Pirelli World Challenge Archives

GMG Continues Winning Streak in Virginia

Author	GMG Racing
Images	GMG Racing
Date	May 1, 2018

After earning the first-ever win for the Audi R8 LMS GT4 in the history of the U.S. at the most recent Pirelli World Challenge SprintX round in Texas, Global Motorsports Group (GMG) would continue their streak through the second weekend of the championship, with Alex Welch and James Sofronas taking victory during Sunday’s Round Four of GTS-X competition. It would continue an impressive SprintX campaign for the duo, earning their second victory and fourth podium in as many rounds. Not to be outdone, George Kurtz and Colin Braun would also show well with consecutive top-10 finishes in their Audi, including their best finish of the year with a fourth, while Elias Sabo and Andy Lee would also make considerable progress in the McLaren program. In the top-tier GT3 program, Alec Udell and Corey Lewis would also prove formidable, threatening for the podium all weekend.

“I can’t say enough about our Audi and the incredible effort of the whole team,” stated GMG team owner and co-driver James Sofronas. “For our No. 14 the guys put together an amazing car as soon as it unloaded, and the weekend just went our way. Alex in particular deserves a lot of credit, he drove an incredible stint to get us to victory, and we couldn’t ask for a better start to the season. George and Colin were right there with us as well, it was great to see them contending as strong as they were. Elias and Andy did a great job as well in GTS ranks, watching Elias progress to this level of competition has been really fulfilling for us. Of course Alec and Corey in the Porsche during the GT race provided another glimpse in to our potential. They were both fast all week, and with a little change in fortune they could have made their way to the podium. Overall it’s a great feeling to have started the SprintX championship the way we have, it’s a testament to the guys, as well as of course the great product that Audi Sport customer racing have put together.”

Driving the Mobil 1 / The Thermal Club / 5.11 Tactical Audi R8 LMS GT4, Alex Welch and James Sofronas would highlight the team’s weekend. Following victory at the most recent round in Texas, the duo would start Saturday’s Round One from the fourth row, with Alex Welch taking starting duties and driving without error, slowly working his way through the field before handing over to Sofronas, who would continue the upward climb to second by time the checkered flag fell. For Sunday’s Race Two, a fastest lap by Sofronas on Saturday would poise him for a pole position on Sunday, leading to a hard-charging stint running against his teammate in the No. 04 Audi, ultimately settling in to a rhythm to avoid major calamity as the first half of the race sorted itself out. By time pit stops would cycle through, the close of the race would be back in Welch’s hands, where the Colorado resident would repeat his same come-from-behind heroics as Texas, grabbing the lead in the closing laps and taking the second victory of the year. The win would further their championship lead, continuing a season where they’ve finished on the podium in every race.

“This has been an exceptional season so far,” stated Alex Welch. “The GTS category and the GT4 format has been an absolute joy to drive, and with the Audi being as strong as it has been, I’ve really enjoyed having the strong showing that James and I have had. All of the guys did a great job getting us prepared, and the results speak for themselves. I look forward to the next one.”

For the No. 04 Crowdstrike Audi R8 LMS GT4, George Kurtz and Colin Braun would take their best finish of the year on Saturday. Making his way through the field during an impressive opening stint, George would enjoy a flawless performance during the first half of the race, handing to the experienced Braun would continue the team’s ascension, cracking the top-10 despite very limited green flag running. For Sunday’s Race two, a fast lap by Braun on Saturday would stage him on the second row for the second race, giving Braun and Kurtz advantageous track position throughout the race, making the best of it to just barely miss the podium in fourth.

“Both Colin and I had a strong race, and the Audi R8 was fantastic,” stated Kurtz. “It was a great result for CrowdStrike and gives us momentum for our next race. As usual, the team at GMG did a fantastic job!”

For Colin Braun, a similar feeling is shared.

“What a great event today,” stated Braun. “George did an excellent job in the race and was right in the thick of the battle. I had a good opening stint, and the GMG guys executed a great stop, and then we all cheered George on! I had the most fun from the pit box watching George. Also, congrats to the No. 14 GMG Racing Audi team for another win!”

Rounding the team’s GTS entries, Elias Sabo and Andy Lee in the No. 8 McLaren 570S GT4 would also show progress. With Sabo taking his first steps in professional motorsport, the transition from regional events over the last several years to a national stage has been steady, with the team setting a series of fast laps within a second of the race winners.

