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- Category: Road Racing
By: Deily Motorsports
May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024
Deily Motorsports is thrilled to announce their return to IMSA with James Vance, who has signed a 5-year contract with the team as they gear up for their Michelin Pilot Challenge effort in the TCR class. This time around, Deily Motorsports will be sporting a whole new look from their last race in Daytona in January, fielding an Audi RS3. The team will continue to be led by the dynamic father-son duo, with Jacob Deily joining Vance on the track.
Team owner Bob Deily shared his excitement about the upcoming season, stating, "Our first season in IMSA was a massive challenge, with too many pitfalls. I could not be more excited about the future of having James Vance join our team for the next 5 years, minimum. I am equally excited to be making the manufacturer switch to Audi. With James Vance joining my son Jacob, and our new gen 2 Audi RS3 TCR we will be coming for wins this year, and embarking on a championship run in 2025."
James Vance brings with him 10 years of IMSA racing experience, including two years in the Audi RS3 competing in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. During his time in the Audi, Vance achieved two wins and six podiums, leading to an impressive fourth-place finish in the championship in 2020. Jacob Deily, entering his third year running in IMSA, has shown continuous improvement with each race at just 18 years old.
In a statement, Jacob Deily expressed his excitement for the remainder of this season, stating, "I am extremely excited to be sharing the car with James long term. I know he will be an asset with all of his experience. I have a number of things that i am excited learn to as he helps us grow, and progress our program." Similarly, James Vance shared his enthusiasm for the partnership with Deily Motorsports, saying, " I could not be more excited for this opportunity. Bob came to me in March regarding joining Deily Motorsports long term, and i jumped at the chance to compete with him and his team in IMSA for the next 5 seasons minimum, starting at Mid Ohio in June. We have meticulously gone over every detail to ensure our processes lead to success. We want to welcome a new lineup of partners (Easycare / OMP race products) to Deily motorsports, and we are ecstatic to announce more in due course. Let’s go racing!"
With a strong lineup and a competitive Audi RS3, Deily Motorsports is ready to return to competition in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series at Mid Ohio June 7-9, 2024.
Easycare: EasyCare, an APCO Holdings brand, is a leading marketer and administrator of automotive aftermarket products sold throughout the United States. With more than 40 years of experience, we offer a full suite of F&I products, innovative dealer services and industry-leading customer service. We proudly hold an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and our products are the industry’s only MotorTrend Recommended Best Buy. Toronto-based Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Canada’s largest single- profession pension plan, is the majority shareholder of our parent company APCO Holdings, LLC. Visit www.easycare.com to learn more.
OMP Race Products: OMP is a world leader in the engineering, designing and manufacturing racing safety equipment for race car drivers (soft good) and performance/safety parts (hard parts) for race cars. OMP is one of a very few industry suppliers in the world able to offer a complete range of performance driven products dedicated to race car and driver safety with over 2,000 products in its catalog with the majority homologated to industry standards including FIA, CIK-FIA, SFI and Snell. Visit www.ompamerica.com to learn more.
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- Category: Road Racing
By: Mike Sullivan/RaceCanada.ca
May 17, 2024
May 17, 2024
The official unofficial start to the Canadian racing season kicked off Friday at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park with the annual Castrol Victoria Day Speefest, headlined by the new look NASCAR Canada Series.
Throughout the week, the weather for Friday was looking iffy, to say the least, with rain forecast to start at 9:00am and continue throughout the day. As Friday drew closer, the forecast start of the rain kept getting pushed back, and while the day dawned gloomy, the rain held off and wasn’t seen until we got a steady, light rain starting around 4:30pm.
All classes were scheduled to get three sessions over the course of the day, with a morning session and two sessions in the afternoon.
With the rain starting to fall during the third Nissan Sentra Cup session, the Emzone Radical Canada Cup was the only class that got three full sessions of representative times.
