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GMG Delivers Audi Victory In Pirelli World Challenge

Date March 25, 2013
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (March 24, 2013)- Following an intense battle that saw everything from side-by-side racing to late-race changes of fortune, GMG’s James Sofronas would deliver the prodigious Audi R8 LMS its first victory in the Pirelli World Challenge Series.

“I am really, really proud of this entire team,” stated Sofronas. “We’ve been working hard on this program throughout the off-season and the results really showed this weekend. Many of the guys were actually at the track until 5:00AM to get us all on the track today, and it’s that kind of commitment that put us where we are. Audi Sport Customer Racing has been great to work with, and they really came through for us this weekend. The car was absolutely fantastic. We knew the key to winning would be to really manage the Pirelli’s, and a s the race wore on it proved perfectly.”
Starting from the pole position as a result of taking the fastest lap in yesterday’s first round, Sofronas found himself caught out during the race’s standing start. With many of the competitors around him having well-tuned launch control systems, the GMG Team Principal would head into the tricky first turn in fifth position. Knowing that tire management would be a decisi ve factor, Sofronas repeated his efforts from yesterday by simply managing a stable race and taking his opportunities as they came.

Climbing from fifth to fourth, Sofronas would engage in a several lap battle with the no. 6 Volvo of Randy Pobst, eventually making his pass in Turn 10. With Sofronas now in third and poised for his second podium of the weekend, luck and attrition would play a vital role in the subsequent laps. As Sofronas began to reel in the leading no. 9 Volvo of Alex Figge and no. 46 Porsche of Ryan Dalziel, the frequent traffic of the slower GTS cars would catch Dalziel out with 12 laps to go. As Dalziel, originally from Scotland, chased down the leader, a daring move inside of a lapped car would result in contact cutting a left-front tire in the process. Dalziel would have to pit, eventually finishing sixth. With Sofronas now up to second, luck would play its part with only five laps to go, as Figge slowed with a mechanical issue and placed the no. 14 GMG/Children’s Tumor Foundation Audi R8 LMS in first place. With only minutes to go, the Newport Beach resident knew all he had to do was survive to the end, which became a challenge as a hard charging Randy Pobst was pushing hard from behind. With fading brakes and well-used tires, Sofronas would take the win for the second time in his career.
Leaving the track as the new GT-category points leader, the Californian is off to a strong start.
“By the end I was managing my tires, managing my brakes, and just trying to hold on,” stated Sofronas. “Randy raced incredibly clean at the end, and it’s great to bring this home for everyone involved.”

Not to be outdone, GMG’s Duncan Ende took an incredibly impressive seventh in today’s round, which is particularly noteworthy considering where he started. Having to retire midway through yesterday’s first round, the Los Angeles native was forced to switch engines overnight, a feat not easily accomplished given the 16-hour turnaround between races. With Audi Sport Customer Racing supplying the team with a brand new engine, the GMG crew stayed up all night, literally, to get his no. 24 Merchant Services / STANDD Audi R8 LMS up and running. The crew was at-track until 5:30AM, essentially taking a quick break to shower and c hange before coming back to the track the same morning.
Being forced to switch engines, Ende was required to start at the back of the field. When the green flag fell, Ende drove an impressive come-from-behind race. Used to running endurance events, where preserving equipment is at a premium, Ende drove the race masterfully. Driving with a perfect balance of aggression and patience, Ende made work of the field in front of him throughout the run, gaining nine positions in the process, never putting a dent on the car, and earning the day’s series-awarded Invisible Glass Clean Pass of the Race award.
“We weren’t sure what to expect coming in to this morning,” stated Ende. “Yesterday’s failure was a real blow, but the guys rebounded incredibly. GMG’s commitment to making this program work really showed through last night, these guys are rock stars! I’m glad I was able to make that effort worthwhile. When a group like that stays up all night, you want to deliver as good a result as you can, and we did just that today. Obviously I’m hoping for a much smoother weekend in Long Beach, but if we can take these type of results in the season opener with the problems we had, it bodes well for the next race and beyond.”

