SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (September 13, 2017) – Looking to close out an up-and-down Pirelli World Challenge season that has seen everything from victories to unfortunate incidents, Magnus Racing will take to this weekend’s Grand Prix of Sonoma with high hopes for further results. Still with an outside shot at the GTA title, John Potter will enter the weekend with a strong focus on maximizing his points potential, while Pierre Kaffer will look to close out his tour with a single-minded approach to winning.
“We want to end our Pirelli World Challenge campaign on a high,” stated Magnus Racing team owner John Potter. “It’s been an interesting experience and change of pace for us, and we definitely want to close with our best foot forward for both cars. It’s always tough to know until you arrive, but Sonoma has the potential to be a good track for us, as the winding nature of it could benefit our Audi’s characteristics. Of course I also want to see Pierre end his season well, and personally I’m fully aware that there is a potential championship on the line, but also very realistic in what it would take for that to work in my favor. All-in-all we want a great weekend for the whole team, as everyone’s put in a fantastic effort all season and should be rewarded.”
Currently sitting second in the GTA category’s “Sprint” Championship, John Potter and the No. 44 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS enter the weekend with a mathematical shot at the series’ title. Enjoying a sprint season that saw him take three consecutive podium finishes, this weekend’s double-header at the 2.2-mile, 11-turn circuit will be a new one for the Utah resident, but with cautious optimism that it could suit the unique needs of the Audi.
In the GT category, Pierre Kaffer and the No. 4 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS will arrive in search of the German’s first victory in Pirelli World Challenge competition. Following his best result to date during the most recent round in Texas, Kaffer comes in to the weekend with nothing to lose, with planned schedule conflicts taking him out of any hopes for a title.
“I would love to end the season with a victory,” stated Kaffer. “I’ve really enjoyed working with the entire Maguns team, and certainly would like to reward the work of the crew with a shot at the win. It’s tough to say how we’ll do with a circuit like Sonoma, but if there’s an opportunity to maximize we’ll certainly take it.”
Serving as one of the shortest weekends of the year, a very brief practice session will occur this Friday, September 22, with a double-header of racing taking place on Saturday and Sunday. The race GT/GTA events will take place at 5:15PM ET on Saturday, and 1PM on Sunday, with all races broadcast live at world-challenge.com/streamvideo.
AUSTIN, Texas (September 5, 2017) – While one race still remains in the traditional “Sprint” championship, Magnus Racing’s adventures in the Pirelli World Challenge “SprintX” category would come to a close with a podium finish on Sunday. Enjoying a mixed season that has seen everything from victory to a series of incidents, Pierre Kaffer and Spencer Pumpelly would close the season with a solid third-place finish during Sunday’s final round, while John Potter and Marco Seefried would walk away with a pair of fourth-place results.
“I’m glad we were able to take a podium to finish out the SprintX season,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and driver John Potter. “Pierre and Spencer have done a great job all season to make the most out of what they had, and I’m glad we were able to finish on a high. The manner in which they did it is all the better as well, as the team had to really push to get the car ready for Sunday’s race, proving just what a group effort this all really is. I’m glad Marco and I were able to run relatively solid as well, and I thank both Marco and Spencer for a great season.”
In the No. 4 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS, Pierre Kaffer and Spencer Pumpelly came in to the weekend looking to end their season on a high following a mixed season together. Unique to the weekend, a previous cancellation at Candian Tire Motorsport Park in May would also mean the weekend would feature a triple-header of racing, with a Friday make-up race added to the Saturday and Sunday rounds.
During Friday’s race, mixed fortunes would beset the team, struggling to match the straightline pace of much of the field, which is critical in a place like the 3.4 mile circuit. Regardless, Pumpelly would still make excellent work of the field in front of him, eventually handing to Kaffer who would continue a solid run for the team, taking sixth at the checkered.
For Saturday’s Race Two, a seventh-place starting position would be maligned for Kaffer when he took the green flag, being cited with an infraction headed in to Turn One for violating a rule that dictated no one could cross the pit exit line in the run to the first corner. Eventually serving the penalty, the No. 4 would be set back from that point on, with Spencer Pumpelly eventually taking the reigns and doing his best to charge through the field. This would eventually lead to an incredible series of maneuvers from Spencer, who would fight hard with the No. 43 Acura to gain ground, ultimately settling for 10th at the finish.
Unfortunately, however, a late-race restart on Saturday would create one significant detriment to the No. 4 program. Avoiding chaos in front of him on the final lap, Pumpelly would take evasive action that would send the car pounding over an apex curb, causing the car to get slightly airborne, and more importantly bending the chassis in the process.
