TRG to Field Aston Martin V12 Vantage at Detroit’s Belle Isle Street Circuit

For the first time in the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, the No. 007 TRG-AMR North America Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 will take to a temporary street circuit – and do so with high expectations. Co-drivers Al Carter and James Davison, the latter fresh off his first run in the Indianapolis 500, are eager to attack the Raceway at Belle Isle Park for this weekend’s Chevrolet Sports Car Classic. The Jetset/B-Positive Foundation No. 007 Aston Martin has previously run this season only on road courses at Daytona International Speedway, Sebring International Raceway and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  The 007 car has proved strong in the early going of the TUSCC, working its way into the lead at both Daytona and Sebring and surging into the top 10 at Laguna Seca before a few issues took their toll. This is the first time in 2014 that the GT Daytona class is scheduled to race on a street course, and the TRG-AMR drivers cannot wait for the opportunity. "We are really excited to get back on track here in Detroit,” Carter said. “We continue to make strides with the V12 Vantage GT3 and look forward to our first street fight in Detroit! The team and I know we have a lot to do on Friday. We will attack it from the first session."   Davison is looking to build on the momentum of his 16th-place finish in the Indy 500, where he completed all 200 grueling laps in his first IndyCar event on an oval. Now it’s back to left and right turns in the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3. "This is a track I have not raced on but I have driven before,” said Davison. “In my laps in the past, I enjoyed the flow, especially for a street course. I think that as a team we have worked hard to make gains on the overall performance of the Aston Martin. We look forward to taking our program toward a podium result here in Detroit." On-track activities begin Friday with a pair of TUSCC practice sessions and qualifying on the 2.36-mile Belle Isle circuit. The final warm-up is set for Saturday morning, with the 100-minute race scheduled to start at 12:10 p.m. ET “Our guys are primed for this race,” said team owner/CEO Kevin Buckler. “The car keeps getting better and better and both Al and James are extremely capable street racers. This is a huge event with all the major series being a part of this grand prix in America’s motor city. Our crew has worked extremely hard all season long, and I expect to see the results of that hard work this weekend.” It’s a busy weekend for Buckler and the TRG-AMR team. Besides the single entry in the TUDOR GT Daytona class, TRG-AMR is also fielding three Aston Martins in the Pirelli World Challenge doubleheader. Carter and Davison have participated in ride-and-drive events Wednesday and Thursday at Aston Martin of Troy. Wednesday’s event included specially invited members of the NBA Detroit Pistons’ black card corporate group, with current Pistons player Peyton Siva and former Pistons Earl Cureton and John Long also taking part. Pistons executives and members of the Motor City Gumball Rally joined Buckler, Carter and Davison for an evening wine reception at the dealership. On Thursday, representatives from UBS Financial were treated to the same exclusive ride-and-drive opportunity at Aston Martin of Troy. Race Information BROADCAST NOTES: TUDOR Championship qualifying will be streamed live on imsa.com at 5:25 p.m. ET Friday. The race airs live at noon ET Saturday on MRN Radio Network affiliates and Sirius XM Channel 90. A delayed television broadcast starts at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1.

Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of North America Racing Series Has Successful Debut

The Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of North America racing series had a successful debut this weekend at New York’s iconic Watkins Glen International race track. The event was filled with plenty of track time for practice, a qualifying session and a 35-minute race on both Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18.

The two races, the first of seven in the new driver showcase operated by TRG-AMR, resulted in terrific on-track battles. The No. 42 Vantage of Simon Arscott and Bradley Ellis and No.15 Vantage of Robert Nimkoff captured the first two series victories. This gave the victors the distinction of being the inaugural winners in the first weekend of competition for the new GT4 Challenge North America.

The Aston Martin GT4 Challenge for North America series allows customers and enthusiasts to compete in identical V8 Vantage racers at some of the best tracks on the continent.

The next circuit on the series schedule is June 6 - 8 at Virginia International Raceway.

Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of North America Series Kicks Off This Weekend

Race week is here, Aston Martin enthusiasts! The inaugural Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of North America series kicks off this weekend, May 16-18, at Watkins Glen International in New York for Round One of seven. The debut of North America's newest single manufacturer race series is starting with a slate of 11 international drivers on the 3.4-mile legendary road course:

Car #02, Kenneth Greenberg, Hollywood, Fla.                                               

Car #07, Eliseo Salazar, Santiago, Chile

Car #09, David Block, Cleveland, Ohio/Derek DeBoer, Central Point, Ore.

Car #7, Max Riddle, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Car #13, Joel Segal, Montreal, QB, Canada

Car #15, Robert Nimkoff, Danbury, Conn.

Car # 42, Simon Arscott, Plymouth, England/Bradley Ellis, London, England

Car #77, Dan Aweida, Boulder, Colo.

Car #88, Greg Milczik, Canon City, Colo.

"This is fantastic," said TRG-AMR CEO Kevin Buckler. "Having a solid field of drivers from across North America for our inaugural race is exactly what we hoped for. We have had more and more inquiries over the last few weeks and will be continuing to add cars throughout the season. This first event is going to be tremendous and we are all very excited."

The Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of North America is a seven-event, multi-round series that competes on some of the finest road courses in North America and is filled with the prestigious, world-renowned spirit of the Aston Martin brand. The series, owned and operated by TRG-AMR North America, starts May 16-18 at Watkins Glen International and ends Nov. 21-23 at Sebring International Raceway.

Entry forms for the 2014 Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of North America can be found at www.trg-astonmartinracing.com/gt4challenge.

Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of North America Series – Launching Soon

Get ready Aston Martin enthusiasts, the inaugural round of the new Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of North America series is preparing to launch May 16-18 at Watkins Glen International in New York. This seven-event, multi-round series competes on some of the finest road courses in North America. It is filled with the prestigious, world-renowned spirit of the Aston Martin brand. The field will be comprised of drivers who have either purchased new GT4s in which to compete or will lease one of the race cars available on a race-by-race basis.

The inaugural weekend will feature many special events, including the chance to relive history when the Aston Martin GT4 Challenge race cars will drive a full lap around the old historic Watkins Glen course, complete with narration by historian Bill Green. Additional race weekend amenities include individual driver coaching from professional drivers, parts discounts and a post-season awards ceremony gala.

“The Aston Martin Vantage GT4 is an easy car to drive and a pleasure to own,” said Sonny Morgan, dealer principal of John Eagle European. The current specification of the Vantage GT4 has the same chassis, V8 engine and drivetrain of the passenger car, as well as the semi-automatic paddle-shift system. Springs and dampers are upgraded for racing specs with stiffer front and rear roll bars and a variety of other options to tune the car to the race track. A new aerodynamic package, an adjustable carbon fiber rear wing and a larger front splitter were added to increase down force for greater dynamic performance. The race car features 650 less pounds than the passenger car and 400 more horsepower in its V8 engine, making it a perfect car for GT racing.

Entry forms for the 2014 Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of North America can be found at www.trg-astonmartinracing.com/gt4challenge.

TRG-AMR Collects First IMSA Podium Finish of 2014 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

On a last lap with more twists than the race track, Kris Wilson drove the #07 TRG-AMR Aston Martin to a third-place finish in Saturday's Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Wilson, a long-time instructor at the Skip Barber Racing School was running fourth. On a thrilling final lap, he drove side-by-side for third place in the Andretti Hairpin. Wilson stayed close until he blasted out of the final turn to win a drag race to the finish line, barely edging out Dane Cameron for the podium.

"It was a drag race to the finish,” said Wilson. “We were side by side. I was shifting through the gears trying not to slide the tires and it worked out in the end."

 

Teammate, Max Riddle, started the race and stayed steady in fourth for most of the first half when Wilson took over for his co-driver in 20th place after the team conducted its driver change during green-flag racing.  

"I was sitting in the pit box and it's more nerve racking watching Kris drive the car than it is when I'm in the car,” added Riddle. “I can't be happier for my teammate. He did an amazing drive at the end. When he went out of the pits he was 20th and he moved the car up to third. Amazing drive and great job by the whole team. Everybody kind of stuck into it to the end. It shows hard work pays. I'm very happy for TRG."

But it was the last-second heroics of Wilson that had everyone on the TRG team - including owner Kevin Buckler - literally jumping for joy in the packed pit box/area. 

"The team ran great,” said Buckler. “We had two cars that were probably capable of winning. That was a great pass by Chris at the end for the 07 car.  Max great opening stint, kept the car in the top 5. Derek did great, especially in his first big professional race, but we had a little penalty that set us back. We fought back from the penalty, then there was a little contact outside of the corkscrew with James and another driver and that took that car out. But overall, we had two capable cars this weekend and the crew busted their butts since they've been here since Wednesday.  So I'm real proud of everybody."

The two drivers have a lot more in common in Laguna Seca than a trophy. Wilson taught Riddle at the Skip Barber School, so the finish at Laguna Seca was very special for both drivers.

"It was a good race with Dane,” said Wilson. “We had a couple of corners where we were side-by-side and he kind of got slowed on the last lap in the last corner by a slower car. Basically we had a drag race to the finish. It was pretty cool. It was fun."

"We knew the car was going to be fast coming here,” noted Riddle.” Kris has done more laps here at this place than anyone. I learned how to drive race cars here. So we were both super stoked to come here. We wish we won the race but we'll take third and it's the first podium for this new team and we're really happy with it."

The team's second Aston Martin, the #09 TRG-AMR Black Horse Holding, LLC car, co-driven by James Davidson and TRG-AMR newcomer Derek DeBoer, started from the 26 position and unfortunately was served a one-minute penalty, which sent the car to the back of the field. James Davison took the 09 to all the way to ninth position before contact with another car sent them to the pits to check for damage.

"That was one of the most challenging races I've ever had,” commented Davison.” Unfortunately, I had the car handed to me a lap down and really had my work cut out for me. I ended up passing half the field, getting a wave-by and getting up into the top ten. Certainly, we had very good speed today. I had the quickest lap of the day for what it's worth. It's just a very tough task coming from behind like that. Everyone races you incredibly hard, they're blocking you and I had to be very forceful. I think ultimately what ruined the race for us was I was behind Billy Johnson when he got loose. I filled the gap then we made contact side-to-side, which got me loose and spun me. I gave it my best and sometimes that's the way it goes. It would have been nice to have gotten a result for the team in the 09, but we'll get one sooner than later."

Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of North America is a seven-event, multi-round series that competes on some of the finest road courses in North America and is filled with the prestigious, world-renowned spirit of the Aston Martin brand. The series, owned and operated by TRG-AMR North America, starts May 16-18 at Watkins Glen International and ends Nov. 21-23 at Sebring International Raceway.

Aspiring competitors will drive the evocative Aston Martin GT4 Vantage cars they have

acquired, with order options available from TRG-AMR for interested drivers whodo not own a GT4. Comprehensive leasing and testing arrangements on arace-by-race or seasonal basis also are available through TRG-AMR or one of itsauthorized partners or Aston Martin dealers around the United States and Canada.

Information about the 2014 Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of North America is available through Aston Martin of Austin at (512) 401-BOND (2663).