Pirelli World Challenge: GMG, Sofronas Take Incredible Third Victory of Season

GMG Racing Press Release

AUSTIN, Texas (May 19, 2013)- In what has been an unbelievable 2013 Pirelli World Challenge Season, GMG’s James Sofronas took his third victory of the season during this weekend’s fourth and fifth rounds at Circuit of the Americas.

“Wow, what an incredible day,” stated Sofronas. “Yesterday’s race with Johnny showed we knew we had a good car, and once again luck was on our side today. The key to this entire season has been having a reliable and consistent car in the Audi R8 LMS, and a crew that has been relentless in looking over every detail. The support we’ve had from Audi on this program has obviously been instrumental, and the guys have been working non-stop to get us here. I’m glad we can celebrate with all of them.”

Following a successful test at the brand-new Austin, Texas facility, the entire Global Motorsports Group (GMG) came in to this weekend’s rounds of the championship knowing that they had a team capable of victory. With a series-record seven cars entered by the team, five of them being the Audi R8 LMS, Sofronas never lost a step in pursuit of his first series championship.

Starting Saturday’s fourth round from the second position, James’ No. 14 Mobil 1 / Children’s Tumor Foundation Audi R8 LMS had a fairly quiet race. Falling back during the standing start, a spirited battle between Sofronas and the No. 8 Cadillac of Andy Pilgrim as well as GMG teammate Duncan Ende led to race-leader Johnny O’Connell building a healthy lead over the field. While Sofronas would comfortably place himself in second during the later stages of the race, the pace of O’Connell’s No. 3 Cadillac was simply too much, with James finishing second; his fourth straight podium.

During today’s fifth round, however, the race would take a significantly different turn. Starting on the front row, the Audi R8 LMS would fall back to third behind the leading Cadillacs. By lap three, the Cadillac of O’Connell would pull to the side with mechanical gremlins. With Sofronas now in second, the balance over the course of the race for the Audi allowed the No. 14 to gain ground on the now-leading Cadillac of Pilgrim. Over time, the consistency of the No. 14 was simply too much for Pilgrim, with Sofronas taking the lead on lap eight and never looking back.

It would be the third victory in five races for James’ 2013 effort, and the Villa Park, California resident has never been off the podium this season.

For Duncan Ende’s No. 24 STANDD / Merchant Services, Ltd. Audi R8 LMS, a seventh and fifth-place finish were not indicative of the Californian’s overall showing.

After qualifying seventh for Saturday’s round, Ende made immediate work of the field in front of him, eventually finding himself glued to Sofronas’ rear-end during the middle stages of the race. Fighting his teammate hard for a podium position, a late re-start would allow Alex Figge’s No. 9 Volvo to put Ende behind, eventually fading back to seventh in the mix, and literally finishing 0.1 seconds behind Mike Skeen’s No. 2 Corvette in a last lap drag race.

For today’s round, Ende was determined to translate his third starting position into his first career Pirelli World Challenge podium. For much of the race it looked like that would finally materialize. Never losing site of his teammate, Ende pursued Sofronas during the entirety of the race. Finding himself in third after O’Connell’s retirement, Ende would spend a good deal of the middle portion of the race battling with the Cadillac of Andy Pilgrim, eventually making the pass with less than 10 laps to go. Sitting in second, a late-race caution would put Duncan right behind race leader James Sofronas for a three-lap shootout to the end. Unfortunately, a punctured left rear tire prior to the caution would create a handful for Ende, eventually leading to Pilgrim passing him on the re-start. Ende would nurse the car home for the final laps, eventually settling for fifth.

“Another crazy weekend, what do I say?” stated Ende. “I was disappointed with Friday’s qualifying, so it was great to come back on Saturday and immediately catch up to James. We didn’t have any mechanical issues and we were finally able to show our ability, but I just caught some bad breaks in traffic and fell back. Today was another great race, we just slipped at the end with the tire. I was really hoping to race James at the end and finally come home with some hardware, but I went wide to avoid crashing into Andy, and from there I was just trying to nurse the car home. It’s disappointing to miss the podium again, but at least we were in contention all weekend and free of mechanical issues.”

For Alex Welch’s No. 08 Spyder / Lasso Audi R8 LMS, a quiet weekend would net two top-10 finishes for the Colorado resident. On Saturday, Welch would run consistent and trouble free to an eventual ninth-place finish. Running one of the fastest laps in the field, Alex was part of a massive mid-field battle, never putting a scratch on the car in the process.

Looking for another top-10 on Sunday, Welch set his fastest lap of the weekend during the race’s third lap, once again fighting hard with the Corvette of Mike Skeen and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 of Tim Pappas, eventually taking sixth.

“I’m pretty happy with the weekend,” stated Welch. “The strength of James’ and Duncan’s runs showed just how good the program is, and with a little less traffic I think we could have the No. 08 right there. It was great to run clean with Tim and Mike, and I think we found a few things that will help us this season. I definitely have my eyes set on a podium at my next race.”

For Bret Curtis, a mixed weekend was on hand for the Westlake Village, California resident. After showing strong during practice, Curtis showed the potential of the No. 32 Spectra Resources Audi R8 LMS by qualifying the car in fifth on Friday.

Unfortunately, the highlights stopped there as Curtis had a difficult race on Saturday. On lap five, an errant Porsche crashed hard in to the No. 32, causing unrepairable damage to Curtis’ vehicle and retiring in 16th place.

Hoping for better results on Sunday, a hard weekend of car repairs by the GMG crew would give Curtis another great car, however unfortunate luck would rear its head again. On the first turn of the race, another incident would cause damage yet again, this time allowing Curtis to continue on, though wounded, to a quiet ninth.

“We definitely could have used a little better luck out here,” stated Curtis. “I was really pumped after Friday. To qualify in fifth we showed our potential, the guys really gave me a good car. Saturday’s incident was really unfortunate. The other driver’s move was nothing I would have expected, and pretty frustrating. The guys did a great job getting the car turned around. Unfortunately, contact again today before I was out of the first turn kind of ruined any hope of doing well, but at least we were able to get a top-10 out of it. The potential is definitely there for some great results, hopefully it will show soon.”

Running a forgettable weekend was team newcomer Mike Hedlund. Driving the No. 40 Audi R8 LMS, the Woodside, California native showed considerable ability in a car he’d never driven prior to this weekend. Qualifying at a similar time to his teammates, Mike went in to the weekend with high expectations. However, a series of mechanical problems would prove otherwise. During Saturday’s race, an overheating issue while in sixth place would cause Hedlund to retire, eventually credited with 15th. Twenty-four hours later, the driver would retire again with gearbox issues.

“It definitely wasn’t the weekend we had wanted,” stated Hedlund. “It’s part of racing to have mechanical gremlins like this, hopefully it’s all out of the way now for next time. I really appreciate all the effort that the GMG guys put into the car, and it would have been nice to have had some results. Regardless, I appreciate the opportunity, and wish the team the best for the year!”

Finally, Bill Ziegler’s No. 95 Swisher Racing Pontiac would also have a very mixed weekend in the GTS category. Continuing to develop their machine, a promising series of runs in practice and qualifying were unfortunately marred by mechanical retirements on Saturday and Sunday.

