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Magnus Racing Heads to Road America in Tight Championship Fight

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (August 7, 2014)- With an incredibly tight TUDOR United SportsCar GTD Championship on the line, Magnus Racing heads to this weekend’s Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at the scenic Road America circuit in search of bolstering their title hopes.
 
“It’s an incredibly important weekend for us,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “We were able to escape catastrophe at Indianapolis in spite of the engine misfire, but we need to ensure strong finishes for the last stretch of the season. Everyone on the team has been preparing for this and I think we’re as ready as we can be.”
 
With only four races remaining in the season, this Sunday’s race at the historic course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin is critical for all championship contenders. With only 12 points separating the top four, every position will play a critical role in the team’s final tally with everyone on the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America checking every detail on the car in search of speed.
 
For Andy Lally, the pursuit of another title in his career is at a premium.
 
“This championship is incredibly close,” stated Lally, co-driver of the No. 44 machine. “This is arguably the most competitive GT championship I’ve ever been a part of and this team has come so close in the past that they want it bad. We’re all pushing, and hopefully Road America will suit us well.”
 
Featuring long straights and several high-speed corners, hopes are high that the four-mile circuit will play into the favors of the Porsche, but with such an incredibly competitive field everything remains to be seen.
 
Practice will begin Friday, August 8, with the race being broadcast on Fox Sports 1 on Sunday, August 10, at 6:30PM ET.


Magnus Racing Joins the Herd in Wisconsin Slaughter

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ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin (August 11, 2014)- Racing in a state famed for its dairy and meat industry, Magnus Racing enjoyed a good old-fashioned slaughter thanks to being taken out by a competitor during yesterday’s Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at the famed Road America. After spending over 30 minutes in the garage to repair a number of components, the team would still manage to see the finish, scoring 14th place points in their quest for the championship.
 
“Today was extremely disappointing,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “With a championship as close as this one, you can’t afford to give anything away, so to have a series newcomer run in to the back of me and create the ensuing chaos is a tough one to swallow. Two good cars were taken out as a result, and it’s not what we needed, but there is some solace knowing that the guys once again did a phenomenal job keeping us out there.”
 
Following significant progress with the car’s setup after a difficult past few races, the team’s strong practice and qualifying run would net the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America a fourth-row starting spot. With Potter taking the green flag, the first of what would be 90-minutes worth of caution periods would take place just a few laps in. After an extensive yellow period due to track clean up, Potter and much of the GTD field would find themselves starting from the back of a 50-car field when the next green flag fell. With the cramped nature of a full field fighting to take the green flag, the No. 35 Audi would misjudge the field in front of him as everyone slowed for the next corner, punting John from behind which would in turn send Potter in to the No. 45 Audi and No. 63 Ferrari, causing extensive damage to both the front and rear of the car. Doing his best to get the car turned around, Potter would navigate the track for several laps to evaluate the car, with the team eventually pitting once a yellow for debris (from their incident) was issued. Upon evaluation in the pits, the team elected to send the No. 44 back to the garage for further repairs. Additionally the No. 63 Ferrari, another innocent victim, was sent to the garage for similar problems.
 
Once in the garage, the notorious Magnus Racing crew did what they’re most known for, replacing countless parts and getting the car back on track in just over 30 minutes. With extensive damage to both the front and rear of the car, the team would replace everything including the front nose, front fenders, lights, splitter, several pieces on the rear, and so on.
 
In this process, however, the most critical piece of the equation was getting both drivers their required minimum drive time. By series’ rule in the GTD category, drivers must complete a minimum of one-hour on the track during the traditional two-hour, 45-minute events. With every minute in the garage or in the pits, time was being taken away from the driver’s ability to meet this requirement.
 
Luckily, the team’s stellar work would get Potter back out in time to meet his requirement, with the Utah resident pitting within enough time to give teammate Andy Lally his time as well.
 
Down by 15 laps and simply trying to run a safe race, Lally would drive without incident, crossing the finish line with 14th place points for both drivers.
 
“There’s not much to say about today, it’s just one of those deals,” stated Lally. “Everyone says they have the best crew in the business, but our guys prove it time and time again. This was a big blow in the championship, but at least we were able to get some points and hopefully that shows up in the end.”
 
With the busy summer season still under way, Magnus Racing and several classes of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship will return to action in less than two weeks’ time at Virginia International Raceway. With the GTLM and GTD classes competing in the season’s lone GT-only event, the event promises to be an exciting one. Practice begins on Saturday, August 23, with race coverage on Sunday, August 24 at 4PM ET on FOX Sports 1.

Magnus Racing Return to VIR in Search of Redemption

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (August 22, 2014)- When Magnus Racing last competed at Virginia International Raceway as part of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series in 2011, the fledgling team came in to VIR with something to prove. Up to that point in their history, the team had only one podium to its name, having earned third at Homestead-Miami Speedway just a few months earlier. With the long straights and tricky corners of VIR keeping the field pretty even, a series of rain showers in 2011 would put a premium on strategy and driving as the track dried. With the laps counting down, Magnus Racing found themselves within grasp of the checkered flag in a solid second place until the skies opened up and the car would end up spinning in to the barriers in the wet conditions. The team would drop down the order in to a 15th place finish.
 
“Our memories of the last visit to VIR are tough ones,” stated team owner and co-driver John Potter. “We had a lot to prove in 2011, and we were poised to have one of our biggest breakthrough events. In an instant it went away, and is very reflective of how those first two seasons went as a whole. We had all the potential in the world, but things kept happening to keep us out of contention.”
 
Since that race, times have changed. Between taking their first victory the following year at The Rolex 24 at Daytona, taking the inaugural Brickyard Grand Prix and North American Endurance Championship, or even the most recent Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the team became the only Porsche entrant in the Rolex Series to take victory from 2012 on, and is the only Porsche team in the GTD class to have won in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship
 
“This team is just incredible to work with,” stated co-driver Andy Lally. “I’ve been fortunate to work with a number of great teams over the years, and the heart and soul that everyone at Magnus puts in to it simply amazing. Not only do they do an excellent job on the track, but they’ve managed to combine it with a fun and refreshing approach that you rarely see, easily making it the most fun group I’ve ever been a part of.”
 
 
In the throws of a difficult championship fight, Magnus remains a quiet contender with only three races remaining, just a few points out of the lead in a very hotly contested fight among the top-six.
 
With this weekend’s first-ever GT only race for the TUDOR Championship, Magnus Racing and the entire GTD field will share the track with the faster GTLM category, setting up for what should be an interesting event.
 
Television coverage begins this Sunday, August 22 at 4PM ET on Fox Sports 1.

Magnus Racing Takes Sixth in VIR Return

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ALTON, Virginia (August 25, 2014)- Taking part in the first-ever GT only race for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Magnus Racing used a combination of strategy and patience to take sixth place during Sunday’s Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR, the ninth round of the GT Daytona (GTD) category.
 
“It was a good change of fortune for us given our last few races,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “We’re happiest when we can walk away with trophies, but we’re definitely closer to where want to be and in great shape for the final two rounds.”
 
After several strong showings in practice, the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America would qualify seventh for Sunday’s round, with the team’s race-long pace looking strong for the event.
 
Unfortunately, the day turned for the team before the race even began, as John Potter’s opening stint was marred by an electrical issue that forced him to start from the back of the field. Regardless, the Salt Lake City resident did his usual steady drive of coming up from the back, demonstrating both pace and patience as he moved up several spots during the opening hour, threatening for the top-10 as the laps continued. Adding to the challenge, the team owner was under pressure to save fuel throughout his stint while maintaining lap times in order to ensure he had enough fuel to make his minimum drive-time of one hour.
 
