Magnus announces IMSA return

Magnus Racing has confirmed that it will return to the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship for the full 2018 season, with a GTD-entered Audi R8 LMS.

For the programme, the team will run with John Potter and Andy Lally, adding Andrew Davis for the full North American Endurance Cup (NAEC), as well as Markus Winkelhock for the upcoming Rolex 24 at Daytona.

“We’re excited to return to IMSA competition and our endurance roots,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and driver John Potter. “Obviously Magnus has enjoyed a number of successes throughout the years of IMSA and formerly GRAND-AM, and in our first season with Audi in 2016 we had one of our best seasons to date.

“Returning to the series for 2018, we feel stronger than ever, not only with an incredibly fast car but also the same crew that took us to victory in 2016, as well as an incredible lineup in Andy, Markus and Andrew.

“The support from Audi over the years has obviously been a big factor, from winning in our first race together at Daytona, to helping the secure the Intercontinental GT Challenge title last October, it’s been a relationship that has proven fruitful and instantly competitive.

“With our team, I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by such an incredible group, and we hope we can begin with immediate success.”

Following a one-year absence in another series, racing in PWC, the team is poised to return to IMSA following a tremendous 2016 run with Audi.

“I couldn’t be happier to return to my family at Magnus,” stated Lally. “Some of my best memories in my career are with the team, and it’s great to return with them in 2018.

“I would really like to express my gratitude to Michael Shank Racing and HPD for a tremendous 2017, and it was not an easy decision to return to John Potter and everyone at Magnus, but it felt like the right move. There’s a lot in motion right now, but I believe we’ll immediately be in a position to contend, and I’m excited to get the season going.”

Gonazalez & Bouille join AFS/PR1

AFS/PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports announced today that Roberto Gonzalez and Nick Boulle will complete its driver line-up in the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportscCar Championship. Gonzalez will join full time drivers Gustavo Yacaman and Sebastian Saavedra for all four rounds of the Patron North American Endurance Cup, and Boulle will complete the four-driver line up for the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Gonzalez is an ex-IndyCar driver who also brings ample sportscar experience to the table after competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2017 in the LMP2 class, and in various events in IMSA in the PC class over the last few seasons.

Boulle is no stranger to Rolex 24 at Daytona, the 28-year-old already has one class win under his belt after capturing the checkered flag in 2017, and also finished second in 2016 in the PC category.

The AFS/PR1 Mathiasen squad will hit the track for the first time this weekend at the Roar Before the 24 where their red and yellow LIgier JS P217 will get its first chance to measure up what will be a highly competitive and busy Prototype field.

Breukers joins GRT

Dutch up-and-comer Rik Breukers has revealed that he will be racing with Grasser Racing in the Rolex 24 Hours, as well as the Dubai 24 Hours, driving a Lamborghini Huracan GT3.



This news means Breukers will add the Rolex 24 to his CV, which includes a start in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2017 with ARC Bratislava in LMP2.