Magnus Racing Aiming for Higher Finish at VIR

SALT LAKE CITY (August 16, 2018) – The last time Magnus Racing took to the scenic VIRginia International Raceway in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar competition, the team’s podium finish was thwarted by a post-race infraction.

In 2018, the team is aiming higher.

1mm higher to be exact.

“We’re hoping to finish higher than we did in 2016, that’s for sure,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “Our last IMSA visit here was a new low for the team. We were within a mm of walking away with a real championship shot. Regardless, now that we’re back, we’re definitely ready for redemption. Road America created some heavy setbacks for the guys, but they’ve been working extremely hard to ready the car for this weekend, it’s been a heck of an effort.” 

After successive mid-season podiums for the No. 44 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS GT3, the most recent round of competition at Road America would open with a lot of promise, however came to an end in dramatic fashion. After strong performance in practice, the high temperatures of the race would create challenging handling conditions for both drivers, with the car coming to life in the final laps as driver Andy Lally fought his way in to the top-five. Unfortunately, a last lap altercation would cause significant damage to the car.

With only 10 days before the car would unload for practice in VIRginia, the team has since been hard at work getting everything prepared, facing a significant project to be ready for Friday’s first practice. 

At over four miles, VIR is one of the most scenic tracks on the IMSA calendar, and as the final GT-only event of the year, promises to deliver on excitement. With the circuit’s variety of corners and long straights, it remains to be seen just how the team’s Audi will perform, but based on previous races promise seems high.

Official practice begins this Friday, August 17, with race action taking place on Sunday, August 19. Live television coverage will be available Sunday beginning at 1PM ET via FS1, or IMSA.tv for international viewers.

Magnus Racing Sees a Lot of Positive in Top-10 at Road America

ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin (August 6, 2018) – Following a wild up-and-down race in which Magnus Racing drivers John Potter and Andy Lally worked their way up through the field to be ranked as high as sixth, the team can still take a lot of solace in yet another top-10 finish in their 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship campaign.

“Looking at the car after the race, there’s a lot of things to look positively at,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and driver John Potter. “The driver’s side door looks OK, the rear-view mirror seems in-tact, and at cursory glance the left-rear wheel seems like it’s still on. We also saved a solid $5.83 in fuel costs thanks to running one less lap on track. All-in-all that seems positive to me.”

After a strong opening series of practices, yesterday’s two-hour, forty-minute race would present some challenges with handling, with the team constantly working on the car in the hopes to find lost ground. In the closing laps, however, Andy Lally would find a renewed pace, making a late charge through the field and gaining three positions in the process, with an aim at the top-five. Unfortunately, a final-lap fight would see him on the outside of the treacherous Turn Six, running wide at the exit and sending the No. 44 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS spinning across the track and making head-on contact with the inside barrier. Lally would walk away un-hurt, with the stricken car classified in ninth when it all came to a close.

Continuing his evaluation of the car, John Potter did note a few challenges for the team as they prepare for the next event just 11 days away.

“The car did take some damage, so the guys will have to look in to it. Some things I noticed were the right-rear turn signal looked a little beaten up, they may have to re-do some of the vinyl on the passenger door, oh and the entire front-end will have to be written off. Other than that though, I think we’re in great shape for Virginia, it was great to take another top 10!” 

With the car heavily damaged, the efforts of the team will ramp up in the coming days, with extensive repairs needed in time for the next round, with the cars loading in to the track next Thursday, August 16.

Practice for the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR will begin on Friday, August 17 with the race taking place on Sunday, August 19 at 1PM ET on FS1.

Magnus Racing Readies for Road America

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (August 2, 2018) – Following a recent wave of momentum for Magnus Racing and the No. 44 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS GT3, drivers John Potter and Andy Lally will arrive at this weekend’s Continental Tire Road Race Showcase, taking place at the scenic Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, prepared for a close fight. While the last two events at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Lime Rock have rewarded the characteristics of the Audi with successive podiums, the long straights and large hills of Road America will present a new challenge for the team. 

“It’s tough to say what to expect, but we’re arriving with a new stride,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and driver John Potter. “The last two races provided an incredible turnaround for our year, in many ways it’s felt like a win, but we’re realistic about the challenge of Road America. The last race at Lime Rock was our most competitive of the year, but it’s also a circuit that we knew would be strong for us. Road America is a different animal altogether, but we’re as prepared as we can be and everyone is very focused on making the most out of it.”

As one of the most historic and scenic events on the calendar, the return to the resort village of Elkhart Lake is a popular attraction for teams and fans alike. At over four miles long, the entire IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will go from the shortest track of the year in Lime Rock, to the largest at Road America.

For Andy Lally, the recent momentum of the team helps create added focus for everyone on board.

“We’ve definitely hit a new rhythm, and Road America is a favorite event for everyone. I couldn’t be more appreciative of the effort that everyone has put in to the year so far, and it’s great to finally see that effort paying off. We hope we can continue it in to Wisconsin, but the field is so tight you never really know what you have until the green flag falls.”

