Swapping Colors in Search of New Results for Magnus at Road America

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (July 31, 2019) – Enjoying a remarkably consistent 2019 season that has seem the team finish in the top-10 at every event, Magnus Racing will arrive at this weekend’s eighth round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with a new color scheme in the hopes of further improving their fortunes. While consistency has been the key for drivers John Potter and Andy Lally, currently just seven points shy of second in the championship, a singular podium at Sebring has left the team in search of improved results. Looking to shake things up after the popular reception of the team’s Saturn V rocket livery at Lime Rock, the team will swap their 2019 dark-grey and blue-trim livery in favor of the reverse, running a base blue for funsies at Road America.

“Since we were already altering the livery after Lime Rock, we figured why not keep playing with it,” stated Magnus Racing team owner John Potter. “We’ve enjoyed a dark grey base for four years now, but we figured why not try something different since we’re at it. Road America has been a race of mixed fortunes for us, but we’re hopeful this could be a good weekend depending on the usual range of factors. It’s a tight fight for second in the championship, and we’re eager to see where these final few races take us.” 

Taking to the 14-turn, four-mile circuit in their No. 44 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO, the large hills and fast corners of the Wisconsin circuit provide one of the most exciting venues for wheel-to-wheel racing on the calendar. While it remains to be seen just how the Lamborghini will fair among the GTD field, a series of improvements over recent races has left the team more confident than ever on their chances.

For Andy Lally, a return to one of the sport’s iconic tracks is always an exciting one.

“Road America is high on everyone’s list, it’s a great place for proper racing,” stated Lally. “Even though our results haven’t shown it, the team has made big strides in the last few races and this could be the place where it finally all comes together.”

Practice begins this Friday, August 2, with the race taking place on Sunday at 2:35PM ET. Live coverage can be found on the NBC Sports App, or with same-day coverage at 6PM ET on NBCSN.

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.

Magnus Racing Completes Quiet Weekend in Canada

BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, Canada (July 8, 2019) – Following a relatively quiet weekend at the historic Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Magnus Racing and drivers John Potter and Andy Lally would finish eighth following a series of late yellow flags that prevented them from moving further up the order.

“All in all it was an uneventful weekend, but we showed a lot of strengths,” stated team owner and co-driver John Potter. “We were near the top in just about every practice session, so we know the potential was there, we were just a little unlucky with some of the yellow flags but overall we can’t be too disappointed. We’re well positioned for the rest of the year.” 

With the high speeds of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park creating a notoriously challenging layout, the team showed well throughout practice, including second-place results during both Friday sessions.

With John Potter taking on starting duties, a steady drive throughout the opening stint would keep the Utah native on pace with the lead pack, gaining several spots in the process and placing the car securely in the top-10 by time pit stops cycled through. With Andy Lally getting in to close the race, a strong drive forward would advance him to eighth, and primed for a potential top-five based on his pace.

Unfortunately, a late red flag would eat up much of the time remaining in the race, with Lally left with no choice but to settle for the position. 

A recap of the highlights from CNBC’s coverage can be found here.

Magnus Racing Continues Improving Season with Fourth at Detroit

DETROIT (June 2, 2018) – Continuing an improving 2019 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship season that has seen the team finish within the top-10 at every race, Magnus Racing with drivers John Potter and Andy Lally would take a solid fourth place during Saturday’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix taking place in Detroit’s scenic Belle Isle. Their second top-five of the year, the result would serve as the team’s best finish in the history of their Detroit visits.

“This will definitely act as one of our best memories from Detroit,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “We’ve been putting in some long days in the last several weeks developing the car for the rest of the year, and the results have really shown. Detroit had historically been one of our challenging events, but this weekend was a different story altogether, and I’m proud of our whole team.”

Qualifying in seventh, his best in the team’s history at the venue, John Potter would start Saturday’s 100-minute by instantly avoiding an incident in the first corner. Driving with a keen awareness of the cars around him, Potter’s heads-up mentality would suit him well during the first half of the race, moving himself up the order before a timely yellow would put Andy Lally in a position to move even further up.

Beginning in seventh when his stint began, Lally would enjoy an incredibly strong Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO during his run, working on the field in front of him and also avoiding even more incidents to elevate the No. 44 to fourth by time the race came to a close.

“This was exactly what we needed,” stated Andy Lally. “We’ve had some incredibly fruitful tests in recent weeks and our pace is the great reward for that. The crew really earned this for us between our pace and excellent pit work, it’s been a lot of fun

Now well within the top-five in points, all focus now returns to the endurance season, with the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen serving as the next event. With the “six hour” acting as a team favorite, Magnus Racing has seen the podium four separate times over the years, however a win still remains elusive.

Practice begins on Friday, June 28, with the six-hour classic taking place on Sunday, June 30. The race will begin at 9:45AM ET, with NBCSN coverage being shown the same day at 7PM ET. 

 

Magnus Racing Confident of Top-12 at Detroit

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (May 31, 2019) – Making their most confident forecast of the entire 2019 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship season, Magnus Racing will take to the track for tomorrow’s Chevrolet Sports Car Classic with the bold prediction that they will finish within the top-12. Working as the fourth round of the season and second round of the series’ Sprint Championship, the tricky 2.35-mile circuit carved out of the temporary streets of Detroit’s Bell Isle, hopes are high for a strong result for drivers John Potter and Andy Lally, as well as the entire team behind the No. 44 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO.

“I’ve never been more confident that the results sheet will show us in the top-12,” stated Magnus Racing team owner John Potter. “We’ve put a lot of time in to developing the car over the last several weeks, and in truth our aim is actually much higher, but with Detroit you never really know what to expect. The challenges of Detroit are unlike any other, with walls on all sides, but if we can stay out of trouble we’re hoping for good results. The team has put in a lot of time in recent weeks and I’m really appreciative of the effort.”

As a 100-minute race run in conjunction with the NTT IndyCar Series competing on the same weekend, this Saturday’s festivities will serve as the shortest round of IMSA’s GTD category season. With limited straights and walls surrounding every part of the temporary street circuit, the scenic Belle Isle circuit is notorious for incidents, with passing at a premium and mistakes coming at a higher-than-usual cost. With a race so short, the emphasis on qualifying, track position, and attrition makes the race one of the most tough to predict, but also a fan favorite for entertainment.

Practice begins today, May 31, with race action taking place tomorrow at 12:30PM ET on NBCSN. Magnus Racing will also provide periodic updates via their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.