As the one-hour mark came and the team began to run short on fuel, a timely yellow would allow Potter to close in on the field in front of him before the first round of stops. Unfortunately, under yellow flag conditions the field is not allowed to pit until the series declares the pits open for each category, which meant the No. 44 would likely not be able to make it with the fuel that remained. As a result, the team pit for an “emergency” stop in a closed pit, which is allowed so long as it’s just for a few seconds of fuel. Following a successful emergency stop, and then followed by the “real” stop for a driver change, as well as tires and fuel fill two laps later, Andy Lally now found himself looking strong to hunt down the field in front of him.
 
Unfortunately, a bit of confusion between the series and the team would lead to a stop-and-go penalty for Lally as the field went to green, meaning he would resume racing several seconds down.
 
Doing his best to catch the field in front of him, attrition and outright speed would advance Andy to eighth as the race went on.
 
The final key moment of the race would come with one-hour and ten minutes remaining, when yet another caution would come out and place a crucial decision on each team’s strategist. With the field bunched under yellow, the caution period presented a perfect time for all teams to make their final pit stops, however in doing so the teams would be running very tight on fuel to make it to the end of the race. On one hand, if the team stopped there would be a chance they may have to make another stop versus the teams who stayed out and pitted later. On the other hand, if the team played their fuel mileage well, they would manage to advance over anyone who chose to pit later.
 
Opting to make the stop, Lally came out of the pits aware of the situation, and would spend much of the final hour saving fuel. As the race wore on and several cars would stop in front of him, the team’s calculations showed that they would likely be in a good position to make it to the end, and based on the pace of the field in front of them, many cars in front likely would not.
 
As a result, the team looked strong to advance several spots in the closing laps, however it was all for not as a late race caution would ensure everyone could go the distance. Once the racing resumed, Lally would hold station to finish sixth. This would serve as yet another top-10 on the season, and hopefully change the momentum heading into the final two rounds.
 
“Everyone put everything they had into this race,” stated Andy Lally. “We would have liked to have finished higher, but with some of the early problems we had it was a good result, and sets us up well for the final two races.”
 
Concluding a busy summer season for the whole of the series, the events will continue in four weeks’ time at the Lone Star LeMans, a dual event with the World Endurance Championship taking place at the prestigious Circuit of the Americas. Practice will begin on Thursday, September 18, with race coverage on FOX Sports 1 on Saturday, September 20.

Magnus Racing Applauds IMSA and COTA for Spaceballs Reference

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (September 17, 2014)- With only two rounds remaining in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Magnus Racing will head to this weekend’s Lone Star Le Mans with one thing in mind, the movie Spaceballs.
 
“It is awesome that they named this weekend’s race after the main character of Spaceballs,” stated team owner and co-driver John Potter. “It’s clear that the organizers at Circuit of The Americas are big Mel Brooks fans, but they probably didn’t want to name it after Blazing Saddles because it was too obvious.”
 
Lone Starr, the main character of the 1987 Mel Brooks classic, is a very fitting tribute to this weekend’s event. Not only was he played by Bill Pullman, who is relevant in any context, but the character spent the majority of his time dealing with a whiny princess, sort of like the IMSA paddock.
 
Beyond Spaceballs, the team looks forward to a promising weekend ahead. Having recently conducted a two-day test where they were able to work on such elements as a new exhaust, active suspension, and even turbo kit, the team feels as prepared as ever.
 
Having narrowly missed victory during last year’s event, drivers John Potter and Andy Lally are looking for a return to victory lane in the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America.
 
“We had a productive test and feel very good about these final two rounds,” continued Potter. “Everyone on the team has put a lot of effort into getting everything out of the car, and with the recent BoP changes we’re optimistic. Circuit of The Americas is a fantastic facility and last year we came so close that we really want redemption this year.”
 
For co-driver Andy Lally, a similar sentiment is shared.
 
“We found a few things last week and that should suit us well going forward,” stated Lally. “There have been a ton of BoP changes across the board, so it should be interesting to see how everything shakes out on Saturday. I’m excited and definitely feel this could be one of our best chances.”
 
Sharing the weekend with the prestigious World Endurance Championship (WEC), practice for this weekend’s Lone Star Le Mans will begin tomorrow afternoon, with live race coverage this Saturday, September 20, at 12:30 PM ET on FOX Sports 2.

Teamwork Prevails Again for Magnus Racing in Texas

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AUSTIN, Texas (September 22, 2014)- After an unusually quiet summer season for Magnus Racing’s 2014 campaign, a strong second place would highlight the team’s return to form during Saturday’s Lone Star Le Mans, the penultimate round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.
 
“It felt great to be back to our old ways,” stated team owner and co-driver John Potter. “The summer has been difficult for everyone, and it feels fantastic to finally walk away with not only a podium, but a podium that was a combination of everyone on the team. We’ve all been scratching our heads and working really hard to get here, and in many ways this feels like a win for us.”
 
On the heels of a series of tests during the recent break, the strength of the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America was evident following the week’s practice and qualifying sessions. Repeatedly setting times in the top-five, the team quietly knew they were in contention for Saturday’s round.
 
Starting from the seventh position in the race, John Potter would take opening duties during the day’s two-hour, forty-five minute race. While Potter is known for driving calculated and patient stints, the Utah resident’s outright pace was particularly strong, setting a series of fast laps and maintaining position throughout the majority of his run. When an opportune caution period would come out just under the one-hour mark, Potter was able to bring his car in for full service and a driver change, walking away knowing he’d completed one of his best drives to date.
 
With teammate Andy Lally behind the wheel, all attention was turned to getting the team in podium contention. Making immediate work of the field in front of him, Lally converted his seventh place position to fifth as his stint wore on, and even turned the fastest lap of the race on Lap 29. As the laps wore on, the team would elect to make their last stop with just under one hour to go.
 
While Magnus Racing is known for their quick pit work, Saturday’s stops were a true testament to the team’s reputation for quality. As the stops cycled through the field, the team once again advanced several positions, the only cars in front of them being the race leader and two other marques who seem to have a quicker process for filling fuel, which is something out of the team’s control.
 
When an incident involving the race leader would occur, Lally found himself in third, gaining ground on the second-place BMW and knowing he had a car capable of winning. Following a spirited duel for second, the Magnus Porsche would gain the position with just 20 minutes remaining, with all focus now on the leader.
 
Unfortunately, the Georgia resident simply ran out of time to catch the race-winning Viper GT3-R, settling for second in front of an elated crew.
 
Sharing a sentiment similar to his teammate, Lally was very enthusiastic following the event.
 
“This really does feel like a win for us,” stated Lally. “Everyone on Magnus has been working so hard to get this program turned around, and this was a sweet reward. This one was for the guys. Petit Le Mans is right around the corner and I couldn’t be more excited, I think we have a great package.”
 
With practice beginning in just over one week for the final round of the year, the famed Petit Le Mans at the Road Atlanta circuit, the team is hard at work to get prepared. Official practice begins on Thursday, October 2, with the race beginning at 11:00 AM ET on Saturday, October 4.

Marco Seefried Returns to Magnus for Season Finale

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (September 29, 2014)- Following an impressive debut for the team in which they took victory at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Marco Seefried will once again return to Magnus Racing for this weekend’s season-ending Petit Le Mans.
 
“It’s great to have Marco back for Petit,” stated team owner and co-driver John Potter. “He’s such a great fit with our team, and did everything we asked of him in Sebring. Overall, we’re feeling very strong for the event. We had a successful test at Road Atlanta a few weeks ago, and it would be great for both the team and Porsche to end the year on a high.”
 
Seefried, hailing from Germany, will be competing in his first ever 10-hour classic. Beyond his victory with Magnus, the 38-year-old is a veteran of sports car competition around the world. In addition to previous U.S. events in the former American Le Mans Series, Marco has extensive experience in international series such as the Blancpain Endurance Series, VLN, GT Masters, and Porsche Carrera Cup.
 
