Magnus Racing’s Stanton thrills crowd with battle down to the wire in Baltimore

September 3, 2011 (Salt Lake City, Utah) – In the closing stages of the inaugural American Le Mans Series race at the Baltimore Grand Prix, all eyes were on the battle between the no. 23 Porsche of Leh Keen and the charging no. 77 Magnus Racing Porsche GT3 Cup of Craig Stanton.

After starting fifth in the Magnus Racing Porsche, John Potter was brought to a stop in turn one after the green flag flew for the two-hour race around Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. An incident involving two GT class cars blocked the track and Potter could do nothing to escape damage to the front and rear of his Porsche, but he was able to continue and within two laps had made a move up to fourth place.

Avoiding further trouble throughout the rest of his stint, Potter continued to post strong times before pitting under a full course yellow and handing the car over to Stanton. A quick stop by the Magnus Racing crew meant Stanton maintained his fourth place and was on the rear bumper of the no. 68 TRG Porsche of Dion Von Moltke. Once he was able to make his way past Von Moltke, Stanton rapidly closed the gap to Keen and over the final thirty minutes, the two waged war for second place in GT-C.

The two Porsches ran nose-to-tail, with Stanton applying pressure (at times physically) to the rear bumper of Keen’s Porsche, but lost his final opportunity to make a pass on the final lap when he was held up by the no. 16 Dyson Racing Lola-Mazda. Stanton ultimately crossed the finish line to take Magnus Racing’s third ALMS podium in 2011. This would be the team’s third podium in only four races.

“That was a great race, without doubt one of the highlights of the year,” said Potter. “This was a very challenging weekend with the delays we had on Friday and the limited track time, but our guys got the car figured out and I had a blast out there. I could have done without the parking lot in the first turn – getting hit from behind and shoved into the car in front didn’t feel good – but other than that it was an outstanding event. I had a great time racing here and an equally great time watching Craig battle with Leh for second place.”

Stanton, who prepared for Saturday’s race by competing in the 5k race held on the circuit on Friday evening, finished the race only three-tenths of a second behind Keen.

“What a great battle – that was some of the most intense racing I’ve done all year,” said Stanton. “Leh was on it, Alex Job Racing always has a great car but our Magnus Racing Porsche was just a little bit better today. I couldn’t make the pass happen but man, I was trying. I really wanted it for the guys since they gave John and I such a great car. And the fans here in Baltimore are incredible, this is going to be a great event going forward and I can’t wait to come back.

The Baltimore Grand Prix will be broadcast Sunday, September 4, at 4:00 PM ET on ABC. Fans of Magnus Racing can follow the team on Facebook (facebook.com/magnusracing) and on twitter (@magnusracing).

More information about Magnus Racing can be found at www.magnusracing.com. Any organization interested in learning more about how to be involved with one of the most unique and visible teams in the American Le Mans Series can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com.

Magnus Racing is ready to hit the Atlantic Shore at Baltimore Grand Prix

August 29, 2011 (Salt Lake City, Utah) – Magnus Racing, and drivers John Potter and Craig Stanton, are eagerly waiting for this weekend’s first ever Baltimore Grand Prix.

Competing in the GT-C class, Potter and Stanton have stepped into the series this year at select races and have been a force at each one, netting third-place finishes at the Long Beach Grand Prix as well as the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge. However, the team has missed a couple of opportunities along the way – contact with a prototype eliminated the no. 77 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup from the race lead at the 12 Hours of Sebring, while Stanton spun in a monsoon while challenging for the lead in Mid-Ohio.

 “We’ve been pretty close but haven’t quite gotten everything put together to get a win yet,” said Potter, who will be the starting driver in the Magnus Racing Porsche in Saturday’s race. “Baltimore will be a pretty level playing ground for everyone since this is the first time any of the teams or drivers see this track. Like we saw at the Long Beach Grand Prix, GT-C makes for very exciting racing on street circuits, especially these short two-hour races. We’ve shown we have what it takes to get on the podium, now it’s time to get on the top step.”

Stanton, who has raced on numerous street circuits in his twenty-year sports car racing career, relishes the challenge of a brand new street circuit.

“I’m so excited to get our Magnus Racing Porsche on track in Baltimore,” said Stanton. “Street circuits are really fun and really challenging, and they lead to super close racing like we saw in Long Beach. It is a real challenge to get on track for the first time and figure it out, to dial the car in, and to make progress. The layout looks like it will be challenging and have some opportunities to pass, so I’m excited to see what the race will be like.”