Practice will begin this Friday, August 3, with the race taking place on Sunday, August 4. Live coverage can be found on FS1 at 2:30PM ET, as well as imsaradio.com.

FULL REPORT: Lime Rock Runner-Up Finish Highlights Season Turnaround for Magnus Racing

LAKEVILLE, Conn. (July 23, 2018) – After an incredibly hard-fought day that saw everything from intermittent brake issues, intense battles for position, and even contact with traffic, Magnus Racing emerged from Saturday’s Northeast Grand Prix in Lime Rock Park with their best finish of the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, taking second. Following a third-place finish at the most recent round in Canada, the runner-up placing at Lime Rock would mark two consecutive podiums for the team in what is proving to be a mid-season turnaround.

“This was an incredible day for everyone on the team,” stated Magnus Racing team owner John Potter. “As always, it was complete team effort. The crew not only did a great job of getting our car together for this weekend and finding a great balance, but their pit stops and strategy were excellent, leading to a faultless run for us. Andy’s drive at the end was exactly why everyone loves watching Andy race, and if I’m being honest I was pretty happy with my stint as well. We had a lot of braking issues during my stint but I was able to adapt and even improve. It was a great weekend and great to see so many fans, this was the kind of form we were all hoping for.”

Making a clean start, John Potter took the green flag for the No. 44 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS with a strong awareness of the calamity that usually ensues with the tricky 1.5-mile circuit; the shortest of any on the calendar. Failing to disappoint, a first lap incident with some cars ahead would advance John further up the grid, however an intermittent braking issue would arise shortly after, causing Potter to back his pace up significantly. Effectively encountering an inconsistent “soft” pedal, to avoid incident the team owner would back up his braking distances throughout the middle of the stint, opting to manage the car under unpredictable circumstances.

Doing his best to adapt to the issue, the issue would resolve itself over time, allowing Potter to regain his old form, leading to an impressive second half of his stint. Driving some of the best laps in the category, John would gain time over the field for lap-after-lap, eventually catching the field in front by time pit stops would cycle through.

At that point, the Audi was in the hands of Andy Lally to the end, who would set a blistering pace to catch the field in front of him. By time the second round of pit stops would cycle, Lally was up to third, already priming the team for their second consecutive podium.

The most excitement, however, would come in the closing laps as Andy chased down a struggling Patrick Long for second. With Long facing a rear tire issue, a head-to-head fight between two of the sport’s most legendary drivers would engage for several laps, with Patrick doing everything he could to keep Lally behind while they both dealt with faster GTLM category traffic in the process.

Eventually, Lally would sneak his Audi inside of Long’s Porsche in to Turn One, setting the No. 44 up for an impressive pass along the outside of Turn Two.

With the leading car simply too far ahead, Andy would then focus on managing his tires to the end, crossing the finish line in second.

For Lally, another great result for the team was well earned.

“This was an incredible race,” stated Lally. “First off, John’s driving was phenomenal. To have the issues he had and not fall back very far was really heads-up on his part, and once that went away he was one of the fastest cars on the track. It was one of his best drives to date and he should be really proud. The guys did a great job in the pits as always, great strategy, and it was one of the best cars we’ve had. Racing with Patrick again was great fun, and the respect he showed on track was something half the field could learn from. This was exactly what we needed." 

Land Motorsports’ Peter Baron also shared his thoughts.

“Always good to see an Audi up front and the 44 achieving back-to-back podiums,” stated Baron. “Tuning into the race I was hoping to fall asleep while watching in Germany, being six hours ahead after an overnight flight. The Magnus race was exciting enough to keep me awake. So for me it’s bittersweet. Happy for Magnus, but really want to sleep now.” 

Still in the thick of their busy summer season, Magnus Racing and the entire IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will be back in just two weeks’ time, competing at the annual Continental Tire Road Race Showcase, held at the scenic Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Practice begins on Friday, August 3, with the race taking place on Sunday, August 5 at 2:30PM ET on FS1.

QUICK SHOT: Two Podiums in a Row for Magnus Racing

LAKEVILLE, Conn. (July 21, 2018) -  In their strongest peformance of the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, Magnus Racing and drivers John Potter and Andy Lally would enjoy superb drives en route to a second-place finish during today's Northeast Grand Prix in Lime Rock Park. The race would mark a great turnaround for the team, now earning two podiums in succession.

Starting the race, Potter would drive a particularly noteworthy stint. After a strong start, a surprise braking issue would give Potter a soft and inconsistent brake pedal throughout the first half of his stint, allowing the field in front to drive away as he did his best to avoid calamity. Adapting to the problem, Potter would drive remarkably as his stint wore on, with the issue eventually resolving and allowing him to not only set some of the fastest laps in the field, but also catch back up to the front pack.

This would eventually lead to co-driver Andy Lally taking the reigns, further climbing up the field, and concluding the race with an epic dual with long-time Porsche driver Patrick Long, where Lally would eventually take second where he'd finish.

A full report will follow shortly.