Magnus 2012: A Season of Rain, Wins, and Fire

Salt Lake City, UT (October 26, 2012)- With the entire 2012 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series season in everyone’s rear-view mirror, whatever “off –season” may have existed in the weeks following the season finale at Lime Rock Park is already over, as the majority of the team is hard at work in preparation for pre-season tests; beginning next month at Daytona International Speedway.

While the majority of the team’s attention is focused on a multi-car assault for January’s 51st Running of The Rolex 24 at Daytona, the off-season has presented a warm reflection on what became a breakthrough season for everyone at Magnus Racing.

Just to graze over some of the highlights:

ON-TRACK

1. Magnus Racing’s debut victory at the historic 50th Running of The Rolex 24 at Daytona. Leading a Porsche 1-2-3, Magnus Racing beat out one of the most competitive fields in GT history to mark their place in the record books.

2. Magnus Racing’s victory at The Inaugural Brickyard Grand Prix. Taking to the track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time in series history, the no. 44 fought hard during a wild race to take victory and become the first GT team to ever kiss the bricks.

3. Magnus Racing’s clinching of The Inaugural North American Endurance Championship. Taking victory in two of the three rounds, the team became the first GT team in history to walk away with the championship-within-the-championship.

4. The only Porsche team to win in 2012. In a year that saw a diverse number of wins for manufacturers including: Ferrari, Mazda, and Chevrolet, Magnus Racing holds the distinction of being the only Porsche team to take victory this season.

5.The highest-finishing Porsche team in the 2012 GT Championship.

6.The team proved its ability to run a multi-car program, adding the no. 4 Children’s Tumor Foundation / Racing4Research.org Porsche to its Daytona lineup.

OFF-TRACK:

1. Magnus Racing achieved over 140,000 hits during a 24-hour pitside webcast during The Rolex 24.

2. Magnus Racing has gathered more combined followers on Facebook and Twitter than any other team in Rolex GT.

3. Magnus Racing served as the exclusive webcast partner for Indianapolis Motor Speedway during The Brickyard Grand Prix.

4. Magnus Racing brought significant contributions and awareness to both The Children’s Tumor Foundation and Susan G. Komen For the Cure during select events in 2012.

5. Magnus Racing ushered several hundred fans, for free, through our trailer and paddock throughout the season as a way to give a new level of insight to the public.

6. Andy Lally provided his own personal blog after every event to our friends at speedtv.com.



Overall, it was a pretty good year. Here’s our race-by-race recap


THE 50th RUNNING OF THE ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA

The season-opener of 2012 brought about a lot of change for Magnus Racing. Returning to the historic 50th running would be Team Owner John Potter as well as Porsche factory driver Richard Lietz, who has run with Magnus Racing during every Rolex 24 they’ve competed in. New to the team would be Porsche Supercup standout René Rast, the two-time Supercup champion, who would make his Rolex 24 debut with the team. Last, but not least, came the announcement of 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie-of-the-Year Andy Lally, who would be joining Potter for the full season. Lally joined the team as part of a full-time return to GRAND-AM competition, which had previously earned him three series titles, as well as three Rolex 24 victories.

Additionally, the team would announce a second entry for Daytona, the no. 4 Children’s Tumor Foundation / Racing4Research.org entry. Acting as an effort to raise awareness for children suffering from Neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder effecting one in every 3,000 children, the team was proud to take part in such a worthwhile cause. Featuring Daytona veterans: Ron Yarab, Daniel Graeff, Ryan Eversley and Justin Bell, the team demonstrated Magnus’s ability to run a multi-car effort on an international stage.

Being billed as arguably the most competitive GT field in series history, the historic 50th running would prove to be one for the ages. With 44 cars taking part, the Magnus Racing no. 44 Porsche GT3 Cup was an instant competitor, trading the lead with the no. 59 Brumos Porsche for much of the beginning of the race. As the night fell on the event, a series of penalties would befall the team; first for an alleged illegal pass during a restart, followed by a one-minute stop and go penalty for working under the car while refueling. Set back as far as two laps at one point, an amazing drive by René Rast during the dawn hours would put the team back on the lead lap, with a shot of chasing down the leading no. 59 and 67 Porsches.