“We enjoyed the experience this weekend,” stated Sabo. “Everyone at GMG did a great job getting us prepared, and we’ve enjoyed the transition to this level of competition. The Pirelli World Challenge features some of the most talented and experienced drivers in the paddock, so it’s been great to work our way up and continue to improve with every session.”

Finally, competing in the top-tier GT category, Alec Udell would welcome new teammate Corey Lewis to the No. 41 LOCI / HKG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R. Looking to perform for their sponsor, the team would continue the strength demonstrated in Long Beach, qualifying on the fourth row and consistently running at a pace consistent with the lead group. Surviving a chaotic opening race on Saturday’s first round, Udell and Lewis would just miss the podium to take fourth, following that up on Sunday with a sixth.

“It was great to have a clean weekend,” stated Udell. “Obviously we wanted to deliver as best we could for everyone at Loci and HKG Racing, and bringing the car home cleanly was something we really wanted for the weekend. It would have been nice to get on the podium, but VIR is a very unique circuit and presents a unique set of challenges, so overall we’re happy with our performance. Corey did a great job, and as always GMG did a great job delivering us a competitive machine.”

The weekend’s coverage will be available via CBS Sports Network on Wednesday, May 9 at 8 p.m. Eastern. With a few weeks until the next round of competition, GMG and the Pirelli World Challenge will head North of the border for the next round, returning to the traditional Sprint championship at the famed Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, formerly known as Mosport. As part of the traditional sprint format, both George Kurtz and James Sofronas will return to action as part of the team’s Audi effort. Practice will begin on Friday, May 18, with another double-header of race action on May 19 and 20.

GMG Closes Championship Season with Multiple Podiums During Finale

Date	October 12, 2016

Closing out a 2016 season that has seen the team take over a dozen victories, podiums, and a series championship, GMG would close their Pirelli World Challenge calendar with two additional podiums to their challenge. Entering three cars in four separate categories, the team would see their Porsche 911 GT3 R, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, and Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport machines achieve further success under the guidance of drivers Alec Udell, Brent Holden, Chris Thompson, Matt Halliday and James Sofronas.

“I’m very happy with how we closed out our season, and it’s a great way to start momentum for next year,” stated Sofronas. “This was a big weekend for us, as we were the first team to compete with all three of Porsche’s customer categories in the same event, and we showed well everywhere. Walking away with two different podiums is a testament to the quality of not only our drivers, but our amazing crew who have worked so hard to develop these cars. I couldn’t be more proud of everyone within the organization, and it’s a great way to transition in to a busy off-season.”

The first of two podiums would be accomplished with the team’s all-new Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport program. As a purpose-built racing car designed after the highly touted mid-engine street car, the “Clubsport” has recently entered the highly competitive GT4 category of international racing, designed specifically as a production-adapted car, designed for less experienced drivers who may not be ready to jump to the higher horsepower Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. In the case of the Pirelli World Challenge, this would be the team’s first foray in to the highly touted GTS category, entering Saturday’s SprintX race with drivers Matt Halliday and Sunday’s traditional sprint race with James Sofronas.

Taking part in their first-ever SprintX race for the GTS category, the team would make its debut with the car under the ultimate test, endurance racing. Still under development, the team would opt to put two veterans in the car, with team owner James Sofronas opening the race, and then changing over to sportscar and open wheel veteran Matt Halliday.

Making a strong start, Sofronas’ opening stint would feature his usual trademark consistency, running within the top-three throughout the majority of his stint, and then pitting when an opportune yellow would allow Halliday in for the second half of the race. Giving chase to the field in front of him, Matt was running lap times on pace with the lead pack in his efforts to chase down the lead, however ultimately choosing patience to close the race and settling in for an eventual third place.

For Sunday, the team would take part in their first sprint race, with Sofronas driving the race in its entirety. Starting the car from the sixth row, the Villa Park, California resident would spend the majority of his race focusing on development, opting for a consistent drive to analyze the car over ultimate pace. Running as high as seventh, James would end a fairly quiet race in 13th, owed largely due to a visit to the pits due to a series-issued penalty over procedure.

Also competing in the series’ SprintX category would be drivers Alec Udell and Bret Holden, driving the No. 13 Spyder / Mobil 1 / The Thermal Club Porsche 911 GT3 R. Having previously clinched the championship in the series’ GT-Cup category, both Udell and the team elected to elevate him to his first race in faster “R,” where the 20-year old wasted no time getting up to speed. Immediately making an impression on the category, Alec would actually top the first-two practice sessions, immediately demonstrating his ability to get up to speed quickly.

