ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin (August 6, 2018) – Following a wild up-and-down race in which Magnus Racing drivers John Potter and Andy Lally worked their way up through the field to be ranked as high as sixth, the team can still take a lot of solace in yet another top-10 finish in their 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship campaign.
“Looking at the car after the race, there’s a lot of things to look positively at,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and driver John Potter. “The driver’s side door looks OK, the rear-view mirror seems in-tact, and at cursory glance the left-rear wheel seems like it’s still on. We also saved a solid $5.83 in fuel costs thanks to running one less lap on track. All-in-all that seems positive to me.”
After a strong opening series of practices, yesterday’s two-hour, forty-minute race would present some challenges with handling, with the team constantly working on the car in the hopes to find lost ground. In the closing laps, however, Andy Lally would find a renewed pace, making a late charge through the field and gaining three positions in the process, with an aim at the top-five. Unfortunately, a final-lap fight would see him on the outside of the treacherous Turn Six, running wide at the exit and sending the No. 44 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS spinning across the track and making head-on contact with the inside barrier. Lally would walk away un-hurt, with the stricken car classified in ninth when it all came to a close.
Continuing his evaluation of the car, John Potter did note a few challenges for the team as they prepare for the next event just 11 days away.
“The car did take some damage, so the guys will have to look in to it. Some things I noticed were the right-rear turn signal looked a little beaten up, they may have to re-do some of the vinyl on the passenger door, oh and the entire front-end will have to be written off. Other than that though, I think we’re in great shape for Virginia, it was great to take another top 10!”
With the car heavily damaged, the efforts of the team will ramp up in the coming days, with extensive repairs needed in time for the next round, with the cars loading in to the track next Thursday, August 16.
Practice for the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR will begin on Friday, August 17 with the race taking place on Sunday, August 19 at 1PM ET on FS1.
