Magnus Racing Return to VIR in Search of Redemption

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (August 22, 2014)- When Magnus Racing last competed at Virginia International Raceway as part of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series in 2011, the fledgling team came in to VIR with something to prove. Up to that point in their history, the team had only one podium to its name, having earned third at Homestead-Miami Speedway just a few months earlier. With the long straights and tricky corners of VIR keeping the field pretty even, a series of rain showers in 2011 would put a premium on strategy and driving as the track dried. With the laps counting down, Magnus Racing found themselves within grasp of the checkered flag in a solid second place until the skies opened up and the car would end up spinning in to the barriers in the wet conditions. The team would drop down the order in to a 15th place finish.
 
“Our memories of the last visit to VIR are tough ones,” stated team owner and co-driver John Potter. “We had a lot to prove in 2011, and we were poised to have one of our biggest breakthrough events. In an instant it went away, and is very reflective of how those first two seasons went as a whole. We had all the potential in the world, but things kept happening to keep us out of contention.”
 
Since that race, times have changed. Between taking their first victory the following year at The Rolex 24 at Daytona, taking the inaugural Brickyard Grand Prix and North American Endurance Championship, or even the most recent Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the team became the only Porsche entrant in the Rolex Series to take victory from 2012 on, and is the only Porsche team in the GTD class to have won in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship
 
“This team is just incredible to work with,” stated co-driver Andy Lally. “I’ve been fortunate to work with a number of great teams over the years, and the heart and soul that everyone at Magnus puts in to it simply amazing. Not only do they do an excellent job on the track, but they’ve managed to combine it with a fun and refreshing approach that you rarely see, easily making it the most fun group I’ve ever been a part of.”
 
 
In the throws of a difficult championship fight, Magnus remains a quiet contender with only three races remaining, just a few points out of the lead in a very hotly contested fight among the top-six.
 
With this weekend’s first-ever GT only race for the TUDOR Championship, Magnus Racing and the entire GTD field will share the track with the faster GTLM category, setting up for what should be an interesting event.
 
Television coverage begins this Sunday, August 22 at 4PM ET on Fox Sports 1.

Magnus Racing Joins the Herd in Wisconsin Slaughter

ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin (August 11, 2014)- Racing in a state famed for its dairy and meat industry, Magnus Racing enjoyed a good old-fashioned slaughter thanks to being taken out by a competitor during yesterday’s Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at the famed Road America. After spending over 30 minutes in the garage to repair a number of components, the team would still manage to see the finish, scoring 14th place points in their quest for the championship.
 
“Today was extremely disappointing,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “With a championship as close as this one, you can’t afford to give anything away, so to have a series newcomer run in to the back of me and create the ensuing chaos is a tough one to swallow. Two good cars were taken out as a result, and it’s not what we needed, but there is some solace knowing that the guys once again did a phenomenal job keeping us out there.”
 
Following significant progress with the car’s setup after a difficult past few races, the team’s strong practice and qualifying run would net the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America a fourth-row starting spot. With Potter taking the green flag, the first of what would be 90-minutes worth of caution periods would take place just a few laps in. After an extensive yellow period due to track clean up, Potter and much of the GTD field would find themselves starting from the back of a 50-car field when the next green flag fell. With the cramped nature of a full field fighting to take the green flag, the No. 35 Audi would misjudge the field in front of him as everyone slowed for the next corner, punting John from behind which would in turn send Potter in to the No. 45 Audi and No. 63 Ferrari, causing extensive damage to both the front and rear of the car. Doing his best to get the car turned around, Potter would navigate the track for several laps to evaluate the car, with the team eventually pitting once a yellow for debris (from their incident) was issued. Upon evaluation in the pits, the team elected to send the No. 44 back to the garage for further repairs. Additionally the No. 63 Ferrari, another innocent victim, was sent to the garage for similar problems.
 
Once in the garage, the notorious Magnus Racing crew did what they’re most known for, replacing countless parts and getting the car back on track in just over 30 minutes. With extensive damage to both the front and rear of the car, the team would replace everything including the front nose, front fenders, lights, splitter, several pieces on the rear, and so on.
 
In this process, however, the most critical piece of the equation was getting both drivers their required minimum drive time. By series’ rule in the GTD category, drivers must complete a minimum of one-hour on the track during the traditional two-hour, 45-minute events. With every minute in the garage or in the pits, time was being taken away from the driver’s ability to meet this requirement.
 
Luckily, the team’s stellar work would get Potter back out in time to meet his requirement, with the Utah resident pitting within enough time to give teammate Andy Lally his time as well.
 
Down by 15 laps and simply trying to run a safe race, Lally would drive without incident, crossing the finish line with 14th place points for both drivers.
 
“There’s not much to say about today, it’s just one of those deals,” stated Lally. “Everyone says they have the best crew in the business, but our guys prove it time and time again. This was a big blow in the championship, but at least we were able to get some points and hopefully that shows up in the end.”
 
With the busy summer season still under way, Magnus Racing and several classes of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship will return to action in less than two weeks’ time at Virginia International Raceway. With the GTLM and GTD classes competing in the season’s lone GT-only event, the event promises to be an exciting one. Practice begins on Saturday, August 23, with race coverage on Sunday, August 24 at 4PM ET on FOX Sports 1.

Magnus Racing Heads to Road America in Tight Championship Fight

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (August 7, 2014)- With an incredibly tight TUDOR United SportsCar GTD Championship on the line, Magnus Racing heads to this weekend’s Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at the scenic Road America circuit in search of bolstering their title hopes.
 
“It’s an incredibly important weekend for us,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “We were able to escape catastrophe at Indianapolis in spite of the engine misfire, but we need to ensure strong finishes for the last stretch of the season. Everyone on the team has been preparing for this and I think we’re as ready as we can be.”
 
