Magnus Racing’s Webcast Returns for Rolex 24 at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fl (January 27, 2016)-Continuing a tradition that has carried since the team’s first victory in 2012, Magnus Racing’s annual “Live at Daytona!” pitside webcast will once again happen during this weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona. Running live for all 24 hours of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s marquee event, the drivers and crew of the No. 44 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS will once again offer their insight in to the operation unlike any other.
 
“We’re very excited to bring the webcast back again, “ stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “We obviously make a big commitment to entertaining our fans, and the webcast has become a staple of that. It’s a big undertaking, but we’re very happy to present something unique and to our voice. More importantly, we couldn't be more enthusiastic about returning to Daytona. We’re excited to embark on this new adventure with Audi, and based on our test and lineup we’re all very optimistic on our prospects for the race.”
 
With a line-up featuring three drivers who’ve won the prestigious race before, for a combined total of six victories, the team heads in to this weekend’s race with a certain sense of optimism following a successful test during the annual Roar Before the 24 just three weeks ago. The combination of full-season drivers John Potter and Andy Lally with team endurance driver Marco Seefried and Audi factory driver René Rast presents one of the most formidable lineups in the highly-contested GT Daytona (GTD) category.
 
“This is an amazing lineup, and I think we all know we have a real shot at this,” stated co-driver Andy Lally. “The last time René drove with us, Magnus took its first ever victory, and I don’t see why that can’t be repeated. A lot can happen and this is probably one of the tightest fields I’ve ever seen, but we’re prepared and ready.”
 


Running live for all 24 hours of the race, the team’s pitside webcast not only gives fans an opportunity to listen in on team communications and view a live working pit, but to interact as well. With key members of the team and IMSA paddock sitting in throughout the race, the team will offer fans a chance to write in via chatroom to ask questions and interact with the team through all 24 hours of the famed race. Once again hosted by team stalwart Sean Heckman, long-time paddock personality Melissa Eickhoff will take on co-hosting duties as well, with the duo currently planning a number of segments and games for their guests throughout the event. Joining the team will be Emily Potter who has become synonymous with her hosting duties, as well as all of the team’s drivers and random IMSA drop-ins.

Fans can watch all 24 hours live on magnusracing.com, or directly on uStream via ustream.com/liveatdaytona. You can also follow via smartphone by either checking the uStream app or following the team's Twitter and Facebook pages.

Additionally, the team’s “Magnus Challenge” will return, however in very modified form. In previous years, the team gave out a secret word every hour to see who managed to stay up for the whole race, however for 2016 the team will be introducing an, err, very different challenge… presented by a very famous personality within the motorsport scene.
 
With practice and qualifying beginning tomorrow, the race will begin this Saturday, January 30 at 2:40PM.

The team’s webcast is aiming to start at 2PM(ish), with the official series television and broadcast schedule below:

• 2:00 PM ET, 1/30/2016, FOX Sports 1
• 4:00 PM ET, 1/30/2016, FOX Sports 2
• 10:00 PM ET, 1/31/2016, IMSA
• 7:00 AM ET, 1/31/2016, FOX Sports 1
• 10:30 AM ET, 1/31/2016, FOX Sports 2
• 1:00 PM ET, 1/31/2016, FOX Sports 1

Magnus Racing Learns Plenty About Car, Nothing About Competition at Roar

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (January 11, 2016) - With an all-new rules set for the GT Daytona (GTD) category of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Magnus Racing and the No. 44 Audi R8 LMS came in to the annual Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona with the goal of furthering their learning curve on the new car, as well as learning about their fellow category competitors. While the team gathered plenty of data on both the machine and drivers, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of their competition was pretty much pointless.

“Overall we’re definitely happy with our performance, I think we’re one of a dozen teams that feel very confident about the race,” stated team owner and co-driver John Potter. “This was our first time taking the new Audi to Daytona, and the car was very strong. I pulled my fastest lap times ever at the track, and all of my teammates proved very quick, so I know we’re in the hunt. Where any of us stand for the race, who knows. Every session showed different cars and different teams at the top of the time sheets, and I think all that proved is just how close this category will be. It’s going to be a real fight and we’re all looking forward to it.”

