Magnus Racing Braves Sweltering Temperatures at Lime Rock Park

 

LAKEVILLE, CONNECTICUT (July 22, 2019) – Participants of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship endured the hottest race of the year at Saturday’s Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park. Racing on track temperatures over 115 degrees, Magnus Racing drivers John Potter and Andy Lally finished eighth, continuing their perfect streak of top-10 finishes this season. In celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Magnus Racing paid special tribute with a one-time car livery on their car, changing the traditional black, blue, and silver livery of the No. 44 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO to a livery matching the Saturn V rocket, complete with a car number change to No. 11. 

“Lime Rock Park always brings challenging conditions, and this year was no different,” stated team owner and co-driver John Potter. “We had great pace, and the team gave us the perfect set up to run competitively without burning off the tires too quickly. We were quick in the pits, and that crucial execution gained us two spots and put us in the position to fight for more positions up the field. All in all we enjoyed the event and have to once again thank everyone at IMSA for accommodating our commemorative effort, as well as of course the fans for an incredible show of support. We were blown away with how well received our tribute was.” 

The opening half of the race saw very little action, with the field taking the green flag and spreading out to maintain starting order for most of the stint. John Potter started the race for the Magnus Racing Lamborghini, expertly managing his tires during this stint to keep his lap times competitive and keep the car in position, close to the competition. 

Andy Lally took over on lap 51, and quick work from the team in pit lane gained the No. 11 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO two spots upon race reentry. Within twenty minutes, the Magnus Racing rocket gained another position, running in eight, 18 seconds behind Jack Hawksworth in the No. 14 Lexus. The Northeast Grand Prix continued to run incident free for all until the final stint, as competitors throughout the field fought aggressively for position. 

The GTD and GTLM cars came alive in the final 40 minutes, with each car completing their final stop and prepared for a sprint to the checker flag. Lally made his final stop from eighth place, and rejoined with fresh Michelin tires, again gaining four seconds on his gap to Hawksworth. With each lap, he inched closer to the Lexus, but in the end it wasn’t enough to race for the position. 

“Those final stints showed how competitive GT racing can be in IMSA,” said Lally. “The temperatures inside the cockpit were ridiculously hot, but the racing was a lot of fun. You have to take great care of your tires while also fighting for position. Lime Rock Park is a shorter track that offers very little rest, demanding the best from the field. I feel like we put on a good show today.”

The eighth place finish marks the team’s sixth top-10 finish in six races, continuing their streak of consistent finishes during a competitive season. The Northeast Grand Prix will air tape delayed on NBC Sports on Saturday, July 20 at 9:00PM ET.