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Jones, Kemper to drive Bodymotion ST Porsche in Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge

Returning driver Devin Jones will be joined for the 2017 season by a new driver to Bodymotion Racing, Drake Kemper, starting at the Roar before the Rolex 24 test at Daytona International Speedway which takes place January 6-8. Jones and Kemper will look to capitalize on their individual sports car racing successes as the new driver combination sets sights on the IMSA CTSC Street Tuner (ST) class championship.

Jones impressed in his first full season campaign with Bodymotion in 2016, after earning a pole and track record in only his second start in 2015 during a partial schedule. Earning nine top-10s and three top 5s during the 2016 season, Jones’ accomplishments included a podium finish at Watkins Glen, a first for Bodymotion’s IMSA ST program. Jones finished the season 5th in the final points standings, placing him as the top rookie in the series for 2016. Jones has various experience and proven results in NASCAR, open-wheel racing, stock cars and karting. His resume in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge has grown rapidly in a short timeframe, as his versatile experience has translated to sports car racing with Bodymotion.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be back with Bodymotion for the 2017 season,” said Jones. “I believe in this team and the people within it. We had a solid season last year but we want more. Many improvements have been made during the off season and we are more determined than ever. I believe with the support from VeriStor once again in 2017 our Cayman can fight for a championship this year as we better our top five results from 2016.”

Kemper has shown speed and talent during select IMSA Continental SportsCar Challenge events in 2016 as he plans to run a full-season in 2017 with Bodymotion. A former Mazda development driver, Kemper won the 2014 Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Pro Challenge and is also a winner and proven contender in the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup. He has additionally amassed multiple track records in a Porsche Boxster during Porsche Owner events at the start of his driving career. Kemper will be going back to his roots, racing the Bodymotion Cayman this season.

“First off I need to thank Mazda for being my racing family for the last four years,” said Kemper. “They allowed me to start my professional racing career. That being said, I’ve been racing Porsches since day one. My first racecar was a Spec Boxster, I absolutely love Porsches and racing a mid-engine Cayman in ST is going to be an absolutely awesome, but comfortable transition for me. What better team to sign with than Bodymotion. They understand the platform in-and-out, racing in both GS and ST. The knowledge the team’s crew and drivers have will be a huge advantage for us this season. I fully expect that with hard work and dedication, we can win this championship. I'm so excited to enter a full season of the CTSC and race among some of the best drivers in the country. This is a huge honor, and I'd like to humbly thank Bodymotion for this opportunity.”

Bodymotion team Manager and car chief for the 31 VeriStor sponsored entry Geoff Abel commented, “We finished 2016 with our best team and driver results ever – including our first win in the world for Porsche’s new GT 4 club sport, double podiums at the Glen, and the pole at Atlanta – the entire crew at the shop and at the track are pumped up. Many upgrades to equipment and to the cars this off season will help propel this team into 2017. We’ll be in the championship hunt with both cars in both classes.”

Bodymotion Racing will participate in the Roar before the 24 at Daytona International Speedway next weekend. Jones and Kemper will drive the No.31 VeriStor Bodymotion Racing Porsche Cayman ST and be joined by Bodymotion Racing teammates Cameron Cassels and Trent Hindman who will be running the No.12 Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport in the CTSC Grand Sport (GS) class throughout the season.

*From team media release

12/30/16

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