Starting Race One in sixth, Brent Holden would open the race with his usual pace and consistency, not putting a foot wrong throughout his opening run, and doing an excellent job of keeping the car on form until the time came to hand the car over to Udell. Once Alec took the reigns, the Woodlands, Texas native put his focus on gaining positions, with the team moving up to fifth before settling in for the finish. Not to be outdone, however, Udell would set one of the quickest times of the race, having literally never raced the car prior.

For Sunday’s Race Two, the starting order would reverse, and with the top-two cars in qualifying failing to make the start due to prior incidents, Alec would start the race from second position. Chasing down the highly-touted Michael Lewis throughout the opening laps of the race, an unfortunate mechanical problem for Lewis’ Porsche would send him to the pits, with Udell taking the lead by lap six. No stranger to leading, having won 12 races in this year’s GT-Cup category, Udell would be stuck in a race-long battle with BMW factory driver John Edwards. Seen as one of the top sportscar drivers in the paddock, Edwards would spend the entirety of their stints trying to chase down Alec, yet despite his experience found the pace of the GMG driver to be too tough to pass, proving the pace and race-craft of Udell. Eventually, pit stops would ensue and the car would be handed over to Holden for the finish, where Holden would once again run incredibly well, and with high hopes of a podium finish. Unfortunately, contact with a competitor would lead to a terminal failure on the car’s left-front suspension, eventually forcing the No. 14 in to retirement to close the weekend.

For Alec Udell, while the team would away with no hardware, there were many victories in the approach.

“I think we showed how strong we can run, and that was an important part of our weekend,” stated Udell. “This car was incredible to drive. The Cup car is a lot of fun, but the ‘R’ is a whole other level, between the power and the downforce, and it was an absolute joy. Being able to have some of the battles we had was the kind of racing I was hoping for, and overall I think proved ourselves well. I can’t thank the team enough for helping to make it happen, and I look forward to the next steps.”

For Brent Holden, a similar sentiment is shared.

“Obviously we would have liked to walk away with a podium, but with such a big field we knew the challenge that we would have,” stated Holden. “Alec did a great job. He was really quick on Saturday, and any time you can hold off someone like John Edwards you’re doing something right. On a personal level, Sunday’s incident was of course disappointing, but overall I was happy with how well prepared the car was and I look forward to next year.”

Finally, driving the team’s No. 17 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup entry, Chris Thompson would make his series debut in the ultra-competitive GT-Cup category, replacing series champion-elect Alec Udell. A veteran of many of the team’s grassroots events as well as the Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA, the experience of Thompson would show during Sunday’s lone sprint race, where he would start and finish third, the team’s second podium of the weekend.

“I really enjoyed the weekend,” stated Thompson. “GMG did a great job preparing the car and making sure I had all the tools I needed to prepare for this weekend, and it worked out perfectly. We had a great car, and it was really satisfying to have the confidence of knowing what a solid piece we had. Any time you can walk away with a trophy is great, and I appreciate the program that James and all the guys put together.”

With the Pirelli World Challenge season at a close, the team will continue to focus on many grassroots programs taking place to close out the year, with full attention on a strong program for 2017. With the ability to run a vertically integrated platform that features everything from the Cayman GT4 Clubsport for the less experienced and budget minded, all the way to the prolific GT3 R, the team is entertaining a number of programs for next year, with more details to be announced soon.

Udell, GMG Clinch Pirelli World Challenge Championship at Sonoma

Date	September 20, 2016

Following yet another dominant performance in which he led every lap of the weekend, Global Motorsports Group’s (GMG) Alec Udell took a dominant victory during both rounds of the Pirelli World Challenge’s penultimate weekend at Sonoma Raceway. Maximizing his points on the weekend, Udell has managed to build enough of a gap to clinch the GT-Cup championship headed in to the series finale at Laguna Seca raceway, earning his first title in series competition, as well as a landmark first for the GMG organization.

