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.

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)