With the NASCAR Canada Series not hitting the track until Saturday, Friday was left to testing and practice for the FEL Sports Car Championship, the Emzone Radical Cup Canada, Nissan Sentra Cup, Toyo Tires F1600 and the Super Production Challenge.
As is usually the case, the Super Production Challenge (SPC) fielded the being grid XXXX fielding 26 cars across three classes, Super Production (SP), Production (P) and Compact (C).
The early session saw Gabriel Lacombe quickest in the SP class in his Honda Civic Si, while Nathan Blok went 2 seconds quicker in the early afternoon session, recording a fastest lap of 1:30.605, which would stand as the best time of the day with the track very wet by the time the final sessions of the day rolled around, with SPC’s final session scheduled to start at 6:30pm.
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| Nathan Blok was quickest in the SPC afternoon session in the Nissan 370Z |
In Production class, Yannick Lupien led the morning session in his Mini Cooper S, but as was the case in SPC, the afternoon session saw Vincent Desautels trim Lupien’s time by about 2 seconds, turning a 1:37.545 in his Honda Civic Si.
In Compact, Trevor Hill was quickest in the morning in this Nissan Micra, with the afternoon session again proving faster with Zack Lalonde, who didn’t appear in the morning session getting the better of Hill in the afternoon with 1:44.648, also in a Nissan Micra.
In the Nissan Sentra Cup, the morning session saw Matt Miron quickest followed by Nicolas Miron, while the afternoon session saw Daniel Fortin quickest, followed by Alexandre Fortin. While Daniel’s time did stand up as quickest of the session, and of the day, he was involved in an incident that brought out the red flag and saw him only complete 4 laps.
In Toyo Tires F1600 action, the battle at the front was again between Britain West and Brian Graham Racing, with Britain West’s Conor Clubine setting the fastest time in the morning session, just over four tenths clear of BGR’s Antonio Costantino.
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| Brian Graham Racing's Antonio Costantino was quickest in the afternoon sesion. |
In the first of the FEL series on track, the Sports Car Championship Canada (SCCC) saw Jack Polito turn the quickest lap of the day as the only GT4 car on track, edging the TCR leader Dean Baker by just over a tenth of a second, Polito on a 1:22.454 and Baker on 1:22.566. No times were available for the first session of the day, and like the other series, only a small handful of cars took part in the final practice of the day, with nobody turning a competitive time.
The final series, the FEL Radical Canada Cup, was the only series to get three full, dry session, but like the SCCC, no morning times were available.
In the early afternoon, former Canadian Superbike star Kenny Riedmann was quickest with a 1:20.145. Riedmann sat out the late afternoon session, leaving Owen Clarke, who was second quickest in the early session, quickest, turning a 1:21.109.
Things will get serious tomorrow, with the first session of the day at 8:00am being qualifying for the Super Production Challenge. All 5 series will make their qualifying runs before lunch tomorrow, with Super Production Challenge having their first of three races closing out the morning sessions tomorrow.
The NASCAR Canada Series will see their first action of the day tomorrow, with the first session up after lunch, with practice from 12:25 to 1:15pm. The first races of the weekend for the Nissan Sentra Cup, Toyo Tires F1600, Radical Cup and Sports Cars follow NASCAR practice, followed by NASCAR Canada qualifying at 5:00pm.
With FEL and Nissan Sentra Cup being streamed live on YouTue this weekend, be sure to check out our new Twitter feed, @RaceCanadaTuneIn to get notifications of all upcoming races you’ll see on TV and streaming.
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- Category: Road Racing
By: IndyCar
May 14, 2024
May 14, 2024
Indianapolis, Indiana – Short, but still speedy.
Persistent rain curtailed the opening day of practice May 14 for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as the 2.5-mile oval was open for just 23 minutes, until 9:26 a.m. ET. Showers intensified during the afternoon, preventing any more laps.
