gmg racing Archives - Page 8 of 8

Udell, GMG Continue Podium Streak in Sonoma

Date	September 1, 2015

Continuing a streak that has seen him on the podium in 12 of the 13 Pirelli World Challenge races he’s competed in this year, Global Motorsports Group’s (GMG) Alec Udell extended his impressive season with a second-place finish during Sunday’s Grand Prix of Sonoma.

“Of course, after coming off of a win the previous day, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want a little more, but we should be proud of our run,” stated Udell. “All of the guys did an excellent job preparing the car as always, and we had a great Porsche through the whole run. With a yellow or a small change of fortune we might have had a run for the front, but it just wasn’t meant to be. We’re continuing to learn, and headed to Laguna Seca I’m confident we’ll have a good shot.”

Starting from the front row in the No. 17 Euroworld Motorsports / Panther Pipeline Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 991, a first lap incident with the GT category in front of him would put the field under caution before he’d even reached the first turn, with the “real” race start coming several laps later.

As the field went green for the second time, a brief battle with driver Sloan Urry would serve as the primary excitment for the No. 17 machine, with Udell eventually building a gap to Urry and the field behind him, and all focus turned on race leader Colin Thompson.

Unfortunately, with the race staying green until the end, the gap to Thompson was simply too large and Alec would eventually cross the finish line in second.

It would serve as the 10th consecutive podium for Alec, and 12th in 13 races. While an early season incident would force the 19-year-old to miss several races, he still sits fourth in the GT-Cup standings with one race to go.

The entire Pirelli World Challenge will return to action in less than two weeks’ tim, with the season finale taking place just a few hundred miles south at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Practice begins on Thursday, September 10, with the race taking place on Sunday, September 13.

Udell, GMG Take Third Victory of Season in Sonoma

Date	August 30, 2015

Continuing an impressive campaign that has seen him take victory during the last two weekends of the Pirelli World Challenge series, Global Motorsport Group’s (GMG) Alec Udell took an impressive third victory in the GT Cup class during today’s Race One of the Grand Prix of Sonoma.

“This was just an incredible day, I can’t thank everyone at GMG enough for it,” stated Udell. “We’ve been fast all weekend and knew we had a shot, and everything just seemed to go our way. My crew chief, Neville, was with me on the radio the whole race keeping me on top of what was happening and we were able to capitalize when the opportunity came to take victory. We can’t enjoy it for too long since we have a race tomorrow morning, but I’m certainly going to savor the day.”

Driving the No. 17 Panther Pipeline / Euroworld Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 991, confidence was high headed into today’s sprint race. After setting top times throughout practice, the 19-year-old would start second for today’s Race One, making immediate work of pole-sitter Colin Thompson during the start, jumping to the lead by time they approached the first turn.

Engaged in a heated fight, Thompson would get back around, however would fail to run away from Alec who stayed engaged on Thompson throughout the entirety of the race. With the race managing to run without a single caution period, tire management became a key factor in the event with Udell once again doing a masterful job of driving tactically and managing his machine.

With just over 10 minutes remaining in the race, Alec’s strategy of keeping pressure on the leader would prove fruitful, with Thompson sliding off while under heavy braking, and handing the lead to Udell for the closing laps.

Alec would never look back as he ran down the clock taking yet another victory in a breakthrough season. It would serve as his third victory in as many weekends and his 11th podium in 12 races.

Race Two will take place tomorrow at 10:55AM PT with live coverage available on world-challengetv.com.

Top 15 Hottest Cars at GoldRush Rally 7

Date	June 15, 2015

As the coverage from the 7th annual Gold Rush Rally rolls in, we were happy to read the article from our friends at GTSpirit.com, naming our GMG WC-GT3 as one of the 15 hottest cars at this year event.

GTSpirit.com said of our GT3,

“Not only is this the coolest GT3 at GR7 but it’s also one of the best looking in North America. GMG Racing are well known for not only their superiority in fielding race winning supercars but also building some of the best cars. We hope to do a proper feature on this particular car in the coming days!”

Look for a full recap of the event on our site later this week.

Madison Snow to Join GMG for Pirelli World Challenge Opener

Date	March 2, 2015

Joining the team for this weekend’s season-opening round of the Pirelli World Challenge at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, Global Motorsport Group (GMG) is proud to announce the addition of 19-year-old standout Madison Snow to the lineup.

