GMG Racing Press Release
SANTA ANA, CA - Taking yet another step in the team’s continuing growth in the North American sports car scene, Southern California-based Global Motorsports Group (GMG) will take their first laps in the all-new TUDOR United SportsCar Championship during this weekend’s traditional Roar Before the 24.
As the official pre-season test before the season opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, the team will join the rest of the TUDOR Championship, bringing their No. 32 Audi R8 LMS along with the team’s full driver lineup for the 24 hour classic. While the team had previously announced long-time team driver Alex Welch joining team owner James Sofronas, the duo is pleased to additionally welcome Audi-provided drivers Frank Stippler and Marc Basseng.
Stippler, from Cologne, is a veteran development driver for Audi. With two decades of racing experience, Stippler is no stranger to endurance success. In 2012, the German had a breakout year, taking victory in some of Europe’s greatest endurance races, including the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and the 24 Hours of Spa. In 2013, Stippler took second place honors for Audi at Daytona, as well as second in the FIA GT Championship.
Basseng, also from Germany, is a veteran of GT competition as well. Having driven in a variety of categories, including the American Le Mans Series, Porsche Supercup and more, Marc took championship honors in the FIA GT championship in 2012. In 2013, the German took second place at the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
“It’s a big honor to be joined by two talents like Frank and Marc,” stated GMG team owner James Sofronas. “We’ve enjoyed a great relationship with Audi Sport Customer Racing over the last two years and receiving their support for Daytona is a big boost. We’re under no illusions that this will be an incredibly challenging race and we’re coming as prepared as we can. This weekend’s test is an important weekend for us, as we know that preparation will be super critical.”
Similarly, Alex Welch is looking forward to his first laps at the famed circuit.
“It’s a dream to race at Daytona, and I’m very excited to finally take to the track,” stated the Colorado resident. “Everyone at GMG has been working extremely hard to get this program moving, and this weekend’s test is the first big challenge.”
This year’s Roar Before the 24 will begin on Friday, January 3, and run through Sunday, January 5. The event is open to the public, and similarly GMG will provide continuing updates through Facebook and Twitter.
About GMG
Founded in 2001 by James Sofronas and Fabryce Kutyba, GMG has quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning and racing facility. What began as a small 1200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a 30,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility located in (Orange County) Santa Ana, California. The staff’s experience, attention to detail, and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts world wide. Whether you want to maximize the performance of your street car, or race wheel-to-wheel on both amateur and professional racing series across North America, GMG’s reputation for service and quality is unmatched.
Learn more at www.gmgracing.com
About Spyder
Spyder was founded by avid skier and outdoor athlete David Jacobs. He rose to world-class rankings as a competitive skier, and stayed connected to the sport he loves by coaching, designing related products, and building one of the most powerful brands in the industry. His dedication to the sport of skiing and the Spyder brand is as inspiring as it is intriguing. Spyder’s growth exploded over the turn of the century, and the company is now the largest ski-specialty brand in the world. David has recently discovered the adrenaline rush in racing classic Formula One cars, finding success – not surprisingly – in this new pastime. For a man who’s thrived on sports, technology, and professional advancement, the world is sure to see David go a few more times around the track.
Learn more at www.spyder.com
About The Thermal Club
The Thermal Club is the premier private motorsports facility in the world. In addition to 4.5 miles of members-only racetrack, the Club facilities include a fully amenitized Clubhouse and Village unrivaled in the motorsports world. All 4.5 miles of our exquisite racetrack are designed to push both amateurs and professionals to their limit, giving members the thrill of driving at peak performance amidst the endless desert skies. Featuring three different private circuit configurations, trackside villas, a motorsport village with a state-of-the-art clubhouse, tuning shop, a fuel island, as well as member storage garages, The Thermal Club will bring the country club lifestyle to Southern California’s diverse car culture. More information can be found atwww.thethermalclub.com.
About Lasso
Lasso is a request-based, sharing network predicated on a very simple idea: You have something that I want—and you may not even know it until I ask for it. With so much content cluttering our phones, tablets, PCs and social networks, it can be difficult to seek out and find the specific items of interest to you. Friends or colleagues may not share this content with you directly because they’re drowning in data overload themselves. Often, these friends aren’t sure exactly what you want. Lasso makes it easy for you to round up the digital content you want from friends—simply by asking for it. By putting the onus on the requester, instead of the person holding the content, you’ll be in a much better position to actually receive the digital content you’re interested in.
Learn more at www.lasso.me
Photo credit: GMG Racing
