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IndyCar
GRAND-AM: Starworks Go Big For Rolex 24
Two-car Daytona Prototype effort features star-studded driver lineup, including Allan McNish, Tony Kanaan, Lucas Luhr and Ryan-Hunter Reay...
Starworks Motorsport will kick off its 2012 Rolex Sports Car Series campaign with an all-star driver lineup for its two Riley-Fords. (Photo: John Dagys)
After ending the 2011 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series on a high note with its maiden win, Starworks Motorsport is rolling into the New Year with the quest of making a strong impression in the 50th Rolex 24 at Daytona.
The Peter Baron-led team announced Tuesday the driver lineups of its two Riley-Fords for the twice-around-the-clock Florida classic, which is nothing short of stellar.
Former Rolex 24 winner Ryan Dalziel and SPEED.com's 2011 Rolex Series Rookies of the Year, Enzo Potolicchio and Alex Popow will be joined by two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Allan McNish and reigning FIA GT1 World Champion Lucas Luhr in the team's No. 8 Riley-Ford.
IndyCar stars Tony Kanaan, Ryan Hunter-Reay and EJ Viso will lead the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based team's lineup in the No. 2 entry, which will be completed by Miguel Potolicchio and Maurizio Scala.
“To get strong drivers, you need strong results," said team principal Baron. "Everyone knew we were doing well but our win at the end of the season put an exclamation mark on it. We now have everything in place. I can’t thank Enzo and Alex enough for helping us get all the tools in place to give us a shot to win this race.
"The guys joke about us being an episode of Extreme Makeover, but it is pretty impressive to see the amount that we have invested in infrastructure over the off season."
Audi factory driver McNish is no stranger to the Daytona high banks, having made six previous Rolex 24 starts, his last coming with the Baron-led SAMAX outfit in 2008. Despite earning a class victory in 1998, as well as another runner-up overall finish the following year, the rapid Scotsman has yet to take home outright honors in America's most prestigious endurance race.
“I have known about the Starworks team for quite a while and I have known Peter Baron as a driver and also as a team owner. They are proven winners in this category," McNish said.
“A 24-hour race at the beginning of the season certainly blows the cobwebs away and, since my first time there in 1998 when I finished second overall and won the category, I have always enjoyed going back. I can’t think of a better way to prepare for the season."
Dalziel, Potolicchio, Popow and Luhr have been named as the team's four full-season drivers, which will be sharing the wheel of a single entry with McNish later this month, prior to being split into two driving squads for the remainder of the 13-round season.
For former Audi factory driver Luhr, who will embark on a dual season of American Le Mans Series and GRAND-AM competition this year, the German is excited about the team's prospects not only at the Rolex 24 but for the championship.
“I’m very happy to join Starworks for the season and I thank Peter and Alex for the trust they put in me," Luhr said. "Daytona is always a very special race and it would be a dream come true if we can win it. It is great that so many guys from NASCAR and IndyCar will be racing there as well. I have worked with the team and I’m sure we have a competitive package to be a frontrunner at Daytona and for the whole year.”
Starworks' trio of IndyCar stars, which headlines the driving force in the No. 2 Riley-Ford, should also not be overlooked.
Open-wheel veteran Kanaan, who will be making his Daytona Prototype debut, is no newcomer to sports car racing, having competed in a handful of ALMS events with Andreetti-Green's factory Acura LMP2 effort, including a class win at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 2008. But the quick Brazilian will be leaning on his Rolex 24 teammates Hunter-Reay and Viso in getting up to speed around Daytona.
“I am really excited to be driving at the 24," Kanaan said. "I have never driven a [Daytona] Prototype before so I will be looking to get some seat time at the Roar test. Having Ryan and EJ as team-mates is a big help because I already know them and they will give me valuable information about driving the car. It will be competitive, but it will also be a fun event. I have always wanted to race at the 24 in a prototype and this is the perfect opportunity. A win this early in the season would be a great way to kick off the year for sure.”
Hunter-Reay, who has been part of Level 5 Motorsports' lineup for the previous two years, is hoping to take his success two steps further up the podium after his third place result in 2010.
“The Daytona 24 has all the best drivers from around the world going at it for one full day of racing," Hunter-Reay said. "This event really sets the tone for the upcoming season. After reaching the podium in 2010 I’m hungrier than ever to reach the top step. With this team we have a great chance.”
For Viso, the Venezuelan returns to the wheel of a Starworks Motorsport Riley-Ford after making his series and sports car debut in last year's race as a late call-up.