Stanton will have an extra opportunity to learn the track as he will contest the 5k race held on the circuit Friday evening.  For the Fittest Man in Motorsports, who spends up to eight hours a day running, cycling, and swimming near his home in Long Beach, California, a 5k run will be akin to a chip shot even if it is the day before the two-hour Baltimore Grand Prix.

The Baltimore Grand Prix will be shown live on ESPN3.com on Saturday, September 3 at 4:15 PM ET. A television broadcast will air on Sunday, September 4 at 4:00 PM ET on ABC. Fans of Magnus Racing can follow the team throughout the weekend on Facebook (facebook.com/magnusracing) and twitter (@magnusracing).

More information about Magnus Racing can be found at www.magnusracing.com. Any organization interested in learning more about how to be involved with one of the most unique and visible teams in the American Le Mans Series can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com

Potter and Stanton come home seventh in Montreal

August 20, 2011 (Salt Lake City, Utah) – Heading north of the border, Magnus Racing drivers John Potter and Craig Stanton arrived at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with plenty of momentum following their podium finsh last weekend at Watkins Glen International.

The no. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 came off of the trailer well, with Stanton setting the third quickest time in the Friday morning practice session, and with Potter topping the Trueman / Akin session for Pro-Am drivers. In qualifying, Potter would put the Magnus Racing Porsche ninth on the GT grid for the Montreal 200.

At the start of the Montreal 200, Potter enjoyed a clean start and steadily moved up through the field throughout the first hour. As differing pit and fuel strategies began to be played out by the GT teams, Potter put in a long stint and would ultimately lead the GT race for a brief period of time before turning the car over to Stanton under green flag conditions.

Stanton rejoined the race in ninth position but would race his way to third position, challenging for the lead in the final thirty minutes behind the battle between the no. 57 Stevenson Camaro and the no. 70 Speedsource Mazda. However, a late race stop for fuel would cause Stanton to rejoin the race in 8^th position, picking off one car on the final lap to cross the line in seventh. The result was the tenth top-ten finish of the year for the Magnus Racing Porsche.

“We had a strong race and a good strategy today in Montreal,” said Potter. “There was some chaos in my stint out there – a lot of contact around me with the other GT cars, and it’s always interesting with the Daytona Prototypes here because it’s pretty narrow and there are concrete walls everywhere. It was nice to lead, but I just wanted to keep the car in good shape and turn it over to Craig in a good position.”

Stanton, who ran in a podium position in the Magnus Racing Porsche until he needed a splash for fuel with only a few minutes remaining, was disappointed to miss out a podium for the second straight weekend.

“The car was really good today,” said Stanton. “I thought we had a really great shot at a podium or maybe even a win, but the fuel mileage caught up with us at the end. A yellow would have helped, but we really needed one that was longer than two laps. It’s a little disappointing but we’ll be back strong at Mid-Ohio.”

With only one race remaining in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, Potter and Stanton sit fifth in the championship standings, 17 points behind points leaders Bill Lester and Jordan Taylor in the no. 88 Autohaus Camaro. Potter is also second in the Trueman / Akin standings for Pro-Am drivers. 

“Certainly, it does look like a bit of a long shot for us to have a shot at the championship,” said Potter. “But we aren’t out of it, and anything can happen. I’m proud that in our second season we are in a position to challenge for a championship, which is a demonstration of how hard the guys have been working and how good of a car they give Craig and I. I’m excited to see what happens at Mid-Ohio next month.”

The EMCO Gears Classic from Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will be on September 16-17, and will be shown live on SPEED Channel at 3:00 PM ET on Saturday, September 17. Fans of Magnus Racing can follow the team throughout the weekend on Facebook (facebook.com/magnusracing) and twitter (@magnusracing).

More information about Magnus Racing can be found at www.magnusracing.com. Any organization interested in learning more about how to be involved with one of the most unique and visible teams in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com

Potter and Stanton go to Canada in search of Poutine and Another Podium

August 17, 2011 (Salt Lake City, Utah) – Spirits are high for the team in green grey, as Magnus Racing travels to Montreal, Quebec, for this weekend’s Montreal 200 – the second to last race of the 2011 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.

Fresh off last weekend’s Canadian Tire 200 at the Glen where John Potter and Craig Stanton finished third for the second time this season, the duo are excited to get back in the no. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Potter has had his eye on the Montreal 200 since leaving the track after last season’s race.

