- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
GRAND-AM
GRAND-AM: Rolex Series Silly Season Heating Up
John Dagys breaks down the confirmed, likely and rumored entries for the 2013 Rolex Sports Car Series season...
The Daytona Prototype category is set to see an increase in car count for 2013. (Photo: John Dagys)
With drivers in new places, teams exploring new opportunities and entirely new programs altogether, silly season in the Rolex Sports Car Series is in full swing.
The 2013 season will mark the end of an era for GRAND-AM, as it joins forces with the American Le Mans Series to create a unified championship in 2014, which is poised to bring significant change to North American sports car racing.
SPEED.com takes a look at some of the confirmed, likely and rumored entrants for the final year of the Rolex Series under its current structure.
DP
Chip Ganassi Racing — The championship-winning team of Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas are set to continue in 2013 but with a new development powerplant. BMW tuner Dinan is set to roll out with a new 4.5-liter M3-based V8, while rumors persist of a possible BMW-specific nose and tail section for its Gen-3 Riley.
Whether the bodywork updates materialize, given the transition year, remains unclear. However, a second Ganassi entry with its usual superstar lineup of drivers from IndyCar and NASCAR is again expected for the Rolex 24.
Starworks Motorsport — Runner-ups in the DP championship in 2012, Starworks will return with two Riley-Fords for the full season, one of which is expected to be piloted by Ryan Dalziel and Alex Popow. Look for big things from the Peter Baron-led operation, including a more competitive budget, upgraded personnel and a star-studded lineup for the Rolex 24.
Spirit of Daytona Racing — Richard Westbrook returns for his second full-season campaign and is joined by Ricky Taylor, who steps over from his father’s Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette DP. Fellow factory GM driver Antonio Garcia will round out the lineup for the endurance races.
No other major changes are expected, although the Troy Flis-owned squad had been evaluating the possibility of running a second Coyote-chassied Corvette for 2013.
Action Express Racing — The North Carolina-based squad has seen a major shakeup in its driver lineup for 2013, with brothers Burt and Brian Frisselle and Christian Fittipaldi joining Joao Barbosa in the pair of Coyote-chassied Corvette DPs for the season. The change has left team stalwarts Darren Law, David Donohue and Terry Borcheller on the sidelines.
Wayne Taylor Racing — The team formerly known as SunTrust Racing, Wayne Taylor Racing has more than just a name change for 2013, as Jordan Taylor steps into the Dallara-chassied Corvette DP, replacing brother Ricky, as co-driver to team stalwart Max Angelelli. With SunTrust scaling back its involvement, look for additional sponsors on the No. 10 machine next year.
A second WTR entry for the Rolex 24 is possible, an effort that could see a tie-in with another championship-winning squad that would bring an all-star driver lineup.
GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing — While having a turbulent 2012 season, it appears the Bob Stallings crew will be back for more next year, with a more-or-less unchanged package of Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty and its Riley-chassied Corvette DP. It’s unclear if five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will rejoin the Texas-based squad for the Rolex 24.
Michael Shank Racing — The 50th Rolex 24-winning squad could expand to a two-car full-time operation next year. Ozz Negri and John Pew are set to return to the No. 60 Riley-Ford, while the Ohio-based team has been testing a number of potential drivers for a second entry.
The team recently took delivery of a second Gen-3 Riley-Ford, although don’t expect either of the cars to be turbo-powered. It appears Ford’s EcoBoost V6, along with the brand’s planned bodywork updates, have been put on hold due to the impending merger.
Enzo Potolicchio — Branching out to form his own operation for 2013, Enzo Potolicchio’s yet-to-be-named team becomes the newest GRAND-AM organization. Having recently taken delivery of a new Coyote-chassied Corvette DP, the Venezuelan has plans for a full-season, single-car program.
Potolicchio's season-long teammate has not yet been confirmed, but there is talk that a trio of ex-Peugeot factory drivers could join him for the Rolex 24.
Team Sahlen — Stepping up to DP, Team Sahlen will be represented with a two-car Riley-BMW effort, led by Dane Cameron and Wayne Nonnamaker. Joe and Will Nonnamaker will join Joe Sahlen in the Ohio-based team’s second entry. The program comes as a much-needed boost to the DP ranks, which suffered with dwindling car count in 2012.
Doran Racing — A potential full-season entry for 2013, the Kevin Doran-owned organization is in the process of upgrading its Dallara to a Gen-3 DP. Look for Dr. Jim Lowe to return to the wheel, while former AXR drivers David Donohue and Darren Law, along with Lowe's 2012 stablemate Paul Tracy, appearing to be possible candidates for the Rolex 24.
Confirmed Entries: 11
Additional Likely Entries: 1-2
Additional Possible Entries: 1
The 2013 season will mark the end of an era for GRAND-AM, as it joins forces with the American Le Mans Series to create a unified championship in 2014, which is poised to bring significant change to North American sports car racing.
SPEED.com takes a look at some of the confirmed, likely and rumored entrants for the final year of the Rolex Series under its current structure.