As pit strategies began to unfold in the final hours, Magnus Racing managed their mileage carefully to take the upper hand with only two hours to go. Closing the race out, drivers Andy Lally and Richard Lietz put in an impressive series of final stints to take the checkered flag in first.

This would serve as not only the first victory for Magnus Racing in the Rolex Series, but also the first victories for drivers John Potter, Richard Lietz, and René Rast. This would be Andy Lally’s fourth Rolex 24 victory. It would also serve as an arrival for Magnus Racing, who led a Porsche 1-2-3 in the GT ranks, beating out two of the most reputed Porsche teams, Brumos Racing and TRG.

Additionally, Magnus Racing concluded a successful weekend of initiatives for the fans, creating not only the wildly popular Rolex Wars poster for the fans, but also a pitside webcast with over 140,000 views.

For a full video recap, click here.

For the full report, click here.

For Andy Lally’s view, click here.

PORSCHE 250, BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK

Following an eight-week break from the action, the Rolex Sports Car Series returned to action on March 29 at the beautiful Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.

Coming in as the series’ point-leaders and with a newfound confidence, the harshness of racing came to a crushing reality when the team began practice.

Running the new Porsche 4.0L motor for the first time, driver John Potter suffered an engine seizure just minutes in to the first session. While the team was able to switch to a back-up engine, it would mean the team would revert to the 3.8L formula, and with an engine that had previously raced for 24-hours.

You'd think that was bad enough, but after Daytona, drivers Andy Lally and John Potter decided to try drifting in the no. 44 during a private test in South Carolina. They'd used that same 3.8 motor since "we weren't going to race that motor again." Whoops.

Equally significant, the team would lose the entire first day of practice, which in a rain-soaked week of practice would mean the first dry laps would come in Potter’s qualifying efforts.

With the sun shining through for the race, Potter would drive a solid stint to hand a clean car over to teammate Andy Lally, who would grab the wheel and drive his trademark run up through the field. Driving a fairly trouble free race, a hard fought end-of-race battle with no. 59 driver Leh Keen would come up dry, Lally just barely missing the podium to finish fourth.

Magnus Racing would maintain their point lead, but it was clear that the second-place no. 69 Ferrari, as well as the no. 59 Brumos entry, were solid championship contenders.

The team also welcomed the widely popular Alabama region of the Porsche Club of America in to their pit, giving their trademark free tours and paddock hospitality to Porsche owners throughout the Southeast.

For the full report, click here.


GRAND PRIX OF MIAMI, HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY

Following another several weeks off, the Rolex Series would arrive at the series’ only other “roval,” Homestead-Miami Speedway. With the team holding a small lead in the GT championship, all thoughts were focused on the team taking its first title.

Additionally, the team would bring two other bits of excitement to South Florida. Most notably, the team welcomed the return of Flex-Box as a sponsor of the no. 44.

Flex-Box, a worldwide leader in the sale and rental of shipping containers, had previously worked with Magnus at The 2011 Twelve Hours of Sebring, and showed prominently on the side and front of the no. 44.

Finally, a very special wager made its way in to Homestead. Beyond his duties with Magnus, Andy Lally actually drove double-duty during the season in GRAND-AM’s sister series, the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. Driving the no. 10 Kinetic Motorsports Kia Forte Koup, Lally had double the chances to record a historic first in GRAND-AM competition; taking 100 podiums. Earning his 99th podium with Kinetic at Barber Motorsports Park, Lally had a solid chance of taking his 100th with either team at Homestead. With this in mind, both teams agreed to the Hamster Suit Challenge. Whichever team failed to deliver Lally his 100th podium would have a team member dance on the grid at the next race in Kia’s signature hamster suit.

For Magnus Racing, the chance of this happening took a shot when, yet again, an engine failure in practice would sideline the team for much of the first day. With a heavy onslaught of rain blanketing the weekend, qualifying was actually cancelled for the event, with the race starting based on point positions.