“I couldn’t be happier to bring Madison into our program,” stated GMG team owner and co-driver James Sofronas. “At a very young age, Madison has been extremely impressive at the top levels of our sport, and he should acclimate well to our way of working. Even though he’s become something of a Porsche specialist, I’m very confident he’ll be able to jump right into our Audi and the series’ sprint format and immediately contend. We make a very conscious effort to arm our drivers with a comprehensive amount of data, setup information, and more so that they can jump right in and be comfortable.”

Hailing from Lehi, Utah, Madison Snow has been a standout within the IMSA ranks. Making his first full-season effort last year in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Madison was an instant contender in the new series. Opening his championship effort with a podium at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, followed by additional podiums at Road America and the season-ending Petit Le Mans, Snow managed a seventh place ranking in the standings in his first season. In 2013, the then 17-year-old took an impressive seven victories en route to a championship in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge.

Having previously competed in two rounds of Pirelli World Challenge competition, Snow will make his Audi debut in the No. 21 Santa Cruz Bicycles / UIS Audi R8 LMS ultra, joining a four-car effort campaigned by GMG. With teammates Alec Udell, Alex Welch and James Sofronas, Snow’s first race with both the series and marque will be aided by the team’s vast experience. Taking advantage of the team’s extensive collection of data and setup history with the Audi, compounded by two decades of history in the series, Madison will return to the circuit where he narrowly missed the podium during the 2014 TUDOR race.

“I’m really looking forward to the whole event this weekend,” stated Snow. “The Pirelli World Challenge has a lot of momentum behind it, and it is great to return. The sprint format is nothing new to me from my experience in the GT3 Cup and Prototype Lites, but obviously the level of competition and quality of teams will make it a real challenge. The Audi R8 LMS ultra has always been a tough car to compete against in other series, so it should be an interesting experience to finally get behind the wheel of one. GMG is one of the most experienced teams in the paddock so I’m confident I’ll have plenty of data to work from. Thanks to everyone at the team and especially Santa Cruz Bicycles for making this opportunity possible.”

The No. 21 will feature sponsorship from Santa Cruz Bicycles and Universal Industrial Sales, Inc. (UIS). With dealerships around the world, Santa Cruz Bicycles is recognized as one of the premier mountain bike manufacturers. Founded in 1993 in Santa Cruz, California, the company has focused on developing state-of-the-art technology behind their bicycles, currently manufacturing 12 models. To learn more, visit www.santacruzbicycles.com.

UIS is a steel fabrication company located in Lindon, Utah. It is among the largest suppliers of sign structures and highway products in the western United States. The company’s strategic intent is to become one of the premier manufacturers of overhead sign structures, guardrail, bridge rail and custom fabricated steel highway products in the country. Universal is dedicated to satisfying its customers. They consistently provide their customers with excellent service, superb quality, on-time deliveries, flexible lead times and competitive pricing.

GMG Confirms Four Car Effort in Pirelli World Challenge Series

Date	January 31, 2015

Now entering their 14th season of Pirelli World Challenge competition, one of the longest-running teams in the series, Global Motorsports Group (GMG), will once again return with four entries to the championship. Beyond the return of drivers James Sofronas, Alex Welch and Brent Holden, GMG will also welcome young talent Alec Udell to the series’ all-new GT-Cup category.

“We’ve been committed to the Pirelli World Challenge for over a decade now, and it’s remarkable to see how the series has grown,” stated GMG team owner and driver James Sofronas. “The growth and momentum that we’ve seen in the last few years is absolutely staggering, and we’re proud to be a part of it. We’re now entering our fourth year with the Audi R8, and the experience accrued will really help with both our performance and driver development. In all honesty, I’d been considering pulling myself out of the car this year, but when two of my closest friends, Alex Welch and Brent Holden decided to return, it just made sense to come back. Adding Alec Udell to the all-new GT-Cup class will be a really strong addition, as not only will Alec be very competitive, but our decades of experience with Porsche Cup machinery should really elevate his development. Additionally, it’s great to have such partners as Spyder, The Thermal Club, and Mobil 1 all back with us for 2015, and we’re excited to continue our growth and development together.”

Making his debut for the team in the all-new Porsche GT-Cup class will be 19-year old Alec Udell. Now entering his fifth year of Pirelli World Challenge competition, Alec has achieved a number of accolades in the series’ GTS category, including three podiums and 11 top-five finishes. Taking part in GMG’s renowned driver development program, Udell will enter the next chapter of GMG’s history with Porsche. Not only has the team competed at such events as The Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in Porsche machinery, but GMG also played a critical role in Porsche’s manufacturer’s championships in 2008 and 2009.

