Consistency Continues for Magnus Racing with Sixth in Wisconsin

ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin (September 5, 2019) – Continuing a season highlighted by consistency and a mistake-free 2019 season, Magnus Racing and drivers John Potter and Andy Lally would once again enjoy a trouble-free event during yesterday’s eighth round of the GTD class for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Running without any errors or major miscues during the race, the No. 44 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO would take sixth.

“Sunday’s race represented our season fairly well,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “We worked hard hard through the weekend to get a handle on the car’s setup, making changes right up until the race, so we can’t be too disappointed with our finish. It’s been an incredibly consistent year, but with our history including several podiums and big wins, we’re not a group to just be contented with this, so we’re still focused on moving further up the grid for the final three rounds.”

Searching for an ideal setup throughout the weekend’s practices, a great qualifying for John Potter would see him take the green flag with his usual steady start, avoiding a handful of incidents and keeping pace with the field in front of him.

Completing his minimum drive time and handing the machine over to Andy Lally, a similar theme to previous races would continue. Doing his best to make work of the field in front of him under an all-green flag race, steady pace and a few critical passes would advance the Georgia resident to sixth by time the checkered flag fell. 

The next round of IMSA competition will take place in just over two weeks’ time, taking to the scenic VIRginia International Raceway for another all-GT affair. Practice begins on Friday, August 23, with the race taking place on Sunday the 25^th.

Swapping Colors in Search of New Results for Magnus at Road America

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (July 31, 2019) – Enjoying a remarkably consistent 2019 season that has seem the team finish in the top-10 at every event, Magnus Racing will arrive at this weekend’s eighth round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with a new color scheme in the hopes of further improving their fortunes. While consistency has been the key for drivers John Potter and Andy Lally, currently just seven points shy of second in the championship, a singular podium at Sebring has left the team in search of improved results. Looking to shake things up after the popular reception of the team’s Saturn V rocket livery at Lime Rock, the team will swap their 2019 dark-grey and blue-trim livery in favor of the reverse, running a base blue for funsies at Road America. 

“Since we were already altering the livery after Lime Rock, we figured why not keep playing with it,” stated Magnus Racing team owner John Potter. “We’ve enjoyed a dark grey base for four years now, but we figured why not try something different since we’re at it. Road America has been a race of mixed fortunes for us, but we’re hopeful this could be a good weekend depending on the usual range of factors. It’s a tight fight for second in the championship, and we’re eager to see where these final few races take us.”

Taking to the 14-turn, four-mile circuit in their No. 44 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO, the large hills and fast corners of the Wisconsin circuit provide one of the most exciting venues for wheel-to-wheel racing on the calendar. While it remains to be seen just how the Lamborghini will fair among the GTD field, a series of improvements over recent races has left the team more confident than ever on their chances.

For Andy Lally, a return to one of the sport’s iconic tracks is always an exciting one.

“Road America is high on everyone’s list, it’s a great place for proper racing,” stated Lally. “Even though our results haven’t shown it, the team has made big strides in the last few races and this could be the place where it finally all comes together.”

Practice begins this Friday, August 2, with the race taking place on Sunday at 2:35PM ET. Live coverage can be found on the NBC Sports App, or with same-day coverage at 6PM ET on NBCSN.

Magnus Racing Braves Sweltering Temperatures at Lime Rock Park

 

LAKEVILLE, CONNECTICUT (July 22, 2019) – Participants of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship endured the hottest race of the year at Saturday’s Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park. Racing on track temperatures over 115 degrees, Magnus Racing drivers John Potter and Andy Lally finished eighth, continuing their perfect streak of top-10 finishes this season. In celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Magnus Racing paid special tribute with a one-time car livery on their car, changing the traditional black, blue, and silver livery of the No. 44 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO to a livery matching the Saturn V rocket, complete with a car number change to No. 11. 

“Lime Rock Park always brings challenging conditions, and this year was no different,” stated team owner and co-driver John Potter. “We had great pace, and the team gave us the perfect set up to run competitively without burning off the tires too quickly. We were quick in the pits, and that crucial execution gained us two spots and put us in the position to fight for more positions up the field. All in all we enjoyed the event and have to once again thank everyone at IMSA for accommodating our commemorative effort, as well as of course the fans for an incredible show of support. We were blown away with how well received our tribute was.” 

The opening half of the race saw very little action, with the field taking the green flag and spreading out to maintain starting order for most of the stint. John Potter started the race for the Magnus Racing Lamborghini, expertly managing his tires during this stint to keep his lap times competitive and keep the car in position, close to the competition. 