As the point leaders, this meant John Potter would start from pole position for the first time in his career. As the race got under way, Potter did a remarkable job in treacherous conditions, fighting off the experienced Sylvan Tremblay for many of the opening laps. After a slight miscue through the track’s infield, Potter would eventually pit well within the top-10, leaving Andy Lally to do his trademark drive through the field. Getting the car as high as fourth, a rare spin by Lally would place the car back in seventh, just in time for a new shower of rain to grace the field. As a caution came out for weather, GRAND-AM made a surprise call to end the race prematurely, with the no. 44 having to settle for seventh.

The team would lose the point lead for the first time in 2012, a race that was fortuitously won by the no. 69 FXDD Aim Autosport Ferrari.

For the full report, click here.

For Andy Lally’s view, click here.


GLOBAL BARTER 250, NEW JERSEY MOTORSPORTS PARK

With the season now in full swing, it was off to Millville, New Jersey for the fourth round of the championship.

With both Magnus Racing and Kinetic Motorsports failing to get Andy Lally to the podium in Homestead, the bet was still on to be first to get him to his historic 100th, and more importantly, get Magnus back on top in the points. Adding to the pressure, Magnus Racing would bring a special livery to the track, opting to go pretty in pink with the no. 44.

Honoring the Central and South Jersey region of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, the team replaced their signature shades of grey for the Foundation’s signature pink, creating one of the most unique-looking cars in the paddock.

Doing their best to translate the color to good luck, the team was off to a solid start. With John Potter driving his signature trouble-free run, the car was handed to Andy Lally who drove a brilliant middle stint to both gain positions and manage his car.

Moving up to second when an early pit call would advance the car past several pitting competitors under yellow, a brake check by race-leader Robin Liddell on the re-start would force Lally to lose momentum, falling back to fourth for the final laps of the race. Driving an aggressive race to earn back his podium position, a late race mistake by the no. 42 of Dane Cameron would send Lally to third in the last moments, taking the checkered flag in the final podium position.

Magnus Racing would finish the day with their second podium of the season, and the 100th career GRAND-AM podium for Lally. Magnus Racing would also win their bet over Kinetic Motorsports in the process.

To see Andy’s video recap, click here.

For the full report, click here.

For Andy Lally’s view, click here.

CHEVROLET GRAND-AM DETROIT 200, BELLE ISLE PARK

While the now two-time race-winning no. 69 Ferrari began to stretch a championship lead over the series, the Magnus no. 44 was still within sight of the title. With a win, two podiums, and having completed every lap of the 2012 season to-date, the team came in to the month of June ready to re-claim the championship.

When we say “the month of June,” we really mean The Month of Juuuune…. (dun..dun.. DUUUNNNNN). The Detroit Grand Prix would kick off the first of four races during a five-week succession. Proceeded by a fifth event, a series-wide test at Indianapolis, the Magnus crew (and most of the series) would actually run five events in the next six weeks.

As a street race run in conjunction with the IZOD IndyCar Series, Detroit posed a unique challenge, as one of only two street circuits that the series runs on.

Knowing that the track would not favor the characteristics of the Porsche, combined with the need to simply “survive” what was expected to be a chaotic race, both John Potter and Andy Lally drove a smart and error-free event. They would finish sixth.

For the full report, click here.

For Andy Lally’s view, click here.


EMCO GEARS CLASSIC, MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE

Continuing their streak of completing every lap of the 2012 season, Magnus Racing came to Mid-Ohio just days after completing the Detroit race. Knowing once again that the twisty configuration of the historic circuit may prove difficult for Porsche teams, the crew and drivers did their best to maximize every last ounce of speed they could find in the car. It would also be the first weekend all year where there wasn’t a single threat of rain, that was nice.

Before the race started, the team was greeted by a certain Kia hamster, worn by Kinetic Motorsports Team Owner Russell Smith, who made good on his bet. It was also a very warm day that made the suit unbearable, we’re glad Russell didn’t die.