“It’s great to be back with Magnus Racing,” stated Seefried. “The team is incredibly professional, but a lot of fun at the same time. Sebring was an incredibly exciting event, and a big honor to be part of the victory. I am thankful to John Potter, Flex-Box, and everyone on the team for welcoming me back, and I’m confident we’ll have a great race.”
 
As the final round of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, the debut season for the series, Magnus Racing looks to put a strong stamp on their year. Following a difficult summer season, the team recently showed renewed form at the most recent round in Texas, where the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America set the fastest race lap en route to a second place finish.
 
The team’s renewed form is also directly related to a series of tests conducted three weeks ago at Road Atlanta, the very circuit they will be returning to.
 
Living just a few minutes from the circuit, former Petit Le Mans winner Andy Lally also looks to end the season on a high.
 
“It’s always exciting to return to Petit Le Mans,” stated Lally. “Beyond being my home track ever since I moved to Georgia a decade ago, it’s also just an excellent track to drive. We had a great test there recently, and everyone on this team is focused on winning. Even if we’ve had our challenges this season, I’m proud to be a part of an organization that has stayed positive through it all, and I know we’re all expecting good things this weekend.”
 
Practice for Saturday’s event begins Thursday, October 2, with Saturday’s 10-hour race taking place at 11:15 AM ET. Live coverage for the event will begin on IMSA.com at 11:00 AM ET, with FOX Sports 2 taking the race on at 3:00 PM ET. Additionally, Sunday will carry a highlighted re-broadcast on FOX, airing at 8:00 AM ET.

FULL REPORT: Magnus Racing Closes Season with Another Podium at Petit Le Mans

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BRASELTON, Georgia (October 6, 2014)- Following yet another wild endurance race in the inaugural TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Magnus Racing withstood a chaotic event to take third-place honors during Saturday’s Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda. This would serve as the team’s fifth podium for the year, shoring up fifth in both the GT-Daytona (GTD) category Team and Driver’s championships.
 
“It’s great to close the season with another podium,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “To have had such an up and down season, we came here wanting to build momentum into the off-season and I think we’ve done that. It’s actually bittersweet as we might have even finished higher if things had shaken out differently at the end, but any time we can come home with a trophy it’s still satisfying.”
 
Starting from the ninth position, John Potter would take opening duties for the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America. Having recently tested at the circuit just weeks earlier, the Utah resident came in with a renewed confidence, and as the race unfolded, it showed. Setting times on par with the lead pack, Potter maintained a healthy gap to the top group of cars, all without putting a foot wrong.
 
When a timely yellow would come out for pit stops, the team elected to keep Potter in the car for a double stint on the foundation of his strong showing. Running a second stint even better than the first, Potter continued to run lap times that maintained with the lead pack, so much so that when the time came for yet another pit stop, the team elected to keep John in for a third stint.
 
Running yet again with the same consistency as the first two rounds, John kept the car clean and continued his faultless run eventually making his third stop under an ideal caution period, handing the car over to teammate Marco Seefried having completed his minimum drive time before the three-hour mark had arrived.
 
“I’m admittedly very proud of that stint,” stated Potter. “I think this may have been my first triple stint, and it felt great. The car was easy to drive and the team did an excellent job of keeping me informed and on top of the race, and I think it showed.”
 
With team returnee Marco Seefried back in the car, all focus now turned to moving to the front. Seefried, who last drove with Magnus during their victory at this year’s 12 Hours of Sebring, was instantly on pace in the Porsche. Knowing that his job would be to drive a series of fast stints and back-and-forth runs with teammate Andy Lally, the German made immediate work of the field in front of him. As the various driver rotations worked their way through the competitors, the No. 44 threatened for the top five with the team confident that they’d further advance with Seefried and Lally doing the remaining hours.
 
After a clean first stint, the team elected to keep Marco in for a second getting the team close to the halfway point before Andy Lally had even taken the wheel.
 
As the stint progressed, an extended series of yellows would draw the race on further and further with track conditions changing, and equally important the “build-up” of tire rubber on the outer portions of the racing surface increasing. Unfortunately for Seefried, this would get the better of him during the later portions of his stint. Cresting the hill on the way to the treacherous Turn 12, a rare mistake would put the car in the thick of this off-line debris, and as the car lightened over the hill, Seefried was sent spinning on the approach to the corner with Marco doing a great job to get turned around and recover quickly. No substantial damage was done to the car.
 
With his tires now sufficiently worn, the team would bring Seefried to the pits in favor of Lally who was getting his first taste of the machinery near the halfway point. Having dropped down the order as a result of Seefried’s spin and pit stop, the Georgia resident would have the difficult task of trying to re-advance as quickly as he could, with the team knowing a strong middle stint would create better options for them as they started considering race-ending strategy.
 
Once Lally found his rhythm, it was business as usual and the march up field once again continued. Steadily gaining ground, by the halfway point the team once again looked set for a top five, and by the time Lally’s first pit stop would come the team was in contention for a top three.
 
With Lally now in his second stint, all focus shifted on a podium and possible win until once again disaster struck. With the No. 44 running some of its best times yet, the left front tire had a surprise blowout through the back straightaway with Lally immediately slowing to preserve his car but also trying to minimize the time lost. Limping his way back to the pits, the positions gained during his opening stint were all for not as by the time the team was able to make their full-service stop, they were now a lap down.
 
With a caution period following shortly after, clever strategy by the team would put them back on the lead lap, although at the tail end and with four hours to climb back.
 
Marching back through the field yet again, Lally had the car poised for a top five by the time his stint would come to an end, handing the car back to Seefried just past the six-hour mark.
 
It was in this pit stop that the team would once again suffer another setback, this time in the form of their radio. In the process of the driver change between Lally and Seefried, the mechanism that holds the driver’s in-car radio was damaged, meaning the drivers could hear the radio commands of the team but could not speak back.
 
With Seefried behind the wheel, the team would spend the majority of his stint trying to diagnose the problem, and with three hours to go they would examine the issue once an opportune caution came to perform a scheduled pit stop. Determining there was nothing they could do to fix the problem in time, the team simply had to manage the situation from there on out.
 
Completing a strong double stint, Seefried was up to fourth with just under two hours to go when the car was handed over to Lally for the final time.
 
Climbing to third, Andy would drive in a spirited battle with the No. 23 Porsche of Mario Farnbacher with just over an hour remaining, successfully holding him off and eventually forcing the German into a mistake.
 
With the team electing to bring the No. 44 in for its final stop with just 50 minutes remaining, a perfect stop would mean clear sailing for Andy who would go to the checkered flag without the ability to speak back to his team.
 
As pit stops cycled through, the No. 44 was in a strong third and as the laps continued, it looked likely to stay that way. However, with 15 minutes to go, a heavy incident would bring out the race’s final caution and once again bunch the field up for a sprint to the finish with six minutes remaining.
 
Once the green flag fell, Lally was unfortunately pushed wide through the tricky Turn One by some optimistic traffic, being forced to high-side the curbing and falling to fourth in the process.
 
Doing his best to hold position through the final two laps, the team was resigned to a fourth-place finish until a surprise last lap incident with the No. 23 Porsche would advance Lally up to third, taking back the podium position a mere three turns from the finish.
 
An ecstatic team would celebrate, resulting in their second podium at Petit Le Mans, fifth podium during this year’s 11-race season, as well as securing fifth in the Team Championship and for John Potter in the Driver’s rankings. It would also seal Magnus as the only GTD team to win for Porsche in the inaugural 2014 season.
 
