Magnus Racing Looks to Replace Old Memories of Lime Rock
Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at 06:23PM 
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (July 22, 2015)- In 2013, the last time Magnus Racing visited the famed Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut, the race ended in tears, literally, as the team’s championship came to an end before finishing the second lap of the race. One year before that, the team went from leading the closing stages of the race to running out of fuel with only a few laps to go.
In 2015, the team is hoping the circuit can create a complete change of fortune during Saturday’s Northeast Grand Prix. Enduring a challenging TUDOR United SportsCar Championship campaign throughout the first half of 2015, the team is hoping their recent podium at Watkins Glen has instilled a renewed confidence headed to the notorious track.
“I don’t ever like the philosophy that a track owes you, but certainly Lime Rock is a place where we’ve paid our dues,” stated Magnus Racing team owner John Potter. “In 2012, we almost took our third win of the season and it would have put us third in the championship, but our fuel mileage came up short. The next year, a decent finish would have earned us the championship, but it wasn’t meant to be. After finally getting a podium at our last race, maybe it’s time Lime Rock became a place of good memories for us. The entire team has been hard at work with some recent tests and developments, so we’re all hoping for a good weekend.”
As a narrow track that only runs 1.5 miles, the shortest of any course on the TUDOR circuit, Lime Rock Park is synonymous with tight racing and frequent incidents. Unfortunately, Magnus Racing has been on the wrong end of this more often than not.
In 2012, the circuit played host to the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Championship finale. To that point, Magnus Racing had experienced a banner year, winning at The Rolex 24 at Daytona as well as Brickyard Grand Prix, and headed to Lime Rock sitting fifth in the championship. With the constant yellows and tight confines playing a pivotal role in the team’s strategy, drivers Andy Lally and John Potter were able to extend their fuel mileage beyond anyone else, taking the lead during the closing stages of the race as everyone else pitted. Looking poised to take victory and jump to third in the championship standings, the gamble didn’t quite pan out, and with only a couple laps to go, the team’s gamble came up short with Lally running out of gas and coasting to the pits.
In 2013, the team came to Lime Rock with even higher hopes, their first series championship. With the track hosting the Rolex Series finale once again, Magnus Racing took the green flag as the championship leader with a comfortable points lead requiring only a reasonable finish to take the title.
Unfortunately, on only the second lap of the race, TRG-AMR driver Richie Stanaway would drive wide and into the grass in Turn One, veering back on course and right into Magnus Racing’s John Potter. The No. 44 would be sent spinning as a result, with the approaching GT field having no choice but to run straight into him. The team would rebound to fix the car in only 40 minutes, salvaging a runner-up finish in the championship, but all hopes for a title were lost.
This year, the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America will take to the track with extensive testing done in recent weeks, and with a newfound pace that should suit the team well.
For Andy Lally, who grew up just two hours away in Northport, New York, hopes are high for a return to form.
“This crew has been unbelievable during a trying season,” stated Lally. “Even when we’re testing, everyone is as intense and dedicated as ever, and Watkins Glen started to show some of the fruits of that. It’s tough to say how Lime Rock will be for Porsche teams, but there’s no question which team I’d want behind me. John and I will give everyone the best performance we can, and we’ve proven in the past just how well this team can do.”
As a race held exclusively for the Prototype Challenge (PC) and GT Daytona (GTD) classes, the Northeast Grand Prix should be unlike any other during the 2015 season. Practice begins on Friday, July 24, with the race taking place on Saturday, July 25, at 3:15PM. Live coverage will be available on IMSA.com, and the race will also be available on Fox Sports 1 at 5PM the following day, July 26.