Mid-Ohio Presents Magnus Racing’s Favorite Location-Named Track

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (May 1, 2019) – Enjoying a podium finish at the most recent round of IMSA GTD-category competition at the 12 Hours of Sebring, Magnus Racing with drivers John Potter and Andy Lally are excited to head to the famed Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this weekend for the first sprint race of the year. Located in the rolling hills of central Ohio, the popular 2.4-mile circuit plays host to the team’s favorite location-named circuit.

“Mid-Ohio is by far our favorite track that’s named after its location,” stated team owner and co-driver John Potter. “We used to race at Circuit of the Americas but it was always too vague, and despite our best efforts, we’ve been unable to sway other tracks to follow suit. Watkins Glen was indifferent to ‘Just South of Canada International,’ Detroit was a hard pass on ‘You Can Stay in Windsor if You Prefer Grand Prix Circuit,’ the fine folks at Road Atlanta didn’t think ‘The Loooong Road from Atlanta’ worked for them and WeatherTech Raceway is still considering ‘Where They Shoot Big Little Lies Raceway Laguna Seca.’ As a result, Mid-Ohio is always one we’re excited for. Lamborghini has done a great job giving us a competitive car for the first two rounds, but of course the resulting BoP adjustments will put us at a disadvantage for this weekend, so we’re not entirely sure what to expect. Mid-Ohio is always a fun course to drive but one where you really need good power to pass, so with the current series adjustments we’ll have to see how everything pans out, but regardless we’re looking forward to getting back to it.”

Driving the No. 44 Lamborghini Huracán EVO GT3, Potter and Lally will arrive knowing that the rolling hills of Mid-Ohio always present a unique challenge. With two previous podiums at the circuit, the team has the background to earn results, but with a new round of IMSA-mandated car adjustments it remains to be seen how the team will fair. As a course with very little in the way of straights, raw power and torque will be at a premium, which has sadly been compromised in the most recent round of changes.

For Andy Lally, optimism remains heading in to the weekend.

“Mid-Ohio is always a challenging circuit for drivers,” stated Lally. “Nearly every corner blends in to another one, so it’s critical to be placed perfectly every lap, and in that sense the whole team has the experience to do well here. There’s a lot of elements out of our control so it’s tough to say how we’ll do, but the guys have been perfect so far in 2019.”

Practice begins this Friday, May 3, with race action taking place on Sunday, broadcast live on NBCSN at 1:30PM ET.

Magnus Racing Takes 11th in Rain-Hampered Race

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 28, 2018) – Following a dynamic 24 hours of racing at this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, the season-opening round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Magnus Racing would survive a quiet event to take 11^th. Making zero major errors, the team enjoyed an up-and-down day that ultimately came down to a lottery of different caution periods and rain which would see the No. 44 Lamborghini Huracán EVO GT3 just miss the top-10.

“Of course the result is not quite what we wanted, but the team did a good job,” stated Magnus Racing team owner John Potter. “No one really made any major mistakes, but with a field this competitive it only takes one unexpected yellow, etc., to get on the backfoot and struggle to fight back. Overall the final position doesn’t really show our performance potential, but we’re in a good spot for the rest of the year.”

Running the full endurance schedule for the team, Spencer Pumpelly would take on starting duties, running a double-stint without error and maintaining a solid top-10 start. John Potter would follow suit, suffering the only major mishap of the race when contact from behind would cut down a tire, stranding John to drive the rest of his lap at a crawl to prevent car damage.

Falling down the order as a result of the incident, Potter’s stint would conclude a couple laps down, but with plenty of time to make the time back up. From there the team would rotate through Andy Lally, as well as factory-supplied driver Marco Mapelli in the fight to get back on the lead lap.

Through the night all four drivers would manage to avoid incident and with 10 hours remaining would find themselves back hunting for the lead lap.