“I couldn’t be more proud of Alec and everyone on this team,” stated GMG team owner James Sofronas. “With Alec’s performance last year, we knew that 2016 could be his year, but you never how a season is going to unfold until it begins, and he’s just been perfect all year. For someone his age, the maturity he’s driven with has been unbelievable. I’m thrilled that we’ll head to one of our home tracks with the championship completely wrapped up, and it means we’ll get to run the finale with a focus on just enjoying the finale. It’s great to add a championship to our long roster of accomplishments within Pirelli World Challenge. We clinched two Manufacturers Championships for Porsche in 2008 and 2009, as well as two runner-up finishes in the GT class by super-close margins in 2009 and 2013, so to add a GT Cup championship to the mix is an excellent feeling. It’s such a testament to our guys. We knew entering this year that our re-commitment to Porsche would be the right move for our company. Developing so many performance products for our street line it seemed an obvious fit, and I think it shows in programs like this where we’ve shown so much speed.”

Continuing a season that had seen 10 victories leading up to the weekend, Alec Udell and the No. 14 Euroworld Motorsports / Panther Pipeline / Amsource Capital Porsche 911 GT3 Cup came in to the festivities knowing that a weekend sweep could clinch his championship, but that a clean weekend would be critical above all else. While the Pirelli World Challenge championship points system rewards race victories, it severely punishes a failure to finish, and both Udell and team knew that a finish was critical above all else.

Taking pole position for Saturday’s Race One, the 20-year old would take the green flag with a calm focus headed in to the opening laps. Quickly establishing himself as the fastest car in class, Alec simply managed his car as the race continued on, building a small but stable gap to second-place Sloan Urry, and never allowing his championship rival to close in. Without any significant challenge, the race would end as it started, with Udell taking yet another victory in his remarkable season.

For Race Two, the trend would continue. The Woodlands, Texas native would immediately jump to the lead from pole position yet again, and never look back as the laps continued. Continuing his championship form throughout the race, Udell would drive in a class of his own as he built a healthy gap over the field behind him, taking his 12th victory of the year and more importantly securing enough points to guarantee his GT Cup championship.

“It’s just been an incredible year,” stated Udell. “I couldn’t be more appreciative of everyone on the team. Neville and all the guys have given me a great car at every race, and of course this was all made possible by the efforts of James and everyone at the team who’ve been amazing to make this whole thing possible. We knew we had a real shot at the championship this year, but to walk away with 12 wins and still one race remaining is beyond what we could have hoped for. Last year we had such a heartbreaking incident that took us out of the championship that this year has more than made up for it. I couldn’t be happier and look forward to closing everything out in Monterey.”

Finally, driving the No. 14 Mobil 1 / Spyder / The Thermal Club Porsche 911 GT3 R in the GTA category, long-time team veteran Brent Holden showed significantly improved pace this weekend, culminating with a fourth place finish on Sunday. Understanding that patience and consistency would be key to his efforts, Holden drove without error, setting some of his fastest laps of the weekend. Additionally, the points earned this weekend moved Holden to fourth place in the GTA season championship.

“I’m very happy with the whole event,” stated Holden. “This weekend was all about gaining confidence in the car and competing within the largest GTA field of the year. I think I finally proved that I can run with some very talented amateur drivers. Saturday’s race was cut short by my high speed ‘off’ in Turn One, but I had a ball mixing it up with my competitors and stepped up my game Sunday, running fast and error-free times until the very end. I really have to thank the GMG team for their efforts to set up the car in a manner that not only fits with my driving style, but was incredibly reliable and steady. Needless to say, I am looking forward to our final event at Laguna, where James and I will be going for podiums in the two SprintX races.”

With the series ending in just three weeks, the team will enjoy their time staying in California, with the championship finale occurring just a few hours from their headquarters at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Practice will take place on Friday, October 7, with the race taking place on Sunday, October 9.

GMG Continues Two Car Effort at Sonoma

Date	September 14, 2016

Running two cars in two categories during the penultimate weekend of the Pirelli World Challenge, Global Motorsports Group (GMG) will head to the famed Sonoma Raceway in search of continuing championship form as the season comes to a close. With GT-Cup entrant Alec Udell currently leading his respective championship, all focus is on a strong weekend with the goal of furthering his lead heading in to the final round. Additionally, Brent Holden will continue in the team’s Porsche 911 GT3 R in the GTA category, furthering the team’s development work and aim for a podium.

