SANTA ANA, Calif. (May 13, 2013)– Following a stellar beginning to the 2013 Pirelli World Challenge season that has featured two wins in three rounds, Southern California-based Global Motorsports Group (GMG) heads to this weekend’s fourth and fifth round of the championship in pursuit of maximizing their championship point lead.

Running for the first time at the new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, the Pirelli World Challenge will be part of a historic inaugural visit for the Australian V8 Supercar Series in the United States.

Adding to the record books, GMG will set two major milestones in the company’s 12-year history. With a seven-car lineup, GMG will not only set a company record for most cars ever brought to the track, but will also set a single-team record for entries in the Pirelli World Challenge. Additionally, with five Audi R8 LMS entries, GMG and Audi Sport Customer Racing will set a record for having the most Audi R8 LMS vehicles on a North American track at one time, with a total of six cars contesting for the brand.< br />  

For GMG Team Owner, James Sofronas, this weekend’s race is the highlight of a very busy spring.

“With seven cars, it’s going to be incredibly busy,” stated the New York native. “Since Long Beach it’s been non-stop to get to this point, but we couldn’t be any luckier. It’s taken 12 years to get the company in a position where we can scale out and put together seven competitive cars, but we’re completely prepared for the job. I can't express my grattitude to all of the guys here enough. They've worked tirelessly since Long Beach to get us prepared, I am beyond appreciative and proud of their efforts. We did our first test laps at the track two weeks ago, and we learned quite a bit. I can count on one hand the number of days I’ve been home since Long Beach, but the fruits of our labor are definitely showing.”

While six of the entries feature familiar faces, GMG is also proud to announce team newcomer Mike Hedlund to the fold. Driving the No. 40 Audi R8 LMS, the Woodside, California resident will join the team during a busy 2013. Hedlund has quickly become a familiar name in the sports car scene, currently driving full time with JDX Racing in the American Le Mans Series GTC ranks, as well as numerous GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series events with ESM Tequila Patrón Ferrari.

Having driven at Circuit of the Americas during the GRAND-AM Rolex Series event in March, Hedlund will enter the race as one of the most experienced.
 
“I’m really excited to be joining GMG next weekend,” stated Hedlund. “I’ve never driven an Audi before, not even on the street! The team has clearly done a great job with the program, so I’m looking forward to being a part of it. Circuit of the Americas is a great venue; I really enjoyed my visit in March. We’ll be running a different configuration than what we ran in March, but it features a number of very challenging corners.”
 
Following his career best finish in the series at Long Beach, Duncan Ende will head to Austin in the No. 24 STAAND/Merchant Services, Ltd. Audi R8 LMS for his first race at the circuit. Ende, who is also racing this weekend in the American Le Mans Series, is looking to finally have a trouble-free race in pursuit of his first podium.

“Even before I signed with GMG, I’d wanted to come out to his event,” stated Ende, who set the fastest lap of the race in Long Beach. “Running at the same event as the Australian V8 Supercar Series, we were considering coming out anyway, so this became an elaborate way to become a part of it! In Long Beach we showed the potential of the program, but some early mechanical issues held us back. We’re due for a race without any issues and I believe the results will show.”

 Also off the heels of his best race of the season at Long Beach, Bret Curtis will drive his first race in Austin with the No. 32 Spectra Resources Audi R8 LMS. Curtis, who took part in the team’s test last week, is also very impressed with the new circuit.
 
“It was great to learn the circuit last week, and I think that will give us an advantage heading in to next weekend,” stated the Californian. “I really enjoyed the area, and it should be a completely different experience for the fans.”
 
Rounding out GMG’s GT-category lineup will be drivers Brent Holden and Alex Welch. Welch, in the No. 08 Spyder/Lasso Audi R8 LMS, will also be visiting the circuit for the first time. Following a disappointing mechanical retirement at Long Beach, the Colorado resident is poised for his first podium. Holden, from Newport Beach, California, will be the sole Porsche entrant, and will be rejoining the team after finishing seventh at Long Beach, his first race of the year.

Finally, driver Bill Ziegler will once again return as the team’s sole GTS entry in the No. 95 Swisher Racing Pontiac Solstice. Ziegler, who had a quiet run in Long Beach en route to a 14th place finish, is looking for improved form at the tricky Austin circuit.

 “We learned a lot in Long Beach, and I think that will apply well to Austin,” stated the Florida resident. “Like everyone, I’m looking forward to racing at the track for the first time. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen, and I think the fans will enjoy our style of racing.”
 
The fourth and fifth round of the Pirelli World Challenge will take place on Saturday, May 18, as well as Sunday, May 19. Live coverage can be seen at world-challengetv.com, with NBC Sports coverage on Sunday, June 16, at 5PM ET.