Magnus Racing Ready to Carry Momentum Past Canadian Customs

BOWMANVILLE, ON, Canada (July 7, 2016)- Following a strong performance just four days ago at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen, Magnus Racing and the entire IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is already back in action this weekend, headed North for the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix, held at the popular Canadian Tire Motorsport Park located just one hour outside of Toronto.

“This is part of the season where preparation shows most, and we all feel very confident about the summer months ahead,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “Back-to-back races are always tough on a small team like ours, and we’re of course about to hit a swing where we’re racing nearly every other weekend, but we’ve been fortunate to have done a lot of testing to get prepared for this, and everyone on the team is well versed to the demands required.”

Currently sitting third in the GTD-category point standings, the next two months will prove critical for everyone on the team. In the 23 weeks since the season started, the team has competed in five rounds of the 11-race championship. In the next seven weeks, however, the team will nearly equal that number. With the next five rounds of the series being campaigned as “sprint” races, all taking less than three hours, ultimate speed will play a large role during this summer season.

Heading to the scenic Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, historically known by many as “Mosport,” the rolling hills, fast corners, and long straights should deliver an interesting outcome for the entire category. With a long uphill back-straight playing a key role, it remains to be seen just how the No. 44 Audi R8 LMS will fair against the variety of other marques on track, but it should no-doubt make for an exciting fight.

For teammate Andy Lally, a return to the high speeds of “CTMP” are something to look forward.

“The track here in Canada is always one of the most exciting that we go to,” stated Lally. “With so many fast corners, you really have to develop a lot of courage to put together the perfect lap, and it always makes for really tough racing as you have to really plot your way to make a pass. It’s going to be a tough race for us but we’re well prepared, and it’s obviously the kick-off to a very busy series of sprint races.”

Practice for the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix  begins tomorrow, July 8, with the race taking place on Sunday, July 10. Live coverage can be found on Fox Sports 1 at 11AM ET.

Magnus Racing Takes Watkins Glen Podium for Fourth Consecutive Year

WATKINS GLEN, NY (June 5, 2016)- Following a hard-fought race throughout the event, MagnusRacing would take a well-earned second place duringSunday’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen. It would not only serve as the fourth consecutive year that the team would see a podium finish, but also continued the team’s championship efforts with a current second-place ranking in the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup, as well as third in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT category.
 
“We really, really wanted to win this one, but I don’t think any of us can actually be disappointed with second,” stated John Potter, team owner and co-driver of the No. 44 Magnus Racing Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS. “We came in to the weekend knowing we had a real shot at it, and I think we delivered a performance capable of winning, it just didn’t work out. As always, it’s a team effort, and everyone on the team did their part perfectly. All of our stops were solid, we played strong strategy, and Dion and Andy both did an excellent job getting us a podium spot. We have a lot of momentum going in to the rest of the season, and we’ll definitely be back next year, still looking for that win!”

Starting from the eighth position after one of his best qualifying runs yet, John Potter would take opening duties for the famed six-hour classic. Showing strong pace throughout practice, the Salt Lake City resident was off to an excellent start when the green flag dropped, maintaining his distance to the field in front of him and doing his best to show patience for the long race ahead. As his stint continued, an opportune yellow would present itself for the team’s first stop, with the team opting to leave Potter in to fulfill his minimum drive-time requirement.
 
By series rule, Potter’s role within the lineup would require him to drive a minimum one-hour and forty-five minutes, and with the team owner now in to his second-stint, the strategy of having all minimum drive-time obligations fulfilled before the race’s one-third mark appeared to be playing out.
 
Unfortunately, as the clock approached the minimum time, the team’s on-board telemetry revealed a dropping tire pressure in the left-rear, putting the team in a tough position on what to do next. With Potter’s minimum drive-time lapsing in a matter of minutes, if the team brought him in immediately, it would mean his required time would not be fulfilled and he’d likely need to drive another full stint. If they elected to leave him out until he met the time requirement, they were putting both driver and car at risk of a complete tire failure.
 
Slowing his pace, Potter did his best to delicately negotiate his Audi through the corners and put as little stress on his tire as possible, however coming out of Turn 10 the tire eventually let go, luckily only a few yards from pit entry. The driver immediately ducked in to the pits, unfortunately just seconds before his minimum drive-time would lapse, meaning the team would need to keep John in the car to run yet another stint.

Now running his third stint in the car, the emergency pit stop would actually not prove too detrimental, with many other teams pitting at a similar time, keeping the No. 44 on the same pit sequence as the majority of the competitors. Knowing that his pace would be critical, Potter drove some of his best laps of the weekend, maintaining pace with the lead pack throughout the remainder of his run, and keeping the team safely within the hunt for a win. After a faultless series of laps, John would eventually pit just before the halfway mark, nearly driving three hours to open the race.
 