“With two of the last three races happening this weekend, we’re extremely focused on making sure everything is perfect for Alec,” stated GMG team owner James Sofronas. “Alec and our GT-Cup program have had a tremendous season so far, but obviously this is a critical weekend for everything to go smooth. Luckily we have an amazing group of guys who have looked through every inch of the car, and of course we have a driver who has been driving with a maturity well beyond his years. Of course Brent will be there with the GT3 R as well, and we look forward to supporting him. We’ve learned a lot about the car over the year, and we’re all very hopeful we can add to his podium tally. It’s a busy time of year for all of us but we’re very excited to continue it on, it should be a great weekend.”

Continuing in the No. 17 Euroworld Motorsports / Amsource Capital / Panther Pipeline Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, Alec Udell will head to Sonoma with a strong lead in the series championship, but with a cautious understanding that a patient finish will be key. Continuing a stellar season that has included 10 victories and a 94-point lead, all focus is on continuing his winning streak, but with a very clear understanding that championship points will be of ultimate importance above all else.

“We come to every race to win, but we know that finishing will be the most important part of this weekend,” stated Udell. “We’ve had an amazing car all season, and I couldn’t be luckier to have a group like we have with GMG. At this point in the season, the pressure is on to continue the kind of run we’ve had, and as long as everyone keeps focus and patience, we should be in great shape. Sonoma was a great event for us last year, and there’s no reason to think we can’t continue the form we’ve had all year, so we’re coming in with a lot of optimism.”

Competing in the No. 14 The Thermal Club / Mobil 1 / Spyder Porsche 911 GT3 R, Brent Holden will continue the team’s tradition in the series’ GTA category. Continuing a strong season that has seen him taking podiums in both the GTA and Sprint X categories, the Californian looks to add another trophy to his collection.

“Sonoma is always a great venue for competition, and hopefully our Porsche should be pretty strong there,” stated Holden. “James and all the guys always put together a great car, and as we continue to learn and develop the Porsche, we prove just how competitive a group we have. My focus this year is on the new SprintX category, but with more entries in the GTA category this week at Sonoma, I am looking forward to a closer level of competition.”

Practice begins this Friday, September 16, with race action taking place on Saturday and Sunday. Run in conjunction with the season finale of the Verizon IndyCar Series, Race One will take place on Saturday at 7:50PM ET, and Race Two the following day at 1:15PM. Live coverage can be found at world-challenge.tv.

Udell, GMG Continue Winning Streak in Canada; Holden/Braun Sweep Podium in SprintX Debut

Date	May 24, 2016

Continuing a faultless 2016 Pirelli World Challenge season in which he’s scored a podium in every race, Global Motorsports Group’s (GMG) Alec Udell took his third consecutive victory during this weekend’s seventh round at the scenic Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Ontario, Canada. Following his performance up with yet another podium the next day, Udell has now assumed the GT-Cup championship lead in a hotly contested title fight. Additionally, drivers Brent Holden and Colin Braun would also represent the team in the inaugural SprintX event, taking podium finishes in both races.

“What an incredible weekend,” stated GMG team owner James Sofronas. “To walk away with a win and four podiums in one weekend is such an amazing testament to our drivers and crew, I couldn’t be happier. I unfortunately had a schedule conflict that kept me out of being there, but the fact that this team was able to take the reigns and perform on all levels is a testament to the quality and independence of every member of this team. Alec, as always, was remarkable. This particular track is always treacherous, and he didn’t put a foot wrong. Competing against a track ‘regular’ is particularly tough out there, and he drove with incredible patience all weekend. It’s going to be a great fight for the championship and it’s great to see him at the top of his game. The debut for the SprintX series was as smooth as we could have asked for, and I think we can all feel satisfied with our podiums. Brent and Colin knew that patience was the key, and they delivered just that. It’s a busy week as we get ready for Lime Rock, but I couldn’t be more fortunate to have such a great group of guys making this whole effort happen.”

Driving the No. 17 Euroworld Motorsport / Amsource Capital / Panther Pipeline Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, Alec Udell came in to the weekend as part of a hotly contested GT-Cup championship with title-rival Sloan Urry. With the Pirelli World Challenge points system putting a premium on pole positions and wins, the 20-year old came in to the weekend with a single focus on winning.

Adding to the mix would be local driver Chris Green, who is a regular competitor in the Canadian Porsche GT3 Cup ranks. A driver with countless miles at the Canadian circuit, Green was an instant threat to the series-regulars, with Alec the only driver who was able to consistently challenge him despite limited experience at the track.