“What a crazy race,” stated Lally. “I couldn’t talk to anyone during those last few hours, and that made it tough. I like to know everything that’s going on around me when we get in a situation like that, so driving blind is extremely tense, but I’m glad we were able to pull it off. Everyone on this Magnus crew deserves such high praise for their efforts, and I’m happy we could deliver this today. We were the only Porsche team to win all year, and fifth in the championship for the team and John is not a bad way to go, so we should all enjoy this.”
 
Echoing the sentiments, Marco Seefried has enjoyed a 2014 season in which he has had a 100% podium success rate. At the Rolex 24, driving for another team, he was third, followed by his victory at Sebring with Magnus and now Petit Le Mans.
 
“I can’t believe that finish,” stated the German. “It’s such a great feeling and everyone on Magnus deserves this. They’re such a fun and talented team that you can see why they have as much success as they do, and I’m glad that I could be a part of it. It’s great to go home with yet another trophy, what an incredible season.”
 
With the 2014 season now over, the team will turn their attentions to a number of matters in the off-season. With no firm announcements in place, stay tuned for several upcoming developments concerning the team.


Magnus Racing Takes Top Honors in Fan Vote, Children’s Tumor Foundation Reaps Rewards

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (October 15, 2014)- Following a six-day voting session designed entirely for the fans of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Magnus Racing has been voted as the fan favorite for the inaugural Microsoft Visual Studio “Team to Win” Grand Prize. In honor of the award, team owner John Potter will be donating $10,000 to a long-time associate of the team, the Children’s Tumor Foundation and their Racing4Research™ program.
 
“It means a lot to be voted as the favorite team by the fans,” stated team owner John Potter. “Our priority is of course on winning races and championships, but we put a lot of effort and commitment toward our unique brand, especially delivering something different for our fans, and it’s great to know it’s recognized. The ‘Magnus Militia’ is unlike anything out there, and I’m proud to see this kind of response. We couldn’t be happier to turn around and donate to the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Our partnership with CTF dates back to our victory at Daytona in 2012, and one that we’ve always been very happy to be associated with. The Foundation does great work raising awareness and donations for research toward helping children suffering from NF, and I’m more than happy to represent our fans by donating.”
 
With the contest featuring eleven teams who’d won their respective fan votes following each individual round of the TUDOR Championship, this week’s grand prize vote was a chance for fans to unite behind their favorite team. Facing stiff competition against such prodigious names as Corvette Racing, Dempsey Racing and many others, a weekend surge of support elevated Magnus Racing to the top of the standings, a lead that was never relinquished.
 
In addition to the loyal Magnus fans, the tremendous support of the Children’s Tumor Foundation also proved pivotal. With a network of families, donors, and supporters worldwide, the continued effort to raise awareness and donations for those suffering from neurofibromatosis is unparalleled.
 
Neurofibromatosis – known simply as NF – is a common yet under-recognized genetic disorder that can cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. NF affects one in every 3,000 people, more than cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and Huntington’s disease combined. The Children’s Tumor Foundation actively supports research into treatments and a cure for NF by bringing academics, scientists, clinicians, and companies together to work in collaboration towards an end to neurofibromatosis.
 
Developed by the Children’s Tumor Founda

Magnus Racing Signs New Driver for 2040

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John Magnus Potter, Jr. Signed for Team’s Development Program


SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (October 25, 2014)- While the team is always hard at work to ensure the future competitiveness of the program, Magnus Racing has signed newcomer John Magnus Potter, Jr. to an exclusive new development program, headed up by team principal John Potter and his wife, Emily.
 
Born on Friday, October 24 and weighing six pounds, 13 ounces, “Jack” Potter has already impressed his parents, err "team management," by being on time.
 
“When I look at Jack, I can see he comes from greatness,” stated Potter. “It’s important that our team always looks to the future, and having a driver who was not only on time, but also cries less than Andy Lally is a fantastic statement about our little guy. Emily is also doing very well and we’re very excited for the future of our family.”
 
Going by the nickname “Jack,” both baby and mother are in great health, and resting comfortably in their Salt Lake City home.
 
They should enjoy it now, they won’t be resting much longer.

5+5: 10 Moments that Shaped Magnus Racing’s 2014 Season

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As one of 29 teams in the GT Daytona (GTD) category to arrive in Florida this January for the debut of the all-new TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Magnus Racing can look back fondly at a season that featured a number of highs, lows, and everything in between.
 
Following two incredible final years in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series in which the team took three victories, including at the 50th running of the Rolex 24 and the inaugural Brickyard Grand Prix, the team entered 2014 as a championship contender. During the previous two seasons, the team took the title in the inaugural North American Endurance Championship, followed one year later by a runner-up ranking in the Rolex Series, creating high expectations for this year’s revamped category.

While the team would enjoy a number of highlights, including five podiums and an incredible victory at the historic 12 Hours of Sebring, a series of incidents combined with off-form weekends would set the inaugural championship out of reach, with the team ultimately finishing fifth in both Team and Driver categories. One significant highlight, however, is the team’s No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America holding the distinction of being the lone Porsche to take victory in its respective category, a tradition that has carried since the 2012 Rolex season.
 
Additionally, the team was voted by the fans as the “Team to Win” at the end of the year, a Microsoft-sponsored competition in which motorsports fans around the world were encouraged to vote for their favorite team, with Magnus taking top honors against such names as Corvette and Dempsey Racing.
 
“We certainly had our struggles in 2014, but we ended the year on a high,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and driver John Potter. “Winning Sebring was huge, and set us on a good bit of momentum in to the spring, but unfortunately we had our struggles during the summer. That set us up for an incredible rebound during the fall, however, and we ended the season on a high which was incredible. It was a great tribute to the crew who put in an amazing effort to get to the bottom of our struggles, and ultimately we could walk away satisfied.”
 
Continuing the team’s annual tradition of pinpointing the most defining moments of the season, below are the five incidents the team could have done without, and the five highlights that made for an incredible year.
 
FIVE MOMENTS WE COULD HAVE DONE WITHOUT:
 
5. An Indy Misfire. Following a couple of off-song performances at Detroit and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Magnus came into the famed Brickyard Grand Prix in search of a turnaround in form. Having visited the podium in the two previous visits, and knowing that their championship was in need of a bump, the final 90 minutes of the race halted any hope of momentum. The usually bulletproof Porsche engine developed a strange misfire as Andy Lally’s stint progressed., and the team was helpless to do anything to cure it. While the car was able to continue, the souring pace was amiss with the lead pack, eventually falling back to 12th and further behind in series standings.

 

4. Daytona Goes Down the Splitter. The known Achilles heel of the Porsche, the very fragile front splitter that helps maintain aerodynamic downforce to the front of the car, has long been a problem at the storied Daytona International Speedway. Preventing the team from possible victory in 2013, the issue once again appeared during the 2014 Daytona 24, with the team needing to replace the splitter several times, through no fault of the drivers. The issue was such a prevalent factor for all Porsche teams that there were no spares left during the closing hours of the race, with the team having no choice but to limp home with a damaged car for hours, eventually finishing 12th, the worst finish at Daytona in team history.

 
3. Canada Remains Green. While “green” racing is very sought after these days, it didn’t help Magnus at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The traditionally caution-filled race was anything but, which provided a trying day for the team. Struggling to find the pace of the lead cars, the team turned their focus to one of their core strengths, pit strategy. Unfortunately with no caution flags to encourage alternative pit stop decisions, the team simply ran their pace to ninth.