After another quick pit stop by the crew, it was time for team newcomer Dion von Moltke to take his turn in the Audi. A veteran of the marque, von Moltke’s vast experience with the R8 was evident, with the Charleston resident immediately on pace to open up his stint. Having a reputation as a clean driver who rarely makes mistakes, Dion failed to disappoint, continuously moving his way up the field and putting the team in a position to fight for the podium as his laps continued on.

With two-and-a-half hours remaining, it was time for yet another stop as well as a driver change, opting to put Andy Lally in for the remainder of the race. With Lally in the car, all focus was on moving to the front, and the New York native did just that.
 
Growing up in Long Island, this is often considered the “home track” for Andy, and one that always provides a little extra motivation for him to win at. As the laps continued, Andy would continue to set a series of fast laps, eventually moving his way up to to third, then second, and eventually taking the lead as his first stint came to a close.
 
Unfortunately, with 90 minutes remaining, the team’s penultimate pit stop would suffer a minor setback that would cost the team valuable time, with Lally rejoining the track behind several of the cars that he’d managed to pass minutes before.
 
With one stop to go, it was clear that strategy would play a major factor in the race’s outcome, and the team patiently waited to see how the event unfolded. Continuing his pursuit of the front, Andy continued to make several gains on the field in front of him, once again putting his No. 44 in to a podium position as the team figured out their next move.

Now in the window for their final stop, the team would play their strategy by bringing in Lally with just over 50 minutes remaining, taking a full load of fuel and tires to take him to the end.
 
However, as the rest of the field continued to cycle through stops, a series of different strategies would begin to appear, most notably the No. 63 Ferrari who all of a sudden re-appeared with an 11-second lead, which was indicative of the team’s decision to not change tires.
 
Doing his best to move up the field, a third-place Lally would spend several laps in pursuit of the No. 33 Viper driven by Jeroen Bleekemolen in second, however he would struggle due to the vastly different strengths and weaknesses of the two cars. Eventually, a major back-up in traffic would result in contact between the Viper and Audi, with Lally managing to narrowly make a pass and move his way up to second.
 
A series of yellow flags would then follow suit as the clock continued to count down, and while this did help close the gap between the Magnus Audi and the No. 63 Ferrari, it also eliminated any advantages the team had with new tires and plenty of fuel.
 
As the laps closed down, Andy would give strong chase to the leader, however it was clear that the No. 63 had a comfortable pace to keep Lally behind, with the checkered flag eventually falling and securing another win for the Ferrari.
Securing second, the satisfaction with yet another podium was underscored by a slight amount of frustration with a missed opportunity for victory.
 
“We all really wanted to win this thing, so it’s tough to be completely happy,” stated Lally. “Ultimately we’re walking away with another podium and great points for the championship, and that is a testament to how awesome this team is. We put a lot of time in to thisrace, both this weekend and some previous testing we’ve done, hopefully second is a strong reward for that. John was spectacular. We really had to rely on him after that tire went down, and he went way above and beyond in his third stint. His times were impressive and that played a big role in keeping us in contention. Dion has earned himself a great reputation to play the exact role we needed him to play, and he did that perfectly. I really enjoyed having him on the team. Obviously we’re getting in to the crazy season with the next few sprint races, but our team is well equipped and we’ll see where this goes.”
 
For Dion von Moltke, an inaugural event with the team was a fun one.
 
“I’ve been competing against these guys for so long, it was great to be a part of it,” stated von Moltke. “It’s a great family here, everyone was immediately very welcoming and made me feel like a part of the team, and that goes a long way. Any time you can grab a podium it’s a good day, I know a lot of the guys here were really pushing for a win, but I think we should all feel satisfied with a strong run, I don’t think there’s anything anyone could have done any different.”
 
With little time to slow down, the team is hard at work preparing for the next event, which takes place in just a few days at the upcoming Mobil 1 Sportscar Grand Prix at the storied Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, the series’ lone visit outside of the U.S. Practice begins this Friday, July 8, with the race taking place on Sunday, July 10. The event begins on Sunday at 11AM ET, with live coverage on FOX Sports 1.

QUICK SHOT: Magnus Racing Takes Second at Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen

WATKINS GLEN, New York (July 4, 2016)-Following an incredible six-hours of racing at the classic Watkins Glen International, Magnus Racing drivers John Potter, Andy Lally, and Dion von Moltke would take a hard-fought second despite multiple setbacks. 

"Obviously we really want to win this race, but we're very satisfied with second," stated Magnus Racing team owner and driver John Potter. "As always, this was an incredible team effort, not just from our crew who performed flawlessly, but also Andy and Dion who did an incredible job of working their way up the field."
 