Finishing ninth on the day was Alex Welch, who ran his second top-10 on the weekend. Welch, who had finished seventh during the first round in his no. 08 Spyder / Lasso Audi R8 LMS, overcame early race difficulties to rebound and fight hard during the second half of the race. With an early onset of electronic difficulties, Welch, who started 10th, would actually drop back several spots during the opening laps as he sorted out his car problems. With quick thinking by the GMG crew, Welch was well under way as the race neared the halfway point, and the Colorado-native was in hot pursuit of the field in front of him. Gaining multiple spots as he pur sued his competitors, Welch would lock in to another great battle with the no. 54 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 of Tim Pappas, the two once again racing cleanly. Welch would eventually take the checkered flag in ninth, capping off a strong weekend.
“I’m pretty happy,” stated Welch. “We had our challenges today, but everything really turned around and in the end I was able to race. It seemed like I found the no. 54 during both races, but he raced me clean each time, and that makes this whole thing very enjoyable. I have to thank GMG for a great car, and a really great start to the year.”

For Bret Curtis, from Santa Barbara, another on-track incident would curtail his second consecutive race, but luckily with less dire results this time around. As the no. 32 Spectra Resources Audi engaged in a race-long battle with Tomy Drissi’s no. 4 Corvette, contact between the two would cut down Curtis’s right-rear tire, forcing him in to the pits, but luckily for nothing more than a tire change and some minor cosmetic repair. Curtis would finish 12th.
“It’s definitely disappointing to have another incident today, but hopefully we got all the bad luck out now,” stated Curtis. “Tomy and I were locked in throughout much of the race, and it’s unfortunate that we ultimately ended up tangling. We would have had a better result, but at the same time the guys did a great job to keep me on the track and with good points.”

For the team’s lone GTS entry, the no. 95 Pontiac Solstice driven by Florida-native Bill Ziegler, a steady race would reward the team with a 13th place finish. Ziegler, who was sidelined yesterday with mechanical issues, was happy to drive a steady race and take his first finish of the season.
“Today was pretty smooth,” stated Ziegler. “After yesterday we just wanted a trouble-free run, and we did just that. Overall I’m happy with the car, and I think we found a few things that will really move us forward for the rest of the year.”
With a winning car, another able to gain more positions than anyone in the GT class, a third car in the top-10, and all cars seeing the checkered flag, GMG is headed to next month’s Grand Prix of Long Beach with strong momentum.
“Long Beach is our home race, and it’s without a doubt the one we want to show well at,” stated Sofronas. “Not only is it the home race for Bret Curtis, Duncan Ende, as well as myself, but we’ll have many of our customers and sponsors in support of us. Most notably, we’re looking forward to hosting several guests from both the Children’s Tumor Foundation and STANDD. We met several children from CTF this weekend, and they provide just that little extra incentive to push hard. To see their faces and know how much it means to see “their car” on track is very special, and it hit me a lot harder than I expected this weekend. Similarly, STANDD sends a great message to prevent distracted driving, and we look forward to using the forum of our series at Long Beach to promote their cause, as well as host their founder Diveeta Thompson.”
The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will take place in four weeks time, April 19-21. Once again teaming with the IZOD IndyCar Series, the Pirelli World Challenge series will race on Sunday, April 21, at 4:30PM. Live coverage can be seen at www.world-challengetv.com, as well as on NBC Sports on Sunday, May 5, at 2:00PM.
About GMG
Founded in 2001 by James Sofronas and Fabryce Kutyba, GMG has quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning and racing facility. What began as a small 1200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a 30,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility located in (Orange County) Santa Ana, California. The staff’s experience, attention to detail, and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts world wide. Whether you want to maximize the performance of your street car, or race wheel-to-wheel on both amateur and professional racing series across North America, GMG’s reputation for service and quality is unmatched.
Learn more at www.gmgracing.com
About Lasso
Lasso is a request-based, sharing network predicated on a very simple idea: You have something that I want—and you may not even know it until I ask for it. With so much content cluttering our phones, tablets, PCs and social networks, it can be difficult to seek out and find the specific items of interest to you. Friends or colleagues may not share this content with you directly because they’re drowning in data overload themselves. Often, these friends aren’t sure exactly what you want. Lasso makes it easy for you to round up the digital content you want from friends—simply by asking for it. By putting the onus on the requester, instead of the person holding the content, you ’ll be in a much better position to actually receive the digital content you’re interested in.
Learn more at www.lasso.me
About Merchant Services
In 2001 Merchant Services Ltd. was founded with three basic principles in mind: quality, service, and commitment. Inspired by our racing heritage we pride ourself in providing the highest level of customer service and support 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Merchant Services Ltd. develops long term relationships with both our merchants and banking partners allowing us to have the highest customer retention rate in the industry. Founded by a professional race car driver, innovation and efficiency have always been our core competencies, ensuring that our merchants receive the cutting edge solutions their businesses need.
Learn more at www.merchantservicesltd.com
About Spyder
Spyder was founded by avid skier and outdoor athlete David Jacobs. He rose to world-class rankings as a competitive skier, and stayed connected to the sport he loves by coaching, designing related products, and building one of the most powerful brands in the industry. His dedication to the sport of skiing and the Spyder brand is as inspiring as it is intriguing. Spyder’s growth exploded over the turn of the century, and the company is now the largest ski-specialty brand in the world. David has recently discovered the adrenaline rush in racing classic Formula One cars, finding success – not surprisingly – in this new pastime. For a man who’s thrived on sports, technology, and professional advancement, the world is sure to see David go a few more times around the track.
Learn more at www.spyder.com
About Spectra Resources
Spectra Resources is a specialized trading company designed for buyers and sellers to purchase and sell steel in any part of the world efficiently and economically. SPECTRA Resources is involved in importing, exporting, domestic and off-shore trading, warehousing, logistics coordination and the processing of multiple steel products. SPECTRA Resources boasts nearly 20 years of experience in physical steel trading and is positioned to bring a strong value proposition to your enterprise.
Learn more at www.spectraresources.com
About STANDD
Stop Texting And Distracted Driving (STANDD) was founded by Diveeta Thompson, whose son Rodney lost his life while driving. There were numerous factors that played a factor – speed, music, and texting. In an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of texting and driving, Diveeta founded STANDD and has been working diligently throughout her home state of Indiana and nationally through Duncan Ende’s motorsports program to spread the message of the dangers of distracted driving. STANDD also promotes the Rodney O. Thompson II Scholarship, which was established to help young people fulfill their goal of attending college after high school.
Learn more at www.standd.org
Learn more at www.racersroast.com
About Swisher
The company began in 1861 when David Swisher received a small cigar business in settlement of a debt. Back then, cigars were only a sideline for Swisher and his four sons, just one of many products that they hawked across the Midwest for the “rolling stores” or wagons. Today, Swisher International, Inc. is a leader in the tobacco business, accounting for one-third of the United States’ cigar sales and is America’s largest cigar exporter.
Learn more at www.swisher.com

