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GRAND-AM
GRAND-AM: McNish, Bourdais Confirmed At Starworks For Rolex 24
Allan McNish, Sebastien Bourdais join full-season pilots Ryan Dalziel and Alex Popow in team's No. 8 Riley-Ford...
Ryan Dalziel, Allan McNish, Sebastien Bourdais and Alex Popow will team in the No. 8 Starworks Riley-Ford for January's Rolex 24. (Photos: John Dagys)
With victories at Sebring, Le Mans, Indianapolis, as well as claiming the North American Endurance Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship LMP2 titles, the Rolex 24 was the only major sports car race Starworks Motorsport didn't win in 2012.
The Peter Baron-led team will be looking to change that for next year, having announced Monday a star-studded lineup for the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series season opener.
Allan McNish and Sebastien Bourdais will join full-season drivers Ryan Dalziel and Alex Popow in the team's No. 8 Riley-Ford. The Ft. Flauderdale-based team plans to also field a second Daytona Prototype, with the lineup expected to be confirmed at a later date.
“I am confident that this is the strongest line up for the race," Baron said. "I think it says a lot about our drivers for the 24 by the amount of phone calls they and I have received this fall from other teams trying to steal them away!
"The great thing about how successful our 2012 was is that it led to improvements in to 2013, from drivers all the way though to the crew. We learned an enormous amount this year and the bitter taste of 2nd place finishes in the Championship and at Daytona 24 has motivated us to put in the hours and double our effort to push us to become a Championship contending team.
"We've improved greatly and are more than anxious to get this season underway at Daytona.”
After scoring the pole and leading much of the race, McNish, Dalziel and Popow (joined by Enzo Potolicchio and Lucas Luhr), finished second in this year's Rolex 24, coming less than six seconds from overall victory.
"Last year we were so close," said McNish, who has finished second at Daytona three times. "It was so competitive all the way through the 24 hours and we just missed out by five seconds at the end which was incredibly frustrating in a way, but also I was extremely proud of the team because everybody really pulled together and they gave us a great car.
"The success the team has had since then through 2012 in WEC and GRAND-AM has been spectacular to say the least, and I know that everybody is very motivated to go to Daytona to try and go one better this year.”
Bourdais, who teamed with Popow to win the inaugural Brickyard Grand Prix, added: “I am very excited to team up with Alex, Ryan and Allan. For the first time in my career, I will have a shot at winning Daytona and I am really happy to reunite with Peter Baron’s Starworks Motorsport team after the success we enjoyed earlier this year."
Dalziel and co-driver Popow will be looking to start the season off on a high note, as the duo are expected to make a run for the Rolex Series DP championship. The Scot, who claimed class victories at Sebring, Le Mans and Petit Le Mans this year, finished second in the DP championship.
"After such a strong race there last year we know we have to step it up another level and I truly believe this line up is amazing," Dalziel said. "Starworks always build great cars and that showed at Daytona last year, finishing runner up with most laps led. This year we are going there with one goal and that's to dominate. I believe our team can do that.”
Popow added: “I'm very excited about everything that's happening right now and for the next season starting with the Daytona 24 - a race that for us is a challenge because we were so close to winning it in the last edition.
"We know we are going to be strong, especially with the line up we have, almost a dream team with Allan, Sebastien and Ryan with me in the car and the Starworks team taking care of the car. It's going to be for sure an awesome race and we hope to win it this time and hope you also enjoy this adventure.”
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
The Peter Baron-led team will be looking to change that for next year, having announced Monday a star-studded lineup for the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series season opener.
Allan McNish and Sebastien Bourdais will join full-season drivers Ryan Dalziel and Alex Popow in the team's No. 8 Riley-Ford. The Ft. Flauderdale-based team plans to also field a second Daytona Prototype, with the lineup expected to be confirmed at a later date.
“I am confident that this is the strongest line up for the race," Baron said. "I think it says a lot about our drivers for the 24 by the amount of phone calls they and I have received this fall from other teams trying to steal them away!
"The great thing about how successful our 2012 was is that it led to improvements in to 2013, from drivers all the way though to the crew. We learned an enormous amount this year and the bitter taste of 2nd place finishes in the Championship and at Daytona 24 has motivated us to put in the hours and double our effort to push us to become a Championship contending team.
"We've improved greatly and are more than anxious to get this season underway at Daytona.”
After scoring the pole and leading much of the race, McNish, Dalziel and Popow (joined by Enzo Potolicchio and Lucas Luhr), finished second in this year's Rolex 24, coming less than six seconds from overall victory.
"Last year we were so close," said McNish, who has finished second at Daytona three times. "It was so competitive all the way through the 24 hours and we just missed out by five seconds at the end which was incredibly frustrating in a way, but also I was extremely proud of the team because everybody really pulled together and they gave us a great car.
"The success the team has had since then through 2012 in WEC and GRAND-AM has been spectacular to say the least, and I know that everybody is very motivated to go to Daytona to try and go one better this year.”
Bourdais, who teamed with Popow to win the inaugural Brickyard Grand Prix, added: “I am very excited to team up with Alex, Ryan and Allan. For the first time in my career, I will have a shot at winning Daytona and I am really happy to reunite with Peter Baron’s Starworks Motorsport team after the success we enjoyed earlier this year."
Dalziel and co-driver Popow will be looking to start the season off on a high note, as the duo are expected to make a run for the Rolex Series DP championship. The Scot, who claimed class victories at Sebring, Le Mans and Petit Le Mans this year, finished second in the DP championship.
"After such a strong race there last year we know we have to step it up another level and I truly believe this line up is amazing," Dalziel said. "Starworks always build great cars and that showed at Daytona last year, finishing runner up with most laps led. This year we are going there with one goal and that's to dominate. I believe our team can do that.”
Popow added: “I'm very excited about everything that's happening right now and for the next season starting with the Daytona 24 - a race that for us is a challenge because we were so close to winning it in the last edition.
"We know we are going to be strong, especially with the line up we have, almost a dream team with Allan, Sebastien and Ryan with me in the car and the Starworks team taking care of the car. It's going to be for sure an awesome race and we hope to win it this time and hope you also enjoy this adventure.”
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
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