WATKINS GLEN, NY (June 30, 2014)- Continuing their quest for the title in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship’s GTD category, Magnus Racing took another hard-fought podium with a third place in today’s Sahlen’s Six Hours at the Glen.
“Everyone is incredibly happy with today’s result,” stated John Potter, team owner and co-driver of the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America. “We were really happy with the setup for the race, everyone drove incredibly well and I think we maximized our finish today. It was a great day for the points, and headed into the next few rounds we’re definitely going to have a great fight for the second half of the season.”
Starting in fifth, Potter would take on opening duties for the six-hour classic. With all four classes of the series taking part in the same race for the first time since March, the highly anticipated chaos of a 55-car field failed to materialize as the green flag fell. With a long period of green flag runs opening the race, Potter would do his best to manage the tires running for the first hour without ever putting a wheel wrong.
Having endured a stomach illness for much of the weekend, John would hold strong for a second stint ensuring that he met his minimum drive time as required by the series. Managing the car in the process, Potter would drive a strong 90-minute run before eventually pitting for full service and a driver change.
Taking the wheel for the first time with Magnus Racing, Sebastian Asch would take to the track and instantly run up to pace. Having never driven the circuit until this weekend, the German did a masterful job of getting to grips with both team and track. Setting a continued series of quick times, Sebastian gained several positions during his double stint running mistake free despite limited experience with the crowded IMSA field.
By the time he would enter the pits for the final stop, Asch had worked the car up to fifth in class, with Andy Lally left to finish the final two hours in pursuit of a podium.
“The car was really, really fast,” stated Asch. “The Magnus team did an excellent job with the strategy and pit stops, and I was very impressed with the level of quality they all operate at. John drove very well at the beginning and gave me a good car, and it was great to work with Andy all weekend. I really enjoyed the whole experience and I thank everyone at Magnus for the opportunity.”
For Lally, driving at his home track having grown up in Long Island, the day was off to a difficult beginning before it ever started. During the previous day’s Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge support race, a cracked header on his Camaro would mean that Andy would drive the final hour with a searing hot set of pedals, putting his right foot in terrible pain and impairing him with a significant blister.
Having only one night to try and recover, Lally would have to overcome his injury focusing on the race ahead of him for the final two hours of the race. As the race unfolded, Andy would work to set a series of quick lap times, instantly setting the fastest times in the field all the while managing his tires before the final set of stops.
With the team on a slightly different pit stop sequence, Magnus would be the first to come in with Lally making the best use of fresh tires to gain positions as the field cycled through stops, eventually finding himself in third once everything sorted out.
Despite a late race caution, Andy found himself comfortably in third for the end where he would cross for the finish.
“The team earned every position they had today,” stated Lally. “With the heat and the length of the race, everyone had to be perfect and everyone delivered. John was awesome, especially with his illness, and did exactly what he was supposed to with the open of the race. It was great getting a chance to work with Sebastian and he did an excellent job through the middle of the race getting us through it all. The guys were excellent as always, and I had an easy job of just bringing it home.”
The result would tie the best finish Magnus has had at Watkins Glen and place them second in both the TUDOR Championship points, as well as the Tequila Patrón Endurance Cup. With the next five rounds of the championship running in a series of sprint races, the team knows that the next few rounds will be crucial.
Magnus will turn everything around quickly to head out to the treacherous Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for the Mobil 1 Sportscar Grand Prix presented by Hawk Performance. Located near Toronto, Canada, the former “Mosport” circuit will be one of the most dauntin, with the high speeds and narrow room for error promising an exciting event. Practice will begin on Friday, July 11, with the race being televised by FOX Sports 1 at 2PM EDT on Sunday, July 13.