With the car bent in a manner that would prove impossible to fix overnight, the never-say-die attitude of the Magnus crew once again proved formidable, with the team doing a complete re-alignment and adjusting of body work to try and make up for the bent chassis, with Pumpelly and Kaffer unsure of what kind of car they’d have for Sunday.
As it turned out, however, the duo would have their best run together of the season on Sunday, with Kaffer doing an impressive job to get the car in the top-three for the closing half of the race, not putting a foot wrong and ending the SprintX season on a high.
“I’m glad we were able to finally take a podium together,” stated Kaffer. “The SprintX format is very unique, as you really don’t have a lot of drive time and have to push hard to make things happen, but I think we definitely had some positive moments. It was really impressive of the team to work on the car overnight and get it in good shape for Sunday, and I’m glad we were able to reward them with a top finish. Thank you to Spencer for being a great teammate, and I look forward to closing Sonoma on a high.”
For Spencer Pumpelly, a similar sentiment is shared.
“Ending the season on the podium is as much as we could have asked for,” stated Pumpelly. “With the damage the car took on Saturday, the fact that they were able to effectively get it back to normal working order is a testament to the quality of the program. We of course always want a chance to fight for the championship, but I’m happy to have been a part of their first series win and two additional podiums, and I thank everyone for the tremendous opportunity.”
All-in-all, the No. 4 car would take three podiums during the 2017 SprintX season, including a victory at Lime Rock.
For the No. 44 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS of John Potter and Marco Seefried, a fairly quiet run would underscore a solid run for the pairing.
On Friday’s Race One, Seefried would find himself in a four-car train throughout his stint, proving the overall pace of the car, but lacking the straight-line speed necessary to pass. Handing the car to Potter, a comfortable run would see the Utah resident fairly unchallenged to the checkered, taking fourth place honors.
Unfortunately, a failed hose would sideline the car early during Saturday’s Race Two, with the car repaired and in good shape for Sunday’s Race Three. Once again, John and Marco would enjoy a patient drive, avoiding the chaos around them to settle in for another fourth-place run.
“I think everyone on the team did the best they could,” stated Seefried. “It’s always tough to compete in a series like this when there is a straight-line deficit, but we had fast cars and as always the quality of the program was at a top level. I always enjoy the time at my favorite American home, and hope to find more opportunities together in the future.”
While the SprintX season has come to a close, the traditional sprint format of the Pirelli World Challenge will continue with one more event, taking place at the famed Sonoma Raceway in less than two-weeks’ time. John Potter will resume his normal driving duties in the solo GTA category, while Pierre Kaffer will once again resume in GT. Practice begins on Friday, September 15, with a double-header of race action on Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (August 31, 2017) – With two weekends remaining in the Pirelli World Challenge 2017 season, this weekend’s triple-header at the famed Circuit of the Americas in Texas will play a special one, hosting the last of the series’ two-driver SprintX rounds. Continuing with the same two entries that have carried them throughout the year, a focus on wins and podiums is at the forefront for the pairing of Pierre Kaffer and Spencer Pumpelly, as well as John Potter and Marco Seefried.
“We would like to finish on a high with our driver pairings, but it’s a really competitive series,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and driver John Potter. “Running in SprintX has been a unique experience, and for what has been a mixed season we’ve enjoyed a few highlights, most notably taking our first series win in Lime Rock. It will be the last race for Spencer and Marco, and we’ll be sad to see them go, but appreciate their efforts this year and hope to end on a high.”
Competing at the same circuit and layout as the Formula One World Championship, the visit to the 3.4-mile, 20-turn circuit is always a unique one. A track that features a little bit of everything, from long straights, to tight corners, fast sweepers and a series of switchbacks, the need to perfect setup and maximize the car is at a premium. Unfortunately a lack of straight-line speed due to series’ mandated Balance of Performance (BoP) rules has kept the team at a deficit throughout much of the season, with the long straights in Texas likely creating a challenge. The weekend will also be a unique one with three races taking place, with an additional race added on Friday to make up for the previously cancelled event at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
In the No. 4 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS, Spencer Pumpelly and Pierre Kaffer will enjoy their last weekend together, looking to take their best result as a pairing. Coming off a challenging series of races where a combination of incidents and BoP compromises has kept the team struggling, hopes are high for the season to end strong. The team’s No. 4 program has held the honor of being the top performer for Magnus in 2017, having taken a convincing victory at Lime Rock. The weekend will also have some importance to Pumpelly, who currently sits sixth in the SprintX Championship but with an opportunity to break the top-five.
In the No. 44 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS, John Potter and Marco Seefried will also enjoy their last run together in 2017, with hopes to take their best finish of the season. In SprintX, the season has been a struggle for the pairing, who much like their teammates have fought a series of incidents and BoP challenges to stay competitive, but still with a podium to highlight the effort.