2. Butchered in Wisconsin. If the Championship wasn’t out of reach before the eighth round of the championship at Road America, it certainly was after. With the team showing a few moments of speed in practice and possible renewed form, a race restart would ruin the day for the Magnus team. With John Potter showing strong, a rookie driver behind him failed to properly understand the “accordion” effect during a restart and clocked the No. 44 in the rear, causing Potter to not only run in to the cars in front of him, but created substantial damage to his Porsche in the process. The crew would do a remarkable job to get the car turned around and back on track, but the time spent in the garage would send the car down 15 laps and in 14th place. Critically important, Andy Lally also failed to get his minimum drive time in the car, meaning he would score zero points on the day and was effectively eliminated from the championship.
 
1. Detroit. Everything. It’s tough to define one moment about Detroit that we could have done without because the whole weekend was a disaster. Qualifying last, an incredible amount of confusion on a yellow flag procedure, all topped off by a late-race mechanical black flag… it was forgettable in every way.

 
 

FIVE MOMENTS THAT MADE THE SEASON AWESOME:


5. Lally Goes Twice in Monterey. Quickly. So often races can be won by fuel mileage, but Andy Lally and the team proved sometimes the opposite is true. With the shortened format of the series’ third round at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, combined with a timely yellow pushing some teams to try and run the event in one stop, the team decided to try the opposite with one hour to go. Pitting Lally for fresh rubber and plenty of fuel to go the distance, the Georgia resident had a sprint ahead of him. Whereas the leading competitors would spend their time running conservative, Lally drove flat out for the entirety of his final stint, climbing to fourth by the white flag and eventually taking third when the leader ran out of gas. It would serve as the team’s third straight podium at Laguna Seca and put the team in the thick of the championship chase.

4. Testing Positive in Atlanta. Often times it’s not the race that generates the result, but the time leading up to it, a reality never proven more true than during an early fall test at Road Atlanta. Following a disappointing, and busy, summer season the crew of our small team gave up any hopes of time off to make the hike down to Atlanta to get a handle on their performance woes. With the following two rounds at Circuit of The Americas and Road Atlanta netting podiums on both occasions, the effort clearly paid off.
 
3. Preparation for 12 Hours. While issues with the splitter put the proverbial nail-in-the-coffin for any hopes of a good performance at Daytona, one underlying issue also presented itself during the race and pre-season tests: the Porsche’s shift mechanism. With the 911 GT America being an all-new car and for the first time including a paddle shift mechanism, the process in which the system that changed gears had a few nagging issues. Unable to diagnose the specifics of the problem, the team instead turned their attention to being able to replace the key components in a timely fashion should it occur again, and this paid dividends at Sebring. When Andy Lally encountered the problem early in the race, the team was ready, and in under 90 seconds they were able to switch out the ailing system, preserving the team’s contention… and ultimately contributing to their historic win.

2. Potter Goes Three Times in Atlanta. One critical component of the GTD category rules was the ever-present minimum drive time. Designed to enforce each entry as a team effort, a driver who wants to score points is required to compete for a defined amount of time at each race (specific to the race length), which in the case of the season-ending Petit Le Mans was two hours and forty-five minutes. This effectively meant a triple stint if the team wanted Potter to start the race and not get back in, thereby eliminating the need for a costly driver change. However, with many teams electing to put their veteran drivers in early, Potter attempting a triple stint ran the risk of losing a lot of ground to the more experienced leaders. You would have never known this, however, as John drove a masterful series of stints, maintaining a pace with the lead pack through the entirety of his run, and when he pitted for the final time he was right with the lead pack. This opened the door for the more experienced Marco Seefried and Andy Lally to drive the remaining seven hours, meanwhile the cars in front still had to rotate their lesser experienced drivers through… ultimately playing a big role in the team’s fifth podium of the season.
 
1. A Quick Call Wins Sebring. There’s an old adage that the “first team to make the last stop wins,” and that proved true at Sebring. With Andy Lally running among the leaders but struggling to get to the front, a slowing car on the track caused the Magnus crew to call in the No. 44 for the final stop with 45-minutes to go. This proved a critical move as the other cars stayed out, and when a yellow flag would eventually come about the Magnus Porsche found itself in the lead with 30 minutes to go. Lally would take the job on from there, defending his position well and crossing the finish line in first, and ultimately the lone Porsche GTD-category victory in 2014.

With the season now behind, all attention is now focused on the next venture for 2015. While the team has yet to announce any firm plans on the specifics of the program, rest assured the team will be back in action and ready for a new series of highlights by this time next year.

Magnus Racing Confirms 2015 Return to TUDOR Championship and Porsche

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (November 26, 2014)- In what can only be described as the shock announcement of the century, Magnus Racing will continue its full-season participation in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, once again returning to the GT Daytona (GTD) category in a Porsche 911 GT America.
 
“We know it’s going to shock everyone, but we’re going to run the exact same program,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “We’re actually very excited about it. Everyone at IMSA and the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship has hopefully learned a lot from their debut season, and that will only help the coming year. This will be the final year of our category in its current form and we’re excited to see it out with Porsche and the GT America, which was developed specifically for this platform. Ever since Magnus was formed in 2010, it has been an exclusively Porsche team, and we’re proud of that affiliation.”
 
Following a 2014 season in which the team took victory at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the lone GTD win for a Porsche entry, Magnus enjoyed a very successful year that saw five podiums in eleven races en route to fifth place in both Team and Driver’s Championships.
 
An exclusively Porsche team since their debut at Daytona in 2010, Magnus and Porsche have seen a number of accolades together, including victories at Daytona and Sebring, the inaugural Brickyard Grand Prix, and taking the first-ever North American Endurance Championship in 2012.
 
“Magnus Racing has been a prominent Porsche Motorsport customer team for the past five years and has a long list of race wins and championships in both IMSA and GRAND-AM. Perhaps their greatest accomplishment, however, is their successful GT Daytona season this year when their class win at Sebring and four additional podium finishes were instrumental in helping Porsche earn the class manufacturer’s title.  This team, with car owner John Potter and GT veteran Andy Lally, has become known for its ‘never give up’ attitude, often moving up multiple places during the race for a win or podium finish.  We are honored that they have chosen to continue racing with our Porsche family,” said Jens Walther, president and CEO of Porsche Motorsport North America.
 
Included in the program will be the return of Andy Lally to the driver pairing. Lally, who joined the team in 2012, currently holds four different Rolex 24 class victories along with three different titles in the former GRAND-AM series.
 
The 2014 season proved a success for the Georgia resident, taking not only his first victory at Sebring, but also adding more victories to his tally in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, as well as earning a top-10 finish in his lone NASCAR race of the season at Road America. Playing a role in all of Magnus Racing’s victories, Lally will continue a lead role in the team.
 
“It’s such an honor to continue with Magnus Racing,” stated Lally. “I’m extremely fortunate to have had the career I’ve had, and entering a fourth year with the team will only better our chances. The chemistry and dynamic within our group is unlike any other, and they prove that week in and week out. It’s going to be a tough season ahead of us, but I’m confident we can compete and we’re all hungry for a championship.”
 
With Potter and Lally confirmed for the season, the team’s additional driver lineups for the endurance rounds has yet to be confirmed and announcements are planned closer to the events.
 
While the series has enjoyed over six weeks of “off time” since the last round at Petit Le Mans, Magnus is still hard at work preparing for the upcoming season. There will be continued announcements over the coming weeks as the team locks down further details.

Flex-Box, Magnus Continue Partnership in 2015

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (December 23, 2014)- Continuing a relationship that originally began in 2011, Magnus Racing and Flex-Box will once again join forces for the 2015 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.
 
“It’s great to have Flex-Box return with us for the 2015 season,” stated Magnus Racing team owner John Potter. “Their logo is unmistakable on our cars, and over the years they’ve become a staple of the Magnus brand, so it’s great to see that continue. Since our first race together four years ago, we’ve seen the relationship continue to grow and I’m confident 2015 will be one of our best seasons yet. It’s also a great vote of confidence for our way of doing business. Magnus is a team that combines professionalism with a fun and familial atmosphere, and I think this resonates with the many Flex-Box guests who visit us over the year.”
 