“It definitely wasn’t the weekend we’d hoped for,” stated Ziegler. “Development is a big part of this program, and unfortunately it means you can have weekends like this one. I appreciate all the work that the GMG guys did to get us here, and we’ll get them at Detroit.”

With the team putting a very strong stamp on the Pirelli World Challenge GT Championship, there is little time to relax as the team prepares for the next round in just two weeks. The Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix will hold the sixth and seventh rounds of the championship on Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2.

NBC Sports Network will feature television coverage of this weekend’s race at Circuit of the Americas on Sunday, June 16, at 5PM ET.

About GMG

Founded in 2001 by James Sofronas and Fabryce Kutyba, GMG has quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning and racing facility. What began as a small 1200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a 30,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility located in (Orange County) Santa Ana, California. The staff's experience, attention to detail, and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts world wide. Whether you want to maximize the performance of your street car, or race wheel-to-wheel on both amateur and professional racing series across North America, GMG’s reputation for service and quality is unmatched.
Learn more at www.gmgracing.com

About Mobil 1

Conventional oil is simply refined crude oil. Mobil 1 synthetic oil, however, is not only refined, but it is also distilled, purified, and broken down into its basic molecules. It is then rebuilt and added to, so that it can better protect against wear, high heat, cold weather and sludge buildup. Ultimately, this process helps your car’s engine run better for longer. You can explore more about these benefits below.
Learn more at www.mobiloil.com

About Lasso

Lasso is a request-based, sharing network predicated on a very simple idea: You have something that I want—and you may not even know it until I ask for it. With so much content cluttering our phones, tablets, PCs and social networks, it can be difficult to seek out and find the specific items of interest to you. Friends or colleagues may not share this content with you directly because they’re drowning in data overload themselves. Often, these friends aren’t sure exactly what you want. Lasso makes it easy for you to round up the digital content you want from friends—simply by asking for it. By putting the onus on the requester, instead of the person holding the content, you’ll be in a much better position to actually receive the digital content you’re interested in.

Learn more at www.lasso.me

About Merchant Services Ltd.

In 2001 Merchant Services Ltd. was founded with three basic principles in mind: quality, service, and commitment. Inspired by our racing heritage we pride ourself in providing the highest level of customer service and support 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Merchant Services Ltd. develops long term relationships with both our merchants and banking partners allowing us to have the highest customer retention rate in the industry. Founded by a professional race car driver, innovation and efficiency have always been our core competencies, ensuring that our merchants receive the cutting edge solutions their businesses need.

Learn more at www.merchantservicesltd.com

About Spyder

Spyder was founded by avid skier and outdoor athlete David Jacobs. He rose to world-class rankings as a competitive skier, and stayed connected to the sport he loves by coaching, designing related products, and building one of the most powerful brands in the industry. His dedication to the sport of skiing and the Spyder brand is as inspiring as it is intriguing. Spyder's growth exploded over the turn of the century, and the company is now the largest ski-specialty brand in the world. David has recently discovered the adrenaline rush in racing classic Formula One cars, finding success - not surprisingly - in this new pastime. For a man who's thrived on sports, technology, and professional advancement, the world is sure to see David go a few more times around the track.

Learn more at www.spyder.com

About Spectra Resources

Spectra Resources is a specialized trading company designed for buyers and sellers to purchase and sell steel in any part of the world efficiently and economically.

Learn more at www.spectraresources.com

About STANDD

Stop Texting And Distracted Driving (STANDD) was founded by Diveeta Thompson, whose son Rodney lost his life while driving. There were numerous factors that played a factor - speed, music, and texting. In an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of texting and driving, Diveeta founded STANDD and has been working diligently throughout her home state of Indiana and nationally through Duncan Ende's motorsports program to spread the message of the dangers of distracted driving. STANDD also promotes the Rodney O. Thompson II Scholarship, which was established to help young people fulfill their goal of attending college after high school.

Learn more at www.standd.org

Learn more at www.racersroast.com

About Swisher

The company began in 1861 when David Swisher received a small cigar business in settlement of a debt. Back then, cigars were only a sideline for Swisher and his four sons, just one of many products that they hawked across the Midwest for the “rolling stores” or wagons. Today, Swisher International, Inc. is a leader in the tobacco business, accounting for one-third of the United States' cigar sales and is America’s largest cigar exporter.

Learn more at www.swisher.com

About United Steel Supply

United Steel Supply is a leading distributor and processor of steel products dedicated to the metal building industry in the United States.
Learn more at www.unitedsteelsupply.com

Photo credit: Pirelli World Challenge

Pirelli World Challenge: Strong second for GMG Racing Audi in Austin race 1

By Tarek Ramchani

The Circuit of the Americas is hosting the third round of the Pirelli World Challenge this weekend. The series is supporting the V8 Supercars in Texas. A full field of Audi R8 race cars have entered the demanding GT class with positive performances.

The 50-minute sprint race saw a great battle for the win, which went right down to the checkered flag. James Sofronas, the series points leader with his #14 Audi R8 LMS, finished in a close second place. The GMG Racing team owner and driver crossed the finish line right behind the winner, Johnny O'Connel, in the factory Cadillac CTS-V. The Austin track produced a great race and battles with a good quality field in both the GT and GTS classes. The other Audi R8 cars finished in seventh place with Duncan Ende and ninth with Alex Welch, both driving for GMG Racing. The only Audi R8 GRAND-AM in the field was driven by Jeff Courtney and ended in tenth place. Unfortunately Bret Curtis and Mike Hedlund faced troubles during the race.

The second race is set for tomorrow. We wish the best of luck for all six Audi R8 drivers.

Photo credit : Pirelli World Challenge

JCR Motorsports Ready for Double-Header in Pirelli World Challenge Championships at Circuit of The Americas

JCR Motorsports Press Release

JCR Motorsports driver Jeff Courtney will pilot the Kenda/RecStuff.com Audi R8 LMS at Circuit of The Americas for Rounds 4 & 5 of the Pirelli World Challenge championship schedule.

Coming back from an exciting two days of testing in Austin, JCR Motorsports heads into the Circuit of The Americas weekend optimistically, looking to establish two solid finishes at the world renowned circuit. Courtney will race the Kenda/RecStuff Audi R8 LMS in two 50-minute double-header sprint races, May 18th and 19th, alongside a total of 19 GT class cars entered into the event.
“I was really happy with the testing we had earlier this month,” stated Courtney. “We were able to get a lot of laps in the car and finally work on setup changes along with getting some needed seat time. The course is a lot of fun and super busy, which I like. The facility is awesome and the team is very excited about the two races coming up this weekend.”

Adding to the anticipation of strong finishes for the weekend, Courtney will be joined by family and friends, “It’s exciting to have relatives and close friends here with us,” said Courtney. “We want to put on a strong show for everyone and hopefully they bring us some good luck.”
The Pirelli World Challenge races at Circuit of The Americas will be using the two-mile "short course" configuration which routes drivers through the middle of the "S" corners to the back straight.