During Saturday’s Race One, Udell and Green would be engaged in an incredible fight thoughout the event, with Alec giving constant charge to keep the pressure on Green. Understanding the championship implications of clashing with a driver who isn’t full-time in the series, Alec had to balance his aggression with avoiding unnecessary risk, which played out perfectly at the halfway point when Green would encounter trouble. With Green pulling off the road due to a mechanical mishap, Alec would inherit the lead for the second half of the race, never looking back en route to his third victory in succession, re-gaining the point lead in the process.

Heading in to Saturday’s Race Two, Udell and Green were actually tied in their quest for setting the pole position, however Green would start first on a tie-breaker. Continuing the theme from Race One, Alec stayed glued to the back of his challenger throughout the first half of the race, trying to keep pressure mounted while avoiding anything that could compromise his championship. Unfortunately Green managed to keep him at bay, and with bigger-picture thinking in mind, Alec slowly resigned himself to second to maintain his championship lead, where he would finish. It would continue a podium streak that has dated back to Road America in June of 2015.

“Overall I’m pretty happy with the weekend,” stated the Clemson University Engineering student. “100% of our focus is on this championship, and this was exactly the kind of weekend we needed. Chris was a really tough competitor, and I didn’t want to do anything that could jeopardize what we were working toward, but it was a great fight regardless. A win and a second-place is all we could have asked for, and we’re already turning our attention to Lime Rock since it’s only days away. Thanks to everyone at GMG for the continued support, they really made this happen, and of course all of our partners at Euroworld Motorsports, Amsource, and Panther Pipeline.”

Taking part in the first-ever Pirelli World Challenge SprintX event, drivers Brent Holden and Colin Braun made a strong debut for the team, taking successive second-place finishes. Designed as a multi-driver event, the first in series history, the focus of this one-hour race was on all-around teamwork. With both drivers sharing the car for a combined set of minimum and maximum times, with pit stops in between for driver changes, the team’s depth and experience at endurance racing would come in to play as the event began.

Starting Saturday’s Race One in third, Brent Holden would take the reigns in the No. 14 Spyder / Mobil 1 / The Thermal Club Porsche 911 GT3 R for the opening stint of the race. Focusing on hitting his minimum drive-time of 25 minutes, the Southern California native simply put his emphasis on maintaining contact with the lead pack, keeping the gap at a minimum while setting the car up to be handed over cleanly to teammate Colin Braun. Running in third through the majority of his stint, Holden was actually awarded the Motortrendondemand.com Clean Pass of the Race after falling back and then re-gaining his spot. With a trouble-free stint complete, the team would call him in for the team’s one and only pit stop, handing the car over to his teammate and coach for the finish.

With Braun, a multi-time IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship title winner in the car, all focus turned to gaining ground on the lead pack in front of him. Solidly in podium contention the Texas native pushed hard to catch the second-place Audi of Dion von Moltke, shrinking the gap by several seconds over the final 20 minutes, however the gap simply proved insurmountable as the team would settle for third. Braun would, however, set the fastest lap of the race to grid him on pole position for Sunday’s Race Two.

Heading in to Sunday, series rules would require an inversion of the driver order, with Colin Braun taking starting duties for the No. 14. Immediate making use of his pole position, Colin was off to an incredible start, building a strong gap over the field as the laps unfolded, focusing on building a lead for the second half of the race.

Nearing the end of his pit window, the team would elect to bring Colin in to hand over to teammate Brent Holden, who took to the final half of the race with a tough task ahead of him. Knowing he would have to manage his tires to the end, a hard charging BMW of Michael Mills would start closing in on Holden lap-after-lap, with the GMG driver doing his best to hold him back while still looking after his machine. Unfortunately, as the laps continued, the pace of the BMW was simply insurmountable, with Holden eventually resigning himself to second where he would remain to the end.

Happy to see successive podiums, Holden’s overall satisfaction with the weekend was evident.

“The SprintX format is definitely unique, and it was great to be a part of the first one,” stated Holden. “We knew that tire management would be a key factor to this weekend, and we did the best we could. I couldn’t have asked for a better teammate with Colin, and I think the potential that we showed is a testament to the team. The car is definitely fast, we repeatedly saw that with some of the times we showed, and we definitely look forward to the next one. Thanks to everyone at GMG for making this happen.”

For Colin Braun, a similar sentiment is shared.

