Nur Ali has never shied away from a new challenge. Whether it was earning the distinction of becoming the first professional Pakistani-born race car driver, competing internationally in A1 Grand Prix – World Cup of Motorsports, NASCAR or the ARCA Racing Series, Ali has taken it all on. In 2015, the Trophy Club, TX native will take on perhaps the biggest challenge of his 17-year career when he enters the Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC) Lites Series.
Introduced in 2013, GRC Lites is the official driver development class of Red Bull Global Rallycross. Its races feature 310 bhp, all-wheel drive spec vehicles built to emphasize driver skill over mechanical advantage. Competing on the same courses as the Red Bull GRC, the Lites class is designed to provide future stars with the ideal rallycross training ground. The tracks feature some of the most diverse and technical challenges in the world of motorsport. Between a half and one mile in length, they feature a mixture of dirt and tarmac, as well as various other obstacles.
“Competing in GRC was something I had thought about,” said Ali. “But I never really thought it would happen. A few months ago when the opportunity was presented to me, I was stoked. I couldn’t say yes fast enough.”
Ali developed his passion for motorsports at a young age but knew education had to be his main priority. After earning a BA in International Relations at American University in 1998, he enrolled in the Skip Barber School of Racing. Since then, he has gone on to compete for Team Pakistan in A1GP, capture two Formula Mazda Championships, two Legends Car Championships, competed in twelve countries on five continents as well as in select NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Racing Series races.
Ali’s racing experience has come on asphalt but the GRC formula is still familiar to him.
“GRC tracks are made up of dirt and tarmac but it’s still road racing,” said Ali. “Road racing is where I’m most comfortable and have the most experience. Racing on dirt is something new to me though. Prior to some recent testing, I had never intentionally put a race car into a slide. I learned that it’s absolutely as fun as it looks. I can’t wait to get this season started.”
Ali has teamed up with San Bernardino, CA-based AFRacing which has expanded to a two-car team in 2015. He will pilot the No. 42 entry and joins Alejandro Fernandez, the team’s current driver who finished third in the 2014 GRC Lites Championship.
“Nur is a welcome addition to AFRacing,” said team principal David Fernandez. “He brings a wealth of racing experience to the team. With Alejandro and Nur, we have two drivers with completely different skill sets providing feedback. It will only makes us stronger and more competitive.”
Ali agreed with Fernandez.
“Having an experienced and proven team was important to me,” said Ali. “Last season, AFRacing showed they were contenders. My road racing experience combined with Alejandro’s full season in GRC Lites will only make our program even more successful.”
Tweaker Energy Company, based in Dallas, TX, will continue its partnership with Ali and join him in the GRC Lites Championship for the 2015 season. Additional partners will be announced at a later date.
“Motorsports has been a cornerstone of our marketing efforts since we started,” said Nick Mihnovets, VP of Tweaker Energy Company. “Nur introduced us to the sport a few years back and we are excited to join him in GRC Lites in 2015 and beyond.”
Launched in 2008, Tweaker Energy Shot immediately became one of the fastest growing energy shot brands in the United States. Since its inception, it has built up a core distribution network of more than 300 distributors and is available across the country at RaceTrac, Hy-Vee, Jewel-Osco and Circle K to name a few. Tweaker Energy Shots contain health club quality ingredients creating a synergistic formula that is super effective with a great taste at a value price. For more information visit tweakershot.com.
“Tweaker has been a partner of mine for a few years and I appreciate them joining me in GRC Lites,” said Ali. “It’s a great fit and will put them in front of an entirely new group of fans.”
The 12-race schedule in 2015, its longest ever, kicks off in Ft. Lauderdale, FL on May 31 and culminates in Las Vegas in November. The eight-city tour includes four doubleheader events, as well as the class’ first trip outside of the United States with an October visit to Barbados. All races will be telecast on NBCSN.
For more information on Nur Ali, visit NurAli.com
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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