Tune into the Live Stream on WCTV at www.world-challengetv.com for full coverage of the Pirelli World Challenge Cadillac Sports Car Challenge at the Circuit of The Americas. The full weekend event schedule is available online, click here.

Photo credit: Pirelli World Challenge

GMG, Sofronas Deliver Second Consecutive Audi Victory in Wild Pirelli World Challenge Race at Long Beach

GMG Racing Press Release

LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 22, 2013)- In yet another wild round of the Pirelli World Challenge, GMG’s James Sofronas came away from yesterday’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach with his second consecutive victory of the season.

“Wow, I am the luckiest guy in the world,” stated Sofronas. “I never want to see bad luck take anyone out, but at the same time it was a huge coup for us to win at our home track. We probably didn’t have the fastest car, but somehow Lady Luck gifted us another one today.”
With the entire GMG organization being based just 30 minutes south of the famed Long Beach street circuit, Sofronas came in to the weekend looking to really deliver in front of his clients, family, and friends. Qualifying the car on pole position, today’s race was anything but smooth for the Newport Beach resident.

As the green flag fell for the series’ signature standing start, Sofronas’ no. 14 Mobil 1 / Children’s Tumor Foundation Audi R8 LMS had a solid run headed in to the first turn, but was no match for the Volvo S60 and Cadillac CTS-V.R entries, who have spent several seasons refining their ability to launch from a standstill. With the field settling in to its pace for the opening laps, Sofronas was in a familiar top-five position behind the leading no. 9 Volvo of Alex Figge and no. 3 Cadillac of Johnny O’Connell.

As the race progressed, Sofronas established a comfortable pace in third, however the Audi did not appear to have anything for the two leaders in front of him. The race nearing the end, Sofronas appeared to simply settle in to a third-place run, opting to preserve the car and focus on valuable championship points.

However, with four laps to go, the race would take a chaotic turn. Headed in to the first corner, a major mechanical failure on the rear end of race leader Alex Figge would send the no. 9 Volvo in to a dramatic spin down the corner’s escape road. With GTS driver Andy Lee incurring an unrelated accident simultaneously, the race would fall under caution.

With Figge out, Johnny O’Connell assumed the lead, with Sofronas now in second. A significant amount of track cleanup would be required and it was expected that the race would stay under caution until the end, thereby gifting O’Connell the victory.

With the Cadillac team on the cusp of their first victory in the 2013 season, a bizarre change of fortune would occur. As Figge’s Volvo suffered from its rear-end failure, pieces of debris from the car punctured the trailing Cadillac’s radiator, meaning O’Connell was losing water fast as his car circled during the final caution laps. With Sofronas not allowed to pass under caution, the Californian simply had to spend the final laps watching a smoking O’Connell limp his way to the finish.

However, with only a half-lap left, O’Connell’s engine finally gave up entirely, with the Cadillac driver being left with no choice but to pull over and get out of his retired car.
Sofronas would cruise home to victory in the final five corners, literally taking the lead on the last lap, and under caution.

Furthering his championship point lead, Sofronas took his fifth career victory and second at Long Beach.
“I absolutely hate it for Johnny and Alex, they were both the class of the field,” stated Sofronas. “However, everyone at the team deserved this. The guys put a lot of time in to making a great appearance at our home race, and we couldn’t have had a better result. We have such great momentum for Austin, but first I want to enjoy today with my family.”

Also finishing in the same position he started was Los Angeles-native Duncan Ende. However, much like Sofronas, Ende’s path to finishing where he qualified was not exactly easy.
When the race started for Ende’s no. 24 Merchant Services Ltd. / STANDD Audi R8 LMS, a mechanical issue at the start would slow the car significantly for the opening lap. Driving with a handicap that essentially held back the cars overall speed, Ende found himself languishing at the back of the field by time he approached his second lap.

By time his second lap began, the issue had cleared itself, forcing Ende to once again fight his way from behind. Ende made impressive work of the field in front of him, steadily gaining position lap-by-lap, eventually finding his way to fourth at the finish.

“That was probably the hardest I’ve ever driven to finish where I started,” stated Ende, who took his first-ever Long Beach podium yesterday during his race in the American Le Mans Series. “We had a bit of an issue at the start and that really held me back, but luckily the issue cleared itself out. We had quite a few little hiccups during the course of the race, but somehow our good luck matched our bad to finish where we started. We’re one step closer to a podium, and I think the race in Austin should suit us well.”

Also taking his first top-five of the season, Bret Curtis would represent well for his home race. After being penalized for a rules violation at the start, Curtis joined Ende in making a brilliant come-from-behind drive in his no. 32 Spectra Resources / United Steel Supply Audi R8 LMS to finish fifth.

“The car next to me began to lurch forward during the standing start, and it tricked me in to doing the same,” stated Curtis. “As soon as I realized the race hadn’t started I immediately stopped the car, but it was too late. Once the race got going, I was actually happy with everything. We ran some really fast times, and chipped away at everyone in front of us. A top-five after all of that is a great finish, so I’m pretty happy.”
Rounding out the team’s GT entries were drivers Brent Holden and Alex Welch. Holden had his career best finish in the Pirelli World Challenge, driving a steady and fairly quiet race to put his no. 44 machine in seventh. Welch was well-positioned to take a top-five, if not better, before a gearbox issue would relegate the Colorado-native to 12th.

For the team’s lone GTS driver, Bill Ziegler, another error free run would net the Floridian a 14th place finish. Driving the no. 95 Swisher Pontiac Solstice, Ziegler’s primary goal was to continue with the car’s development and have a solid run.

“It was a pretty steady race for us,” stated Ziegler. “With the yellows we learned a lot about how the car is with tire cycles. If we’d had a couple more laps I think we could have had a couple of the guys ahead of us, but we’ve definitely progressed with the program.”

While there is some celebration within the entire GMG organization, the party can’t last for long as they prepare for their next round just a few weeks away. Shipping out to the brand new Circuit of the Americas facility in Austin, Texas, the entire Pirelli World Challenge paddock is set for an exciting new venue in partnership with the Australian V8 Supercars series.

Television highlights of today’s victory at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach can be seen on Sunday, May 5, at 2:00PM on NBC Sports Network.

The series fourth and fifth rounds at Circuit of the Americas will take place on May 18 and 19.

Photo credit: GMG Racing

Sofronas Audi Takes Last-Minute Pole at Long Beach

GMG Racing Press Release

ONG BEACH, Calif. (April 20, 2013)- With track position at a premium on the twisty confines of tomorrow’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, James Sofronas and GMG will start on the pole position in tomorrow’s Pirelli World Challenge event.

Qualifying his no. 14 GMG/Mobil 1 Audi R8 LMS in first with a time of 1:21.087, Sofronas made best use of his tires late in the qualifying session as the track began to warm. Driving in front of his home crowd, the Newport Beach resident will have the best view of the track.

“The car was absolutely perfect,” stated the Californian. “After yesterday’s practice we knew we would be close, but the competition is so tight in this series you never know what will happen in qualifying. To do this in front of our home crowd is a great start, but of course the race is what we came to win, tomorrow will definitely be tough.”

