Strong Drive Shows Promise for Magnus at VIR

ALTON, Virginia (August 20, 2018) – Following a wild day of up-and-down moments, Magnus Racing and the No. 44 Audi R8 LMS GT3 would take seventh place, and top Audi honors, at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR). While drivers John Potter and Andy Lally would be classified as seventh, the result fails to underscore a strong run, which including leading throughout much of the second-half of the race.

“I actually think we should be happy with the overall weekend,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and driver John Potter. “We were fast throughout practice, had a solid car in the race, and we made a great strategy call. With a little different fortune we were poised for a podium, and overall we should take a lot of satisfaction in where we are with the program.”

After continuously running toward the top-half of the time sheets throughout practice, John Potter would take starting duties from the fourth row. Keeping pace with the field, John would effectively hold position throughout his run, handing over to Andy Lally without putting a foot wrong.

With Lally behind the wheel, the pursuit of the field in front of him would begin, slowly making progress through the twisty confines of the four-mile circuit. Just past halfway, however, the entire nature of the race would change when the race’s one-and-only caution period would arise.

With 80-minutes remaining, the timing would prove unique as many teams chose to make pit stops, knowing that they would likely still need to make another stop toward the end of the race. Opting to gain track position instead, Lally would stay out, advancing to the front of the field, now with the lead but with the knowledge that his final stop would likely be longer than everyone else." 

Once the race resumed, Andy would lead for several laps, doing his best to build a gap, ultimately making his final stop with under one hour remaining. As pit stops would cycle through, Lally would find himself in second, chasing down the lead but with an aggressive field behind him.

As the race came to a close, Andy would actually manage to get around the class leader, however the loss of momentum from the pass would allow the AMG of Jeroen Bleekemolen behind him to make a pass, with the two making light contact and Bleekemolen barely edging by and forcing Lally wide. Unfortunately, in the next corner Lally would end up getting in to the back of Bleekemolen, causing the AMG to spin off course.

This would eventually lead to a drive-through penalty for the Magnus Audi, dropping down the order and with only enough time to recover to seventh. It was a difficult end to an otherwise promising weekend, but with two races remaining the team is well poised to close on a high note.

For Land Motorsport’s Peter Baron, a unique was shared.

“Some days, you might have been better off staying at a Magnus-owned Comfort Inn and Suites , eating all the self serve ice cream you wish,” stated Baron. “Actually, that’s pretty much every day.  I do love I cream.  John and Andy finished 7th.”

The next round of competition, the final sprint race of the year, will be at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, nestled in the scenic hills of Monterey, California. Practice begins on Friday, September 7, with the race on Sunday, September 9.