With drivers John Potter, Andy Lally, René Rast and Marco Seefried taking their time behind the wheel, the team was consistently in the mix through the majority of sessions during the three-day test, with the team working on everything from setup, to reliability, to simply gaining seat time for their drivers. Despite having never driven the car at Daytona, the team was able to manage a 1:48.070 lap-time, just 15 hundredths of a second off of the top time on the weekend, and with five different manufacturers all within a half-second of one another. With a variety of teams and drivers trading top times, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will be the favorite for the race.

For Andy Lally, a quiet confidence is the feeling of the team after the weekend.

“We’re all pretty happy with the Roar,” stated the four-time race winner. “This field is incredibly close, it’s so tough to gauge where anyone stands, but we learned a ton about this car and we’re definitely a contender. We still have a few things we want to work on, but we have a strong Audi R8 LMS and and an awesome lineup. John pulled the best lap times he’s ever run, René was exactly what we all expected, and Marco was right there as well. The guys put in a lot of time this winter getting us ready, we’re all as prepared as we can be.”

For Rast, the sentiment is shared.

“The Audi R8 LMS is always an excellent car at this track,” stated the German. “Obviously I have many fond memories with Magnus given that we won together the last time I was here with them, and after the test I definitely feel as though we’re as strong as ever. It’s a great team, a great car, now we just have to see where we are in a few weeks.”

For Marco Seefried, another chance at Daytona is always welcome.

“We’re definitely very strong here, so I think everyone is pretty confident,” stated Seefried. “The car is very impressive and should be very solid, and obviously our driver lineup is incredibly quick. Andy, John and René have all won together here, and based on this weekend we all know it’s possible to return to victory lane, but obviously there are many factors so we’ll just have to see what happens during the 24.”

With only a couple weeks between the test and the race, the entire WeatherTech championship is hard at work getting both car and team ready for the upcoming Rolex 24 at Daytona. As both the season opener and the biggest race of the year, there is a lot at stake for everyone on the team, who will take to competition on Saturday, January 30. A full-team preview, including television details, will be announced shortly. 

Rast, Seefried Complete Magnus Lineup for Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fl. (January 7, 2015)- Although this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona will mark the first event for Magnus Racing in their new Audi R8 LMS, the car will be the only new component of the team as they announce the completion of their four-driver lineup. Having both taken victory in Magnus machinery before, Marco Seefried and René Rast will join full-season drivers John Potter and Andy Lally in the No. 44 machine with a combined total of six victories at the famed season opener of the IMSA WeatherTech Championship.

“This was the exact lineup we were hoping for, and we couldn’t be happier with our prospects,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “We’ve had a great history with both Marco and René, and beyond being incredibly quick and reliable in the car, they’ve both proven an instant fit with our way of working. It’s great to get the whole group back together, and with a new car taking us into the race, we know consistency in every other aspect is critical.”

Returning to Magnus after sharing victory at the Rolex 24 in 2012, René Rast will head to Daytona in the hopes of maintaining a 100% win rate with the team. Playing a critical role in the organization’s first win nearly four years ago, the German has had an incredible career since signing as a factory driver for Audi and proceeding to compete and win in such series as ADAC GT Masters, the Blancpain Endurance Series and more. Most notably, the 28-year-old was given the opportunity to compete in the prestigious Audi R18 e-tron during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a high honor to drive one of the most revered LMP1 machines in history.

With Magnus Racing driving Audi machinery for this year’s race, the choice to bring in Rast was clear.

“I have great memories with everyone at Magnus Racing, and it’s very special to return,” stated Rast. “A lot has happened since 2012, but that event was a career highlight for me and very special to share with such a great team. This new 2016 Audi R8 LMS is a fantastic car and should be very well suited to Daytona. I’m very eager to earn another victory for the team and Audi, and we definitely have the lineup to do it.”