No.14 Audi R8 Takes Second; On Pole for Round Two

Date March 24, 2013

 

 

St. Petersburg, Fla. (March 23, 2013)- Following his fourth place starting position during today’s season-opening round of the Pirelli World Challenge, James Sofronas opened the year with a hard-earned second place finish in the no. 14 GMG / Children’s Tumor Foundation Audi R8 LMS.

Sofronas, from Newport Beach, got off to a steady start as the 42-car field roared in to the first turn of the 1.8 mile, 14-turn St. Petersburg street circuit. Starting strong, the Californian made strong work of the field in front of him as the race began to unfold. Engaging with Randy Pobst’s no. 6 Volvo, James would spend the next several laps studying his opponent before finally making an opportune pass just a few minutes in to the race. With a strong dice among the front-runners throughout the first 30 minutes of the race, an endless series of back and forth passes and daring maneuvers would eventually put the no. 14 in third position. With a late yellow closing up the field, James would have one last chance to make a run at the leading no. 46 Porsche of Ryan Dalziel and no. 9 Volvo of Alex Figge, however discretion would take over as he observered a massive battle between the two leaders, opting to settle for third and take strong points in the process.

As post-race inspections followed, however, the front splitter of Dalziel’s winning TruSpeed Porsche failed to meet series requirements, disqualifying the Scot and removing all points. This would in turn hand victory to Figge, as well as elevate Sofronas to second.

With the race’s fastest laps setting the field for tomorrow morning’s second round of the championship, the no. 14 will actually start on pole for round two, Sofronas having set the fastest lap during today’s race.

“What a great way to start the season,” stated Sofronas. “We’ve been working hard during the off season to get to this point, and I think our preparation showed. The entire team came here ready to race, so to kick it off with a podium and fastest lap puts us is in great shape for tomorrow.”

Also taking a strong top-10 was GMG’s Alex Welch, who would finish seventh in his Spyder / Lasso Audi R8 LMS. Welch, currently residing in Colorado, negotiated traffic masterfully to patiently make his way up the grid. Following a race-long battle with Tim Pappas’s no. 54 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, Welch would make an aggressive pass to break in to the top-10, eventually finding his way to seventh.

