SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (July 18, 2018) – Returning to the venue where Magnus Racing and the Audi R8 LMS GT3 has had some of its greatest success, this weekend’s Northeast Grand Prix in Lime Rock Park is an optimistic one. Arriving at the historic Lakeville, Connecticut circuit for the annual Saturday race, driver John Potter and Andy Lally and the entire Magnus crew will look to return to victory following two successive years of winning.
“Lime Rock Park has become a great track for us in recent years,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and driver John Potter. “The layout seems to really suit our Audi, and the development we’ve made over the last few weeks comes at an opportune time. We’re as prepared as we can be, and after a great weekend in Canada we’re all looking forward to this.”
In 2016, the team’s first year with the No. 44 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS GT3, an exceptional drive by both drivers would result in an impressive come-from-behind victory, with Andy Lally pulling in an amazing run of final laps to take the team’s second win of the season. Last year, although in a different series, Magnus Racing and Audi would once again repeat success, this time with drivers Spencer Pumpelly and Dane Cameron taking overall victory.
While the most recent race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park showed a great turnaround for the team, earning their first podium of the year, the challenge of Lime Rock is not overlooked. At 1.5 miles, the circuit is the shortest on the calendar, and with high speeds and a narrow surface the propensity for incidents and chaos is notoriously high. As the first of two GT-only races, this year’s event promises much of the same, with attrition playing a large role in the outcome of the event.
For Andy Lally, a return to the circuit closest to his childhood home is a welcome one.
“Being so close to New York, there’s always a bit of nostalgia for Lime Rock,” stated Lally. “It’s a fast, classic track, but one we always have to be very heads-up at. The guys have been pushing really hard to get it perfect for this weekend, as we know this is a venue where we really might have a shot. There’s a lot of variables on any race weekend, especially this one, so you can never be overly optimistic, but we’re all focused.”
Practice begins this Friday, July 20, with the race taking place at 3PM ET on Saturday, July 21. Live coverage can be found on imsaradio.com or imsa.tv internationally, or at 4PM ET on FS1 for viewers in the US.