Flex-Box, based out of Hong Kong, is a leading worldwide supplier of new and used shipping, storage, and reefer containers. The company manufactures and ships to customers all over the world, keeping a year-round inventory of containers in China, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and North America.

 
The organization has a long history with Magnus Racing starting at the 59th Mobil1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in 2011, and continuing at select events in 2012 followed by the entirety of the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Using the paddock as a means of VIP and guest entertainment, the Magnus Racing staff has hosted multitudes of Flex-Box guests to provide an intimate, comprehensive experience during a race weekend.
 
“Magnus has done an excellent job over the years in handling our guests, and we’re happy to return.” stated Henrik Nielsen, Managing Director of Flex-Box. “John Potter and everyone at Magnus Racing have always gone above and beyond to insure that everyone has a great experience, and I look forward to continuing that into 2015. We’ve enjoyed being in victory lane together, and this year we hope to join them in the fight for the championship.”
 
The familiar logo will return beginning with the upcoming Roar Before the 24 on January 9-11 that will kick off the second season of the TUDOR Championship.

Magnus Racing Disappointed in BoP Adjustment for Reindeer Power

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (December 25, 2015)- Citing concerns over a lack of homologation efforts for the North Pole-produced “Santa” GT Sleigh.R, Magnus Racing is left with no choice but to make their grievances public over the lack of Balance-of-Performance adjustments issued by series officials of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.
 
“It’s clear with the latest BoP adjustments that the series has pre-determined who they want to succeed,” stated Magnus Racing team owner John Potter. “We understand that Santa Claus has quite a few toys to deliver, but he still has to play by the same rules that we all do.”
 
With a rumored entry coming from driver/owner Saint Nicholas, originally hailing from the Greek village Patara and now currently residing near the North Pole, the team has repeatedly requested clarification on where this vehicle will fit in the series’ structure. Despite efforts to balance a number of manufacturers all competing in the same space, including marques such as Porsche, Ferrari, and Audi, the latest round of performance changes have completely neglected the symbolic Northern European brand.
 
Running a sleigh that has yet to go through any wind tunnel tests, and a team of reindeer who have reportedly never been run on a dyno, the series continues to avoid any sort of performance measures on the vehicle.
 
“It’s completely unacceptable the way IMSA has behaved,” continued Potter. “We don’t even know how reindeerpower compares to horsepower, but the series seems uninterested in returning our calls… and don’t even get me started on aerodynamics. With a good tow, we’ll barely get above 170 at Daytona, yet this guy can get up to 1,800 miles per second. It’s just frustrating, they clearly want a new European manufacturer in the series and will do anything to make it happen, it’s unfair to the current teams.”
 
Knowing that officials would be unwilling to take their own initiative, Magnus team members took it upon themselves to submit large amounts of video evidence.
 
“We specifically handed (race director) Beaux Barfield hours of video proving our point,” stated Potter. “We showed him Miracle on 34th Street, the Santa Clause, Christmas with the Kranks, and even Ernest Saves  Christmas, but all he had to tell us was they won’t accept any outside footage… especially featuring Tim Allen.”
 
Despite the team’s failed efforts, they still applaud everyone within IMSA, as well as IMSA’s teams and fans, for a successful 2014 and continued health headed in to the New Year.

Magnus Racing Confirms Rolex 24 Lineup

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (January 14, 2015)- Following a successful three-day test at the annual Roar Before the 24, Magnus Racing has confirmed that next weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona will involve not only full-season drivers John Potter and Andy Lally, but also Porsche veterans Marco Seefried and Martin Ragginger. Competing in the team’s 24-hour event, the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America will once again take part in the GT-Daytona (GTD) category of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.
 
“I’m very confident about our lineup headed into the 24,” stated team principal and co-driver John Potter. “Marco has become a staple of the Magnus organization over the last 12 months and Martin is a proven veteran who will mix in really well with our group. There’s no doubt it will be a tough race, but we have a very experienced, patient group and everyone is focused on the same goal.”
 
Seefried, hailing from Germany, is no stranger to the Magnus organization. Debuting with the team during last year’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Marco immediately gelled with the team as demonstrated by their class victory. Six months later, Marco would return to the team for another endurance classic, Petit Le Mans, where the team once again took podium honors. Beyond his duties with Magnus, Seefried is also a full-time competitor in the highly-touted Blancpain GT series as well as a competitor in several endurance events around the world.
 
“It’s great to return to Magnus for Daytona,” stated Seefried. “It’s a great organization and a very warm family. So far we’ve had two podiums together in two races, so I’m hoping to continue that next weekend. The car is very competitive and they’ve proven they know how to win there so we’re all feeling very confident.”
 
Martin Ragginger, hailing from Austria, is new to Magnus but no stranger to Daytona. Debuting at the 24 in 2008, Martin has amassed countless miles at the circuit. Considered one of the most venerable Porsche drivers in the paddock, “Raggi” has taken victory at the 24 Hours of Dubai, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, and the FIA GT2 European Cup. Most notably, Martin is the recipient of the 2013 Porsche International Driver’s Cup, a distinction given to one driver a year by the marque.
 
“With Magnus we have a very good opportunity to win,” stated Ragginger. “The team has proven their ability to take top results at big events, and I have been very impressed with my experience so far. It’s very much a family at this organization, and I’m honored to be a part of it. We all want to win, and it’s clear everyone is focused on that.”
 
With the race only 10 days away, the team is hard at work in preparation for the event. With IMSA’s recent announcement to provide 24 hours of coverage over the various FOX networks and IMSA.com, fans should be able to catch all the action at any time in the day.
 
Additionally, Magnus Racing will be providing their own interactive experience, which will be announced in the coming days.


Children’s Tumor Foundation, Magnus Racing to Partner at Rolex 24

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (January 16, 2014)- Continuing an association that dates back to the team’s first-ever victory at the 50th Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona, Magnus Racing and the Children’s Tumor Foundation will renew their partnership for this year’s 53rd running of the twice-around-the-clock classic.
 
“It’s a real honor to reunite with everyone at the Children’s Tumor Foundation,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “Our relationship dates back to 2012 and it’s remarkable what the Foundation does for NF families and the cause at-large. In all honesty, neurofibromatosis is something I hadn’t known much about prior to working with the Foundation, and it’s been a real eye-opening experience. We look forward to welcoming the families to our paddock and hope that the affiliation brings us the same luck as it did in 2012!”
 
The Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF), through their Racing4Research program, has been a long-time staple of the motorsport scene. Campaigning to raise both awareness and fund research into neurofibromatosis – known simply as NF - a common yet under-recognized genetic disorder that can cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body, Racing4Research has raised over $3.5 million in the last seven years.
 
In addition to the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America running the CTF colors, the team will welcome dozens of “NF Heroes” and their families, who will get an up-close opportunity to meet both the drivers and team.
 
“We’re looking forward to our return with Magnus,” stated Jill Beck, Racing4Research Director. “Beyond our great memories of seeing the team win in 2012, the team has proven itself over the years as one of the top teams in the series. Despite that, they’ve never lost their feel as a family that really enjoys what they do, and that reflects our organization as well. Beyond their on-track performance, the team is notorious for some of their other programs during the Daytona 24, and we’re excited to be a part of it.”
 
Most recently, Magnus Racing was awarded Microsoft Visual Studio’s “Team to Win” award at the end of the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship season. Voted as the most popular team in the championship, Magnus Racing was awarded $10,000 for the honor, which they promptly donated to the Children's Tumor Foundation.
 