Andy Lally took over on lap 51, and quick work from the team in pit lane gained the No. 11 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO two spots upon race reentry. Within twenty minutes, the Magnus Racing rocket gained another position, running in eight, 18 seconds behind Jack Hawksworth in the No. 14 Lexus. The Northeast Grand Prix continued to run incident free for all until the final stint, as competitors throughout the field fought aggressively for position. 

The GTD and GTLM cars came alive in the final 40 minutes, with each car completing their final stop and prepared for a sprint to the checker flag. Lally made his final stop from eighth place, and rejoined with fresh Michelin tires, again gaining four seconds on his gap to Hawksworth. With each lap, he inched closer to the Lexus, but in the end it wasn’t enough to race for the position. 

“Those final stints showed how competitive GT racing can be in IMSA,” said Lally. “The temperatures inside the cockpit were ridiculously hot, but the racing was a lot of fun. You have to take great care of your tires while also fighting for position. Lime Rock Park is a shorter track that offers very little rest, demanding the best from the field. I feel like we put on a good show today.”

The eighth place finish marks the team’s sixth top-10 finish in six races, continuing their streak of consistent finishes during a competitive season. The Northeast Grand Prix will air tape delayed on NBC Sports on Saturday, July 20 at 9:00PM ET.

Magnus Racing Pays Tribute to 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11 Mission with Specialty Livery and Car Number

LAKEVILLE, Connecticut (July 17, 2019) – With Saturday marking the 50^th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Magnus Racing will pay tribute to the historic event with a one-time, specialized livery and car number during the upcoming IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship’s Northeast Grand Prix, taking place on the same day. With drivers John Potter and Andy Lally taking to the wheel of their usual Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO, this weekend’s event will see the team shed their usual colors and No. 44 for a livery adapted to mimic the Saturn V rocket, as well as carrying car No. 11 with a black panel to commemorate the mission.

“We wanted to do something special to mark the occasion, and we felt this was the best way we could honor the event,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “Space exploration and the historical significance behind it has always been something I’ve held a long admiration for, so this is a very personal project to me. Obviously the Apollo 11 mission is an amazing tribute to human ingenuity and creativity, and that’s something that translates extremely well to our sport. I’m glad we could pay tribute, and of course I appreciate everyone on the team, as well as IMSA for some of the accommodations they’ve made to change our number and color panel, for making this a reality. Hopefully we can pay the ultimate honor by bringing home a win.”

With the Saturn V rocket acting as the propulsion mechanism to send astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins towards their lunar destination, Magnus Racing will adapt the same color patterns and markings to their GTD category machine. With much of the world paying similar tributes in different ways, Magnus Racing wanted to continue the legacy to the world of sportscar racing. In addition to the car livery, IMSA has granted a special one-time permission to change to car No. 11 as well as use a black number panel to match the markings of the rocket.

Known as one of the more fan-engaged teams, the livery and car number will highlight a series of initiatives by the team throughout the weekend, including free astronaut food for children in attendance, specialty autograph cards, tribute costumes and beyond.

For Andy Lally, a similar enthusiasm is shared.

“We’re excited to pay tribute in our own way,” stated Lally. “The camaraderie and team mentality required through the entirety of the Gemini and Apollo programs was unlike any in history, and that’s an ethos that any successful race team has to embrace. The heroism from the astronauts themselves is incredible, but at the same time the effort and attitude from everyone on the project deserves incredible praise. We hope to represent well at Lime Rock.”

Official practice begins this Friday, June 19, with the race taking place on Saturday, July 20, the same day as the anniversary of the moon landing. Coverage can be found live via the NBC Sports App or NBCSports.com beginning at 3PM ET, or find same-day coverage on NBCSN at 9:30PM. International viewers can always find it live via imsa.tv.

Magnus Racing Completes Quiet Weekend in Canada

BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, Canada (July 8, 2019) – Following a relatively quiet weekend at the historic Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Magnus Racing and drivers John Potter and Andy Lally would finish eighth following a series of late yellow flags that prevented them from moving further up the order.

“All in all it was an uneventful weekend, but we showed a lot of strengths,” stated team owner and co-driver John Potter. “We were near the top in just about every practice session, so we know the potential was there, we were just a little unlucky with some of the yellow flags but overall we can’t be too disappointed. We’re well positioned for the rest of the year.” 

With the high speeds of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park creating a notoriously challenging layout, the team showed well throughout practice, including second-place results during both Friday sessions.

With John Potter taking on starting duties, a steady drive throughout the opening stint would keep the Utah native on pace with the lead pack, gaining several spots in the process and placing the car securely in the top-10 by time pit stops cycled through. With Andy Lally getting in to close the race, a strong drive forward would advance him to eighth, and primed for a potential top-five based on his pace.

Unfortunately, a late red flag would eat up much of the time remaining in the race, with Lally left with no choice but to settle for the position. 

A recap of the highlights from CNBC’s coverage can be found here.