Doing their best to get on the lead lap, the remaining nine hours would see a heavy string of long yellow flags for wet weather, and eventually a red flag with three hours remaining, making it near impossible to make up lost ground. 

With over two hours remaining, the race would resume, with Spencer Pumpelly managing wet conditions as best he could, driving conservatively avoid mishap.

Unfortunately IMSA officials would elect to bring out a final red flag with conditions simply too difficult to continue, effectively ending the race early with the team listed in 11^th.

Magnus Racing and the rest of the IMSA championship will now have several weeks to recover and rebuild, with the next round of competition at the famed 12 Hours of Sebring, March 13-16.

Mapelli Confirmed with Pumpelly, Lallypelly, Potterpelly at Rolex 24

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 9, 2019) – Following a successful test at the season-opening Roar Before the 24 at Daytona International Speedway, Magnus Racing and the No. 44 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO are as ready as they can be, with the team fully prepared for the upcoming Rolex 24 at Daytona, the first race of the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

While John Potter, Andy Lally, and Spencer Pumpelly had previously been confirmed for their respective full-season and endurance roles, the team also used the event to welcome team newcomer Marco Mapelli to the fold, who will join as a factory-supplied driver to add to the team’s 24-hour effort.

A native of Italy, Mapelli joins as a veteran of a number of international programs, including the Japanese Super GT Series, Blancpain GT, GT Masters, International GT Open, and specialty events including the Bathurst 12 Hour. Unique to Mapelli, he even holds the street car record at the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife, setting an incredible 6:44.97 lap time in Lamborghini Huracán Performante.

“Marco immediately fit in to our group from Day One, and we’re looking forward to him joining us at Daytona,” stated team owner and driver John Potter. “Being new to the platform, having someone with his experience and success is an immediate asset, and he’s already acclimated to our way of working so it should be a great relationship. “

For Mapelli, a similar sentiment is shared.

“The team at Magnus has a great history at Daytona, so I’m looking forward to the event,” stated Marco. “We had a good test together, I’m already comfortable with their environment, now we all have to turn our attention to a great race. The Rolex 24 is of course a race that every driver wants to win in his career, and we’re all very focused on victory.”

The second-to-last paragraph of all Roar Before the 24 post-event releases must inevitably say something about balance-of-performance, as Magnus Racing walked away with a disadvantage, of course totes moreso than every other team who claims the same. 

Official practice for the Rolex 24 at Daytona begins on Thursday, January 24. The race will begin that Saturday, January 26 at 2:35PM. The team will have additional announcements in the coming weeks. 

Magnus Racing Confirms Spencer Pumpelly for Endurance Races

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (December 11, 2018) – Following a successful day of testing the all-new Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO at Daytona International Speedway, Magnus Racing is proud to confirm team veteran Spencer Pumpelly as the team’s third driver for the entirety of the Michelin Endurance Cup. Joining teammates John Potter and Andy Lally, who have already been confirmed for the entirety of the IMSA WeatherTech Championship 2019 season, Pumpelly will join in all four of the season’s endurance races, looking to earn their third title starting with this January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

“It’s great to have Spencer back with us for 2019,” stated Magnus Racing team owner John Potter. “His first official race with Magnus was in 2017, but he’s been part of the family for several years, with many people on the team having worked with Spencer over the last two decades. We’re extremely fortunate to have him, and he couldn’t be a better fit for our ambitions to capture a third endurance championship.”

A veteran of sportscar competition, Spencer joins as one of the most sought after talents in the paddock, holding two Rolex 24 wins, two championships in IMSA competition, as well as endurance victories at the Six Hours of the Glen and Petit Le Mans. A prior member of the Magnus organization, Spencer last drove with the team in 2017, where he took victory at Lime Rock Park, and has additionally driven as a teammate to both John Potter and Andy Lally while they were with different teams.

For Spencer Pumpelly, a return to Magnus Racing is one he looks forward to.