Also turning in a stellar performance was fellow Southern Californian Duncan Ende. Hailing from just up the freeway in Los Angeles, Ende turned in the best performance of his brief Pirelli World Challenge career, qualifying fourth with a time of 1:21.542.

With a significant presence this weekend from the Stop Texting And Distracted Driving organization (STANDD.org) on hand to support the no. 24 machine, Ende was extremely pleased with his performance.

“This is definitely a great weekend so far,” stated Ende. “I was very happy with the car, and it was great to finally to capitalize on the potential we knew we had. Between yesterday’s ALMS qualifying and today’s Pirelli World Challenge, it’s been a great weekend!”

For today’s American Le Mans Series (ALMS) race, Ende will start his Prototype Challenge machine in first position.

Third among the GMG boys and sixth overall, Alex Welch also made good work of his no. 08 Spyder / Lasso Audi R8 LMS. Qualifying with a time of 1:21.917, Welch will start tomorrow from the third row.

“I’m pretty happy with today, this is always such a fun event,” stated Welch. “It’s always a crazy race so we’re hoping for a good clean run.”

Rounding out the GMG Audi lineup was Bret Curtis, who also kept the car in the top ten. Living in nearby Westlake Village, Curtis will start the no. 32 United Steel Supply / Spectra Resources Audi R8 LMS on the outside of the fifth row.

“What a great day for the entire team,” stated Curtis. “It’s always good to have a top ten qualifying, and with the attrition of this race anything is possible. I’m very excited to race in front of my home crowd.”

With the downtown streets of Long Beach packed with over 150,000 people this weekend, the entire team at GMG is looking forward to racing in front of their home crowd. The race will take place tomorrow at 4:30PM, with television coverage on Sunday, May 5, at 2:00PM.

About GMG
Founded in 2001 by James Sofronas and Fabryce Kutyba, GMG has quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning and racing facility. What began as a small 1200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a 30,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility located in (Orange County) Santa Ana, California. The staff's experience, attention to detail, and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts world wide. Whether you want to maximize the performance of your street car, or race wheel-to-wheel on both amateur and professional racing series across North America, GMG’s reputation for service and quality is unmatched.
Learn more at www.mobiloil.com

About Mobil 1
Conventional oil is simply refined crude oil. Mobil 1 synthetic oil, however, is not only refined, but it is also distilled, purified, and broken down into its basic molecules. It is then rebuilt and added to, so that it can better protect against wear, high heat, cold weather and sludge buildup. Ultimately, this process helps your car’s engine run better for longer. You can explore more about these benefits below.
Learn more at www.gmgracing.com

About Lasso
Lasso is a request-based, sharing network predicated on a very simple idea: You have something that I want—and you may not even know it until I ask for it. With so much content cluttering our phones, tablets, PCs and social networks, it can be difficult to seek out and find the specific items of interest to you. Friends or colleagues may not share this content with you directly because they’re drowning in data overload themselves. Often, these friends aren’t sure exactly what you want. Lasso makes it easy for you to round up the digital content you want from friends—simply by asking for it. By putting the onus on the requester, instead of the person holding the content, you’ll be in a much better position to actually receive the digital content you’re interested in.
Learn more at www.lasso.me

About Merchant Services Ltd.
In 2001 Merchant Services Ltd. was founded with three basic principles in mind: quality, service, and commitment. Inspired by our racing heritage we pride ourself in providing the highest level of customer service and support 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Merchant Services Ltd. develops long term relationships with both our merchants and banking partners allowing us to have the highest customer retention rate in the industry. Founded by a professional race car driver, innovation and efficiency have always been our core competencies, ensuring that our merchants receive the cutting edge solutions their businesses need.
Learn more at www.merchantservicesltd.com

About Spyder
Spyder was founded by avid skier and outdoor athlete David Jacobs. He rose to world-class rankings as a competitive skier, and stayed connected to the sport he loves by coaching, designing related products, and building one of the most powerful brands in the industry. His dedication to the sport of skiing and the Spyder brand is as inspiring as it is intriguing. Spyder's growth exploded over the turn of the century, and the company is now the largest ski-specialty brand in the world. David has recently discovered the adrenaline rush in racing classic Formula One cars, finding success - not surprisingly - in this new pastime. For a man who's thrived on sports, technology, and professional advancement, the world is sure to see David go a few more times around the track.
Learn more at www.spyder.com

About Spectra Resources
Spectra Resources is a specialized trading company designed for buyers and sellers to purchase and sell steel in any part of the world efficiently and economically.

Learn more at www.spectraresources.com

About STANDD
Stop Texting And Distracted Driving (STANDD) was founded by Diveeta Thompson, whose son Rodney lost his life while driving. There were numerous factors that played a factor - speed, music, and texting. In an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of texting and driving, Diveeta founded STANDD and has been working diligently throughout her home state of Indiana and nationally through Duncan Ende's motorsports program to spread the message of the dangers of distracted driving. STANDD also promotes the Rodney O. Thompson II Scholarship, which was established to help young people fulfill their goal of attending college after high school.
Learn more at www.standd.org
Learn more at www.racersroast.com

About Swisher
The company began in 1861 when David Swisher received a small cigar business in settlement of a debt. Back then, cigars were only a sideline for Swisher and his four sons, just one of many products that they hawked across the Midwest for the “rolling stores” or wagons. Today, Swisher International, Inc. is a leader in the tobacco business, accounting for one-third of the United States' cigar sales and is America’s largest cigar exporter.
Learn more at www.swisher.com

About United Steel Supply
United Steel Supply is a leading distributor and processor of steel products dedicated to the metal building industry in the United States.
Learn more at www.unitedsteelsupply.com

Photo credit: Pirelli World Challenge

GMG Heads to Home Race at Long Beach in Pursuit of Repeat Victory

GMG Racing Press Release

SANTA ANA, Calif. (April 16, 2013)- Just weeks after delivering their first Pirelli World Challenge for the prolific Audi R8 LMS, GMG heads in to their home race at The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach with five cars ready for repeat success.

As the 37th running of North America’s oldest street race, The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach holds a special significance for much of the GMG team, whose shop is located just 30 minutes south in nearby Santa Ana.

Entering the weekend as not only the most recent race winner but also the GT-category point leader, GMG Team Owner and Driver James Sofronas is under immense pressure to deliver at his home event. With several clients, friends, and family in attendance, the team will hold a special presence during the event. With countless tuning customers on hand to watch the action, the team will hold a very large paddock presence in the Long Beach Convention Center.

Driving the no. 14 Mobil 1 / Children’s Tumor Foundation Audi R8 LMS, Sofronas is keen to impress.

“Our win in St. Petersburg was very special, but we were also very lucky with how everything unfolded,” stated Sofronas. “Long Beach is really the race that everyone wants to take, and we’re supremely focused on it. It’s not just the home race, it’s really the crown jewel for the series. With so many fans, and so many customers for us, we want to win this one bad. We always seem to race well here, including taking the win in 2009 as well as a second place in 2011, but everyone comes here to win.”

