August 29, 2011 (Salt Lake City, Utah) – Magnus Racing, and drivers John Potter and Craig Stanton, are eagerly waiting for this weekend’s first ever Baltimore Grand Prix.
Competing in the GT-C class, Potter and Stanton have stepped into the series this year at select races and have been a force at each one, netting third-place finishes at the Long Beach Grand Prix as well as the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge. However, the team has missed a couple of opportunities along the way – contact with a prototype eliminated the no. 77 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup from the race lead at the 12 Hours of Sebring, while Stanton spun in a monsoon while challenging for the lead in Mid-Ohio.
“We’ve been pretty close but haven’t quite gotten everything put together to get a win yet,” said Potter, who will be the starting driver in the Magnus Racing Porsche in Saturday’s race. “Baltimore will be a pretty level playing ground for everyone since this is the first time any of the teams or drivers see this track. Like we saw at the Long Beach Grand Prix, GT-C makes for very exciting racing on street circuits, especially these short two-hour races. We’ve shown we have what it takes to get on the podium, now it’s time to get on the top step.”
Stanton, who has raced on numerous street circuits in his twenty-year sports car racing career, relishes the challenge of a brand new street circuit.
“I’m so excited to get our Magnus Racing Porsche on track in Baltimore,” said Stanton. “Street circuits are really fun and really challenging, and they lead to super close racing like we saw in Long Beach. It is a real challenge to get on track for the first time and figure it out, to dial the car in, and to make progress. The layout looks like it will be challenging and have some opportunities to pass, so I’m excited to see what the race will be like.”
Stanton will have an extra opportunity to learn the track as he will contest the 5k race held on the circuit Friday evening. For the Fittest Man in Motorsports, who spends up to eight hours a day running, cycling, and swimming near his home in Long Beach, California, a 5k run will be akin to a chip shot even if it is the day before the two-hour Baltimore Grand Prix.
The Baltimore Grand Prix will be shown live on ESPN3.com on Saturday, September 3 at 4:15 PM ET. A television broadcast will air on Sunday, September 4 at 4:00 PM ET on ABC. Fans of Magnus Racing can follow the team throughout the weekend on Facebook (facebook.com/magnusracing) and 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 the American Le Mans Series can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com