THE FRIDAY REPORT

The first day of practice at the Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona was one of acclimation, revelation, and good old fashioned positive energy. The thick morning fog caused the first practice to be delayed, but nothing could dampen the mood of our drivers. Andy Lally, settling in nicely with his new team, has already nicknamed half the crew, meanwhile Ron Yarab kept us grounded as he stayed limber and loose with his calming yoga moves. Daniel Graeff hypnotized us with his baby blues and big heart, while Ryan Eversley and Rene Rast have kept our vague illusions to still being young.

Justin Bell told jokes that probably weren’t that funny, but since he’s British and we all know how charming the British can be we didn’t know any better. Meanwhile, our fearless leader John Potter was, as usual, just another one of the guys. Mix them with the great crew and it is the quintessence of a cohesive family unit.

The drivers became accustomed to the track and worked on perfecting pit procedures, as we focused more on mechanics and logistics today rather than speed. The practice goals were successful, as everything ran smoothly without any major problems, accidents, or injuries.

The highlight and excitement of the day was the revealing of the No. 4 Children’s Tumor Foundation/Racing4Research/Magnus Racing Porsche GT3 car and the announcement of the team’s dual corporate partnerships with eBay Inc. and Quicken Loans Inc. We look forward to tomorrow bringing an even better day.

Fans of Magnus Racing can stay up to date with the team on facebook.com/magnusracing and on twitter (@magnusracing).

More information about Magnus Racing can be found at www.magnusracing.com. Any organization interested in learning more about how to be involved with one of the most unique and visible teams in sports car racing can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com.

Children’s Tumor Foundation/Racing4 Research No. 4 Porsche GT3 Team Partners With eBay Motors and Mobile and Quicken Loans for 50th Rolex 24 At Daytona

Top Partnerships Solidify Best CTF/Racing4Research Effort Yet in Fundraising Program’s Five-Year Rolex 24 History

The No. 4 Children’s Tumor Foundation/Racing4Research/Magnus Racing Porsche GT3 team, and drivers Ryan Eversley, Justin Bell, Daniel Graeff and Ron Yarab, will race in the 50th Rolex 24 At Daytona, January 26 – 29, with the double support of leading online companies eBay Motors and Mobile and Quicken Loans Inc.

The announcement of the team’s dual corporate partnerships was made on the opening day of this weekend’s Roar Before The Rolex 24 Test at Daytona, January 6 – 8, in preparation for the Golden Anniversary running of North America’s premier 24-hour endurance race later this month. The landmark race marks the fifth consecutive year that the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF) Racing4Research program has used the worldwide reach of the Rolex 24 as an important fundraiser in the fight against neurofibromatosis (NF), a debilitating disease that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. The Rolex 24 program has become the annual kickoff event for CTF fundraising each year and donations can be made at http://racing4research.org.

The 2012 CTF/Racing4Reasearch campaign is by far the team’s strongest effort to date.  In addition to the talented group of drivers, and the team’s first year relationship with top Porsche entrant Magnus Racing, the No. 4 team’s sponsor lineup brings an unprecedented level of corporate support and online reach to the CTF/Racing4Research effort.  Including eBay Motors and Mobile, eBay is the world’s largest online marketplace while Quicken Loans is the nation’s largest online retail mortgage lender, and among the five largest overall retail home lenders in the United States.

The Rolex 24 support for CTF/Racing4Research follows successful debuts by both eBay Motors and eBay Mobile and Quicken Loans into major-league motorsports late last year.  Bell co-drove an eBay Mobile-backed AF Corse Ferrari F-430 to a third-place class finish in October’s Petit Le Mans race, while Quicken Loans formed a partnership with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) shortly before team co-owner and driver Tony Stewart won his third series championship in November.

“The growth of our program over the past four years has been remarkable,” said Jill Beck, Director of the Racing4Research program for the Children’s Tumor Foundation.  “In addition to our four dedicated drivers committed to supporting the work of the Foundation on and off the track, we have two incredible corporate partners in eBay Motors and Mobile and Quicken Loans that will further elevate our program. We are honored to have these two companies as partners in our race to fuel the cure for NF.”  
 