“It’s exciting to join GMG for this next chapter in my career,” stated the 19-year-old. “The team has a great reputation within the paddock, and our goals are set very high for a strong season. A lot of people say that learning a Porsche is unlike any other sports car out there, and I’m fortunate to join a team with such vast experience. Beyond that, the team has had some great results over the years, and I’m hoping to add my name to it.”

Following a quiet 2014 season, James Sofronas and the No. 14 Audi R8 LMS ultra will headline the team’s GT efforts at the season-opening round on March 7. As the first-ever driver to win with the Audi R8 in World Challenge competition, James nearly took the series’ GT championship in 2013, taking the title all the way to the season finale.

Rejoining the team will be long-time GMG driver Brent Holden. Hailing from Newport Beach, California, Brent has been a long-time veteran of the team, having competed in a number of categories and events over the years, starting in the Porsche GT3 Cup and currently in the Audi R8 LMS ultra. Entered in the sportsman-designed GTA category, Holden’s speed and patience should make him a strong contender.

“GMG’s attention to driver development and providing a comfortable atmosphere is unlike any other,” stated Holden. “I really enjoy my time not only with the team, but taking part in all that the Pirelli World Challenge has to offer. The series features many of my favorite tracks, exciting cars, and a competitive racing format; combined with the experience that James and the team offer, I look forward to returning.”

Adding to the team’s GT lineup will be the return of another long-time member of the organization, Alex Welch. A multi-year veteran of the series, Welch and his Audi R8 LMS ultra showed strong last year, including capping his season off with a GTA-class podium during the final weekend of 2014.

“It’s always exciting to return to GMG and the Pirelli World Challenge,” stated Welch. “The GTA class is extremely competitive, but the team has done a great job getting us prepared and the access to driver data, coaching, and all the other assets that the team has to offer goes a long way. The series looks to be bigger than ever, but it’s a challenge we’re all excited for.”

Additionally, GMG will continue their multi-year partnership with Spyder, Mobil 1, and The Thermal Club. Spyder, most known for its outerwear designed for winter enthusiasts, has recently begun the promotion of a new warm weather line. Partnering with a number of motorsport entities, the brand’s Spyder GT line is available now. Additionally, GMG will once again continue their association with Mobil 1 who has been a long-time motor oil supplier for all of GMG’s programs. Finally, the company’s affiliation with The Thermal Club, a motorsport country club-style facility located near Palm Springs, will also continue in 2015.

The opening round of the Pirelli World Challenge will take place from March 6-8 at a standalone event in Austin, Texas, at the famed Circuit of the Americas.

While the team currently has four entries locked in, the ability to expand remains an option with several other programs still in discussion. GMG will continue to make additional announcements as the program expands.

Join Us For GMG Racing’s Annual Open House!

Date	January 13, 2015

Join us! On February 28th, we will be hosting our Annual Open House event at our 30,000+ Sq. Ft. facility located in Santa Ana, California. This event is a chance to learn more about us, our shop, and our philosophy about selling what we race. Both the Street and Racing shops will be open, with an ample display of our tuned supercars, as well as our Audi and Porsche race cars.

Features will include:

Presenting our team introduction for the 2015 Pirelli World Challenge Championship.
Get an intimate tour of our expansive 30,000 Square Ft. motorsport and performance tuning facility.
Meet with our technology partners and get a chance to talk to reps from leading motorsport companies.
Check out the latest performance upgrades for your street car from today’s leading companies.
Check out the latest GMG product developments and offerings.
GMG race cars will be on display, including the 2015 Audi R8 Ultra’s, Porsche GT3 Cup, RSR and GT3R models, and Lamborghini Super Trofeo race cars.
GMG tuned street cars from Porsche, Audi’s, Ferrari’s, BMW’s Lamborghini’s, McLaren and more.
Tour the GMG Race Trailers and get an opportunity to see the equipment the team uses throughout the year at the races throughout the country.

Over 25 of our leading vendors will be on hand to showcase their products and give you real insight straight from the manufacturer on upgrades for your car. In addition, they’ll all be raffling off products and giveaways throughout the day!

Ever wanted to meet the staff that is the beating heart of our race team? The Crew of our racing efforts will be on hand to ask any questions and give that ‘behind the scenes’ info that is sometimes hard to come by in the sport.

If you’ve been to one of our open houses’ before, you know that our (rather long) street turns into a virtual car show. We implore you to bring your best machinery out for display!

We’ll have some killer gourmet food trucks on-site, and international media coming in to cover the event.

Due to the size of the event and amount of people we expect, please arrive no earlier than 11:00 AM.

We look forward to seeing you all at our 2015 Open House! Join and share the event HERE!.