“I also think that, between Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan and myself, along with Miguel and Maurizio, we have a strong line-up of drivers that will allow us to be consistent for the whole race," Viso said. “Racing with Starworks once again in the Daytona 24-hour shows a continuity that I believe is one of the keys in racing. I see this team as the underdogs in the series, but I know that their preparation and hard work will pay off.”
All drivers are expected to be out in action during this weekend's Roar Before the 24 test at Daytona, which gets underway on Friday.
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 announced Tuesday the driver lineups of its two Riley-Fords for the twice-around-the-clock Florida classic, which is nothing short of stellar.
Former Rolex 24 winner Ryan Dalziel and SPEED.com's 2011 Rolex Series Rookies of the Year, Enzo Potolicchio and Alex Popow will be joined by two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Allan McNish and reigning FIA GT1 World Champion Lucas Luhr in the team's No. 8 Riley-Ford.
IndyCar stars Tony Kanaan, Ryan Hunter-Reay and EJ Viso will lead the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based team's lineup in the No. 2 entry, which will be completed by Miguel Potolicchio and Maurizio Scala.
“To get strong drivers, you need strong results," said team principal Baron. "Everyone knew we were doing well but our win at the end of the season put an exclamation mark on it. We now have everything in place. I can’t thank Enzo and Alex enough for helping us get all the tools in place to give us a shot to win this race.
"The guys joke about us being an episode of Extreme Makeover, but it is pretty impressive to see the amount that we have invested in infrastructure over the off season."
Audi factory driver McNish is no stranger to the Daytona high banks, having made six previous Rolex 24 starts, his last coming with the Baron-led SAMAX outfit in 2008. Despite earning a class victory in 1998, as well as another runner-up overall finish the following year, the rapid Scotsman has yet to take home outright honors in America's most prestigious endurance race.
“I have known about the Starworks team for quite a while and I have known Peter Baron as a driver and also as a team owner. They are proven winners in this category," McNish said.
“A 24-hour race at the beginning of the season certainly blows the cobwebs away and, since my first time there in 1998 when I finished second overall and won the category, I have always enjoyed going back. I can’t think of a better way to prepare for the season."
Dalziel, Potolicchio, Popow and Luhr have been named as the team's four full-season drivers, which will be sharing the wheel of a single entry with McNish later this month, prior to being split into two driving squads for the remainder of the 13-round season.
For former Audi factory driver Luhr, who will embark on a dual season of American Le Mans Series and GRAND-AM competition this year, the German is excited about the team's prospects not only at the Rolex 24 but for the championship.
“I’m very happy to join Starworks for the season and I thank Peter and Alex for the trust they put in me," Luhr said. "Daytona is always a very special race and it would be a dream come true if we can win it. It is great that so many guys from NASCAR and IndyCar will be racing there as well. I have worked with the team and I’m sure we have a competitive package to be a frontrunner at Daytona and for the whole year.”
Starworks' trio of IndyCar stars, which headlines the driving force in the No. 2 Riley-Ford, should also not be overlooked.
Open-wheel veteran Kanaan, who will be making his Daytona Prototype debut, is no newcomer to sports car racing, having competed in a handful of ALMS events with Andreetti-Green's factory Acura LMP2 effort, including a class win at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 2008. But the quick Brazilian will be leaning on his Rolex 24 teammates Hunter-Reay and Viso in getting up to speed around Daytona.
“I am really excited to be driving at the 24," Kanaan said. "I have never driven a [Daytona] Prototype before so I will be looking to get some seat time at the Roar test. Having Ryan and EJ as team-mates is a big help because I already know them and they will give me valuable information about driving the car. It will be competitive, but it will also be a fun event. I have always wanted to race at the 24 in a prototype and this is the perfect opportunity. A win this early in the season would be a great way to kick off the year for sure.”
Hunter-Reay, who has been part of Level 5 Motorsports' lineup for the previous two years, is hoping to take his success two steps further up the podium after his third place result in 2010.
“The Daytona 24 has all the best drivers from around the world going at it for one full day of racing," Hunter-Reay said. "This event really sets the tone for the upcoming season. After reaching the podium in 2010 I’m hungrier than ever to reach the top step. With this team we have a great chance.”
For Viso, the Venezuelan returns to the wheel of a Starworks Motorsport Riley-Ford after making his series and sports car debut in last year's race as a late call-up.
“I also think that, between Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan and myself, along with Miguel and Maurizio, we have a strong line-up of drivers that will allow us to be consistent for the whole race," Viso said. “Racing with Starworks once again in the Daytona 24-hour shows a continuity that I believe is one of the keys in racing. I see this team as the underdogs in the series, but I know that their preparation and hard work will pay off.”
All drivers are expected to be out in action during this weekend's Roar Before the 24 test at Daytona, which gets underway on Friday.
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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