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GRAND-AM: Huge Rolex 24 Lineup For TRG
Looking to defend its Rolex 24 At Daytona GT victory just 11 months ago, The Racer's Group will begin 2010 with another mammoth Porsche-based Rolex 24 lineup.
Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series  | http://www.grand-am.com/  |  Posted December 28, 2009   Petaluma, CA
After claiming the 2009 Rolex 24 class win, the Racer's Group will defend their victory with what is arguably their strongest driver lineup to date. (Grand-Am)
Looking to defend its Rolex 24 At Daytona GT victory just 11 months ago, The Racer's Group will begin 2010 with a strong lineup headed in to the 'Roar Before The 24' test days in early January.

As three-time champions of the famed 24-hour classic, including once overall, and winner of seven podiums in the last eight races, TRG has always had a strong history at Daytona. The 2010 season will be no different, featuring everything from Rolex Series champions, to Porsche factory drivers and a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.

Starting with the famed No. 66, TRG will be joining forces with another recognized Porsche sportscar team, Flying Lizard Motorsports. Flying Lizard Motorsports has teamed up with TRG for this one-time event due to the team's vast experience and success at the track.

Driving the ShoreTel-sponsored Porsche GT3 997 Cup Car will be several familiar names to sportscar fans everywhere. Seth Neiman, team principal of Flying Lizard Motorsports, will look to return to Daytona after competing several years ago. Johannes van Overbeek, who will be making his third appearance with TRG, will be joining as well. Van Overbeek previously finished on the podium in TRG's No. 64 in 2007. The team will also include Porsche factory drivers Jorg Bergmeister and Patrick Long. Bergmeister and Long are coming off of an extremely successful 2009 with both teams, including a victory in the Rolex 24 At Daytona with TRG.

For team owner Kevin Buckler, the opportunity to pair with such a successful brand is a great show of comraderie for Porsche.

"Joining with Seth and all of the guys at Flying Lizard is a welcome opportunity for everyone," Buckler said. "The Flying Lizard organization is the only other current Porsche GT-style team to have had such a long and healthy run in sports car racing, and I couldn't be more proud to run with them and mutually achieve another victory for Porsche. We have a great history with Johannes, and especially Patrick and Joerg, and I'm sure we'll put on one heck of a show. And it will be great racing with my friends!"

As the reigning race champion, TRG's No. 67 Porsche GT3 997 boasts an equally impressive lineup of drivers. Returning to the team for his third straight Rolex 24, Tim George Jr. will be taking a break from his fulltime stock car career to get back behind the wheel of a TRG Porsche. George Jr. was the Rolex Series Rookie of the Year in 2008, and in his last two Rolex 24 races has finished third and second. Joining George Jr. will be two of his former teammates, Andy Lally and Spencer Pumpelly. Lally and Pumpelly, having resigned with TRG for 2010 will bring some strong credentials to the lineup with Lally looking to defend his victory at Daytona last year and collect his third Rolex watch. Pumpelly, a Rolex 24 victor in 2006, will be looking to win a second watch with his former teammates.

Additionally, TRG will be bringing on Porsche factory driver Wolf Henzler. Henzler is the 2005 Rolex 24 Champion, and one of the best Porsche drivers in the world.

Finally, joining TRG's No. 67 will be NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Bobby Labonte. Labonte, TRG Motorsports' fulltime driver in the No. 71 Sprint Cup Series car, has driven the race three times previously, though never in the GT category.

"I'm really excited to come see what the other side of TRG is all about," Labonte said. "We've had a great experience in Sprint Cup together, but they're most known for sports car racing and I can't wait to see that side from the driver's seat. Driving a Porsche in the GT category will be a whole new experience, and I got some great seat time in at the tire test, so it should be a great day."






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