The Lone Star state plays host to the 2015 Pirelli World Challenge season opener this coming weekend at the world famous Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. This 3.4-mile undulating racetrack features dramatic, natural elevation changes, including a 133-foot climb to its signature Turn 1. TRG-AMR has some great history at the young track, having taken the pole here last year in IMSA TUDOR competition and a win back in 2013. The epic victory here at COTA in 2013 included one of the best GT battles in recent history, running nose-to-tail for the last full hour with TRG coming out on top after the dramatic engagement.
The 20 turn circuit is sure to be a challenge for all the drivers on track, though the high-speed sweepers and elevation changes suit the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 and GT4 models. Developed on high-speed, technical tracks such as Silverstone, Spa, and the famed Circuit de la Sarthe, both the V12 Vantage GT3 and V8 Vantage GT4 find themselves at home on tracks such as the Tilke-built COTA, also home to the United States Formula One Grand Prix.
The racing is sure to be intense with more than 100 cars now entered in the season opener. Manufacturers from all over the world are embracing the chance to compete in what has become the largest professional-tier car count in all North American racing. Leveraging the successful GT3 Global Formula, Pirelli World Challenge has helped usher in a new era of North American sports car racing that has been warmly received by the racing community. With this comes a revamped television package, this time with CBS Sports and even featuring a Live Broadcast component.
TRG-AMR brings with it an ever-impressive stable of drivers, hailing from different backgrounds and all corners of the world. Racing in the series GT class is Danish GT star Christina Nielsen, piloting the No. 7 V12 Vantage GT3. The electric blue Aston Martin will surely be a sight (and sound) to be remembered. Driving the No. 09 Aston Martin of Austin V12 Vantage GT3 is Ferrari Challenge Champion and Austin native Mark McKenzie. Mark, whose company Ranger Excavating performed all the award-winning grading work during the COTA construction process, jokes that he has an unfair advantage as he knows each and every piece of the track’s layout from the ground up – literally! The GT and GTA field is incredibly competitive, undoubtedly more so than in previous years. Both TRG-AMR drivers will have a challenging weekend ahead of them, though they look forward to the strong competition.
In GTS, Canadian star Max Riddle brings his No. 07 V8 Vantage GT4 to the fight, fresh from testing and a strong performance at Daytona in late January driving in the Continental Tire GS race and the Rolex 24 in the 009 car. Max brings with him a wealth of racing experience and incredible car control, as well as being referred to by the team as the “Canadian Kimi” for his incredibly calm and cool demeanor. Driving the companion TRG-AMR GTS entry is longtime team driver and sportscar veteran Derek DeBoer in the No. 09 Lex Tempus/BlackRider/BRM Chronographes/DriverWebsites.com/Petrol Lounge V8 Vantage GT4. Hailing from Medford, Oregon, Derek runs a large dealership group and was a professional wakeboarder before catching the racing bug. Derek brings with him an impressive array of partners, notably Austin’s Shane Sterling the owner and founder of the BlackRider Racing Group, who helped build the collection of partners and sponsors on the No. 09 GTS car this weekend. Both TRG-AMR GTS entries are planned for the full season of competition and incredibly strong cars with capable drivers. Expect to see both these Astons running for the championship all season long.
TRG-AMR heads into the season-opening race following the grueling Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona followed by a month of rebuilding the cars and equipment and testing at Sonoma, Buttonwillow, and Thunderhill racetracks. Never known for resting on its laurels, TRG-AMR heads immediately to Florida for two weeks of more racing and events that include the tortuous 12 Hours of Sebring and the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The team is planning an incredible event at St. Petersburg, having secured the Dali museum for viewing and entertainment throughout the weekend. Click here to read more about this incredible experience.
As is the norm with TRG-AMR, more than a few events are planned throughout the race weekend, kicking off with an appearance on the local CBS affiliate news station KEYE. Making appearances will be Shane Sterling and Sonny Morgan. Sterling is a Texas entrepreneur and principal of the Black Rider Racing Group, the primary partner on the 09 GTS entry fielded by TRG-AMR Team Driver Derek DeBoer and Morgan is the dealer principal of Austin’s impressive Aston Martin dealership.
Thursday night takes the team to Morgan’s Aston Martin of Austin dealership for a fun evening of food, Adobe Road wine, and the chance to meet and chat with Team Owner Kevin Buckler and the individual racing drivers and to see one of the team’s racecars on display. Click here to view the invitation.
Friday night will be a great chance to see the team soaking up the Austin nightlife, with a fun evening of food and drink at the Petrol Lounge, Austin’s exclusive exotic and collector car storage facility. The event is meant to showcase Shane Sterling’s Black Rider Racing Group, team driver Derek DeBoer and his No. 09 V8 Vantage GT4, running the full season of GTS competition in Pirelli World Challenge. The event starts at 6pm and will feature Adobe Road wines and some good ol’ Texas BBQ courtesy of Rudy’s. Click here to view the invitation and here to RSVP.
And finally, Saturday evening the group heads on down to Bob’s Steak and Chophouse for an elegant evening of Adobe Road wines paired with what is sure to be an incredible dinner. Surely an event not to be missed, dinner begins at 7:15pm with cocktails starting at 6:30pm. A few spaces remain – please click here to view the invitation and here to reserve your spot.
About Me: Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of travelling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week. Adam has spent the last three years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.Be sure to tune in for his weekly sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.
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