Also from Southern California in nearby Westlake Village, driver Bret Curtis returns for the third time at the tricky street circuit. Curtis, in the no. 34 Spectra Resources Audi R8 LMS, is looking for his second Long Beach podium

“During my first visit here in 2010, we took second in the ALMS race,” stated Curtis. “It was a great feeling to lead some laps, and really have a good run at things. It's such a great event, one I really look forward to coming to, and would set some nice momentum for the rest of the year.”

Rounding out the Southern Californian contingent will be Los Angeles-native Duncan Ende. Living just a few miles up the 405 freeway, Ende will be driving Long Beach for the fourth time in his fourth different car (and recently announced participation in this weekend’s ALMS race as well). Having previously driven the race in open-wheel, prototype, as well as Porsche GT ranks, the very balanced characteristics of the no. 24 STANDD / Merchant Services, Ltd. Audi R8 LMS should allow Ende to have his best performance to date at the track. While driving last month in the Streets of St. Petersburg, Ende demonstrated his potential by climbing from last to seventh.

“Driving in Long Beach is unlike anything else,” stated Ende. “It’s nice to be so close to home for a change, and I think we’ll show really well here. St. Petersburg, while hampered with bad luck, showed the potential for this no. 24 team, and I’ll have plenty of motivation from my hometown.”

Following a consistent series of races in St. Petersburg, Alex Welch will also return for Long Beach in the no. 08 Spyder / Lasso Audi R8 LMS. Welch, joining from Colorado, is driving the notorious street circuit for the second time, having raced last year in The American Le Mans Series.

“The car should be pretty well suited to Long Beach,” stated Welch. “I had my first taste of the track last year and really enjoyed the event, but this year should be a whole new challenge driving the Audi in the Pirelli World Challenge. If we can stay clean I don’t see why we can’t do better than we did in St. Pete.”

Rounding out the lineup will be Floridian Bill Ziegler, once again returning in the no. 95 Swisher Racing Pontiac Solstice. Ziegler, who had a fairly quiet opening weekend in St. Petersburg, is looking to capitalize on the long straights of Long Beach.

“The car was actually really fast in St. Petersburg,” stated Ziegler. “If we didn’t have our mechanical challenges, we could have really shown well, and that will carry on to Long Beach. There are a lot of similarities between the two tracks, and we learned a lot last month, so I’m looking forward to Long Beach.”

Heading in five cars strong and with the added pressure of being the team’s home race, GMG looks forward to headlining the closing event of the famed Grand Prix weekend. As the last race of a schedule that features everything from IndyCars to Formula Drift, to even a celebrity race, the team looks forward to delivering for the home crowd.

The series will race this coming Sunday, April 21, at 4:30PM, with NBC Sports Network broadcasting the race on Sunday, May 5, at 2PM.

About GMG

Founded in 2001 by James Sofronas and Fabryce Kutyba, GMG has quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning and racing facility. What began as a small 1200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a 30,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility located in (Orange County) Santa Ana, California. The staff's experience, attention to detail, and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts world wide. Whether you want to maximize the performance of your street car, or race wheel-to-wheel on both amateur and professional racing series across North America, GMG’s reputation for service and quality is unmatched.
Learn more at www.gmgracing.com

About Lasso

Lasso is a request-based, sharing network predicated on a very simple idea: You have something that I want—and you may not even know it until I ask for it. With so much content cluttering our phones, tablets, PCs and social networks, it can be difficult to seek out and find the specific items of interest to you. Friends or colleagues may not share this content with you directly because they’re drowning in data overload themselves. Often, these friends aren’t sure exactly what you want. Lasso makes it easy for you to round up the digital content you want from friends—simply by asking for it. By putting the onus on the requester, instead of the person holding the content, you’ll be in a much better position to actually receive the digital content you’re interested in.

Learn more at www.lasso.me

About Merchant Services Ltd.

In 2001 Merchant Services Ltd. was founded with three basic principles in mind: quality, service, and commitment. Inspired by our racing heritage we pride ourself in providing the highest level of customer service and support 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Merchant Services Ltd. develops long term relationships with both our merchants and banking partners allowing us to have the highest customer retention rate in the industry. Founded by a professional race car driver, innovation and efficiency have always been our core competencies, ensuring that our merchants receive the cutting edge solutions their businesses need.

Learn more at www.merchantservicesltd.com

About Spyder

Spyder was founded by avid skier and outdoor athlete David Jacobs. He rose to world-class rankings as a competitive skier, and stayed connected to the sport he loves by coaching, designing related products, and building one of the most powerful brands in the industry. His dedication to the sport of skiing and the Spyder brand is as inspiring as it is intriguing. Spyder's growth exploded over the turn of the century, and the company is now the largest ski-specialty brand in the world. David has recently discovered the adrenaline rush in racing classic Formula One cars, finding success - not surprisingly - in this new pastime. For a man who's thrived on sports, technology, and professional advancement, the world is sure to see David go a few more times around the track.

Learn more at www.spyder.com

About Spectra Resources

Spectra Resources is a specialized trading company designed for buyers and sellers to purchase and sell steel in any part of the world efficiently and economically.

Learn more at www.spectraresources.com

About STANDD

Stop Texting And Distracted Driving (STANDD) was founded by Diveeta Thompson, whose son Rodney lost his life while driving. There were numerous factors that played a factor - speed, music, and texting. In an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of texting and driving, Diveeta founded STANDD and has been working diligently throughout her home state of Indiana and nationally through Duncan Ende's motorsports program to spread the message of the dangers of distracted driving. STANDD also promotes the Rodney O. Thompson II Scholarship, which was established to help young people fulfill their goal of attending college after high school.

Learn more at www.standd.org

Learn more at www.racersroast.com

About Swisher

The company began in 1861 when David Swisher received a small cigar business in settlement of a debt. Back then, cigars were only a sideline for Swisher and his four sons, just one of many products that they hawked across the Midwest for the “rolling stores” or wagons. Today, Swisher International, Inc. is a leader in the tobacco business, accounting for one-third of the United States' cigar sales and is America’s largest cigar exporter.

Learn more at www.swisher.com

About United Steel Supply

United Steel Supply is a leading distributor and processor of steel products dedicated to the metal building industry in the United States.
Learn more at www.unitedsteelsupply.com

Photo credit: GMG Racing

Gallery: Pirelli World Challenge at St. Petersburg by motorsport.com

By Tarek Ramchani

It was dream weekend for GMG Racing and Audi at St. Petersburg. Team owner and top driver James Sofronas was able to take race 2 win as well a very strong second place in the first race. The other Audi R8 LMS cars did well too in a very demanding GT class.

Our friends at motorsport.com were on site and had a massive photo coverage for the event, you can see it here. A special thanks to Eric Gilbert from motorsport.com providing us with some great photos from Pirelli World Challenge round 1.

Photo credit: Eric Gilbert Motorsport.com

Video: Onboard the St. Petersburg GMG Audi R8 LMS victory

By Johan Laubscher

GMG Racing won the second race at St. Petersburg last weekend. James Sofronas drove the #14 Audi R8 LMS to victory in a closely contested SCCA World Challenge race.