“I’m really happy with today’s finish,” stated Welch. “The car was solid all day, and I was really enjoying the battles I found myself in. I actually have to give credit to Tim who raced very cleanly. The guys put together a great car and it showed, hopefully tomorrow will be even better.”

Unfortunately, for Duncan Ende and Bret Curtis in the no. 24 Merchant Services / STANDD entry and no. 32 Spectra Resources Audi R8LMS, the day was not quite as lucky. Curtis would find himself caught out in GTS-category traffic early on, making contact with slower traffic and retiring as a result of suspension damage. For Duncan Ende, oil pressure issues throughout the race would sideline the no. 24 just past halfway. Ende would be credited with 13th; Curtis 14th.

In GTS, driver Bill Ziegler would also suffer from an unfortunate day. After running a steady race and keeping his nose clean, the Florida-based driver would also retire with an engine issue midway through the race, eventually being credited with 16th.

While unfortunate results would befall on some of today’s five-car fleet, the ultimate strength of GMG’s preparation still shined through.

“Ultimately, I think the team really showed strong today,” stated Sofronas. “Duncan and Bret drove incredibly well, and for much of the race were right behind me. With a little better luck, they would have also have had great finishes. Bill was also having a great race, and had an unfortunate change of fortune, but everyone will get there. Alex and myself obviously started today on a great note, and it’s great that we’re already showing just how strong this Audi program can be. The Audi is such a great car, it’s built like a tank. I slapped the wall at the beginning of the race, and the car was really loose – but then the car came back to me. The car was really strong at the end, and then I went for it to see if these guys were going to drop the ball in front of me. They didn’t, but there was a lead change and I was waiting to jump.”

Round Two of the Pirelli World Championships will take place tomorrow at 9:15AM ET, with live coverage featured on www.world-challengetv.com.

GMG will continue to provide on-going updates throughout the weekend via their website (www.gmgracing.com), as well as Twitter (@GMGracing) and Facebook (facebook.com/TeamGMG).

About GMG
Founded in 2001 by James Sofronas and Fabryce Kutyba, GMG has quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning and racing facility. What began as a small 1200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a 30,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility located in (Orange County) Santa Ana, California. The staff's experience, attention to detail, and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts world wide. Whether you want to maximize the performance of your street car, or race wheel-to-wheel on both amateur and professional racing series across North America, GMG’s reputation for service and quality is unmatched.
Learn more at www.gmgracing.com

About Lasso

Lasso is a request-based, sharing network predicated on a very simple idea: You have something that I want—and you may not even know it until I ask for it.  With so much content cluttering our phones, tablets, PCs and social networks, it can be difficult to seek out and find the specific items of interest to you. Friends or colleagues may not share this content with you directly because they’re drowning in data overload themselves. Often, these friends aren’t sure exactly what you want. Lasso makes it easy for you to round up the digital content you want from friends—simply by asking for it. By putting the onus on the requester, instead of the person holding the content, you’ll be in a much better position to actually receive the digital content you’re interested in.

Learn more at www.lasso.me

About Merchant Services

In 2001 Merchant Services Ltd. was founded with three basic principles in mind: quality, service, and commitment. Inspired by our racing heritage we pride ourself in providing the highest level of customer service and support 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Merchant Services Ltd. develops long term relationships with both our merchants and banking partners allowing us to have the highest customer retention rate in the industry. Founded by a professional race car driver, innovation and efficiency have always been our core competencies, ensuring that our merchants receive the cutting edge solutions their businesses need.

Learn more at www.merchantservicesltd.com

About Spyder

Spyder was founded by avid skier and outdoor athlete David Jacobs. He rose to world-class rankings as a competitive skier, and stayed connected to the sport he loves by coaching, designing related products, and building one of the most powerful brands in the industry. His dedication to the sport of skiing and the Spyder brand is as inspiring as it is intriguing. Spyder's growth exploded over the turn of the century, and the company is now the largest ski-specialty brand in the world. David has recently discovered the adrenaline rush in racing classic Formula One cars, finding success – not surprisingly – in this new pastime. For a man who's thrived on sports, technology, and professional advancement, the world is sure to see David go a few more times around the track.

