Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Australia
Breaking news

Starworks signs Dalziel for full 2019 IMSA season

Starworks Motorsport has committed to return to full season competition in the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Ryan Dalziel campaigning an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo.

#19 TruSpeed AutoSport Audi R8 LMS: Parker Chase

#19 TruSpeed AutoSport Audi R8 LMS: Parker Chase

Richard Dole / Motorsport Images

For the four North American Endurance Cup rounds – Rolex 24, Sebring 12 Hours, Watkins Glen 6 Hours and Petit Le Mans – Dalziel will be joined by Parker Chase, with whom he won the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge SprintX Pro/Am Championship for TruSpeed Autosport.

The 17-year-old American may also turn out to be Dalziel’s full-time co-driver.

Starworks' Audi R8 will be the same 2016 Audi R8 LMS in which Dalziel and Chase scored five class wins for TruSpeed in PWC SprintX competition, but converted to the 2019 GT3 Evo kit, “featuring a modified splitter to improve the car’s heat evacuation, and increased durability with a revised transmission.”

Team owner Peter Baron said: “Despite not fielding a Starworks Motorsports entry ourselves, our team has still been very busy in both IMSA and Pirelli World Challenge. I have enjoyed success and working personally with the Audi Sport Customer Racing group and look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship in America.

“Based on all the success we had with Parker Chase and Ryan Dalziel in Pirelli World Challenge in the Audi R8 LMS, we felt it was the right time to move and enter into the IMSA WeatherTech series full time.”

Speaking of his relationship with Baron which stretches back 13 years, Dalziel commented: “When my 2018 program was announced it was ending, the first call I got was from Peter Baron at Starworks saying we should get the band back together.

“I’ve enjoyed much of my racing success under the Starworks banner and I’ve put all my efforts in the past few months making this happen. Continuity is so important in racing, and surrounding yourself with people who truly believe in you.

“This program is a continuation from the 2018 championship winning effort with Parker. He and I sharing a car with Peter Baron steering the ship is a force to be reckoned with. Audi has been a big part of making this happen and I’m extremely grateful for their trust in us to represent them.”

Added Chase: “I’m super happy to be joining Starworks Motorsport for my 2019 IMSA campaign, and to be driving with Ryan again. It’s great to continue my relationship with Audi as well in the new R8 GT3 Evo.

"It’ll be my first time at Daytona and I can’t be more excited. I’m ready to get started.”

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article WRT poised to enter Audi in Rolex 24
Next article AIM Vasser Sullivan signs Bell, Montecalvo for 2019

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Australia