Part of the attraction for both the eBay brands and Quicken Loans to the No. 4 CTF/Racing4Research team is a live pitside web cast that Magnus Racing will be conducting throughout the entire Rolex 24 race.  Drivers from both the No. 4 and No. 44 Magnus Porsche teams, including recently crowned NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year Andy Lally, will appear in the web cast, which will also be used as a primary fundraising tool for Racing4Research.  The live web cast will be viewable at http://cc.ebay.com/worlds-fastest-car-show/, or by downloading the eBay Motors Mobile app for iPhone.

“We are thrilled to be supporting the No. 4 Racing4Research Porsche with Justin Bell and his teammates at the wheel,” said Famous Rhodes, Senior Director of eBay Motors. “eBay Motors is the ultimate automotive marketplace, and the Rolex 24 At Daytona is the ultimate endurance race in North America. The live webcast of our team’s efforts will be a first for eBay Motors and adds to the full gear-head experience that our users have come to expect. Plus, the web cast will expose the great work of the Children’s Tumor Foundation and Racing4Research to millions of eBay Motors visitors, raising awareness and funds for this important cause.”

The No. 4 CTF/Racing4Reseach Porsche GT3’s Rolex 24 campaign will also be featured later this year in a second season episode of “The World’s Fastest Car Show Hosted by Justin Bell,” a unique web, mobile and app-accessible show available only at eBay Motors and on eBay Mobile.  Bell will also be giving live reports during SPEED’s broadcast of the Rolex 24 from inside the No. 4 CTF/Racing4Research Porsche during his driving stints.  In addition to hosting the “World’s Fastest Car Show,” Bell is in his fifth year as a SPEED reporter.

Like eBay, Quicken Loans is also its industry’s online leader – closing more than $30 billion in home loans in 2011, while maintaining a 94 percent client satisfaction rating.   

“We are excited to continue our partnership with the Children’s Tumor Foundation, and we’re doing our part to increase awareness of NF and the need for a cure,” said Jay Farner, President of Quicken Loans.  “We look forward to taking to the track and the Internet to raise funds and the visibility of the Children’s Tumor Foundation.”

Roar Before the Rolex 24 At Daytona testing continues through Sunday while the The 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona will take place January 26 – 29.

About the Children's Tumor Foundation and Racing4Research
Developed by the Children’s Tumor Foundation, the Racing4Research (R4R) program utilizes competitive, professional auto racing as a vehicle to increase awareness of neurofibromatosis and raise funds for research through corporate sponsorship, personal donations, and individual fundraising by NF Heroes: children and adults from around the country who live with neurofibromatosis.  NF affects one in every 3,000 children, more than cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Huntington’s disease combined, and can lead to a wide variety of complications, including blindness, bone abnormalities, cancer, deafness, disfigurement, learning disabilities and excruciating and disabling pain.  The Racing4Research program offers children and families living with the disorder a uniquely empowering weekend, and has raised over $1.5 million dollars since its inception five years ago.  Donations can be made at www.racing4research.org.

About eBay Inc.
Founded in 1995 in San Jose, California, eBay Inc., (NASDAQ:EBAY) is about connecting buyers and sellers. It does so through eBay, the world's largest online marketplace, which allows users to buy and sell in nearly every country on earth; through PayPal, which enables individuals and businesses to securely, easily and quickly send and receive online payments; and through GSI, which facilitates ecommerce, multichannel retailing and digital marketing for global enterprises. eBay also reach millions through specialized marketplaces such as StubHub, the world's largest ticket marketplace, and eBay classifieds sites, which together have a presence in more than 1,000 cities around the world. For more information about the company and its global portfolio of online brands, visit http://www.ebayinc.com.

About Quicken Loans Inc.
Quicken Loans Inc. is the nation’s largest online retail mortgage lender and among the five largest overall retail home lenders in the United States. The company closed a record $30 billion in retail home loan volume across all 50 states in 2011. Quicken Loans generates loan production from five web centers located in Detroit, Ohio and Arizona. The company also operates a centralized loan processing facility in Detroit, as well as its San Diego-based One Reverse Mortgage unit. Quicken Loans ranked No. 1 in customer satisfaction among all home mortgage lenders in the United States by J.D. Power and Associates in 2010 and 2011. “QuickenLoans.com” has been named “Best of the Web” by Forbes and Money magazines. The company also has been named to FORTUNE magazine’s list of the country’s “100 Best Companies To Work For” eight consecutive years, ranking as high as No. 2, and named in the Top-15 of Computerworld magazine’s “100 Best Places to Work In Technology” for seven years in a row. In 2012, the company will make its debut in NASCAR as the primary sponsor of Ryan Newman’s No. 39 Chevrolet for nine races, and as an associate sponsor on Tony Stewart’s No. 14 car.  Quicken Loans’ headquarters, and 3,700 of the company’s more than 5,000 team members, are located in downtown Detroit. For more information about Quicken Loans, please visit www.quickenloans.com, Twitter at @QLnews, and Facebook at www.facebook.com/QuickenLoans.