DP
Chip Ganassi Racing — The championship-winning team of Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas are set to continue in 2013 but with a new development powerplant. BMW tuner Dinan is set to roll out with a new 4.5-liter M3-based V8, while rumors persist of a possible BMW-specific nose and tail section for its Gen-3 Riley.
Whether the bodywork updates materialize, given the transition year, remains unclear. However, a second Ganassi entry with its usual superstar lineup of drivers from IndyCar and NASCAR is again expected for the Rolex 24.
Starworks Motorsport — Runner-ups in the DP championship in 2012, Starworks will return with two Riley-Fords for the full season, one of which is expected to be piloted by Ryan Dalziel and Alex Popow. Look for big things from the Peter Baron-led operation, including a more competitive budget, upgraded personnel and a star-studded lineup for the Rolex 24.
Spirit of Daytona Racing — Richard Westbrook returns for his second full-season campaign and is joined by Ricky Taylor, who steps over from his father’s Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette DP. Fellow factory GM driver Antonio Garcia will round out the lineup for the endurance races.
No other major changes are expected, although the Troy Flis-owned squad had been evaluating the possibility of running a second Coyote-chassied Corvette for 2013.
Action Express Racing — The North Carolina-based squad has seen a major shakeup in its driver lineup for 2013, with brothers Burt and Brian Frisselle and Christian Fittipaldi joining Joao Barbosa in the pair of Coyote-chassied Corvette DPs for the season. The change has left team stalwarts Darren Law, David Donohue and Terry Borcheller on the sidelines.
Wayne Taylor Racing — The team formerly known as SunTrust Racing, Wayne Taylor Racing has more than just a name change for 2013, as Jordan Taylor steps into the Dallara-chassied Corvette DP, replacing brother Ricky, as co-driver to team stalwart Max Angelelli. With SunTrust scaling back its involvement, look for additional sponsors on the No. 10 machine next year.
A second WTR entry for the Rolex 24 is possible, an effort that could see a tie-in with another championship-winning squad that would bring an all-star driver lineup.
GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing — While having a turbulent 2012 season, it appears the Bob Stallings crew will be back for more next year, with a more-or-less unchanged package of Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty and its Riley-chassied Corvette DP. It’s unclear if five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will rejoin the Texas-based squad for the Rolex 24.
Michael Shank Racing — The 50th Rolex 24-winning squad could expand to a two-car full-time operation next year. Ozz Negri and John Pew are set to return to the No. 60 Riley-Ford, while the Ohio-based team has been testing a number of potential drivers for a second entry.
The team recently took delivery of a second Gen-3 Riley-Ford, although don’t expect either of the cars to be turbo-powered. It appears Ford’s EcoBoost V6, along with the brand’s planned bodywork updates, have been put on hold due to the impending merger.
Enzo Potolicchio — Branching out to form his own operation for 2013, Enzo Potolicchio’s yet-to-be-named team becomes the newest GRAND-AM organization. Having recently taken delivery of a new Coyote-chassied Corvette DP, the Venezuelan has plans for a full-season, single-car program.
Potolicchio's season-long teammate has not yet been confirmed, but there is talk that a trio of ex-Peugeot factory drivers could join him for the Rolex 24.
Team Sahlen — Stepping up to DP, Team Sahlen will be represented with a two-car Riley-BMW effort, led by Dane Cameron and Wayne Nonnamaker. Joe and Will Nonnamaker will join Joe Sahlen in the Ohio-based team’s second entry. The program comes as a much-needed boost to the DP ranks, which suffered with dwindling car count in 2012.
Doran Racing — A potential full-season entry for 2013, the Kevin Doran-owned organization is in the process of upgrading its Dallara to a Gen-3 DP. Look for Dr. Jim Lowe to return to the wheel, while former AXR drivers David Donohue and Darren Law, along with Lowe's 2012 stablemate Paul Tracy, appearing to be possible candidates for the Rolex 24.
Confirmed Entries: 11
Additional Likely Entries: 1-2
Additional Possible Entries: 1
Latest Gallery
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
LE MANS: Audi Leads Wednesday LM24 Qualifying
Audis 1-2-3 in incident-filled and shortened opening day of qualifying… -
LE MANS: Lotus LMP2 Returns To Track
Seized parts returned to Lotus LMP2, No. 31 car rebuilt and completes… -
SPEED, SPEED.com Plan Live & Continuous LM24 Coverage
In-car streaming of Corvette Racing highlights two-screen experience...… -
VIDEO: 8Star LM24 Wednesday vBlog
Rui Aguas checks into SPEED.com prior to the start of practice and… -
LE MANS: Corvette On-Board Pass Returns For LM24
Watch! Live in-car and garage cameras from Corvette Racing during… -
LE MANS: Lotus LMP2 Cars Seized By Court
BREAKING: Lotus T128 parts seized by local courts over financial… -
LE MANS: Taylor Brothers Continuing Family Tradition
Second-generation racers Jordan, Ricky Taylor seek victory at Le… - More News