“It’s great to return to Magnus Racing for 2019,” stated Pumpelly. “Obviously the team has a reputation for fun, but it’s also an incredible group of people, many of whom I’ve known for a long time. In 2017 we enjoyed some strong runs together, most notably winning in Lime Rock, and I think the combination of John and Andy for this year’s endurance races should be formidable. It’s great to be in a committed program this early, and we can all enter Daytona focused.”

The team’s official debut will come in just four weeks’ time, taking place at the upcoming Roar Before the 24 from January 4-6, the annual season-opening test weekend at Daytona International Speedway.

(photo credit: Michelin)

Magnus Racing Announces Switch to Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO; Andy Lally Confirmed for 2019

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (November 21, 2018) – Heading in to the 10^th year of professional competition, Magnus Racing will join forces with Lamborghini Squadra Corse for the upcoming 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Looking to recapture the same fortune that saw the team win multiple endurance championships, as well as victories at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring, the switch to the Italian manufacturer and the new Huracán GT3 EVO present a renewed opportunity for all involved. Additionally, the team is proud to reveal the continuation of full-season drivers John Potter and Andy Lally for the season.

“It’s great to move forward with everyone at Lamborghini Squadra Corse,” stated Magnus Racing owner and co-driver John Potter. “The performance of the Lamborghini over the past several seasons is well documented, and it will be nice to compete with them rather than against them in 2019. Since our first meeting, we’ve been remarkably impressed with the attention to customer service and clear communication, which instills a lot of confidence in the future of our working relationship. In particular, I’d really like to thank Giorgio Sanna and Chris Ward for being as responsive as they have, with an organization like ours it’s extremely refreshing.”

Of course this will mark the end of a three-year chapter with Audi Sport customer racing, who with Magnus Racing achieved tremendous success, including victories at The Rolex 24 at Daytona and Lime Rock Park in 2016, the North American Endurance Cup in the same year, as well as the California 8 Hour in 2017.

“We’re of course appreciative of our last three years with Audi Sport customer racing,” continued Potter. “We’re proud of the achievement we all had together, and of course Audi will always have a place in our team’s history, and are thankful their support through the years.”

Looking toward 2019, the team enters the off-season with a renewed focus and enthusiasm on taking top results. In 2018, Lamborghini swept the Driver, Team, and Manufacturer Championships, including victory at The Rolex 24 at Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring, and with an updated “EVO” program for next year, the team looks forward to a renewed opportunity to seek victory.

For Giorgio Sanna, Head of Motorsport for Automobili Lamborghini, welcoming Magnus Racing to the fold is one everyone looks forward to.

“We are very excited to have the team at Magnus Racing join us for 2019,” stated Sanna. “The team has a great on-track endurance record going back to their multiple Rolex 24 at Daytona wins, multiple championships, and of course Sebring win as well, but they also have an off-track approach that is very unique. We look forward to working closer together, and are happy to be part of the family and fun atmosphere that the team has created.” 

For Chris Ward, Senior Manager of Motorsport for Automobili Lamborghini, 2019 with Magnus Racing presents another strong team to the family.

“Having Magnus Racing join us adds another great team to our ambitions for another championship year,” sated Ward. “We’ve enjoyed our experience working with them to this point, and look forward to their approach with racing.”

For Andy Lally, returning to Magnus Racing with a revamped program is one he looks forward to.

“Moving in to 2019 with Lamborghini is a great move forward for the team,” stated Lally. “We’ve of course been driving against their cars for the last several years and they’ve had a great package, so I’m excited to finally get behind the wheel with next year’s EVO. There’s a lot to learn in a short amount of time, but we’re confident we can get up to speed quickly and regain the form we know we’re capable of.” 

With the off-season well under way, the team looks forward to taking delivery of their vehicle ahead of a busy winter testing season. Additional updates, including drivers, team liveries, and additional plans related to IMSA’s upcoming 50^th Anniversary will come shortly.