With only four races remaining in the season, this Sunday’s race at the historic course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin is critical for all championship contenders. With only 12 points separating the top four, every position will play a critical role in the team’s final tally with everyone on the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America checking every detail on the car in search of speed.
 
For Andy Lally, the pursuit of another title in his career is at a premium.
 
“This championship is incredibly close,” stated Lally, co-driver of the No. 44 machine. “This is arguably the most competitive GT championship I’ve ever been a part of and this team has come so close in the past that they want it bad. We’re all pushing, and hopefully Road America will suit us well.”
 
Featuring long straights and several high-speed corners, hopes are high that the four-mile circuit will play into the favors of the Porsche, but with such an incredibly competitive field everything remains to be seen.
 
Practice will begin Friday, August 8, with the race being broadcast on Fox Sports 1 on Sunday, August 10, at 6:30PM ET.

Magnus Racing Coasts to 12th at the Brickyard

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (July 28, 2014)- Enduring a challenging day for the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America, Magnus Racing would salvage a 12th place finish during Friday’s Brickyard Grand Prix. Encountering a number of handling issues and highlighted by an engine misfire, the team would manage to finish on the lead lap, and still a championship contender with four races remaining in the TUDOR United SportsCar GT Daytona (GTD) Championship.
 
“It definitely wasn’t the day we wanted, but we made the best of it,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “Indy has been such a good place to us in the past, we were hoping this would be a day that could turn our championship around, but it unfortunately wasn’t meant to be. We’re still well in the championship fold and satisfied that we were at least able to persevere in front of our friends at The Private Client Reserve of U.S. Bank and Flex-Box.”
 

With nearly two dozen guests on hand from sponsors Flex-Box and The Private Client Reserve of U.S. Bank, Magnus Racing returned to Indianapolis Motor Speedway poised to continue a podium streak on the hallowed grounds of “The Brickyard” that began at the speedway’s first professional sportscar event in 2012.

Starting from the seventh row, John Potter would open with a steady drive, managing to avoid several incidents occurring around him. As the first sprint race featuring all four series’ classes on the same track at the same time, the expected chaos of the opening laps failed to disappoint, with several incidents leading to an extended period of caution laps throughout the first hour.
 
Pitting just past the one-hour mark, Potter would hand the car over to teammate Andy Lally with the duo looking to earn their third straight podium at the speedway. Unfortunately, a series of handling issues would keep the veteran driver out of immediate contention, with the Georgia resident aiming to preserve his tires in the hope of gaining ground during a long run. As the stint carried on, however, the team began to notice a souring engine with a series of warning lights calling attention to the problem.
 
Lally’s Porsche would eventually encounter a misfire, which he thankfully was able to manage for the remaining 90 minutes. Setting competitive lap times, the team would make one final pit stop with under an hour to go, sending Lally back on his way to manage the rest of his race. With the misfire causing the Magnus Porsche to lose position after position, the No. 44 would eventually cross the checkered flag in 12th, their worst finish in the three-year history of the Brickyard.
 
“It’s tough to just sit there and do laps, but we needed the points,” stated Lally. “We would have loved to have put on a good show for the fans and all of our guests at Flex-Box and U.S. Bank, but at least we were able to nurse the car home and focus on the next race. The guys did their best to get this car ready, and I’m confident we’ll be in good shape for Road America.”
 
Despite the rough finish, both team and drivers maintain fourth in GTD standings, part of an incredibly close four-way fight for the championship.
 
The series will return to action in just two weeks’ time, taking part in the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at the storied Road America circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Practice will begin on Friday, August 8, with race coverage featured on Fox Sports 1 at 6:30PM EDT.

Magnus Racing Seeks Continued Form at the Brickyard

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (July 23, 2014)- Heading to the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the third consecutive year, Magnus Racing will take part in this Friday’s Brickyard Grand Prix, the seventh round of the TUDOR United SportsCar GTD Championship in the hopes of yet another podium at the storied venue for the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America.
 
“Indianapolis is a very special place for us,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “It’s a special place for most people because of the heritage, but it holds a certain significance because of our results here. In our two visits, it’s been one of those places where we’ve always seemed to do well and we need that to continue for this year’s championship.”
 
During last year’s event, the team used an off-setting strategy and managed attrition to put themselves in third position by the time the checkered flag fell. However, it was really the inaugural event in 2012 where the team developed special memories. Following a wild debut event that featured everything from rain, to numerous cautions, to even a fire outside the track, the team took a hard-fought victory at the first-ever event not only getting a chance to “kiss the bricks” in celebration, but also clinching the first-ever Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup in the process.
 
Also, for the second year in a row, the team will welcome several guests from The Private Client Reserve of U.S. Bank, a partnership that began during last year’s event. Taking advantage of the team’s reputation for first-rate hosting and providing a truly familial and immersive experience, the team will host over a dozen guests for this exclusive program.
 
“It’s great to have everyone at The Private Client Reserve of U.S. Bank back with us,” continued Potter. “We had a truly great time last year and it kicked off a multi-race program that everyone seemed to enjoy. It’s a great testament that they’ve returned and I look forward to spending some time with everyone again.”
 
For Andy Lally, co-driver of the No. 44, Indianapolis will always have a special place for the Georgia resident.
 
“It’s Indy,” stated Lally. “Every driver dreams of the opportunity to one day come here and the fact that we’ve been able to get on the podium twice, and kiss the bricks our first time here, will always be something very special. Everyone at Magnus has been working diligently to get us back in a position to win and there’d be no better place.”
 
Coverage of this weekend’s event will now be broadcast LIVE on Friday beginning at 5:30 PM ET on Fox Sports 1.