With the start of the race just over one week away, both the team and the Foundation are hard at work in preparation, including plans for one of the team’s most renowned interactive race features – details of which will be announced shortly.

Magnus Racing Endures Plenty Oproblems to Take 11th at Rolex 24 at Daytona

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 26, 2014)- While many racing teams tend to blame their foibles on mechanical gremlins during the famed Rolex 24 at Daytona, Magnus Racing can firmly lay the blame on something even more treacherous… an opossum.
 
Despite this, the team would still cross the checkered flag to see 11th place.
 
“We’re always very excited to get letters after a race,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “Normally they’re from happy fans, congratulatory notes from the series, but we may be the first team in IMSA history to get a letter from PETA. Regardless, the fact that we still managed to see the finish line after such a crazed race is incredible, and I couldn’t be more proud of our team.”
 
Starting from the fourth row in the No. 44 Flex-Box/Children’s Tumor Foundation Porsche 911 GT America, driver Andy Lally would take the green flag on the historic twice-around-the-clock event. Getting to the green flag, however, was no easy feat for the Magnus crew.
 
During Friday’s final practice session, the team would suffer a surprise issue with the gearbox, cutting their final practice short to examine the problem. Having put an all-new gearbox in the car prior, the team was faced with the arduous task of completely rebuilding their transmission during the final hours of race preparation, putting in a long day and with no opportunity to try the car on-track before the race began.
 
With nearly 100 children and families on site from the Children’s Tumor Foundation rooting for the car, which featured the foundation’s logo as well as 111 names of “NF Heroes” on the rear bumper, the team had even extra motivation to ensure the car was perfect.
 
With the race well under way, the opening series of stints were business-as-usual for the No. 44 team. Despite a small issue with the front splitter, drivers Andy Lally, John Potter and Marco Seefried ran a successful series of opening stints including a strong double stint by Potter. Still holding pace with the lead pack and on the lead lap, by time the team’s fourth driver, Martin Ragginger, took the reigns all eyes would turn toward the team’s gearbox.
 
With Seefried reporting an occasional harshness during upshifts, the problem would continue for Ragginger who did his best to manage to a worsening problem. As the stint wore on, the problem continued to grow with sixth gear failing completely and the car eventually losing drive outright. The car was able to limp to the garage for repairs, however, any hopes for a second victory were gone.
 
Swapping out the gearbox in nearly 45 minutes, an incredible effort all to itself, the team was back out for action. Knowing a victory was not possible, the focus instead shifted to ensuring points for the team, with John Potter getting back in the car following Ragginger’s stint.
 
According to this year’s rules for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, the team’s designated silver driver needed to drive approximately 4.5 hours in order to score points for the team. With Potter serving this role, the Salt Lake City resident would drive an additional double stint as the night wore on, with the team appearing to be back to normal as the midnight hour approached.
 
With Potter fulfilling the time requirements by time 12PM hit, all focus was now on simply finishing the race, wanting to not only maximize their finishing points in an attrition-filled race, but equally important to show well for the many families on hand from the Children’s Tumor Foundation.
 
Continuing through their driver rotation, all was routine as the team went deep into the night hours, hitting the halfway point of the race and slowly climbing up the charts as attrition wore on.
 
Unfortunately, a rising gearbox temperature created a new sense of alarm within the team and once again bringing the car in at 3AM for further repairs. Following another 30 minutes, the No. 44 was back out and seemingly poised to run the second half of the race at a comfortable pace.
 
That was until Andy Lally jumped in for the early morning stint. Lally, a notable animal rights advocate and devout vegan, was running behind one of the Viper GT3-R machines when sudden contact with “something” on the road would create a significant dent in the front of the car and radiator. After evaluating the vehicle, the team elected to stay out and monitor the situation.
 
With the car seemingly OK, the team continued on for the next several stints until rising temperatures and a resulting plume of smoke erupted from the car as the morning hours continued.
 
Returning to the garage for a third round, more visits than any other time in team history, the crew immediately went to work to diagnose the issue. Upon lifting up the front hood of the car, the team discovered a problem that they’d never seen in any of their combined years of racing… an opossum.
 
Yes, you read that right, an opossum. As it turned out, when Lally was chasing the Viper in the early morning hours, the “debris” that went through the car was an opossum which had unfortunately found its way on the track and through the front end of the Magnus Porsche.

(PHOTOS BELOW: WARNING- THEY'RE GRAPHIC)

Magnus Racing, known for its irreverent live webcast and fun social media presence, elected to name the deceased “Ballast,” and with repairs made chose to finish the race under the theme #AvengeBallast.
 
Making quick repairs for the third time, an impressive Magnus crew once again sent the car on its way, where the drivers would cycle through, with John Potter driving the final stint to the checkered flag.
 
Despite the challenges, and literal marsupial sacrifice, the team was able to continue their perfect record of finishes at the race, now seeing the checkered flag for all six Rolex 24 events they’ve competed in. This also continues Andy Lally’s streak of 12 straight finishes at the Rolex.
 
While the event will likely go down as one of the weirdest for the team, it was nonetheless another testament to the commitment and preparation of all involved.
 
“It’s a cliché to say the race is all about preparation, but nonetheless true,” continued Potter. “Everyone has put their heart and soul into this during the winter, and I’m glad we were at least able to see the finish. We really wanted to deliver for the Children’s Tumor Foundation, and it is truly special to know just how many young children and families are rooting for you.”
 
For Andy Lally, keeping his streak alive highlights an odd race.
 
“This was definitely one of the weirdest ones I’ve been a part of,” stated Lally. “The guys had no shortage of challenges, but they jumped to it every time, and it’s an amazing level of commitment. When I was behind the Viper I knew I hit something, but when I looked in my mirrors I didn’t see anything behind me so it was very odd. I had no idea that we’d picked up a passenger in the process, and it’s unfortunate on a number of levels. Regardless, I’m glad we could see the finish and I look forward to the rest of the season.”
 
For Marco Seefried, who until this race had been on the podium every time he’d driven with the team, the theme of a strange race continued.
 
“It was a very odd race for sure,” stated Seefried. “I think we all thought we had a shot this weekend, so to have so many strange events was unexpected. It’s really too bad as the car was quite good, but this is the nature of this kind of racing. Regardless, I thank John Potter and everyone on the Magnus Racing team for such a great experience, I look forward to the next one.”
 
For Martin Ragginger, making his debut with the team, the sentiment is shared.
 
“It’s very unfortunate to have the race we did,” stated Ragginger. “The car was quite good, we were very strong. I was really impressed with the whole Magnus team and I thought we had a really good shot, but obviously racing is unpredictable and this is just part of it. Regardless I appreciate the opportunity and hope they find success this season.”
 
Despite the team’s struggles on-track, the off-track programs synonymous with the team proved successful yet again. Introducing this year’s annual movie poster, the “John Potter and Order of the Rolex” theme proved a massive success via social media and in the autograph line, and the annual pit side webcast held once again, with nearly 50,000 followers enjoying the interactive and irreverent experience. The highly unusual opossum sacrifice was equally noteworthy, with Andy Lally’s initial tweet being retweeted by thousands, and the #AvengeBallast hashtag trending among the loyal sportscar fan base.
 
With several weeks between the Rolex 24 and the next big event, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the team is already back at work in preparation for Round Two of the series.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHOTOS ARE BELOW, WE WARNED YOU.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SERIOUSLY. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK THEN.......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

Magnus Racing, Tim George Jr.’s “Prime Performance” Partner for Sebring

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (March 16, 2015)- While Magnus Racing has long been known for its on-track success and off-track antics, the team can now add one more element to its reputation, #TGbomb.
 
Partnering with Tim George, Jr., one of the most noted characters in the sportscar and stock car paddock, the team will present Tim’s brand new “Prime Performance” line of health-oriented personal cooking and catering services.
 
