SCC: Daytona: BSI Racing preview

BSI Racing: First Race of the 2007 KONI Challenge Season

The 2007 race season will officially start with the Daytona 200 in the KONI Challenge on Friday, January 26 at 2:15PM. BSI Racing and Team Garcia will be entering two Mazda MX-5 race cars in the three hour event. The No.56 MX-5 will be driven by Todd Buras and Carlos Garcia. The twin No. 58 MX-5 with support from JustRacing.com will be campaigned by Northern California racers, Justin Hall and Magnus Karlsson.

Longtime teammates, Todd Buras and Carlos Garcia are looking forward to their first Grand-Am sanctioned race in the Mazda sports car. The teammates had a chance to take the No. 56 on the track during the Daytona test days earlier this month, and also had a final test at the Roebling Road race track in Savannah this past weekend. Garcia and Buras were happy to gain more seat time behind the orange roadster's wheel. Garcia was impressed with his test session and is looking forward to seeing exciting results this upcoming season.

"I would like to say a special "thanks" to Stu Brumer, Colin Harmer, Rob Greenwood and the crew of BSI Racing for their countless hours and long nights spent at the race shop. Their valiant efforts are an example of their love and dedication to this sport and the entire BSI/ Garcia Racing Team. Without them none of this would even be possible. I am sure that whoever follows our progress will see our team accomplish huge goals every race weekend," stated Garcia after the Savannah test.

Garcia is also joined by Buras with an optimistic outlook on the team and cars' bright race future. "These cars are fresh out of the box and they are already performing wonderfully. Carlos and I have been impressed with their handling and I only expect good things for the upcoming race season," said Buras.

Heading into the race weekend with Team Garcia and BSI Racing will be the No. 58 MX-5 /JustRacing.com sports car with Karlsson and Hall. Karlsson also had an opportunity to drive the car for a second test session in Savannah this past weekend, gaining a full day of track time under his belt. "It was a blast. The car was handling great. I wasn't really talking on the radio because I was having so much fun in the car. I will be ready for the race. The long wait is over and I'm looking forward to the event. We are well prepared and will do our best," said Karlsson.

This will be the first time Karlsson and teammate Hall have raced at Daytona, as a majority of the duo's seat time has been turned at tracks west of the Mississippi. Hall, the past World Challenge racer, may not have had a chance to put in laps at Savannah with the rest of the team, but gained a great deal of experience at the earlier Daytona test days and is ready for the Friday afternoon race.

He said, "I am very excited to make the transition from World Challenge to Grand Am, I was very impressed with the professionalism and organization of the event and series. I am also really pleased with how well sorted these cars were from the outset. Stu and the whole crew at BSI Racing were great to work with during the test weekend, and their months of preparation were evident in both the overall preparation level of the cars, and how they conducted the test session. I look forward to a great season with Magnus, BSI/Garcia Racing, and the Mazdaspeed family"

-credit: bsi racing