SEE: Practice Results
Speeds were impressive despite the brief session. Six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon led at 229.107 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. 2020 “500” pole sitter Marco Andretti was second at 228.399 in the No. 98 MAPEI/Curb Honda fielded by Andretti Herta w/Marco & Curb-Agajanian. Both Dixon and Andretti benefited from aerodynamic tows as morning traffic was brisk while teams eyed the leaden skies.
Two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato was third at 225.551 in the No. 75 AMADA Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Pato O’Ward was fourth – and the fastest Chevrolet-powered driver – at 224.993 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
Christian Lundgaard ended up fifth at 223.844 in the No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda, as Rahal Letterman Lanigan was the only team with multiple cars in the top five.
Just 219 total laps were turned before the rain arrived, with 29 of the 34 entries on track and no driver exceeding 13 laps.
2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson managed just two laps in the No. 17 Hendrickcars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet before the rain. Larson, racing for Arrow McLaren/Rick Hendrick, is attempting to become the fifth driver to complete the “double” of racing in the Indianapolis 500 and the NASCAR Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the same day. Kurt Busch was the last to achieve the feat, in 2014.
“It’s good to finally have the Indy 500 here,” Larson said. “I’ve known about this (double attempt) for a couple of years now, so it’s been a lot of waiting. Just happy to get this experience underway. The weather is getting in the middle of things today, but once we get through today, it should be good.”
This is the second consecutive year rain hampered the first day of practice. Last year’s opening day was a washout, with no laps turned.
Practice is scheduled to resume from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Wednesday. PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying is this Saturday and Sunday, with Race Day on Sunday, May 26.
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- Category: Road Racing
By: JMF Motorsport
May 16, 2024
May 16, 2024
Elmira, Ontario - JMF Motorsports has added a step to their development ladder by fielding a karting team competing in Canada and USA. Six Canadian kart racers were chosen to represent JMF Motorsports Karting Team. They will compete in Canada in The Ron Fellows Karting Championship, Kart Stars Canada and Rotax Max Championship, as well as in the USA in the Stars Championship Series.
The drivers for the 2024 JMF Motorsports Karting team are Joshua Conquer, Lily Flintoff, Jaden Harry, Christian Menezes, Aidan Shimbashi, and Christian Valverde.
As opposed to programs that transition drivers from karts to open-wheel cars, the JMF Motorsports program focus is on GT cars.
The karting team was the initiative of President and CEO of JMF Motorsports, John Farrow. “Having a karting step in our program supports our efforts to bring Canadian drivers to the forefront of GT racing,” says Farrow. “The primary objective of this program is to identify and develop drivers and help them take the next step out of karts while forming a feeder system for our motorsports team.”
Danny Kok, COO of JMF Motorsports, sees this as a place for drivers to learn while being supported. “We identified drivers who have the characteristics we are looking for in our team framework, and will offer them race support and exposure to race cars,” Kok says. “We are looking for great kart racers who also have the right aptitude and attitude to become successful in professional GT racing.”
The program is managed by Brad Shimbashi, who has been in the motorsports industry for over 18 years. “With this program, we are establishing a clear path for our junior drivers. Learning to conduct themselves on and off the track is an important aspect in preparing to make the move to professional racing,” says Shimbashi.
JMF Motorsports fields teams in both SRO and IMSA. Competing in the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Cup series, the Pirelli GT4 America series and the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series, the goal is to identify and develop Canadian drivers and help them advance through the ranks of professional GT racing.
About JMF Motorsports
In 2020, performance driver and motorsport enthusiast John Farrow made the decision to implement a lifelong dream and start a race team. With his passion for Mercedes-AMG, and his desire to help Canadian motorsport athletes, he launched JMF Motorsports. His vision was to start a racing team that would help showcase young Canadian driver talent and assist them in advancing their racing careers.
JMF Motorsports entered the 2021 SRO GT4 America series and quickly became podium contenders, winning the last 4 races of the season. In 2022, JMF Motorsports / Conquest Racing had 2 victories and climbed to the podium 12 times. 2023 also saw a strong season with 8 podium finishes and 5 race wins. The JMF Motorsports / Conquest Racing team finished the season 2nd place in the 2023 SRO Pirelli GT4 America Silver Class.