Driving his sixth race with the team, Marco Seefried is opening up his 2016 campaign after a stellar 2015 season. Competing in IMSA, the Blancpain Endurance Series, as well as VLN, the German also took part in a full season of the World Endurance Championship, where he took a victory and three podiums, including a third at the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans. Additionally, Seefried took podium honors with Magnus Racing at the Six Hours of the Glen last year, his third podium with the team including a victory at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in 2014.

“It’s always a joy to return to Magnus Racing,” stated Seefried. “It’s such a fun and warm team, but also incredibly competitive. The new Audi looks really strong and I think at Daytona it should be a real contender. Anything can happen at this race, but with John, Andy, René and the whole team, I’m very excited to see where this race goes.”

Official testing for the race begins tomorrow, January 8, as part of the annual Roar Before the 24, a three-day event in which all IMSA teams are invited to take part in the first official pre-season test. The Rolex 24 at Daytona will take place on Saturday, January 30, with series’ television coverage still to be announced.

Magnus Racing Confirms 2016 Campaign with Audi R8 LMS

SALT LAKE CITY (November 12, 2015)- Confirming their campaign in the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Magnus Racing is proud to announce the switch to the venerable Audi R8 LMS in a new partnership with Audi Sport customer racing.

“We’re very excited about 2016,” stated Magnus Racing co-driver and team owner, John Potter. “The Audi R8 LMS has proven an incredible competitor over the years, and as we look for ways to start anew for the team, the opportunity seemed right. Our interaction so far with everyone at Audi Sport customer racing has been extremely positive, and we’re all anxious to take delivery of the car.”

Retaining the famed No. 44, the team will head in to the 2016 GT-Daytona (GTD) class with a proven car heritage in the Audi namesake. The previous generation of the Audi R8 LMS took victory at the 2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona, and came within a few turns of repeating that effort in 2014, before nearly securing a GTD category championship in 2015.

“We have been continuously impressed with Magnus Racing’s performance in IMSA and are excited to see them bring that same energy with the new Audi R8 LMS,” said Tristan Herbert, Manager, Motorsport & Customer Racing. “Magnus Racing also brings a strong, consistent driver lineup that compliments the team’s performance strategy – smart , calculated and competitive.” 

While the car is new to the team, much of the key staff will remain the same including full-season co-driver Andy Lally. A four-time winner of The Rolex 24 at Daytona and three-time champion in the former GRAND-AM series, Lally will enter in to his fifth season with the team with all focus firmly set on their first series’ championship.

“I’ve been fortunate in my career to have driven a number of vehicles, and I’m very excited to add the Audi R8 LMS to that list,” stated the Atlanta resident. “It’s no secret that 2015 was a bit of a struggle for all of us, and I’m very confident that we’ll rebound this year. The car has an excellent reputation, we have a great team behind us, and there’s no reason we can’t be instant contenders.”

While the switch to Audi marks a new era for Magnus Racing, it of course comes with years of gratitude in their long-time partner at Porsche Motorsport North America. Having run Porsche machinery since inception in 2010, the team will move away from the marque with nothing but appreciation for the six years of partnership.

“We were one of the longest running Porsche customer teams in the paddock, and we absolutely enjoyed that fact,” stated John Potter. “Everyone at Porsche Motorsport North America was excellent to work with over the years, and we couldn’t be more appreciative of their efforts.”

With the team set to take delivery of their machine in December, Magnus Racing will unfortunately be absent from the upcoming November test at Daytona International Speedway. With only a matter of weeks between receiving the car and The Rolex 24 at Daytona, they will be hard at work during the holidays as they prepare for a championship challenge.

FULL REPORT: Magnus Racing Scores Second in Wet Petit Le Mans Finale

BRASELTON, GEORGIA (October 5, 2015)- Following a wild event at this year's Petit Le Mans, the final round of the 2015 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Magnus Racing would take a strong second in the GT Daytona (GTD) category. This would serve as the second podium for the team, ending a challenging season on a positive note. While the team was certainly pleased with their second consecutive podium at the event, it was bittersweet having led their class during much of the event.

