Magnus Mid-Season Report: Consistency Creates Points
Friday, July 12, 2013 at 09:29PM
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (July 12, 2013)- With an extended break between the team’s most recent round at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen and the upcoming Brickyard Grand Prix in two weeks, Magnus Racing has had an opportunity to reflect on a quietly-strong season that has put them at the top of the current Rolex Sports Car Series GT championship standings.
“At this time last year we were cleaning ash off of the car, so I’d say we’re in a better place,” stated Magnus Racing team owner John Potter. “This year has been a real struggle for Porsches, but the team has run a flawless program, and it’s through this consistency that we’re somehow ahead in the points.”
Of the last seven rounds, the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche has finished no worse than sixth, and managed top-five results in every other event. Despite the team’s remarkable consistency, a struggle for the Porsche to find pace against the Ferraris, Camaros and BMWs has left the team remarkably absent from one major column.
“We really need to get a win this year if we’re going to have a shot at this,” stated co-driver Andy Lally. “If you look at the season so far, the only reason we’re ahead of the cars who have won this year is because of their mistakes, penalties, or just bad luck. I can’t say I’m surprised that we’re leading because this is such a good team, but with the pace that the Porsche is holding it’s going to be tough to hang on without a few wins.”
Having finished as the top Porsche in six of seven rounds this year, the team is pushing as hard as possible to make the most of their package.
Starting at this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, the team’s status as the defending race winner was evident as the event began. Leading a large portion of the race, the team was easily the strongest Porsche in the field and even threatened to win until the team struggled for fuel mileage in the remaining hour of the race. The No. 44 would silently cross the finish line, out of gas, in fifth.
Four weeks later, the team came into the all-new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas unsure of their chances. Doing their best to match the Ferraris and BMWs, clever strategy by the team put driver Andy Lally into the lead with just a few laps remaining, only for contact with the No. 94 BMW of Bill Auberlen to relegate the car to second. As an odd footnote, it was the first second place in the history of the team.
Moving to Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, the team would run a quiet race. With no opportunities for strategy and a strong pace by the No. 57 Camaro, the team would finish sixth; the car barely lasting due to a hole in the radiator.
Two weeks later at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, a rained-out qualifying session would put the No. 44 on pole position. Unfortunately, that would serve as the highlight of the weekend with a fairly uneventful race placing the car in fifth.
With the series taking the majority of May off, the team returned to Detroit in hopes of improved form. Even though the team was clearly a championship contender, the ultimate pace was really beginning to show through the spring.
In Detroit, the tricky street circuit was considered to be difficult for the Porsche. Luckily, great pit work by the team would advance the car to fourth, with an endless series of yellows allowing Lally to hold station.
Two weeks later, strategy, aggressive driving, and attrition would see the team regain the point lead in Mid-Ohio. For much of the race the team seemed poised for fifth, however, positions gained in the pits followed by late race incidents would put the team in a surprise second, only their second podium of the year.
Most recently, yet another podium finish at Watkins Glen International would prove enough to hold the current point lead, but the team is keenly aware of the quality of cars behind them in the standings.
“The field is incredibly strong this year, so it’s a big honor to be where we are in the championship,” continued Potter. “The Stevenson Camaro is clearly a strong car as shown by their four wins this year. They’re a great team that is going to be real tough if they can consistently stay up on the charts, so we’re very aware of the realities that the second half of the season present. We just have to stay focused on our own program, make no mistakes, and hopefully we can break through with a win this year. If we can do all that, then I like our chances.”
With five races remaining, the second half of the season begins on Friday, July 26, at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As the defending race winners, the team looks to capitalize on their winning record at the circuit. As the first of three races in four weeks, the team has been doing what they can during the July break to be prepared for the run to the end.
Practice for The Brickyard Grand Prix begins on Thursday, July 25, with race coverage one day later on SPEED at 4:30 PM ET.
Reader Comments (2)
Will there be a stream for Indy this year?