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
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