Official practice begins tomorrow, September 1, with races taking place on all three days. Race One, serving as a make-up race for a previously cancelled race in Canada, will take place Friday at 8:30PM ET, followed by Race Two on Saturday at 5:00PM ET, and Race Three on Sunday at 1:30PM ET. Live coverage will be available for all three via world-challenge.com/streamvideo .
TOOELE, Utah (August 15, 2017) – Taking to the “home track” of Utah Motorsport Campus for the first time since 2010, Magnus Racing drivers John Potter and Marco Seefried would take top honors for the team with a third-place finish in class during Saturday’s SprintX round of the Pirelli World Challenge. Doing their best under difficult circumstances, Spencer Pumpelly and Pierre Kaffer would take a top finish of ninth overall on Sunday.
“Taking a podium on the weekend is as good of a result as we could have asked for,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and driver John Potter. “With so many guests on hand, we wanted to deliver, and being able to celebrate on the podium with them was a great experience. Unfortunately it’s proving more and more difficult to get results with the way the rules are working, but the team is pushing as hard as ever to get the most out of the car, and I don’t think we can be disappointed with our efforts internally.”
Driving the No. 44 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS in front of nearly 100 invited guests, John Potter and Marco Seefried would enter the fourth weekend of “SprintX” competition in pursuit of their first podium together since 2016. While the three-mile “outer course” layout of Utah Motorsport Campus is extremely familiar to local hero John Potter, the current Balance of Performance rules written to try and equalize the diversity of machinery in the series seemed to really work against the normally-aspirated V10 of the Audi R8 LMS. The unique altitude and configuration of the circuit would prove difficult against the competition, with neither the team nor Audi possessing any recourse to be able to solve the disparity.
Regardless, Saturday’s Race One would prove solid for the duo. With Potter taking starting duties, a strong opening drive would take his Audi comfortably within the top-four, while strong pit work and an excellent closing stint by Seefried would take the team one additional place up to third.
Sunday’s Race Two would prove much of the same, however an extended series of caution flags and incidents, coupled with the challenges of passing, would keep Seefried and Potter in fourth throughout much of their run, where they would finish.
Driving the No. 4 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS for overall honors, the Balance of Performance challenges for Spencer Pumpelly and Pierre Kaffer would prove impossible to overcome, making a tough weekend for the pairing.
With the official series’ speed reports showing their machine as much as seven miles-per-hour down on straight-line speed compared to other cars, the inability to hold pace on the straights meant that the No. 4 would be working at a deficit all weekend, creating a number of problems.
On Saturday’s Race One, Pumpelly’s opening stint would prove critical, tangling with the No. 99 Porsche only five laps in to the race as he did everything he could to fight with the field. Due to the contact, the team would retire the car.
On Saturday’s Race Two, Pumpelly and Kaffer would drive a clean race, however they were unable to better a ninth-place finish.
Magnus Racing and the Pirelli World Challenge will return to racing action in just three weeks’ time, heading to the beautiful Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, the final race of the series “SprintX” championship, and penultimate race of the championship season. Official practice will begin on Friday, September 1, with double-header race action on Saturday, September 2 and Sunday, September 3.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (August 8, 2017) – With nearly 100 guests on hand to cheer on the “home team,” Salt Lake City-based Magnus Racing will return to competition at Utah Motorsport Campus this weekend for the first time since 2010.
“It’s great to be back in Utah, and we look forward to being the local favorite,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and driver John Potter. “Utah Motorsport Campus has been a home for me for quite a while now, having rented a garage there for nearly a decade and lived in Salt Lake City even longer. It’s a tremendous locale with a great fan base, and everyone on the team is committed to delivering a first-rate event for them.”
Returning to the Pirelli World Challenge series for the next round of “SprintX” competition, the team will bring two cars with four drivers to the event. Even though all races are only 60 minutes in length, “SprintX” is designed to reflect the endurance heritage of sportscar racing, with multiple drivers sharing the same vehicle.
Driving the No. 4 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS, Pierre Kaffer and Spencer Pumpelly will once again re-unite for the weekend. Pumpelly is joining the team after a difficult weekend in Mid-Ohio, while Kaffer returns to the team after missing the last round due to a schedule conflict. While the two have not driven together since May, the last SprintX race for the No. 4 car at Lime Rock Park was the most successful to date, taking victory.
For the No. 44 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS, long-time teammate Marco Seefried will once again join John Potter behind the wheel, continuing a partnership that began with victory at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in 2014. So far in 2017, the duo have taken part in two different SprintX weekends, driving with mixed results and taking a top finish of fourth.
Official practice begins this Friday, August 11, with the GTX category featuring a double-header race weekend. Racing will take place at 1:40PM on Saturday and 12:30PM on Sunday. Live streaming can be found at world-challenge.com/streamvideo .
Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at 02:12PM 
