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- Category: Road Racing
By: JWR Racing
June 5, 2024
June 5, 2024
Jonathan Woolridge is ready to conquer Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in the #38 Performance Tech Motorsports LMP3 this coming weekend (June 7-9 2024). It's the 3rd round of the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge and Woolridge is all set to speed back to the top of the podium!
Mid-Ohio is a comprehensive motorsports facility in Lexington Ohio that is referred to as “Most Competitive in the U.S” due to its natural terrain and history of intense, and close knit racing! Woolridge has put in many practice hours at HIP Motorsports Racing Simulator Facility and is looking forward to tackling the famed road course.
JW’s Weekend Schedule
Friday June 7th 2024
Practice One: 9:00-9:30am
Practice Two: 12:55-1:25pm
Saturday June 8th 2024
Qualifying: 9:35-9:50am
Race One: 1:15-2:00pm
Sunday June 9th 2024
Race Two: 8:15-9:00am
“It’s been a long break and I think we are all looking forward to getting back to racing! I am excited to see the team’s hard work on the #38 car come together this weekend. Mid-Ohio is historically proven to have pretty tight action for the fans, and I definitely think this will be the case between us and the GSX field. Performance Tech Motorsports has had great success at Mid-Ohio, so I'm excited to continue that streak of success for them this weekend.”
I want to thank everyone who has helped ensure we get to race at Mid-Ohio this weekend. I appreciate the time and effort that has been put into helping me achieve success in my career. The support has truly been amazing and I am proud to have this opportunity at Mid-Ohio.
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- Category: Road Racing
By: FEL Motorsports
June 5, 2024
June 5, 2024
Toronto, Ontario - Anthony Martella, a 15-year-old racing prodigy, has secured a full-season entry in the Sports Car Championship Canada (SCCC) presented by Michelin, with the Martella Motorsports team following a remarkable debut at the Victoria Day SpeedFest at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP). Martella made history as the youngest SCCC driver to not only start a race but also finish on the podium. 2024 will mark a very busy season for the young racer as he still intends to compete in the open-wheel USF Junior championship in the USA and the USF 2000 races at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto.
When asked about the season ahead, Anthony Martella said, "I'm very excited and grateful to be competing in the Sports Car Championship Canada presented by Michelin. I'd like to thank my parents, NIN transport, and VPS for giving me the opportunity to run in the SCCC championship while also running my USF Junior schedule in 2024," said the 15-year-old of the announcement. "I am really looking forward to, not only racing the car, but to also share the Martella Motorsports car with Marco Cirone as he will pilot the car in Toronto. Can't wait to get back on track for round 2 at Calabogie Motorsports Park in June!"
The Martella Motorsports team will also welcome back experienced veteran IMSA Porsche Carrera Cup driver, Marco Cirone, to pilot the Audi RS3 LMS TCR at the Ontario Honda Dealer's Indy Toronto event in July. Championship points are credited to the car number in the SCCC, allowing the #95 Martella Motorsports Audi to remain a strong contender for the overall championship with both drivers contributing.
As a proud friend and supporter of the Martella family, Cirone said, "I am extremely excited to once again be a part of the Martella racing family and to share the SCCC season with my new favourite racing driver, Anthony Martella. Words can't describe how proud I am of Anthony and his achievements in karting, open wheel and just recently his first race with the Audi TCR, where he easily put himself on the podium!" Cirone continued, "Together we are working on several scenarios to help him get into sports car endurance racing, which includes GT4 and GT3 Carrera Cup. For now though, we will share the Audi RS3 LMS TCR Gen2 for the entire 2024 season."
He went on to say, "I would like to thank Chris Bye and the FEL team as well as our team owner Tony for giving me the opportunity to once again represent Martella Motorsports and for the chance to mentor and co-drive with his son Anthony."
Team Owner and father of Anthony, Tony Martella said, "I am super excited to announce that Martella Motorsports will be running the full session in the FEL Motorsports Sports Car Championship Canada! It is hard to describe how I feel to have my son take the seat in our Audi RS3 LMS TCR. I am also very excited to announce that Marco Cirone will be returning this year to be running in Toronto as Anthony will be running in the USF 2000 series that weekend. This will be one of the biggest years yet for Martella Motorsports," Tony exclaimed.