With John Potter qualifying on the fifth row, a solid run by both drivers was compromised during a mid-race concern with a rear tire. With the tire giving off an uncharacteristic sound and vibration, the team would make their last pit stop earlier than planned, at the absolute beginning of the fuel window, forcing Andy Lally to drive a conservative pace during the final laps of the race. Never really threatening for the win, Lally would manage fifth.

The no. 44 had still completed every lap of the season, however their championship hopes were beginning to fade.

For the full report, click here.

For Andy Lally’s view, click here.


ROLEX 250 DRIVEN BY VISITFLORIDA.COM, ROAD AMERICA

Heading in to the seventh round of the championship, Magnus Racing came in to Wisconsin knowing that the long straights and fast corners of the Road America circuit could absolutely prove favorable for the team’s no. 44 Porsche.

Running in conjunction with the NASCAR Nationwide Series, a sizeable crowd showed up on Saturday morning, ready to see a race filled with explosive excitement.

Unfortunately, our Porsche delivered the explosive part. With only 40 minutes remaining in the race, we lost another 4.0L motor. The team eventually finished (it doesn’t matter).

For Andy Lally’s view, click here.


SAHLEN’S SIX HOURS OF THE GLEN, WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL

Hoping to revive the team’s fading championship hopes, Porsche factory driver Patrick “Joerg’s Ginger Sidekick” Long decided to join the party for the six hour endurance classic.

Unfortunately, as the race took the green flag, John Potter decided he was going to drive 100% of the laps for this race.

See the result here.

THE BRICKYARD GRAND PRIX, INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

While the series had nearly a month off of actual racing between the Sahlen’s Six Hour and the Inaugural Brickyard Grand Prix, it was no vacation for Magnus Racing. Following the fire in Watkins Glen, a rushed preparation for the team’s second Porsche in anticipation of a two-day test at Indianapolis just days later had already put its toll on the crew. As if that wasn't enough, between the early-July test at Indianapolis and late-July race, the entire team did an extensive rebuild of the car in preparation for the race, meaning some crew members had literally not had a single day off since May.

Headed in to the one-day show of practice, qualifying, and racing at Indianapolis, the team deserved a good result.

Every now and then, the racing Gods smile on you, and Indy was one of those days. With a track configuration that favored the Porsche in the fast sections, but heavily un-favored the Porsche in the infield portions, it was anyone’s guess how the race would unfold.

Adding to the mix, Magnus Racing, in conjunction with GRAND-AM and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, provided the sole webcast of the historic event. As a one-day show, the team presented the entire experience to the fans from the pit, from the very first practice laps all the way to the checkered flag.

With John Potter putting in a stout qualifying effort, the Salt Lake City resident would start the race under tricky conditions, as the notoriously tricky Indiana weather would play havoc on the field just before the race began. Known for his ability in the wet, Potter drove steady and smart, the only drama being a smoking left-rear rain tire as the circuit dried out. With engineer Lars Giersing earning his money on the day, the decision to leave Potter out on a drying track would earn several positions, with Potter switching to Lally at an opportune point when a second downpour came. Following the second downpour of the race, a drying track would play critical in the team’s race, as Giersing made the risky decision to pit Lally early for dry tires. If the call worked, the team would gain several spots, if it failed, Lally could end up in a wall.

Luckily, it worked, and despite a late series of yellows, Lally managed to hold off a hard charging Leh Keen and Jonathan Bomarito, bringing Magnus Racing’s second win of the season.

Taking the first ever GT victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the team took a second honor in doing so, clinching the GT category of the inaugural North American Endurance Championship (NAEC). As a championship-within-the-championship dedicated to the endurance races only (Daytona, Watkins Glen, Indy), the team had counted themselves out following their early departure from Watkins Glen. Having won at both Indy and Daytona, the victories outweighed the bad result from Watkins Glen, giving Magnus a surprise title.

Having kissed the bricks and hoisted the NAEC championship trophy in the process, the over 25,000 webcast viewers were treated to yet another victory… thus proving that 100% of Magnus Racing webcasts have resulted in victories.

For the full report, click here.

For Andy Lally’s view, click here.