Learn more at www.spyder.com

About Spectra Resources

Spectra Resources is a specialized trading company designed for buyers and sellers to purchase and sell steel in any part of the world efficiently and economically. SPECTRA Resources is involved in importing, exporting, domestic and off-shore trading, warehousing, logistics coordination and the processing of multiple steel products. SPECTRA Resources boasts nearly 20 years of experience in physical steel trading and is positioned to bring a strong value proposition to your enterprise.

Learn more at www.spectraresources.com

About STANDD

Stop Texting And Distracted Driving (STANDD) was founded by Diveeta Thompson, whose son Rodney lost his life while driving. There were numerous factors that played a factor – speed, music, and texting. In an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of texting and driving, Diveeta founded STANDD and has been working diligently throughout her home state of Indiana and nationally through Duncan Ende's motorsports program to spread the message of the dangers of distracted driving. STANDD also promotes the Rodney O. Thompson II Scholarship, which was established to help young people fulfill their goal of attending college after high school.

Learn more at www.standd.org

Learn more at www.racersroast.com

About Swisher

The company began in 1861 when David Swisher received a small cigar business in settlement of a debt. Back then, cigars were only a sideline for Swisher and his four sons, just one of many products that they hawked across the Midwest for the “rolling stores” or wagons. Today, Swisher International, Inc. is a leader in the tobacco business, accounting for one-third of the United States' cigar sales and is America’s largest cigar exporter.

Learn more at www.swisher.com

 

Join Us – GMG Racing Open House

Date March 21, 2013

GMG Racing would like to invite all our clients, fans, and followers to our annual Open House on April 13th. The event will run from 11:00AM until 2:30PM.

This event is our way of connecting with our racing and shop fans before the Long Beach Grand Prix the following weekend, and gives everyone a chance to get up close and personal with the race cars, drivers, team staff, and the technology we use on the track that evolves into our street performance parts.

Highlights will include:

  • Come meet the GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS Teacm competing in the Pirelli World Challenge GT Series
  • Tour GMG's recently expanded 30,000 Sq Ft Performance Tuning and Motorsports display
  • Meet some of the industries leading suppliers of performance motorsports parts at our vendor booths
  • Check out our latest World Challenge innovations, including wheels, suspension, exhaust, and roll bars
  • GMG Racing's full fleet of Audi and Porsche race cars will be on display
  • Tuner cars from Porsche, Audi, Ferrari, BMW, and more will be on display

We will likely have a food truck or two at the event serving food, and as always, our long street fills up with some of the coolest cars in Southern California

If you have any further questions, please email sales@gmgracing.com. See you there!

 

RSVP Below:

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GMG To Bring Five Entries To World Challenge Opener

Date March 19, 2013

SANTA ANA, Calif. (March 19, 2013) – After debuting the prolific Audi R8 LMS during select races of last year's Pirelli World Challenge, GMG will head to this weekend’s season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg prepared for a full-season of action, with more entries than anyone in the series.

Entering the championship with the mid-engined, 5.2L V10 machine, the team will arrive on the Western shores of Florida after spending a combined total of eight days testing, tuning, and refining their current package during the off-season. With four Audi R8 entries, more than any individual team has ever entered for the marque in the U.S., GMG will equal the total number of Audi’s brought to this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, where the manufacturer took their first win.

“The Pirelli World Challenge Series has really done an excellent job welcoming the European GT3 cars in to the U.S.,” stated GMG Team Principal James Sofronas. “Our Audi R8 LMS is a perfect example of that. This car features a number of technological innovations that you simply can’t find in any other GT series, and our program will really showcase that. If you look at this year’s entry list, there are some great brands on track: Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac, Porsche, Volvo, Corvette, and more. The series has done an excellent job creating an entrée for all these marques, and I believe the fans will truly enjoy the diversity.”

Playing the role of both Team Principal and Driver, James Sofronas will lead the charge in the no. 14 GMG Audi R8 LMS. Having driven the majority of the 2012 season in the car, the former race-winner heads to this weekend’s race with only one goal: a GT Series Championship.

“This season I am 100% focused on the championship,” stated Sofronas. “During the off-season, I’ve made major efforts to re-focus my balance between running the business and delegating where I can, with the single idea of concentrating as much as I can on driving. I have never done so much testing in my life. We have the team, the car, and the experience to really make a run at it this year. We really want to demonstrate what the Audi is capable of, what the team is capable of, and with the intense competition this year it would be great to make it happen.”

Not to be outdone, Sofronas will have a big challenge in not only his outside competition, but also among his teammates as well.