The team has now released an onboard video, featuring video footage from the camera mounted on the front splitter of Sofronas’ car. It is a great watch with close action and it includes all the pivotal moments of the race. 

Photo credit: GMG Racing

GMG Delivers Audi Victory in Pirelli World Challenge

GMG Racing Press Release

James Sofronas Carries no. 14 to Victory in Round Two; Duncan Ende Shines in Impressive Come-From-Behind Race

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (March 24, 2013)- Following an intense battle that saw everything from side-by-side racing to late-race changes of fortune, GMG’s James Sofronas would deliver the prodigious Audi R8 LMS its first victory in the Pirelli World Challenge Series.

“I am really, really proud of this entire team,” stated Sofronas. “We’ve been working hard on this program throughout the off-season and the results really showed this weekend. Many of the guys were actually at the track until 5:00AM to get us all on the track today, and it’s that kind of commitment that put us where we are. Audi Sport Customer Racing has been great to work with, and they really came through for us this weekend. The car was absolutely fantastic. We knew the key to winning would be to really manage the Pirelli’s, and as the race wore on it proved perfectly.”

Starting from the pole position as a result of taking the fastest lap in yesterday’s first round, Sofronas found himself caught out during the race’s standing start. With many of the competitors around him having well-tuned launch control systems, the GMG Team Principal would head into the tricky first turn in fifth position. Knowing that tire management would be a decisive factor, Sofronas repeated his efforts from yesterday by simply managing a stable race and taking his opportunities as they came.

Climbing from fifth to fourth, Sofronas would engage in a several lap battle with the no. 6 Volvo of Randy Pobst, eventually making his pass in Turn 10. With Sofronas now in third and poised for his second podium of the weekend, luck and attrition would play a vital role in the subsequent laps. As Sofronas began to reel in the leading no. 9 Volvo of Alex Figge and no. 46 Porsche of Ryan Dalziel, the frequent traffic of the slower GTS cars would catch Dalziel out with 12 laps to go. As Dalziel, originally from Scotland, chased down the leader, a daring move inside of a lapped car would result in contact cutting a left-front tire in the process. Dalziel would have to pit, eventually finishing sixth. With Sofronas now up to second, luck would play its part with only five laps to go, as Figge slowed with a mechanical issue and placed the no. 14 GMG/Children’s Tumor Foundation Audi R8 LMS in first place. With only minutes to go, the Newport Beach resident knew all he had to do was survive to the end, which became a challenge as a hard charging Randy Pobst was pushing hard from behind. With fading brakes and well-used tires, Sofronas would take the win for the second time in his career.

Leaving the track as the new GT-category points leader, the Californian is off to a strong start.

“By the end I was managing my tires, managing my brakes, and just trying to hold on,” stated Sofronas. “Randy raced incredibly clean at the end, and it’s great to bring this home for everyone involved.”

Not to be outdone, GMG’s Duncan Ende took an incredibly impressive seventh in today’s round, which is particularly noteworthy considering where he started. Having to retire midway through yesterday’s first round, the Los Angeles native was forced to switch engines overnight, a feat not easily accomplished given the 16-hour turnaround between races. With Audi Sport Customer Racing supplying the team with a brand new engine, the GMG crew stayed up all night, literally, to get his no. 24 Merchant Services / STANDD Audi R8 LMS up and running. The crew was at-track until 5:30AM, essentially taking a quick break to shower and change before coming back to the track the same morning.

Being forced to switch engines, Ende was required to start at the back of the field. When the green flag fell, Ende drove an impressive come-from-behind race. Used to running endurance events, where preserving equipment is at a premium, Ende drove the race masterfully. Driving with a perfect balance of aggression and patience, Ende made work of the field in front of him throughout the run, gaining nine positions in the process, never putting a dent on the car, and earning the day’s series-awarded Invisible Glass Clean Pass of the Race award.

“We weren’t sure what to expect coming in to this morning,” stated Ende. “Yesterday’s failure was a real blow, but the guys rebounded incredibly. GMG’s commitment to making this program work really showed through last night, these guys are rock stars! I’m glad I was able to make that effort worthwhile. When a group like that stays up all night, you want to deliver as good a result as you can, and we did just that today. Obviously I’m hoping for a much smoother weekend in Long Beach, but if we can take these type of results in the season opener with the problems we had, it bodes well for the next race and beyond.”

Finishing ninth on the day was Alex Welch, who ran his second top-10 on the weekend. Welch, who had finished seventh during the first round in his no. 08 Spyder / Lasso Audi R8 LMS, overcame early race difficulties to rebound and fight hard during the second half of the race. With an early onset of electronic difficulties, Welch, who started 10th, would actually drop back several spots during the opening laps as he sorted out his car problems. With quick thinking by the GMG crew, Welch was well under way as the race neared the halfway point, and the Colorado-native was in hot pursuit of the field in front of him. Gaining multiple spots as he pursued his competitors, Welch would lock in to another great battle with the no. 54 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 of Tim Pappas, the two once again racing cleanly. Welch would eventually take the checkered flag in ninth, capping off a strong weekend.

“I’m pretty happy,” stated Welch. “We had our challenges today, but everything really turned around and in the end I was able to race. It seemed like I found the no. 54 during both races, but he raced me clean each time, and that makes this whole thing very enjoyable. I have to thank GMG for a great car, and a really great start to the year.”

For Bret Curtis, from Santa Barbara, another on-track incident would curtail his second consecutive race, but luckily with less dire results this time around. As the no. 32 Spectra Resources Audi engaged in a race-long battle with Tomy Drissi’s no. 4 Corvette, contact between the two would cut down Curtis’s right-rear tire, forcing him in to the pits, but luckily for nothing more than a tire change and some minor cosmetic repair. Curtis would finish 12th.

“It’s definitely disappointing to have another incident today, but hopefully we got all the bad luck out now,” stated Curtis. “Tomy and I were locked in throughout much of the race, and it’s unfortunate that we ultimately ended up tangling. We would have had a better result, but at the same time the guys did a great job to keep me on the track and with good points.”

For the team’s lone GTS entry, the no. 95 Pontiac Solstice driven by Florida-native Bill Ziegler, a steady race would reward the team with a 13th place finish. Ziegler, who was sidelined yesterday with mechanical issues, was happy to drive a steady race and take his first finish of the season.

“Today was pretty smooth,” stated Ziegler. “After yesterday we just wanted a trouble-free run, and we did just that. Overall I’m happy with the car, and I think we found a few things that will really move us forward for the rest of the year.”

With a winning car, another able to gain more positions than anyone in the GT class, a third car in the top-10, and all cars seeing the checkered flag, GMG is headed to next month’s Grand Prix of Long Beach with strong momentum.

