GT3: VICI Racing Mid-Ohio preview

17.05.2005 XM Satellite Radio Vici Racing will be heading for round two of the IMSA GT3 Challenge Cup at Mid-Ohio this weekend with an expanded three car line-up

XM Satellite Radio Vici Racing will be heading for round two of the IMSA GT3 Challenge Cup at Mid-Ohio this weekend with an expanded three car line- up. In Anthony Massari, Steve Valentinetti and Nathan Swartzbaugh, the team have three top talents, all capable of challenging for a podium finish.

Vici Racing, who can draw on more than twenty years of experience racing Porsches in almost all categories in both Europe and North America, are now relishing the new challenge which has been thrown down by the new IMSA- sanctioned series. For its inaugural year the 5-round IMSA GT Cup Challenge, supports the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), guaranteeing the burgeoning series excellent prestige. The North American GT3 Cup is aiming to capture the action and excitement that has long surrounded the highly successful European Porsche Supercup, a goal, that if round one at Road Atlanta is anything to go by, is seemingly assumed.

That opening IMSA GT3 Cup race last month at Road Atlanta in Georgia, kicked off XM Satellite Radio Vici Racing's series participation in the best possible way. Their young guest driver Alfred Renauer, facing up to a new challenge at a new circuit in a new country, started off by dominating both free practice sessions and claimed pole position with a more than two second margin in hand. The 20-year-old German driver then went on to wrap the weekend up by winning the 45 minute race, having fended off the attentions of many much more experienced drivers.

With three new drivers to look after, and an additional two cars to now cater for, Vici Racing has this week flown in extra technicians and staff, who usually to be found on their European Porsche Supercup programme, from their German base.

Anthony Massari to drive the no11 XM Satellite Vici Racing Porsche GT3 Cup

At Mid Ohio Alfred's place in the no11 XM Satellite Radio Vici Racing Porsche GT3 Cup car will be taken up by 25-year-old Tampa, Florida resident, Anthony Massari.

Massari is a very rapid amateur racing driver, and a 'name' to be remembered for the future. Vici Racing Team President Ron Meixner, himself a veteran of racing Group C and IMSA GTP Porsches in legendary races such as the Le Mans 24 Hours, Daytona 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hours, certainly thinks so, and sees him as an ideal candidate for the no11 car. "We know Tony very well as he has been working on the US racing scene for sometime now, and we keep bumping into him," comments Ron, who always sees it has his duty to 'nurture' new 'talent'. "I personally feel he is a genuinely exciting driver just waiting to be 'discovered', and believe that this series, and the Porsche GT3 Cup racer, will give him an ideal opportunity to show people exactly what he is able do. I'm really looking forward to seeing him in the car this weekend."

Anthony has been racing since the age of thirteen, starting in go-karts before moving to cars at the age of fifteen, starting off in a less traditional way by first driving sedans and then switching to single seaters. Although he has raced mainly in SCCA, he has driven everything from Formula Ford to a Ferrari 360

Challenge.

"I'm very excited about driving with Vici Racing," says Anthony. "After watching them prepare the car at Atlanta last month I know I will be driving the best car in the paddock, and their experience is priceless. I'm really looking forward to building a relationship with the team and with Porsche, and I think the GT3 Cup will improve my driving skills, and give me a chance to work with a world class team. Basically I just cannot wait to get onto the track at Mid Ohio!"

The no11 Vici Racing Porsche GT3 Cup will be fully supported as usual by VICI GROUP racing partner, XM Satellite Radio, the United States' leading satellite radio broadcast network. Additional support will come from Wempe, a 127-year-old German maker of highly fashionable and exclusive, timepieces and jewellery, who have more than 25 branches worldwide.

Steve Valentinetti

At Mid Ohio Vici Racing will support two additional cars in what is turning into a rapidly burgeoning field, which now numbers thirty entries. The first of these two additional cars will be for veteran Porsche driver, Steve Valentinetti, who switches to Vici Racing with his SVR Racing Porsche GT3, having already taken part in round one of the series at Road Atlanta, where he turned in a highly promising race performance.