Returning to the fold for 2013 will be seasoned driver Alex Welch. Welch, from Colorado, will return with GMG after running various campaigns throughout the years. No stranger to sportscars himself, the Colorado-resident has driven in a wealth of categories, including events such as the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Long Beach Grand Prix, and many more. Equally notable to his endurance racing success, Welch actually campaigned his no. 08 Spyder R8 LMS during select NASA events in 2012, where he took victory in his class.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time with GMG,” stated Welch. “The team has put together a very professional program, and the platform that the Audi R8 provides is incredibly strong. St. Petersburg should make for a very interesting race for all of us, and I’m confident we’ll all show well.”

Additionally, GMG will welcome Southern Californian Bret Curtis. Having run with GMG for several years in both World Challenge and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), Curtis returns to the team after trying his hand in the Blancpain Endurance Series in Europe throughout much of the 2012 season. Exchanging his endurance schedule for this year’s sprint format, Curtis looks forward to driving his no. 32 Spectra Resources Audi R8 LMS.

“It’s great to be back,” stated the Californian. “GMG has always provided a great program, and racing stateside will be a welcome change to my travel schedule! My years with GMG were with Porsches, and this is a totally new experience. Driving a mid-engined car is a whole new experience, and one I’m really enjoying. The car is very predictable, very comfortable, and will definitely place us all well for the season. It will be nice to be able to just push hard when the green drops, sprint racing doesn’t leave much room for error.”

Rounding out the lineup with be team newcomer, and fellow Southern Californian, Duncan Ende. Hailing from Los Angeles, Ende comes to the team for his first experience in the Pirelli World Challenge Series, but as no stranger to professional competition. Having spent the last six seasons competing in various ranks of GRAND-AM and the American Le Mans Series, the young Californian has driven everything from Porsche 911 GT3 cars to the highly touted Prototype Challenge vehicles. Having taken multiple victories in the American Le Mans Series, Ende took a close-runner up in the 2011 ALMS GT-Challenge championship, as well as winning Petit Le Mans in 2010. Having taken the first laps in his no. 24 STANDD / Merchant Services / Racer’s Roast Audi R8 LMS just a few weeks ago, Ende is looking forward to the series’ sprint-race format.

“All of my sportscar experience has been based on driving a car to last for several hours,” stated Ende. “This year will be completely different. Everyone pushes hard right until the end, and I’m looking forward to being part of it. The car has been incredible so far. It’s very well balanced, very fast, and a real joy to drive. I really appreciate what everyone at GMG has done to make this happen, and I’m really looking forward to a strong first season.”

Completing GMG’s lineup for the Grand Prix will be GMG’s longest-standing driver (other than Owner James Sofronas), Bill Ziegler. Driving a Pontiac Solstice in the series’ GTS division, the team at GMG has put the car through an extensive series of adjustments and series-legal modifications, including an entirely revamped drivetrain. With 15 years of experience competing in both the World Challenge Series as well as other SCCA categories, Ziegler, from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, will take to the production category in hopes of a strong debut for the no. 95 Swisher Pontiac.

“It’s actually been a lot of fun to drive the Solstice around,” stated Ziegler. “The guys at GMG did a great job of getting it race ready, and this is definitely a race-car unlike any other. I actually think we’ll surprise a few people with this car, it’s been really strong.”

Finally, while not attending the upcoming round at St. Petersburg, the team will actually enter a fifth Audi R8 in subsequent races, featuring none other than sportscar ace Anders Hainer. Originally from Sweden, Hainer is a pronounced veteran of many racing disciplines, beginning his competitive career as downhill skier, and eventually turning to sportscar racing. Once in sportscars, Hainer’s decorated 15-year career has featured everything from multiple SCCA wins, all the way to victories and championships in GRAND-AM.

With the first of two races for the weekend taking place this Saturday, March 23, the Pirelli World Challenge Series will arrive with strong momentum based on multiple marques continuing with the series. Running five cars, GMG will look to proudly represent the series and brands they compete for, with strong hopes for a championship bid.

Round One of the Pirelli World Championship will take place on Saturday, March 23, at 5:00PM ET, with round two taking place the next day at 10:25AM. Live coverage will be streamed at World-ChallengeTV.com, as well as broadcast on NBC Sports on Sunday, April 7, at 12:30PM ET.

