them, Bowlsbey made his way around Bowling to claim third. The three exited Turn 3 side by side, when Sherlock wiggled causing a chain reaction and melee behind them.
With Sherlock, Nicole Havrda (No. 6 Valley Kitchens Ltd / Colonial Countertops Ltd Ligier JS F3) and Anthony Autiello (No. 07 A Autiello Construction Co. Ligier JS F3) all running into trouble, the safety car was deployed to allow crews to retrieve Autiello’s car from the circuit. As they returned to green, Woods-Toth, Bowlsbey, Bowling, Landan Matriano Lim (No. 73 739Racing Ligier JS F3) and James Lawley (No. 77 Kartbahn Racing Ligier JS F3) all ran nose to tail. Woods-Toth dropped a wheel off the racing surface as they careened toward the restart line, but that didn’t slow his pace, as he once again took control of the race.
With the second half still to be contested, Woods-Toth ran away from the pack, opening up a multi-second lead within just a few laps. Behind him, the race for second was heated, with less than a half-second separating second-place Bowlsbey and third-place Bowling. Bowlsbey repeatedly held off advances from Bowling, but everything changed on the final lap. Bowling drove deep into Turn 3 as Bowlsbey slid through the corner, allowing the two to pull wheel to wheel and race two-wide through Turn 4. Pulling ahead to complete the pass as they exited Turn 5, Bowling hit all his marks to lead Bowlsbey to the checkered flag.
As they crossed the line, Woods-Toth held a 6.162-second advantage over Bowling in second and Bowlsbey in third.
“What an amazing weekend,” said Woods-Toth from atop the podium. “It’s great to be at home with all my friends, family and all the fans here. We can see how full the paddock is this weekend with 20-30,000 spectators—this is awesome. Three wins out of three races, a clean sweep of the weekend, that's perfect. I have good luck here at CTMP. With karting races, I don't think I've lost a race here in probably three or four years. Thank you to Marvin, my mechanic over here, who took care of me back then, and to Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport, Glen and Steven, who take care of my car now. The 27 is powered by Orlando and Ron Fellows; I can’t thank them enough. Thank you very much.”
FR Americas returns to the track for their 2024 season finale at Circuit of The Americas, October 31-November 3. A live stream of the COTA SpeedTour will be available on YouTube.com/SpeedTourTV with live timing and scoring accessed on the Race Monitor app. Additional news and updates will be posted on the series’ social channels: Facebook, Instagram and X.