SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (November 21, 2018) – Heading in to the 10th year of professional competition, Magnus Racing will join forces with Lamborghini Squadra Corse for the upcoming 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Looking to recapture the same fortune that saw the team win multiple endurance championships, as well as victories at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring, the switch to the Italian manufacturer and the new Huracán GT3 EVO present a renewed opportunity for all involved. Additionally, the team is proud to reveal the continuation of full-season drivers John Potter and Andy Lally for the season.
“It’s great to move forward with everyone at Lamborghini Squadra Corse,” stated Magnus Racing owner and co-driver John Potter. “The performance of the Lamborghini over the past several seasons is well documented, and it will be nice to compete with them rather than against them in 2019. Since our first meeting, we’ve been remarkably impressed with the attention to customer service and clear communication, which instills a lot of confidence in the future of our working relationship. In particular, I’d really like to thank Giorgio Sanna and Chris Ward for being as responsive as they have, with an organization like ours it’s extremely refreshing.”
Of course this will mark the end of a three-year chapter with Audi Sport customer racing, who with Magnus Racing achieved tremendous success, including victories at The Rolex 24 at Daytona and Lime Rock Park in 2016, the North American Endurance Cup in the same year, as well as the California 8 Hour in 2017.
“We’re of course appreciative of our last three years with Audi Sport customer racing,” continued Potter. “We’re proud of the achievement we all had together, and of course Audi will always have a place in our team’s history, and are thankful their support through the years.”
Looking toward 2019, the team enters the off-season with a renewed focus and enthusiasm on taking top results. In 2018, Lamborghini swept the Driver, Team, and Manufacturer Championships, including victory at The Rolex 24 at Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring, and with an updated “EVO” program for next year, the team looks forward to a renewed opportunity to seek victory.
For Giorgio Sanna, Head of Motorsport for Automobili Lamborghini, welcoming Magnus Racing to the fold is one everyone looks forward to.
“We are very excited to have the team at Magnus Racing join us for 2019,” stated Sanna. “The team has a great on-track endurance record going back to their multiple Rolex 24 at Daytona wins, multiple championships, and of course Sebring win as well, but they also have an off-track approach that is very unique. We look forward to working closer together, and are happy to be part of the family and fun atmosphere that the team has created.”
For Chris Ward, Senior Manager of Motorsport for Automobili Lamborghini, 2019 with Magnus Racing presents another strong team to the family.
“Having Magnus Racing join us adds another great team to our ambitions for another championship year,” sated Ward. “We’ve enjoyed our experience working with them to this point, and look forward to their approach with racing.”
For Andy Lally, returning to Magnus Racing with a revamped program is one he looks forward to.
“Moving in to 2019 with Lamborghini is a great move forward for the team,” stated Lally. “We’ve of course been driving against their cars for the last several years and they’ve had a great package, so I’m excited to finally get behind the wheel with next year’s EVO. There’s a lot to learn in a short amount of time, but we’re confident we can get up to speed quickly and regain the form we know we’re capable of.”
With the off-season well under way, the team looks forward to taking delivery of their vehicle ahead of a busy winter testing season. Additional updates, including drivers, team liveries, and additional plans related to IMSA’s upcoming 50th Anniversary will come shortly.