GMG will continue to provide on-going updates throughout the weekend via their website (www.gmgracing.com), as well as Twitter (@GMGracing) and Facebook (facebook.com/TeamGMG).

About GMG
Founded in 2001 by James Sofronas and Fabryce Kutyba, GMG has quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning and racing facility. What began as a small 1200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a 30,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility located in (Orange County) Santa Ana, California. The staff's experience, attention to detail, and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts world wide. Whether you want to maximize the performance of your street car, or race wheel-to-wheel on both amateur and professional racing series across North America, GMG’s reputation for service and quality is unmatched.
Learn more at www.gmgracing.com

About Lasso
Lasso is a request-based, sharing network predicated on a very simple idea: You have something that I want—and you may not even know it until I ask for it. With so much content cluttering our phones, tablets, PCs and social networks, it can be difficult to seek out and find the specific items of interest to you. Friends or colleagues may not share this content with you directly because they’re drowning in data overload themselves. Often, these friends aren’t sure exactly what you want. Lasso makes it easy for you to round up the digital content you want from friends—simply by asking for it. By putting the onus on the requester, instead of the person holding the content, you’ll be in a much better position to actually receive the digital content you’re interested in.
Learn more at www.lasso.me

About Merchant Services
In 2001 Merchant Services Ltd. was founded with three basic principles in mind: quality, service, and commitment. Inspired by our racing heritage we pride ourself in providing the highest level of customer service and support 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Merchant Services Ltd. develops long term relationships with both our merchants and banking partners allowing us to have the highest customer retention rate in the industry. Founded by a professional race car driver, innovation and efficiency have always been our core competencies, ensuring that our merchants receive the cutting edge solutions their businesses need.
Learn more at www.merchantservicesltd.com

About Spyder
Spyder was founded by avid skier and outdoor athlete David Jacobs. He rose to world-class rankings as a competitive skier, and stayed connected to the sport he loves by coaching, designing related products, and building one of the most powerful brands in the industry. His dedication to the sport of skiing and the Spyder brand is as inspiring as it is intriguing. Spyder's growth exploded over the turn of the century, and the company is now the largest ski-specialty brand in the world. David has recently discovered the adrenaline rush in racing classic Formula One cars, finding success – not surprisingly – in this new pastime. For a man who's thrived on sports, technology, and professional advancement, the world is sure to see David go a few more times around the track.
Learn more at www.spyder.com

About Spectra Resources
Spectra Resources is a specialized trading company designed for buyers and sellers to purchase and sell steel in any part of the world efficiently and economically. SPECTRA Resources is involved in importing, exporting, domestic and off-shore trading, warehousing, logistics coordination and the processing of multiple steel products. SPECTRA Resources boasts nearly 20 years of experience in physical steel trading and is positioned to bring a strong value proposition to your enterprise.
Learn more at www.spectraresources.com

About STANDD
Stop Texting And Distracted Driving (STANDD) was founded by Diveeta Thompson, whose son Rodney lost his life while driving. There were numerous factors that played a factor – speed, music, and texting. In an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of texting and driving, Diveeta founded STANDD and has been working diligently throughout her home state of Indiana and nationally through Duncan Ende's motorsports program to spread the message of the dangers of distracted driving. STANDD also promotes the Rodney O. Thompson II Scholarship, which was established to help young people fulfill their goal of attending college after high school.
Learn more at www.standd.org
Learn more at www.racersroast.com

About Swisher
The company began in 1861 when David Swisher received a small cigar business in settlement of a debt. Back then, cigars were only a sideline for Swisher and his four sons, just one of many products that they hawked across the Midwest for the “rolling stores” or wagons. Today, Swisher International, Inc. is a leader in the tobacco business, accounting for one-third of the United States' cigar sales and is America’s largest cigar exporter.
Learn more at www.swisher.com

GMG: World Challenge Preview, 2013

Date

Featuring five Audi's, one Pontiac, and GMG's biggest campaign yet in the Pirelli World Challenge, 2013 promises to be an exciting season.

Most remarkably, the Audi R8 LMS will be contending the full season, with the team's quest for a championship firmly in everyone's sites.

 

GMG: World Challenge Preview, 2013

Date

Featuring five Audi's, one Pontiac, and GMG's biggest campaign yet in the Pirelli World Challenge, 2013 promises to be an exciting season.

Most remarkably, the Audi R8 LMS will be contending the full season, with the team's quest for a championship firmly in everyone's sites.