Contact: SaalGood - (321) 890-2848 - SaalGoodPR@gmail.com

2012: Grey Skies Ahead!

Even if Armageddon is Coming, At Least It Will be in Style

With a season that included seven podiums (including their first Rolex Series podium, as well as   75% of all ALMS races competed in), the debut of not one, but two Magnus Racing Porsches in  Forza Motorsport (including the “regular” and “straight outta the LBC” versions); the $25 bounty on “Anything Resembling a Yellow BMW”, setting a new standard for umbrella girl hotness, an  explosion of fan access to team insight, photos, and information, and being named dailysportscar.com's as “Best Sense of Reality” in 2011, Magnus Racing’s 2011 has  been a year of excitement, growth, and their accompanying shenanigans.

After successful tests at Daytona International Speedway in early December, Magnus Racing has nowhere to go but up in 2012, the team’s third full-season of GRAND-AM competition. With new team members, its first multi-car entry, new media ventures, and the"official" announcement ofthe team's adoption greyscale livery for the year, the team is primed to seek top results in the coming season.

Planning to spend the upcoming season focused on race wins and the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series GT Championship, Team Owner/Driver John Potter re-teams with his 2009 Continental Tire Sports Car Championship co-driver Andy Lally, a three-time Rolex Series champion (2001 SRP II, 2004SGS, 2006 Rolex GT), three-time Rolex 24 winner, as well GRAND-AM’s all-time mileage and podiums leader.

“We’re extremely happy to welcome Andy in to our camp for 2012, and consider it a huge statement about our organization to see him come on board,” stated Potter. “Andy is not only a tremendous talent, but he provides a great spirit and leadership with him. We had a great time together in 2009, and considering his relationship with most of our crew, he’s already a part of the family.”

For the upcoming 50th Anniversary of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, rounding out the line up for the familiar no. 44 will be two-time ALMS GT2 class winner Richard Lietz, as well as Porsche SuperCup and ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup winner Rene Rast. Lietz, who has competed with Magnus Racing at every Rolex 24 event competed in, has gelled nicely with the team in previous races, and in his third year is considered a regular part of the family. Rast, a native of Germany, will be competing in his first ever Rolex 24 at Daytona, but should be well adept to this style of racing having competed in numerous European endurance events.

“We’re happy to bring Richard back for his third year with the team,” stated Potter. “In his previous two races, he’s been reliable, precise, and without any major incidents that he could control. Teaming him with Andy and myself should prove really strong. René comes with a strong recommendation from Porsche Motorsport, and looking at his career history I can see why. He’s young and clearly a star on the rise, and I think between all of us we should have a really formidable entry.”

2012 will also bring the team’s first multi-car entry as they pair up with the no. 4 Children’s Tumor Foundation/Racing4Research Porsche GT3 Cup, with a lineup featuring Daytona veterans Daniel Graeff, Ron Yarab, Ryan Eversley, and driver/in- race reporter Justin Bell.

“It is a very big honor to run with CTF as our second car for the 50th Rolex 24,” stated Potter. “It’s a great cause, run by some phenomenal people, and a great sign to the strength and ambitions of our team. Daniel, Ron, and Ryan all drove impressively at the test, and it will greatly strengthen our program to have such a great group joining us. Our team has quietly been built on a strong foundation of people, and we look forward to bringing these programs together.”

The team is looking forward to the month of January and the 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24. For the first time in team history, the program will feature a full webcast from behind the scenes as well. Featured on both magnusracing.com as well as racing4research.org, “Magnus Racing- Live at Daytona” will feature a consortium of hosts and special guests who will literally be live from the pits throughout the race, explaining to the fans what’s happening, as well giving fans an opportunity to live chat with team personnel and drivers. Additionally, the team will be producing several behind the scenes videos, which will be released throughout the duration of the event, giving fans an up close and personal perspective of the Magnus family.