The SCCC presented by Michelin will return to action on June 21-23 at Calabogie Motorsports Park. For more information on Anthony Martella and his racing journey, follow him on Instagram @anthonymartella_.
About Anthony Martella
Anthony Martella is a 15-year-old racing prodigy hailing from Canada. With a background in karting and a passion for motorsports, Martella is making waves in the racing world with his exceptional talent and promising performances on the track. Currently competing in USF Junior and USF 2000 series with Exclusive Autosports, Martella is set to make his debut in the FEL Series with Martella Motorsports in the Audi LMS TCR Gen2. Follow his journey on social media @anthonymartella__ or @martellamotorsports.
About FEL Motorsports
FEL Motorsports grew out of a deep base of automotive roots from FEL Automotive Learning and Promotion. FEL, the parent company of FEL Motorsports, has over three decades of experience in the automotive event industry working within Canada and the U.S by combining the expertise gained from working with luxury automotive brands with some of Canada’s most experienced motorsport personnel, FEL Motorsports executes premium race event weekends at tracks in Ontario and Quebec. FEL Motorsports is focused on growth and sustainability in the Canadian Motorsports landscape by giving back to its teams through prizing and prize money.
For further information on FEL Motorsports visit felmotorsports.com
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- Category: Road Racing
By: Deily Motorsports
May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024
Deily Motorsports is thrilled to announce their return to IMSA with James Vance, who has signed a 5-year contract with the team as they gear up for their Michelin Pilot Challenge effort in the TCR class. This time around, Deily Motorsports will be sporting a whole new look from their last race in Daytona in January, fielding an Audi RS3. The team will continue to be led by the dynamic father-son duo, with Jacob Deily joining Vance on the track.
Team owner Bob Deily shared his excitement about the upcoming season, stating, "Our first season in IMSA was a massive challenge, with too many pitfalls. I could not be more excited about the future of having James Vance join our team for the next 5 years, minimum. I am equally excited to be making the manufacturer switch to Audi. With James Vance joining my son Jacob, and our new gen 2 Audi RS3 TCR we will be coming for wins this year, and embarking on a championship run in 2025."
James Vance brings with him 10 years of IMSA racing experience, including two years in the Audi RS3 competing in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. During his time in the Audi, Vance achieved two wins and six podiums, leading to an impressive fourth-place finish in the championship in 2020. Jacob Deily, entering his third year running in IMSA, has shown continuous improvement with each race at just 18 years old.
In a statement, Jacob Deily expressed his excitement for the remainder of this season, stating, "I am extremely excited to be sharing the car with James long term. I know he will be an asset with all of his experience. I have a number of things that i am excited learn to as he helps us grow, and progress our program." Similarly, James Vance shared his enthusiasm for the partnership with Deily Motorsports, saying, " I could not be more excited for this opportunity. Bob came to me in March regarding joining Deily Motorsports long term, and i jumped at the chance to compete with him and his team in IMSA for the next 5 seasons minimum, starting at Mid Ohio in June. We have meticulously gone over every detail to ensure our processes lead to success. We want to welcome a new lineup of partners (Easycare / OMP race products) to Deily motorsports, and we are ecstatic to announce more in due course. Let’s go racing!"
With a strong lineup and a competitive Audi RS3, Deily Motorsports is ready to return to competition in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series at Mid Ohio June 7-9, 2024.
Easycare: EasyCare, an APCO Holdings brand, is a leading marketer and administrator of automotive aftermarket products sold throughout the United States. With more than 40 years of experience, we offer a full suite of F&I products, innovative dealer services and industry-leading customer service. We proudly hold an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and our products are the industry’s only MotorTrend Recommended Best Buy. Toronto-based Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Canada’s largest single- profession pension plan, is the majority shareholder of our parent company APCO Holdings, LLC. Visit www.easycare.com to learn more.