Steve Valentinetti can count on over 20 years of racing experience driving Porsches in numerous series sanctioned by bodies such as Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), Porsche Club of America (PCA) and Porsche Owners Club (POC), a time span that has brought him many wins and titles.

"We're delighted to welcome Steve on board at Mid-Ohio," comments Ron C. Meixner. "He brings a wealth of Porsche racing experience with him, is obviously a fast, talented driver, and someone who importantly is a team player. I think Steve will be able to surprise a few people in the IMSA Cup."

Steve Valentinetti says, "I'm delighted that Vici Racing will be supporting my racing efforts this year closely, and I'm really looking forward to getting out on track at Mid Ohio next week. I will be able to focus solely on getting the Porsche as close to the front as possible."

The no2 Porsche GT3 of Steve Valentinetti will be additionally supported by Airline Shuttle, XM Satellite Radio and SVR Racing.

Nathan Swartzbaugh

19-year-old Nathan Swartzbaugh is regarded as one of tomorrows rising track stars, and competing in this year's inaugural IMSA GT3 Challenge Cup has been a logical, although big step forward for the resident of La Habra Heights, California.

Nathan Swartzbaugh has been track racing for seven years now, taking part in a wide variety of club races, under the auspices of NASA and SCCA. Most of this period has seen the youngster racing Spec-Trucks, a championship which encourages low-cost, close-racing thrills, where talent can rise above budget and invaluable experienced can be gained. After winning 'Rookie of the Year' in his first season at the age of 14, he went on to win the title twice.

"The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge is the first real chance I have had to judge myself against highly-rated, professional drivers," says Nathan. "Now I am racing up against guys who put huge dollars and huge efforts into winning. I am also extremely pleased to have the chance to race against drivers like Alfred Renauer and Brent Martini, because they are guys that I can learn so much from. Joining Vici Racing, with their vast experience, particularly in racing Porsches, puts me in an ideal position to really push my career forward, and I am looking forward to absorbing their advice at Mid-Ohio."

"Nathan is one of the prospective names of the future, of that I'm quite sure," comments Vici Racing Marketing Manager Bill Colleran. "He obviously has the talent, we saw that first hand at Road Atlanta, and he also importantly has the drive and determination to succeed, as well as the hunger to learn. He's put a lot on the line to get into the Cup this year and we are delighted to have him now join us. I firmly expect him to cause a surprise of two along the way this year."

Nathan Swartzbaugh, at the wheel of the no17 Porsche GT3 Cup entry, will be supported by North-South Machinery, and additionally, by XM Satellite Radio this weekend.

IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge, Round 2 - Mid Ohio

The Mid Ohio Sports Car Course, a 15-turn, 2.4-mile layout, has a reputation as being tough on competitors, and is regarded by racing fans as one of America's finest tracks.

"We are expecting cooler temperatures than seen recently this weekend," comments Ron Meixner. "We will be seeking to gather as much data as possible from the extra test day we have on Thursday, which will be of vital importance. Mid Ohio is a very technical track with only one high speed turn, the Carrousel and the Key Hole being the most demanding points. It is always very challenging to find an optimum set-up for both qualifying and the race at this circuit, and with three new drivers in the team our technicians will have their work cut out for them."

The second round of the 2005 IMSA GT3 Challenge Cup takes place at Mid-Ohio this weekend. IMSA have announced additional testing opportunities will be available on Thursday 19th May at the circuit, before the first official practice takes place on Friday 20th May from 1055 to 1125, with a second session following from 1635 to 1705. Qualifying is on Saturday 21st May, 1055-1125, while the 45 minute duration race is scheduled to start on Sunday 22nd May at 1515, following the completion of the 2 hour 45 minute third round of the 2005 American Le Mans Series (ALMS).

-www.viciracing.com