CONTINENTAL TIRE 200, WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL

Returning to the track where they caught fire just two months earlier, Magnus Racing returned for the Watkins Glen “short course” race run in concert with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

As a track that can favor Porsche characteristics, the team came in with high hopes. Notably, the team also welcomed a new sponsor to the team, Magnus Ridge Winery, located just up Route 14 in Rock Stream, New York.

Following an early caution that would lead to an extended amount of time under yellow, pit strategy and fast pit work would be the theme of the race. Running a slightly off-sequence pit strategy to try and take advantage, the no. 44 was as high as second headed in to the final round of pit stops.

Unfortunately, a problem with an air gun during the last stop would drop the no. 44 back, with Lally making a hard charge at the end that would fall just short of the podium. The team would finish fourth.

For the full report, click here.

For Andy Lally’s view, click here.


MONTREAL 200, CIRCUIT GILLES VILLENEUVE

With only three rounds remaining, the team headed for the lone Canadian round with only one goal: winning.

As the week would unfold, winning was a distinct possibility, with the no. 44 constantly toward the top of the charts, and John Potter qualifying the car on the inside of the fourth row. To his credit, Montreal served as arguably Potter's greatest performance to date. Beyond a stout qualifying effort, the Utah resident drove an opening stint that included staying among the leaders throughout the opening laps, laying down laps on par with the lead group, and winning an impressive fight with Canadian Paul Dalla Lana.

As pit stops would begin and Andy Lally took the reigns, the pace of the no. 44 was evident, as Lally quickly began to advance several positions over the ensuing laps.

Wasting no time to get up to third, Lally was caught in a strong fight with the no. 42 Sahlen’s Mazda of Dane Cameron. Knowing that the leading no. 57 was slowly starting to walk away, Lally took his opportunity on lap 28 when Cameron slid wide, causing the no. 44 to make a run on the no. 42 down the long back-straight.

Unfortunately, a series of blocks by Cameron would just barely create enough contact between the exhaust of the no. 42 and the radiator of the no. 44 to cause a puncture, forcing Lally to immediate head in to the pits. The team would do an impressive job of changing out the radiator in seven minutes, but the team would lose six laps in the process and eventually finish 11th.

To see the incident, click here.

For the full report, click here.

For Andy Lally’s view, click here.


CONTINENTAL TIRE SPORTS CAR FESTIVAL, MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA

As the penultimate round of the series, the hope to finish the season on a high was on everyone’s minds.

As another track that could prove favorable to Porsche, the team knew that getting the most out of the car on this weekend could pay huge dividends, and both John Potter and Andy Lally showed continued pace throughout the week.

Qualifying on the fifth row, John Potter continued his run of flawless stints to hand over the car to Andy Lally during an opportune caution at the 45-minute mark. With Lally driving a patient stint to try and move up the field without putting too much risk on the car, a spirited battle between Lally and the no. 59 of Leh Keen would see Lally pit a few laps early to take advantage of fresh rubber, forcing the team to adopt a three-stop strategy.

While most of the field would adopt a similar strategy, the long period of green flag racing left most of the field pitting at widely different times, including the no. 03 Ferrari which made a bold move to try and do the race in only two stops.

As the varying strategies would unfold, a dramatic fight for third would unfold. When the white flag waved: the second place no. 03 began to sputter out of fuel, the no. 69 Ferrari was struggling on old tires, and Andy Lally tried to pass both cars at the same time headed up the hill in to the famed “corkscrew.”

Luckily all three drivers managed to avoid incident, and while Lally was unable to get around the no. 69 in the chaos, the team would still take third place honors; their fourth podium of the season.

Meanwhile, the no. 69 would clinch the Rolex GT Championship in the process, a well deserved championship by Jeff Segal, Emil Assentato, and the entire Aim Autosport team.

To see the last lap, click here.

For the full report, click here.


CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND, LIME ROCK PARK

Headed in to the season finale at Lime Rock Park, everything was at stake for Magnus Racing…if we were in opposite land.

With the Rolex GT championship decided, and at a circuit that has historically not been favorable for Porsches, the team simply wanted to get the best result they could.