OMP Race Products: OMP is a world leader in the engineering, designing and manufacturing racing safety equipment for race car drivers (soft good) and performance/safety parts (hard parts) for race cars. OMP is one of a very few industry suppliers in the world able to offer a complete range of performance driven products dedicated to race car and driver safety with over 2,000 products in its catalog with the majority homologated to industry standards including FIA, CIK-FIA, SFI and Snell. Visit www.ompamerica.com to learn more.
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- Category: Road Racing
By: Samantha Tan Racing
May 21, 2024
May 21, 2024
Samantha Tan Racing has moved to the top of the Pro/Am Teams’ standings in this year’s GT World Challenge America after a successful weekend at the Circuit of the Americas, one headlined by two Pro/Am class wins.
A strategic masterclass in race one, plus a fighting drive in race two, was rewarded with a pair of Pro/Am class wins and two overall podiums for Samantha Tan and Neil Verhagen, who continue their fruitful partnership aboard the #38 BMW M4 GT3 in 2024.
The two category wins – the fifth and sixth consecutive Pro/Am podiums for ST Racing so far this season – mean the Canadian team has now moved 18 points clear in the title chase as the season approaches half-distance.
Samantha Tan, team co-owner / driver (#38): “Back to back wins at COTA! I qualified P3 and Neil qualified on overall pole this weekend, and we were able to push for a win in both races. I am filled with such immense pride for my team, our crew gave us an amazing car and executed flawless pitstops, allowing Neil and I to fight for the overall lead on both Saturday and Sunday. It was incredibly hot and humid this weekend, so it wasn’t easy by any means! I am beyond grateful for the continued guidance & trust from my teammate and the support from BMW Motorsport, my coach and engineers, and look forward to building on the momentum through the rest of the season!”
Kenneth Tan, team co-owner: “The asphalt was hot and the team were on fire all weekend and I am not talking about the weather, which was super hot. The team came together and swept the Pro-Am class for the first time in our short history. We continued to struggle in getting Car 28 in the zone during the first race but turned things positively around by race 2. Still more adjustments needed but I am confident we are on the up and up there. Very proud of the whole crew and drivers for all their hard work and successful weekend. We will continue to strive for that perfect weekend when both cars sweep the Pro and Pro-Am classes. It’s a reachable goal and we will continue to work hard towards it. Now we have some time to recuperate and prep the cars for a challenging second half of the season. See you at VIR!”
For the first time this season, and in a meaningful nod to her heritage, Samantha proudly bore her Chinese name on the #38 BMW this weekend.
Qualifying
An impressive qualifying session hinted at a successful weekend to come for the #38: Neil took a second outright pole of the season in Q2, while Samantha was the fastest of any ‘Am’ driver in Q1, banking 3rd in-class and 6th on the overall grid.
BMW legend Bill Auberlen meanwhile, competing with up-and-coming GT star Varun Choksey, similarly demonstrated the M4 GT3’s pace at COTA by qualifying 4th overall and 2nd in the ‘Pro’ class for race one in the sister #28 BMW. Despite niggling setup issues hampering his progress, Varun was still able to qualify 4th in-class for race two on his maiden GT3 run at COTA.
Race 1
Managing to avoid a collision ahead of them at turn one, astute driving from BMW M Motorsport brand ambassadors Bill Auberlen and Samantha Tan meant the #28 and #38 BMWs were already up to 2nd and 3rd overall, and 1st and 2nd in their respective classes, by the end of the first lap. Fittingly, the Samantha Tan Racing BMWs ran in formation for much of race one’s opening half.
Having been given track position by the sister #28, Samantha completed a controlled, 51-minute stint in 3rd place overall heading into the mid-race mandatory pit stop. Back on-track, typically assertive overtakes from Neil Verhagen, now at the wheel, meant the #38 M4 was soon up to 2nd overall and, crucially, into the ‘Pro/Am’ class top spot. Though the overall lead was within striking distance, both Neil and ST Racing’s experienced engineers opted instead for a conservative approach for the remainder of the race to bank its second class win of the season. A result that moved Samantha Tan Racing to the top of the Pro-Am Teams’ standings.