“I think we showed a great amount of potential this weekend,” stated Braun. “I led the entirety of Sunday’s stint and I think that showed just how strong this GMG machine is, and with a little more time I think we could prove a really strong combination. It was great to be back in Pirelli World Challenge competition, and I thank Brent and everyone on the team for having me, it was great to show our potential.”

With only a few days between races, all attention now turns to next weekend’s ninth and 10th rounds of the GT-Cup series at Lime Rock Park, where Alec Udell will look to grow his championship lead. Official practice begins Friday, May 27, with Race One taking place that same day at 4:55PM ET. Race Two will take place 24 hours later at 4PM ET, with all races streamed live at world-challenge.com/streamvideo.

GMG to Bring Three Cars to Pirelli World Challenge Finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Date	September 11, 2015

Less than two weeks after Alec Udell’s most recent podium sweep during the penultimate weekend at Sonoma Raceway, Global Motorsports Group (GMG) will head to this weekend’s Pirelli World Challenge season finale with three cars in the series’ three premier categories. In addition to Alec Udell returning in the GT-Cup category, long-time team veteran Alex Welch will also return to the GTA ranks as well as team owner James Sofronas in the GT category.

“Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca feels very much like a home event for us,” stated James Sofronas. “With Monterey only being a few hours away, we always have several guests and friends on hand, and you couldn’t ask for a better venue than Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. It should be a strong event for us. Alec has been enjoying a spectacular second half of the season and we really want to finish on a high note. Having Alex Welch back is always welcome, and after driving a variety of machinery this summer, it will be nice to get him back in his Audi. It’s been a mixed season for me this year, especially with some nagging injuries, but I really want to end the Pirelli World Challenge season on a high.”

Returning to the team’s GT-Cup category, Alec Udell and the No. 17 Panther Pipeline / Euroworld Motorsport Porsche 911 GT Cup has been on a strong run during the second half of the season. Most recently at Sonoma, consistent driving led to the 19-year-old’s third win in as many race weekends, adding to a 2015 season where he’s been on the podium in 12 of 13 races in which he competed.

Heading to the scenic 2.2-mile, 11-turn circuit, Alec is optimistic on the season finale.

“We definitely want to end the season strong,” stated Udell. “Everyone at GMG and I have really found our rhythm recently, and headed to Monterey I think we’re all looking to continue the same pace. I’m pretty optimistic that we should run well, and there’s no doubt that I think we all want to carry a lot of momentum into the off season.”

Returning to the series’ GTA category, Colorado’s Alex Welch will return to the team in the No. 76 Torque Branding Audi R8 LMS ultra. It’s been a busy summer for the team veteran who has driven in a variety of machinery and categories including everything racing at the prestigious Le Mans circuit, to touring cars in Canada, to a number of additional events.

Looking to close out his season on a positive note, Alex is also excited about the opportunity to return to Monterey.

“It’s always great to return to everyone at GMG,” stated Welch. “James and crew always do an excellent job to make sure we’re taken care of and of course, the competition in the GTA category is always very tough. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a circuit like no other so we’re looking forward to pushing the Audi as hard as we can and see where we end up.”

Adorning Alex’s Audi will be Torque Branding, a specialty company providing powerful, forward-thinking, one-step-ahead branded items and programs for clients, employees, executives, and everyone in between. More information can be found at www.torquebranding.com.

“We are stoked to see the Torque Branding logo on the Audi R8 LMS ultra,” stated Mark Mullens, Principal of Torque Branding Ltd. “Partnering with Alex – a talented pro-am who shows a great deal of passion for his craft – is both an honor and a privilege as we work to turn our love for racing into a new line of Motorsports-inspired apparel set to debut in 2016. Our support of Alex and his career is an exciting new cog to add to the wheel of our ever-expanding work in the automotive branding and promotions industry.”

Finally, driving the No. 14 The Thermal Club / Mobil 1 / Spyder Audi R8 LMS ultra, James Sofronas will enter the event with an aim to show well for himself and Audi during the final event of the year. Sofronas, the first driver to win with the R8 in Pirelli World Challenge competition, has had a mixed season so far including a series of injuries forcing him to skip several rounds. Having sat out the most recent event in Sonoma as he looks after a recurring back injury, the Californian looks forward to getting back behind the wheel.

Practice begins this today, September 11, with the event only taking on a single race this Sunday, September 13, at 1:30PM ET. Live coverage can be found at world-challengetv.com.

Pirelli World Challenge