Tim George, most recently known over social media via his #ChefTG and #TGbomb moniker, is no stranger to the paddock, himself a long-time driver in the Porsche and stock car ranks. As the 2008 Rookie of the Year in the former Rolex Sports Car series, followed by a win in the highly touted ARCA Racing Series and several starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series, Tim is no stranger to the requirements of performing on track. With a dedicated fitness regimen and years of experience in the culinary arts, George, Jr. has recently trained under the Natural Gourmet Institute, as well as serving an apprenticeship under the Jean Georges brand at The Mercer Kitchen. Combining his love of car racing, sustainable farming and the culinary world, Tim has combined his passions in to his latest venture, Prime Performance.
 
“I really have to thank everyone at Magnus Racing for this opportunity,” stated George, Jr. “John Potter and I go back several years when we both drove for the same team, many of the crew members and I go way back, and Andy Lally was my co-driver when I earned my first Rolex Series victory. It’s a great group and I’m excited to show them what our program is all about. Prime Performance is a very different approach from traditional catering, as our entire model is built on local, farm-fresh organic ingredients, and we pride ourselves on providing healthy energy that is perfectly suited for anyone in a competitive, endurance environment. Sebring should be a great proving ground.”
 
As a new venture, Prime Performance will look to showcase itself to not only the IMSA paddock but to the motorsport and sports world as a whole. With the classically trained New York chef providing a series of meals, the team will have the opportunity to sample some of George, Jr.’s diversity of entrées, everything from his #TGbomb salad to his #TGbomb pole-caught seafood.

 

“It’s great to have Tim and his group on board,” stated Magnus Racing team owner John Potter. “If you look at his record on track, it’s clear he’s committed to excellence, and I’m sure that will reflect in his efforts with us. Sebring is always a daunting event, and we hope this will give us that extra edge.”
 
Returning to next weekend’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring as the defending GTD category champions, Magnus Racing will arrive with the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America having a virtually unchanged program. Featuring the same three-driver line up of John Potter, Andy Lally and Marco Seefried, the team has only one goal in mind: winning.
 
Official practice begins on Thursday, March 19, with the 12-hour event beginning two days later on Saturday, March 21. The race will begin at 10:45AM ET and end 12 hours later, with race coverage beginning at 10:30 AM on FOX Sports 1, followed by a variety of coverage on FOX Sports 2, IMSA.com, and returning to FOX Sports 1.

Magnus Racing Returns to Sebring in Defense of Victory

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (March 18, 2015)- One year after their last victory in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, and the only 2014 win for Porsche in the GT-Daytona (GTD) category, Magnus Racing heads to Saturday’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring looking to defend their title.

“Sebring was definitely the highlight of our season last year,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and driver John Potter. “Beyond being one of the signature events of the series, it was a great team effort, making it all the more special. We had an endless series of challenges, yet everyone on the team did their job perfectly and the result spoke for itself. Everyone knows the challenges we had at Daytona so it would be great to rebound and move the season forward.”

As a 12-hour race notorious for its immense challenge on equipment due to the bumpy and difficult circuit surface - originally built as a World War II airfield - the team’s 2014 victory was not without its challenges. Following early contact with a competitor, the team was forced to make quick repairs to the nose of the car before the race had hit the two-hour mark, and would go on to suffer everything from shifting issues to an endless series of technical complications throughout the event. Despite this, the team never lost site of their goal, with drivers John Potter, Andy Lally, and Marco Seefried all taking their first victories at the event.

Opting not to mess with a good thing, all three drivers will return to the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America, continuing a combination that has amassed a podium finish in every race they’ve run together.

 For Lally, returning to Sebring is a welcome opportunity to turn their season around.

“Daytona was a difficult week for us, and returning to the place where we took such a great victory will be a great change for us,” stated Lally. “John and Marco are both incredibly fast here and the team is more prepared than ever. You never know how these races will unfold, but we’re all optimistic.”

For Seefried, a similar sentiment is shared.

“It’s great to return to Sebring with Magnus,” stated the German. “The team is, of course, a lot of fun but they provide a fast car and a very quality program and I think it shows in the results we’ve had together. We really hope to have a chance for victory, the team is definitely prepared for it.”

Official practice begins tomorrow morning, with the race taking place this Saturday, March 21. The race will begin at 10:45AM ET and end 12 hours later, with race coverage beginning at 10:30 AM on FOX Sports 1, followed by a variety of coverage on FOX Sports 2, IMSA.com, and returning to FOX Sports 1.

Early End to Sebring for Magnus Racing Following Incident at Sebring

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SEBRING, Fla. (March 22, 2015)- Despite a strong effort through the early parts of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Magnus Racing’s ambition to repeat last year’s victory ended with an 11th place ranking. Following a mid-race incident, the team would make a valiant effort to get the car back on track and ensure valuable championship points, however a terminal issue would result in a failure to finish.
 
“This was a really difficult one,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “We put a lot of effort in to trying to win this one, everything from testing here several weeks ago, to a ton of time prepping, and the crew here has been relentless. Unfortunately it just wasn’t our day and I really feel bad for everyone here, it’s a tough one to swallow.”
 
With drivers Andy Lally, John Potter, and Marco Seefried swapping seats during a smooth first half of the race, the team was on-form for another strong finish. Starting in seventh, Lally would slowly gain positions over the course of his stint, handing the car to Potter with the team having cracked the top-five.
 
Driving one of his best series of stints, John Potter was remarkable as he cycled through to the lead, and would spend the majority of his time in a constant fight with the No. 33 Viper GT3-R for first, engaged in a series of swapped positions before ultimately pitting and handing the car to Seefried.
 
With Seefried cycling through effortlessly, Lally would once again take the reigns, and as the team approached the halfway mark, the team would once again hand the car to Potter to take his final stint.
 
Continuing his show of impressive form, the Utah resident would once again prove fast, making an impressive pass on the No. 63 Ferrari to put the No. 44 Flex-Box Porsche 911 GT America in the lead once again.
 
Unfortunately, while trying to lap a backmarker, contact with traffic would damage the right front of Potter’s machine, resulting in a collapsed suspension a half-lap later, sending the vehicle in to the wall on the track’s back-straight.
 
John would limp the car in to the pits where the team would begin repairs, choosing to roll the car back to the team’s paddock for further work.
 
Effectively rebuilding the entire suspension, within two hours the car was able to run again, yet another herculean task by the Magnus crew.
 
By series rule, John Potter had to complete a minimum of three hours in his Porsche for the team to be eligible to score points, meaning he still had just under an hour to go to keep the team’s championship hopes alive. The effort proved successful, and as the team continued on, they unfortunately discovered a terminal problem as the laps proceeded, eventually being forced to retire.
 
“Today was a tough one,” stated Andy Lally. “We were ready, this car was really fast and I think we showed strong throughout the day. John was absolutely excellent out there, he lead more than any of us! That’s incredible. Unfortunately, we all make mistakes, and he’s once again proven his professionalism by accepting it and moving on. We’ll all re-group and move on to Laguna Seca, we’ve always run really strong there.”
 
For Marco Seefried, many positives can be taken on the weekend.
 
“The team has a lot to be proud of,” stated Seefried. “I really believe we had a car capable of winning today, everyone was really strong. John was exceptional today, to lead for as long as he did, battling with so many great cars, we were all very impressed. Mistakes happen, there’s not a driver out there who can say he hasn’t done that, and John should be proud of how he drove. This truly is a great team, I’m sure they’ll have a great season.”
 
Magnus Racing and the entire GTD category will now take a six-week break, with the next round kicking off the “sprint” season at the Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix, taking place from May 1-3.

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