Another new feature will be the team’s official change of color to grey. With a grassroots, family atmosphere that is almost unheard of in this level of professional motorsports, green seemed a logical color for Magnus Racing during the first two years, if for no other reason than no one else was running that color. However, as a novelty, the team switched to grey in the middle of 2011 as a partial joke in the hope for better luck, and remarkably there seemed to be a universal love of the new color, causing it to become the team’s benchmark colors for 2012.

While the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Championship will the primary focus of the team in 2012, Magnus Racing does maintain its ambition to compete in other series and championships, and with that, our fans can expect more news to come over the next several weeks.

To learn more about Andy Lally, visit www.andylally.com, or follow him on twitter at @andylally.

Fans of Magnus Racing can stay up to date with the team on facebook.com/magnusracing and on twitter (@magnusracing).

More information about Magnus Racing can be found at www.magnusracing.com. Any organization interested in learning more about how to be involved with one of the most unique and visible teams in sports car racing can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com.

MAGNUS RACING EXPANDS TO TWO CARS FOR ROLEX 24

Double the Cars, Double the Fun?

Salt Lake City, UT (December 16, 2011)- Following a successful two-day test that saw Magnus Racing consistently toward the top of the charts at Daytona International Speedway during the December 6-7 tire test, the team in grey is proud to announce, for the first time in their three-year Rolex Series history, an expansion to two cars.

Entering the no. 4 Children’s Tumor Foundation/Racing4Research Porsche GT3 Cup alongside the team’s usual no. 44 for this year’s 50th Rolex 24 at Daytona, Magnus Racing will double its efforts for the twice-around-the-clock classic.

Having finished in the top-five in the team’s first two ventures at Daytona, and following a 2011 season that saw the team take its first steps on to the GRAND-AM podium, as well as four podiums overall in their 2011 sportscar season, 2012 is shaping up as a landmark season for the team.

Following the hiring of three-time Rolex 24 winner Andy Lally to lead the team, Magnus Racing and the Children’s Tumor Foundation agreed to launch a second car for the event, featuring Daytona veterans Daniel Graeff, Ron Yarab, Ryan Eversley, and the recently announced Justin Bell.

Racing4Research, a motorsports-based fundraising program developed by the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF) to find treatments and a cure for neurofibromatosis, or NF, will compete in the Rolex 24 At Daytona for the fourth consecutive year in 2012.

Since its debut in the 2008 running of America’s premier endurance race, CTF has raised over $1.5 million through Racing4Research in the last four runnings of the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The team will race in next month’s 50th Anniversary running of the 24-hour classic with Magnus Racing, a top Porsche entrant in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, with Eversley, Graeff, Yarab and a fourth driver to be named in the coming weeks. The team participated in a two-day test at Daytona on Tuesday and Wednesday where all three drivers put in ample time behind the wheel of the No. 04 CTF Racing4Research Porsche GT3.

For John Potter, this is a significant step in the team’s three-year history.

“It is a very big honor to run with CTF as our second car for the 50th Rolex 24,” stated Potter. “It’s a great cause, run by some phenomenal people, and a great sign to the strength and ambitions of our team. Daniel, Ron, and Ryan all drove impressively at the test, and it will greatly strengthen our program to have such a great group joining us. Our team has quietly been built on a strong foundation of people, and we look forward to bringing these programs together.”

For Ron Yarab, the opportunity with Magnus is an ideal one.

Yarab has also noticed some fast growth off the track since the Racing4Research program was started.

“The first year we did this I think we had about 20 kids, and now it has grown to over 100 and their families,” Yarab said. “It is just really great to see their faces on race day. It makes you feel good because usually you get into racing for your own selfish interests, but now we can literally help thousands of people through the money we raise doing this. It is just a great experience, I hope we can keep doing this, and actually do more of it.”

Daniel Graeff was equally pleased with the team’s initial outing with Magnus.

“It was a very productive two days,” Graeff said. “We have a platform that is very strong, we feel good about it, and there is still some room there to do some minor tweaking to make it even that much better. As a team, in terms of the drivers and the crew working on the car, we have really jelled together well, and we are showing the results.”