A loose rear diffuser meanwhile (dislodged, it’s suspected, during the opening lap melee), meant a class podium for the #28 BMW was notably hard-earned: though “not terrible,” the disrupted downforce caused by the loose diffuser meant Bill and teammate Varun Choksey were left taming an ill-handling GT3 throughout the 90-minute race, despite ST Racing’s mechanics’ attempts to resolve the problem during an extended pit stop. Varun in particular impressed with a prolonged and staunch defense against championship rival Wright Motorsports: several times, the American team appeared to have the move done down COTA’s back straight, only for the wounded BMW to fight back.
Though unable to hold off his on-track rival, despite a valiant effort, a maturing Varun later allowed a three-way fight for 4th in the Pro/Am places through as well in the closing stages. While this ultimately dropped the #28 BMW from a deserved 6th overall to 9th, crucially, this decision allowed Varun to retain 3rd in the ‘Pro’ class all the way to the chequered flag.
Race 2
Despite being jumped on the opening lap, the experienced Neil, now running 2nd, opted to preserve his tyres during his 50-minute stint, whilst also keeping the leading Turner Motorsport BMW well in-sight. Indeed, the gap between 1st and 2nd was less than 1.5 seconds when both M4s hit pitroad, on the same lap, at half-distance. Exceptional pitwork by ST Racing’s mechanics meant the already slim gap was down to just half a second when Samantha started the final stint of the weekend.
All over the back of the Turner Motorsport BMW, Samantha was finally able to open the door down the inside of turn 17 with 32 minutes left to run.
Rather than lose time against a charging ‘Pro’ field and potentially put a second consecutive Pro/Am class win in jeopardy, Samantha eventually brought the BMW home 3rd overall. Even so, a fighting drive and time at the very front of the field – on merit! – more than proved the potential of ST Racing’s package for 2024.
A frustrating weekend for the #28 BMW was similarly rewarded with 3rd in-class, and 7th outright, from 12th on the grid. Aware that his closest ‘Pro’ rival had been handed a three-second penalty post-race, the wily Bill pulled to within just a few car lengths in the closing stages, and even made a move for position on the final lap!
Neil Verhagen, driver (#38): “First time for me being at Circuit of the Americas and it definitely did not disappoint! I have to give all the thanks to the STR boys and girls that made this possible. They put in so much hard work and effort during the whole weekend, even in the extreme heat and humidity. To walk away with Pole position for Sunday’s race and race wins on Saturday and Sunday is unbelievable! We definitely maximized everything we had this weekend. I’m excited to be back in the car at VIR with the team in July!”
Varun Choksey, driver (#28): “COTA was a difficult weekend for the 28 car. We struggled to find the balance of the car before qualifying and we lacked the pace of our rivals throughout the weekend. Despite that, we were still able to learn about the car and earn more points which keep us in the hunt for the championship at the end of the season. That’s always the most important thing. Congrats to our sister car on dominating the weekend and thanks to the whole team for their continued effort and support.”
Bill Auberlehen, driver (#28): “So far this year we have done 6 races and finished on the podium 6 times. In any other year this would be an insane accomplishment, but because this year we are currently second in the championship with such great finishes it’s actually a hard one to swallow. Now after Cota we have some time off to tear our BMW M4 GT3 apart and hopefully find that extra little bit of speed we are missing and come back and stand on the top step of the podium!! I need to thank my teammate Varun, my guys and girls at STR and BMW for giving us such a great car. Next step will be the top step!”
After a well-earned summer break, Samantha Tan Racing will be back in action on 19-21 July for round four of this year’s GT World Challenge America at the Virginia International Raceway.
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- Category: Road Racing
By: Mike Sullivan/RaceCanada.ca
May 17, 2024
May 17, 2024
The official unofficial start to the Canadian racing season kicked off Friday at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park with the annual Castrol Victoria Day Speefest, headlined by the new look NASCAR Canada Series.