Starting the No. 44 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS in eighth, John Potter would drive a strong opening series of stints, before a cut tire would force an emergency stop that eventually led to a nearly three-hour stint from the team owner. Following that, drivers Dion von Moltke and Andy Lally would battle hard toward the front, with Lally eventually settling in to second place by time the checkered flag fell. The team currently sits second in the Tequila Patrón North American Endruance Cup standings, and third in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

A full release will be issued shortly.

Magnus Racing “Swipes Right” on Dion von Moltke for Watkins Glen

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (June 27, 2016)- Per their video release (above), Magnus Racing is pleased to announce the addition of IMSA veteran Dion von Moltke for this weekend’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen. As the Official Sportscar Brand Ambassador for Audi of America, the 25-year old will replace the team’s regular endurance driver Marco Seefried, who was unavailable due to a schedule conflict.

Seefried instead decided to make a documentary film about it. See above.
 
“It’s great to have Dion on board,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver. “We’ve obviously known Dion for several years now, and he’s really earned himself a great reputation as a reliable, solid driver who doesn’t make mistakes. When we realized Marco wouldn’t be available he was the clear choice for us, and we know he’ll fit right in with us this weekend. Plus, he seemed to be the only who we matched with when we looking for drivers on-line. I think one of the greatest things about Dion is his extremely edgy personality, you just never know what horrific thing is going to come out of his mouth, and that’s when he’s sober! We look forward to his crude jokes and brash commentary.”
 
A South Carolina resident, von Moltke joins the team with a long history in the sport despite a fairly young age. Having driven for a variety of teams in the sport, Dion has accrued a number of accolades including victories at The Rolex 24 at Daytona and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, all leading to his current role as the Official Sportscar Brand Ambassador for Audi of America.
 
For von Moltke, the opportunity to join Magnus is a welcome one.
 
“I’ve known a lot of the guys at Magnus for a long time now, so it’s great to finally be a part of the team,” stated von Moltke. “The team obviously has a reputation for fun, that’s why I ‘swiped right’ when I saw they were looking, but their success on the track speaks volumes for them. They seem to run really well at endurance races, and I know they really want to win at Watkins Glen, and hopefully I can do my part.”
 
Despite three consecutive podiums at the famed upstate New York circuit, Magnus Racing has never taken victory at the six-hour event. Currently leading the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Championship, the team is cautiously optimistic forSunday’s festivities.
 
Practice for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen begins this Friday, July 1, with the race taking place on Sunday, July 3. Live coverage will be available via Fox Sports 1 at 10AM ET, or imsa.tv for international fans.

Magnus Racing Takes Top-10 in Detroit

DETROIT (June 6, 2016)- Returning to a track that has been notoriously challenging for the team, Magnus Racing would finish Saturday’s Chevrolet Sports Car Classic presented by Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers in a quiet 10^th. 

“We knew this would be a challenging weekend for us,” stated team owner and co-driver John Potter. “For whatever reason the circuit at Belle Isle has just never been our track, and this weekend proved no different. I applaud everyone on the team for working hard throughout the weekend, we definitely put in the effort, and ultimately seeing the checkered flag in 10^th was all we could ask for.”

As the lone temporary street circuit for the GTD category of IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the bumpy and tight nature of the 2.36-mile course has notoriously proven difficult for the team. In 2014, the team was blighted with penalties which cost the team a possible podium, and in 2015 the team’s co-driver Andy Lally was caught in an unavoidable incident that put the team well behind.

For the 2016 race, John Potter would take starting duties in the No. 44 Audi Tire Center / Auric Solar Audi R8 LMS. Starting from the eighth row, Potter simply managed his time throughout his stint, making a solid pass early on and largely focused on preserving his car. Maintaining contact with the lead pack, an opportune yellow would present itself just past the 35-minute mark of the race, allowing the team to pit in favor of co-driver Andy Lally to take the car through the remainder of the 100-minute race.

Executing a flawless stop, all attention was now on Lally to work on the field in front of him. Showing strong pace, a combination of constant yellow flags and difficulty passing would undermine the pace of the Audi, with Andy doing his best to work on the field in front of him but struggling to gain ground.

As the laps wound down, Lally would be able to make one last gasp pass on the No. 94 Turner BMW of Markus Palttala on the final lap, slotting him in to 10^th and gaining valuable points in the process.

“This was just one of those races you know you have to get through,” stated Lally. “Everyone on the team did their part, this just wasn’t a good weekend for us. Luckily we walked away with a car that is still in tact and we definitely learned a few things, so I think headed in to the rest of the season we’ll be in pretty good shape. 

With the event behind them, all focus now turns to an event where the team has done well at, the Sahlen’s Six Hours at the Glen in Watkins Glen, New York. As the third round of the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Championship, the team will take to the track on Friday, July 1, with the six-hour classic taking place that Sunday. The team will have more details on the event shortly.