“Long Beach is our home race, and it’s without a doubt the one we want to show well at,” stated Sofronas. “Not only is it the home race for Bret Curtis, Duncan Ende, as well as myself, but we’ll have many of our customers and sponsors in support of us. Most notably, we’re looking forward to hosting several guests from both the Children’s Tumor Foundation and STANDD. We met several children from CTF this weekend, and they provide just that little extra incentive to push hard. To see their faces and know how much it means to see “their car” on track is very special, and it hit me a lot harder than I expected this weekend. Similarly, STANDD sends a great message to prevent distracted driving, and we look forward to using the forum of our series at Long Beach to promote their cause, as well as host their founder Diveeta Thompson.”

The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will take place in four weeks time, April 19-21. Once again teaming with the IZOD IndyCar Series, the Pirelli World Challenge series will race on Sunday, April 21, at 4:30PM. Live coverage can be seen at www.world-challengetv.com, as well as on NBC Sports on Sunday, May 5, at 2:00PM.

About GMG
Founded in 2001 by James Sofronas and Fabryce Kutyba, GMG has quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning and racing facility. What began as a small 1200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a 30,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility located in (Orange County) Santa Ana, California. The staff's experience, attention to detail, and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts world wide. Whether you want to maximize the performance of your street car, or race wheel-to-wheel on both amateur and professional racing series across North America, GMG’s reputation for service and quality is unmatched.
Learn more at www.gmgracing.com

About Lasso
Lasso is a request-based, sharing network predicated on a very simple idea: You have something that I want—and you may not even know it until I ask for it. With so much content cluttering our phones, tablets, PCs and social networks, it can be difficult to seek out and find the specific items of interest to you. Friends or colleagues may not share this content with you directly because they’re drowning in data overload themselves. Often, these friends aren’t sure exactly what you want. Lasso makes it easy for you to round up the digital content you want from friends—simply by asking for it. By putting the onus on the requester, instead of the person holding the content, you’ll be in a much better position to actually receive the digital content you’re interested in.

Learn more at www.lasso.me

About Merchant Services
In 2001 Merchant Services Ltd. was founded with three basic principles in mind: quality, service, and commitment. Inspired by our racing heritage we pride ourself in providing the highest level of customer service and support 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Merchant Services Ltd. develops long term relationships with both our merchants and banking partners allowing us to have the highest customer retention rate in the industry. Founded by a professional race car driver, innovation and efficiency have always been our core competencies, ensuring that our merchants receive the cutting edge solutions their businesses need.

Learn more at www.merchantservicesltd.com

About Spyder
Spyder was founded by avid skier and outdoor athlete David Jacobs. He rose to world-class rankings as a competitive skier, and stayed connected to the sport he loves by coaching, designing related products, and building one of the most powerful brands in the industry. His dedication to the sport of skiing and the Spyder brand is as inspiring as it is intriguing. Spyder's growth exploded over the turn of the century, and the company is now the largest ski-specialty brand in the world. David has recently discovered the adrenaline rush in racing classic Formula One cars, finding success - not surprisingly - in this new pastime. For a man who's thrived on sports, technology, and professional advancement, the world is sure to see David go a few more times around the track.

Learn more at www.spyder.com

About Spectra Resources
Spectra Resources is a specialized trading company designed for buyers and sellers to purchase and sell steel in any part of the world efficiently and economically. SPECTRA Resources is involved in importing, exporting, domestic and off-shore trading, warehousing, logistics coordination and the processing of multiple steel products. SPECTRA Resources boasts nearly 20 years of experience in physical steel trading and is positioned to bring a strong value proposition to your enterprise.

Learn more at www.spectraresources.com

About STANDD
Stop Texting And Distracted Driving (STANDD) was founded by Diveeta Thompson, whose son Rodney lost his life while driving. There were numerous factors that played a factor - speed, music, and texting. In an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of texting and driving, Diveeta founded STANDD and has been working diligently throughout her home state of Indiana and nationally through Duncan Ende's motorsports program to spread the message of the dangers of distracted driving. STANDD also promotes the Rodney O. Thompson II Scholarship, which was established to help young people fulfill their goal of attending college after high school.

Learn more at www.standd.org

Learn more at www.racersroast.com

About Swisher
The company began in 1861 when David Swisher received a small cigar business in settlement of a debt. Back then, cigars were only a sideline for Swisher and his four sons, just one of many products that they hawked across the Midwest for the “rolling stores” or wagons. Today, Swisher International, Inc. is a leader in the tobacco business, accounting for one-third of the United States' cigar sales and is America’s largest cigar exporter.

Learn more at www.swisher.com

Photo credit: GMG Racing

Sofronas, GMG Audi R8 LMS Takes Podium in Season Opener

GMG Racing Press Release

St. Petersburg, Fla. (March 23, 2013)- Following his fourth place starting position during today’s season-opening round of the Pirelli World Challenge, James Sofronas opened the year with a hard-earned second place finish in the no. 14 GMG / Children’s Tumor Foundation Audi R8 LMS.

Sofronas, from Newport Beach, got off to a steady start as the 42-car field roared in to the first turn of the 1.8 mile, 14-turn St. Petersburg street circuit. Starting strong, the Californian made strong work of the field in front of him as the race began to unfold. Engaging with Randy Pobst’s no. 6 Volvo, James would spend the next several laps studying his opponent before finally making an opportune pass just a few minutes in to the race. With a strong dice among the front-runners throughout the first 30 minutes of the race, an endless series of back and forth passes and daring maneuvers would eventually put the no. 14 in third position. With a late yellow closing up the field, James would have one last chance to make a run at the leading no. 46 Porsche of Ryan Dalziel and no. 9 Volvo of Alex Figge, however discretion would take over as he observered a massive battle between the two leaders, opting to settle for third and take strong points in the process.

As post-race inspections followed, however, the front splitter of Dalziel’s winning TruSpeed Porsche failed to meet series requirements, disqualifying the Scot and removing all points. This would in turn hand victory to Figge, as well as elevate Sofronas to second.

With the race’s fastest laps setting the field for tomorrow morning’s second round of the championship, the no. 14 will actually start on pole for round two, Sofronas having set the fastest lap during today’s race.
“What a great way to start the season,” stated Sofronas. “We’ve been working hard during the off season to get to this point, and I think our preparation showed. The entire team came here ready to race, so to kick it off with a podium and fastest lap puts us is in great shape for tomorrow.”
Also taking a strong top-10 was GMG’s Alex Welch, who would finish eighth in his Spyder / Lasso Audi R8 LMS. Welch, currently residing in Colorado, negotiated traffic masterfully to patiently make his way up the grid. Following a race-long battle with Tim Pappas’s no. 54 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, Welch would make an aggressive pass to break in to the top-10, eventually finding his way to seventh.

“I’m really happy with today’s finish,” stated Welch. “The car was solid all day, and I was really enjoying the battles I found myself in. I actually have to give credit to Tim who raced very cleanly. The guys put together a great car and it showed, hopefully tomorrow will be even better.”

Unfortunately, for Duncan Ende and Bret Curtis in the no. 24 Merchant Services / STANDD entry and no. 32 Spectra Resources Audi R8LMS, the day was not quite as lucky. Curtis would find himself caught out in GTS-category traffic early on, making contact with slower traffic and retiring as a result of suspension damage. For Duncan Ende, oil pressure issues throughout the race would sideline the no. 24 just past halfway. Ende would be credited with 13th; Curtis 14th.