Founded in 1978, the CTF is dedicated to improving the health and well being of the more than 2 million people around the world living with NF. The charity’s research program has played a key role in the discovery of the genes that cause NF, understanding the biology of NF, creation of the NF Clinic Network and preclinical screening of drug compounds that appear promising in treating the disorder. Donations can be made at racing4research.org.

To learn more about Andy Lally, visit www.andylally.com, or follow him on twitter at @andylally.
Fans of Magnus Racing can stay up to date with the team on facebook.com/magnusracing and on twitter (@magnusracing).

More information about Magnus Racing can be found at www.magnusracing.com. Any organization interested in learning more about how to be involved with one of the most unique and visible teams in sports car racing can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com.

Next up for Magnus Racing is the Roar Before the Rolex 24 Test Days at Daytona, January 6 – 8. The 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona will be run January 26 – 29.

Andy Lally joins Magnus Racing for 2012 GRAND-AM season

Oh yes, we did – Lally and Potter take aim at Rolex Series championship

Salt Lake City, UT (November 22, 2011)- Following a 2011 season which included not only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie-of-the-Year honors, but also his third Rolex 24 at Daytona victory and sixth Rolex watch, GRAND-AM veteran Andy Lally will return to the Rolex Sports Car Series full-time in 2012 with Magnus Racing.

Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Magnus Racing will enter its third full season of GRAND-AM competition in 2012. Following two successful seasons in the series, the team has amassed accolades including two podium finishes, 10 top-10 finishes, one pole position, and a strong record in the series’ endurance races.

Focused on race wins and the Rolex Series GT championship, the hiring of Lally was a natural fit to the team’s 2012 plans. Known as a Porsche specialist, the Northport, NY native has taken most of his successes over the last eight years behind the wheel of Porsche machinery, including taking the 2004 Rolex Series championship and Rolex 24 GT victories in 2009 and 2011. Lally, a three-time Rolex Series champion (2001 SRP II, 2004SGS, 2006 Rolex GT), is also GRAND-AM’s all-time mileage and podiums leader.

Similarly, this is not the first time Lally has paired with Team Owner/Driver John Potter. Driving together in a Porsche 911 in the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge in 2009, the duo scored one win – Potter’s first in professional sports car racing – as well as two additional podiums.

In 2012, Potter and Lally will return to Porsche machinery, as well as retaining engineer Lars Giersing. Giersing led Lally to his GT championship in 2006, as well as two additional Rolex GT championships with Porsche teams in 2007 and 2009.

For John Potter, the ability to re-team with his 2009 Continental Tire co-driver is another step towards the team’s ambitions for top results.

“We’re extremely happy to welcome Andy in to our camp for 2012, and consider it a huge statement about our organization to see him come on board,” stated Potter. “Andy is not only a tremendous talent, but he provides a great spirit and leadership with him. We had a great time together in 2009, and considering his relationship with most of our crew, he’s already a part of the family.

“There is only one problem. With Andy driving for Magnus Racing now, I feel sorry for Lorie Bedell, who is in charge of our hospitality. Andy is a die hard Vegan and while I know Lorie is up to the challenge in her food planning, it’s going to be a new adventure! She is from New York, so when Lorie is happy, everyone is happy."

For Lally, a new team is in many ways a homecoming, having worked with several members of the team in the past.

“This is a new chapter for me and something I am very much looking forward to,” stated Lally. “I have not only worked with almost every person on this team at some point in my career, but I have also won with almost every person on this team. John has built a great team here and it is an honor for me to be a part of it now. I’ve raced with John in the past and we have always stayed in touch and been friendly, I love the attitude of the team and respect what they are trying to do. We have big goals and I will be working hard to do my part.”

Potter and Lally will make their return together at the upcoming December Test at Daytona International Speedway on December 6-7, and will begin their quest for the Rolex Sports Car Series championship beginning with the 50th Annual Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 28-29.

To learn more about Andy Lally, visit www.andylally.com, or follow him on twitter at @andylally.

Fans of Magnus Racing can stay up to date with the team on facebook.com/magnusracing and on twitter (@magnusracing).

More information about Magnus Racing can be found at www.magnusracing.com. Any organization interested in learning more about how to be involved with one of the most unique and visible teams in sports car racing can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com.