“Last year, we jumped on an alternate pitstop strategy early on and because of that we led a Rolex race for the first time,” said Potter. However, he wasn’t just referring to leading the GT class – the Magnus Racing Porsche circulated the track ahead of the Daytona Prototype field as well while under yellow, causing GRAND-AM some headaches before they decided to wave the entire DP field past Potter. “We led the race for a few laps afterwards, and we were able to have a strong finish of fifth. A fifth would be nice, but we are aiming a little higher this time.”

Stanton is equally excited to return to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where he passed five cars over the final hour to help the Magnus Racing Porsche finish in fifth position.

“Montreal is a neat track that really suits the Porsche well,” said Stanton. “I really enjoy driving here and visiting Montreal, it’s a great city and the fans here are very knowledgeable and give us a lot of support. I also happen to like poutine, and some of the guys on the team are from Montreal and they know where to get the best poutine in the city. I’ll have to run a few extra miles to work it off, but it’s worth it.”

With their podium result in Watkins Glen, Potter and Stanton are currently fourth in the GT class standings, 19 points behind championship leaders Bill Lester and Jordan Taylor in the Autohaus Camaro. Also, with two races left to run, Potter sits second in the Bob Akin Award standings for Pro-Am drivers in the GT class.

The Montreal 200 start at 11:15 AM ET on Saturday, August 20, but will be shown tape delayed on SPEED Channel at 7:00 PM ET. The Magnus Nation can follow the team throughout the weekend on Facebook (facebook.com/magnusracing) and twitter (@magnusracing).

More information about Magnus Racing can be found at www.magnusracing.com. Any organization interested in learning more about how to be involved with one of the most unique and visible teams in the Rolex Sports Car Series can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com.

Magnus Racing’s Potter and Stanton score second podium of the year in Watkins Glen

August 13, 2011 (Watkins Glen, NY) – Saturday afternoon’s Canadian Tire 200 at The Glen became another fuel mileage game for the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series’ GT class, and it worked out nearly to perfection for John Potter and Craig Stanton as the two drove the no. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup to a third place finish in the two-hour race.

Starting from ninth place in the twenty-two car GT field, Potter was called into the pits during an early full-course caution to take fuel. The race restarted with Potter in 12^th position, and throughout the next hour he advanced the Magnus Racing Porsche up through the field to the second position. Just past the one hour mark, Potter turned the car over to Stanton, who came out of the pits in 11^th place – but with enough fuel to make it to the checkered flag.

The final hour would be caution free, and the Magnus Racing Porsche was one of few GT cars that could make it the entire distance without conserving fuel. Up to sixth position with thirty minutes remaining, Stanton would benefit in the final ten minutes when three GT cars ahead of him would be forced to make pit stops for fuel.

Withstanding pressure from the no. 70 Mazda of Jonathan Bomarito, Stanton would take the checkered flag in third place, taking the second Rolex Series podium of the season for Magnus Racing. At the line, Stanton was a scant 12 seconds behind the winning no. 67 TRG Porsche and 10 seconds behind the runner-up no. 88 Autohaus Camaro.

“The strategy call at the beginning of the race to pit for fuel was definitely the right call, and set up a really great result for us,” said Potter. “All the credit to the guys for the great strategy and for two great pitstops today. Our Magnus Racing Porsche was really good here at Watkins Glen, and both Craig and I were able to run consistently fast times while getting great fuel mileage. That helped us to get this great result, which is what we have been after for several races now. And, that is also one podium for the green Magnus Porsche and one for the grey one. I think we’ll be keeping grey for another race or two!”

The finish also moves Potter and Stanton to fourth in the GT class championship with two races left. The duo is now 19 points behind the GT class leaders Bill Lester and Jordan Taylor in the no. 88 Autohaus Camaro, with two races remaining in the Rolex Series championship.

“I knew that when I got into the car that we were probably okay on fuel, and I could just go for it,” said Stanton. “There were a bunch of guys ahead of us who couldn’t make it to the end without some yellow, but they were cutting it close. All of a sudden with three laps left, we went from sixth to third. We had one of the Mazdas behind us, but there was no way I was going to give up a podium spot today. The guys did an awesome job today, John drove a great first stint, and we finished ahead of some guys in the championship battle. I am really looking forward to Montreal now!”

The next to last race of the 2011 Rolex Sports Car Series will be next weekend, August 19-20, at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on the Ile-Notre Dame in Montreal, Quebec.  The Montreal 200 will be shown tape delayed on SPEED Channel on Saturday, August 20, at 7:00 PM ET.

More information about Magnus Racing can be found at www.magnusracing.com. Any organization interested in learning more about how to be involved with one of the most unique and visible teams in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com.