In GTS, driver Bill Ziegler would also suffer from an unfortunate day. After running a steady race and keeping his nose clean, the Florida-based driver would also retire with an engine issue midway through the race, eventually being credited with 16th.
While unfortunate results would befall on some of today’s five-car fleet, the ultimate strength of GMG’s preparation still shined through.

“Ultimately, I think the team really showed strong today,” stated Sofronas. “Duncan and Bret drove incredibly well, and for much of the race were right behind me. With a little better luck, they would have also have had great finishes. Bill was also having a great race, and had an unfortunate change of fortune, but everyone will get there. Alex and myself obviously started today on a great note, and it’s great that we’re already showing just how strong this Audi program can be. The Audi is such a great car, it’s built like a tank. I slapped the wall at the beginning of the race, and the car was really loose – but then the car came back to me. The car was really strong at the end, and then I went for it to see if these guys were going to drop the ball in front of me. They didn’t, but there was a lead change and I was waiting to jump.”

Round Two of the Pirelli World Championships will take place tomorrow at 9:15AM ET, with live coverage featured on www.world-challengetv.com.
GMG will continue to provide on-going updates throughout the weekend via their website (www.gmgracing.com), as well as Twitter (@GMGracing) and Facebook (facebook.com/TeamGMG).

About GMG
Founded in 2001 by James Sofronas and Fabryce Kutyba, GMG has quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning and racing facility. What began as a small 1200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a 30,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility located in (Orange County) Santa Ana, California. The staff's experience, attention to detail, and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts world wide. Whether you want to maximize the performance of your street car, or race wheel-to-wheel on both amateur and professional racing series across North America, GMG’s reputation for service and quality is unmatched.
Learn more at www.gmgracing.com

About Lasso
Lasso is a request-based, sharing network predicated on a very simple idea: You have something that I want—and you may not even know it until I ask for it. With so much content cluttering our phones, tablets, PCs and social networks, it can be difficult to seek out and find the specific items of interest to you. Friends or colleagues may not share this content with you directly because they’re drowning in data overload themselves. Often, these friends aren’t sure exactly what you want. Lasso makes it easy for you to round up the digital content you want from friends—simply by asking for it. By putting the onus on the requester, instead of the person holding the content, you’ll be in a much better position to actually receive the digital content you’re interested in.
Learn more at www.lasso.me
About Merchant Services

In 2001 Merchant Services Ltd. was founded with three basic principles in mind: quality, service, and commitment. Inspired by our racing heritage we pride ourself in providing the highest level of customer service and support 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Merchant Services Ltd. develops long term relationships with both our merchants and banking partners allowing us to have the highest customer retention rate in the industry. Founded by a professional race car driver, innovation and efficiency have always been our core competencies, ensuring that our merchants receive the cutting edge solutions their businesses need.
Learn more at www.merchantservicesltd.com

About Spyder
Spyder was founded by avid skier and outdoor athlete David Jacobs. He rose to world-class rankings as a competitive skier, and stayed connected to the sport he loves by coaching, designing related products, and building one of the most powerful brands in the industry. His dedication to the sport of skiing and the Spyder brand is as inspiring as it is intriguing. Spyder's growth exploded over the turn of the century, and the company is now the largest ski-specialty brand in the world. David has recently discovered the adrenaline rush in racing classic Formula One cars, finding success – not surprisingly – in this new pastime. For a man who's thrived on sports, technology, and professional advancement, the world is sure to see David go a few more times around the track.
Learn more at www.spyder.com

About Spectra Resources
Spectra Resources is a specialized trading company designed for buyers and sellers to purchase and sell steel in any part of the world efficiently and economically. SPECTRA Resources is involved in importing, exporting, domestic and off-shore trading, warehousing, logistics coordination and the processing of multiple steel products. SPECTRA Resources boasts nearly 20 years of experience in physical steel trading and is positioned to bring a strong value proposition to your enterprise.
Learn more at www.spectraresources.com

About STANDD
Stop Texting And Distracted Driving (STANDD) was founded by Diveeta Thompson, whose son Rodney lost his life while driving. There were numerous factors that played a factor – speed, music, and texting. In an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of texting and driving, Diveeta founded STANDD and has been working diligently throughout her home state of Indiana and nationally through Duncan Ende's motorsports program to spread the message of the dangers of distracted driving. STANDD also promotes the Rodney O. Thompson II Scholarship, which was established to help young people fulfill their goal of attending college after high school.
Learn more at www.standd.org
Learn more at www.racersroast.com

About Swisher
The company began in 1861 when David Swisher received a small cigar business in settlement of a debt. Back then, cigars were only a sideline for Swisher and his four sons, just one of many products that they hawked across the Midwest for the “rolling stores” or wagons. Today, Swisher International, Inc. is a leader in the tobacco business, accounting for one-third of the United States' cigar sales and is America’s largest cigar exporter.
Learn more at www.swisher.com

Photo credit: Pirelli World Challenge and GMG Racing

Pirelli World Challenge: Second place for Audi in race 1 at St. Petersburg

By Tarek Ramchani

St. Petersburg is hosting this weekend the season opener of the 2013 Pirelli World Challenge. The Audi squad is very well represented by five R8 cars. Four Audi R8 LMS from GMG Racing. The fifth car is an R8 GRAND-AM from Jeff Courtney Racing. It is interesting to note that the Pirelli World Challenge becomes the only series worldwide to welcome the two different R8 spec cars.

The Audi R8 LMS did really today in race 1. James Sofronas with the #14 Audi R8 LMS finished in a very strong third place. GMG Racing team owner and driver same time, Sofronas battled hard with the factory Cadillac CTS-V of Johnny O'Connel for fourth place in the opening laps. A huge GTS traffic helped Sofronas to move to fourth place. Later the #14 GMG R8 was able to catch Ryan Dalziel's Porsche 997 and Randy Pobst's Volvo S60 and challenge them for second place. After some laps behind the safety car, James Sofronas pushed for second place against Alex Figge's Volvo S60 but with few laps left he was only able to finish third. A fine result for GMG Racing and Audi, by far best the R8 LMS result in Pirelli World Challenge so far. Bad luck hit two other Audi R8 cars the #99 of Jeff Courtney and the #24 of Duncan Ende.

Race 2 is set for tomorrow. We wish the best of luck to both Audi teams and all five drivers.

UPDATE: The winning Porsche 997 of Ryan Dalziel was excluded for technical infactions. Thus means Alex Figge's Volvo S60 is the winner and the #14 Audi R8 LMS of James Sofronas is up to second place.

#14 Audi R8 LMS - James Sofronas - GMG Racing

#32 Audi R8 LMS - Bret Curtis - GMG Racing

#99 Audi R8 GRAND-AM - Jeff Courtney - Jeff Courtney Racing

#24 Audi R8 LMS - Duncan Ende - GMG Racing

#08 Audi R8 LMS - Alex Welch - GMG Racing

Photo credit and more information:
Pirelli World Challenge official website