With John Potter driving a strong opening stint, the team would pit during an opportune caution at the 35-minute mark. With the team making an unbelievably quick stop, the team jumped up to second behind the no. 63 Ferrari.

With the Magnus no. 44 showing a surprise pace, Andy Lally would make quick work of Johannes van Overbeek in the no. 63, not only taking the lead but in dominant fashion.

As the middle of the race would continue, Lally was in clear control of the field. With one-hour and ten minutes remaining, the team would have to make an additional stop for fuel and tires, but this was at a critical point in the race. Under green flag conditions, there was no way the Porsche would be able to go the distance on fuel. However with the right number of caution periods, which the track is notorious for, the no. 44 would be able to last. If the team opted to make an additional stop, they might be beaten by a team who could make the distance on fuel, meanwhile if they chose not to stop, they could run out of fuel.

It was the last race of the year, so engineer Lars Giersing made the decision to try and go the distance… he was there to win.

As the laps wound down, multiple cars would duck in for some last splashes of fuel, most notably the no. 57 Stevenson Camaro. Having the benefit of running full pace with no worry of fuel, Stevenson driver Robin Liddell pushed hard during the final laps of the race to chase down the Magnus no. 44. While a late race caution period would help the no. 44 last a little longer on fuel, it also did a disservice as the no. 57 was able to catch up to the 44 during the yellow, forcing Andy Lally to both save fuel and keep the no. 57 behind.

Unfortunately, with two laps to go, the no. 44 began to sputter on its last gasps of fuel, forcing Lally to coast to the pits, eventually putting the car in sixth.

While an incredible disappointment for the team, the victory of the no. 57 meant that the Magnus Porsche would be the only Porsche to take victory in 2012, and an early incident by the no. 59 Brumos would also put the Magnus team ahead in the Team Championship.

For the full report, click here.

For Andy Lally’s view, click here.

REFLECTION

All in all, the team had four goals:
1. Win Daytona
2. Win The Championship
3. Win the North American Endurance Championship
4. Win at Indy

Taking three of those four ain’t so bad, and the team can look back at 2012 as a real breakthrough season.

“Overall, I’m incredibly pleased with the season,” stated John Potter. “On the track, we definitely showed the quality of our program. We had four goals, and we met three of them, that’s something to be proud of. Winning the 50th Running of The Rolex 24 was pretty overwhelming, and to second that with Indy and the NAEC was just unreal. We wanted to win the championship, but it was clear from the beginning that the Ferrari was going to be tough. Off the track, I really enjoyed the response we had with all of our fan initiatives. The webcasts, the team tours, and all of our social media interaction proved the loyalty and enthusiasm of sports car fans, and I really enjoyed all the compliments we received over the year. Finally, I personally want to congratulate Jeff Segal, Emil Assentato, and the entire Aim Autosport team. They did a great job this season and are deserving champions.”

“This team is just awesome,” stated Andy Lally. “When we announced that I would be driving for Magnus last November, there were some who weren’t sure about the decision, and I think we proved to everyone that it was the right call. Winning right out of the box at Daytona was exactly what we needed to silence the critics. This team is strong, professional, and unbelievably fun. It’s a happy home here, and I really want to cross that final box off with next year’s championship.”

While the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series won’t return to action until next year’s 51st Running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Magnus Racing will still keep our fans engaged over the coming winter break.

From now through the end of the year, be sure to tune in to magnusracing.com to get your fix of sportscar on the following days:

Map One Mondays: Every Monday we will provide you with an on-board lap of each track we raced at in 2012

Hump Day Crew Member of the Week: Get to know our Magnus Crew every Wednesday with an added feature, 24 Irrelevant Questions Headed to the 24.

Find Your Answer Friday: Our newest feature, Ask Magnus, in which fans can write in with any question and we’ll do our best to give a thorough answer every Friday… at least in our minds.


By the way, if you managed to make it through this entire release, well done. We’re so impressed, you can Email us here to be entered in to a drawing to win a FULL SIZED Rolex Wars poster.