January 24, 2011 (Salt Lake City, Utah) – One year removed from their GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 debut, Magnus Racing is returning to the famed Florida endurance classic with a clear goal – for the team’s drivers to return home with a Rolex Daytona Cosmograph on their wrists.
In the 2010 edition of the race, the team overcame several hurdles in the first few hours, falling to seventeenth in the GT class. With the crew working tirelessly to keep the no. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup going, the team rallied through the night and through the next day to finish a strong fifth.
After a successful test at the Roar Before the 24, Magnus Racing’s John Potter, residing in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Craig Stanton, from Long Beach, California, will be joined by Porsche factory drivers Marco Holzer, from Germany, and Richard Lietz, from Austria. Lietz competed in last year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona with Magnus Racing, and was with at the wheel when the no. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup took the checkered flag in fifth position. Holzer, recently named as a Porsche factory driver, is making his second appearance at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The 24-year-old German teamed with Potter and Stanton in the 2009 race.
Potter, Magnus Racing’s team owner, is thrilled with the progress that the team made in its first season and with the momentum that it carries to Daytona after a successful winter of testing and development with its new 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.
“It was really gratifying that Porsche thought enough of our program to entrust us with two of their factory drivers,” said Potter. “We’ve been very happy with our new Porsche and have been focused on the testing and development of the car. I think we have a very, very strong package thanks to our partnership with Porsche – their cars always do well in any endurance contest and we know how well Craig, Marco, and Richard can do in these twenty-four hour races.”
Stanton, whose preparation for the race involved a twenty-four hour workout session, is enthused at participating in his twelfth Rolex 24 at Daytona.
“I’ve never been so excited about heading to Daytona for the 24 Hour,” said Stanton. “This is the strongest lineup and best team I have been a part of yet. We were really happy with our test at Daytona and with how dialed in we are with the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. I’m really looking forward to racing with Marco and Richard again – both are great guys who will definitely help John and me, and they’re some of the fastest guys around.”
Fans of Magnus Racing will be able to interact directly with the team throughout the Rolex 24 at Daytona via the team’s Live Blog, which will be available at www.magnusracing.com. Fans will be able to ask questions and that the team’s staff and drivers will answer throughout the entire 24 hour contest.
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 the Grand-American Rolex Sports Car Series can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com.