“Looking back we're certainly happy for another podium,” stated Magnus Racing team owner John Potter. “It's tough because we were looking good for the win at multiple points during the race, but it just didn't work out for us when the series threw the checkered flag. It was still great to end the season strong, and everyone on this team should feel proud of the job they did.”

While the race was slated to last for 10 hours, an endless series of rain showers took their toll on the field, with series officials determining the conditions unfit to continue as the event neared eight hours. Eventually, the race was cancelled outright with drivers John Potter, Andy Lally, and Robert Renauer and the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America in second when the premature checkered flag fell. 

As the green flag fell, the weeklong rain conditions would continue with John Potter taking starting duties under adverse circumstances. Knowing that attrition would play a major role on the day’s outcome, the Salt Lake City resident drove with patience and maturity as his opening stint progressed. Holding on throughout the opening hours, John would do an excellent job of keeping the car clean and not making a single error, eventually pitting during an opportune caution in favor of team newcomer Robert Renauer. 

While it would serve as his first Petit Le Mans, the German driver came into the event as no stranger to wet conditions, and it would show as Robert’s time in the car would slowly move the team up through the rankings. Thanks in part to clever pit strategy and a series of fortunate breaks with caution periods, Renauer would find himself caught up with the lead pack by time the third hour rolled around, and shortly after the No. 44 Porsche would find itself in the lead.

Engaged in a stint-long battle with the No. 93 Viper, a slight run through the grass in tricky conditions would be Robert’s only mistake, which would prove not enough to keep him from the lead.

Following a several-hour run, and under extremely difficult conditions, it was time for Andy Lally to take his turn for the race’s mid-point. Taking the reigns where Renauer left off, the pace of the Magnus Porsche in the wet was evident with Lally making a strong charge to build a gap to the field in front of him, leading by as much as 12 seconds nearing the halfway point.

As the Georgia-resident’s stint continued, a two-way race between the No. 73 of Spencer Pumpelly began to become clear, with Andy’s 11-second gap slowly dwindling as Pumpelly began his march up the field.

With just under six hours completed, however, the race would be stopped due to the extreme wet conditions with much of the paddock feeling as though this may lead to the race being called early. With Lally in front of the field at this time, the feeling within the Magnus paddock that they may have clinched their first victory of 2015 was optimistic.

Unfortunately, the teams would be called back to their cars within the hour, and Lally would have to once again defend his position against the charging Pumpelly.

With the field packed up under the red flag, the race would resume with the No. 73 Porsche of Pumpelly in close range of Andy, and as the green flag dropped it was clear the fight would be close.

With the two drivers engaged in a nose-to-tail battle for several laps, Lally did his best to thwart his good friend throughout much of the stint, however as the faster GTLM traffic came through, Andy would find himself stuck wide entering a critical section allowing Pumpelly to grab the lead and never looking back.

As Lally began to focus in on recapturing the lead, another yellow, and eventually red flag, would stop the race for good with the No. 44 stuck in second.

It was a bittersweet finish for the team, who on one hand were happy to take their second podium of the season, but disappointed having been so close to victory.

“It’s a tough one to let past,” stated Lally. “It’s so hard to win one of these races that you really don’t want to see one slip through. Everyone on this team worked so hard to take their first victory of the season, and I really wanted to deliver it for them. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t meant to be. As you would expect, Spencer drove completely fair and clean, he simply got me when he had the opportunity. Congratulations to him and the Park Place team for the win.”

For Robert Renauer, his Petit Le Mans debut should be considered a success.

“Of course a victory would have been great, but I think the team should be happy with a podium,” stated the German. “The Magnus Racing team was an excellent team to drive for. The crew was very professional, the car was very fast, and I felt very welcome through the whole experience. I’m glad I was able to take the car to the lead, and I’m sure next time the result will be even better. Thanks to John Potter and the whole team for the opportunity, hopefully I will be able to return.”

With the 2015 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship at a clean, the team will take some much needed time off in anticipation of their 2016 plans. Currently, the team has not made any formal plans however hope to make some announcements shortly.