Throughout the week, the weather for Friday was looking iffy, to say the least, with rain forecast to start at 9:00am and continue throughout the day. As Friday drew closer, the forecast start of the rain kept getting pushed back, and while the day dawned gloomy, the rain held off and wasn’t seen until we got a steady, light rain starting around 4:30pm.
All classes were scheduled to get three sessions over the course of the day, with a morning session and two sessions in the afternoon.
With the rain starting to fall during the third Nissan Sentra Cup session, the Emzone Radical Canada Cup was the only class that got three full sessions of representative times.
With the NASCAR Canada Series not hitting the track until Saturday, Friday was left to testing and practice for the FEL Sports Car Championship, the Emzone Radical Cup Canada, Nissan Sentra Cup, Toyo Tires F1600 and the Super Production Challenge.
As is usually the case, the Super Production Challenge (SPC) fielded the being grid XXXX fielding 26 cars across three classes, Super Production (SP), Production (P) and Compact (C).
The early session saw Gabriel Lacombe quickest in the SP class in his Honda Civic Si, while Nathan Blok went 2 seconds quicker in the early afternoon session, recording a fastest lap of 1:30.605, which would stand as the best time of the day with the track very wet by the time the final sessions of the day rolled around, with SPC’s final session scheduled to start at 6:30pm.
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| Nathan Blok was quickest in the SPC afternoon session in the Nissan 370Z |
In Production class, Yannick Lupien led the morning session in his Mini Cooper S, but as was the case in SPC, the afternoon session saw Vincent Desautels trim Lupien’s time by about 2 seconds, turning a 1:37.545 in his Honda Civic Si.
In Compact, Trevor Hill was quickest in the morning in this Nissan Micra, with the afternoon session again proving faster with Zack Lalonde, who didn’t appear in the morning session getting the better of Hill in the afternoon with 1:44.648, also in a Nissan Micra.
In the Nissan Sentra Cup, the morning session saw Matt Miron quickest followed by Nicolas Miron, while the afternoon session saw Daniel Fortin quickest, followed by Alexandre Fortin. While Daniel’s time did stand up as quickest of the session, and of the day, he was involved in an incident that brought out the red flag and saw him only complete 4 laps.
In Toyo Tires F1600 action, the battle at the front was again between Britain West and Brian Graham Racing, with Britain West’s Conor Clubine setting the fastest time in the morning session, just over four tenths clear of BGR’s Antonio Costantino.
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| Brian Graham Racing's Antonio Costantino was quickest in the afternoon sesion. |
In the first of the FEL series on track, the Sports Car Championship Canada (SCCC) saw Jack Polito turn the quickest lap of the day as the only GT4 car on track, edging the TCR leader Dean Baker by just over a tenth of a second, Polito on a 1:22.454 and Baker on 1:22.566. No times were available for the first session of the day, and like the other series, only a small handful of cars took part in the final practice of the day, with nobody turning a competitive time.
The final series, the FEL Radical Canada Cup, was the only series to get three full, dry session, but like the SCCC, no morning times were available.
In the early afternoon, former Canadian Superbike star Kenny Riedmann was quickest with a 1:20.145. Riedmann sat out the late afternoon session, leaving Owen Clarke, who was second quickest in the early session, quickest, turning a 1:21.109.
Things will get serious tomorrow, with the first session of the day at 8:00am being qualifying for the Super Production Challenge. All 5 series will make their qualifying runs before lunch tomorrow, with Super Production Challenge having their first of three races closing out the morning sessions tomorrow.
The NASCAR Canada Series will see their first action of the day tomorrow, with the first session up after lunch, with practice from 12:25 to 1:15pm. The first races of the weekend for the Nissan Sentra Cup, Toyo Tires F1600, Radical Cup and Sports Cars follow NASCAR practice, followed by NASCAR Canada qualifying at 5:00pm.
With FEL and Nissan Sentra Cup being streamed live on YouTue this weekend, be sure to check out our new Twitter feed, @RaceCanadaTuneIn to get notifications of all upcoming races you’ll see on TV and streaming.