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- Category: Road Racing
By: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
May 13, 2024
May 13, 2024
Indianapolis, Indiana – Preparations for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge will start this week with a field consisting of eight former winners of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” and five NTT INDYCAR SERIES champions.
There are 34 entries set to contest the 33 starting spots for this year’s edition of the “500.” Practice is scheduled to start Tuesday, May 14, with PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on May 18-19. All track activity on the historic 2.5-mile oval leads into Race Day, Sunday, May 26.
SEE: Entry List
Josef Newgarden earned his first career “500” victory last May after passing 2022 winner Marcus Ericsson on the final lap after a late red flag created a one-lap shootout for a spot on the Borg-Warner Trophy and racing immortality. That was the record-extending 19th “500” victory for Team Penske.
Other former winners aiming for a spot in the race this year include four-time winner Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021) and two-time winner Takuma Sato (2017, 2020), plus single winners Scott Dixon (2008), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014), Alexander Rossi (2016) and Will Power (2018). The record for winners in one field is 10, set in 1992.
Castroneves earned a spot with A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears in the most prestigious club in motorsports – four-time winners of the Indianapolis 500 – with his emotional victory in 2021, for Meyer Shank Racing. A record-breaking fifth would put Castroneves alone at the top with most victories. Additionally, Castroneves is 49 years old, and a victory would make him the oldest winner in “500” history, a record held by Al Unser, who won the 1987 edition just five days shy of his 48th birthday.
Newgarden has a chance to become the first back-to-back winner since Castroneves accomplished the feat in 2001 and 2002. If Newgarden secures a repeat win, he will earn a bonus of $440,000 courtesy of BorgWarner, the namesake of the Indy 500 trophy. That amount is more than the entire yearly purse up to and including the 1962 Indianapolis 500, which paid out $425,652.
The field includes five past INDYCAR SERIES champions: Dixon, Hunter-Reay, Newgarden, reigning champion Alex Palou and Power.
2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson will attempt to become the fifth driver to complete the Memorial Day “double” of racing in the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the same day, joining John Andretti, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon and Kurt Busch. The last driver to complete the feat was Busch in 2014.
Larson is one of seven drivers competing for top rookie honors, along with Marcus Armstrong, Tom Blomqvist, Linus Lundqvist, Christian Rasmussen, Nolan Siegel and Kyffin Simpson.
Live Race Day coverage begins on NBC, Peacock, Universo and the INDYCAR Radio Network at 11 a.m. (ET), with the green flag set for 12:45 p.m.
2024 ENTRY BREAKDOWN
Winners (8): Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Marcus Ericsson, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, Alexander Rossi, Takuma Sato
Rookies (7): Marcus Armstrong, Tom Blomqvist, Kyle Larson, Linus Lundqvist, Christian Rasmussen, Nolan Siegel, Kyffin Simpson
U.S. drivers (13): Marco Andretti, Ed Carpenter, Conor Daly, Santino Ferrucci, Colton Herta, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Kyle Kirkwood, Kyle Larson, Josef Newgarden, Graham Rahal, Sting Ray Robb, Alexander Rossi, Nolan Siegel
International drivers (21, from 13 countries): Marcus Armstrong, Tom Blomqvist, Agustín Canapino, Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Marcus Ericsson, Pietro Fittipaldi, Romain Grosjean, Callum Ilott, Katherine Legge, Christian Lundgaard, Linus Lundqvist, Scott McLaughlin, Pato O’Ward, Alex Palou, Will Power, Christian Rasmussen, Felix Rosenqvist, Takuma Sato, Kyffin Simpson, Rinus VeeKay
Engines (34): Honda 18, Chevrolet 16 (all cars use Dallara chassis and Firestone tires)