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GRAND-AM
LE MANS: Potolicchio, Starworks Part Ways
SPEED.com Exclusive: FIA WEC LMP2 champions split; Potolicchio to form own team for 2013...
Enzo Potolicchio and Peter Baron's Starworks Motorsport will go their separate ways next year, SPEED.com has learned. (Photo: John Dagys)
While having enjoyed a fairytale season with victories the Twelve Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Le Mans and claiming the FIA WEC LMP2 World Championship, Starworks Motorsport and its principal backer have decided to go their separate ways.
SPEED.com has learned that Enzo Potolicchio will not return to American squad for 2013, opting to form his own team for next year’s attack on the FIA World Endurance Championship and GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.
The decision, which appears to have been months in the making, comes on the heels of the Peter Baron-owned Starworks team clinching the FIA LMP2 Endurance Trophy in the Six Hours of Fuji earlier this month and ahead of this weekend’s season finale in Shanghai, China.
"I needed to make a step forward in my racing career and with Peter, I felt that the conditions were not there for all of us," Potolicchio told SPEED.com. "He has his own ideas of how to run the team and I have mine.
“We were really successful together, but I now want to take it one step higher and get closer to manufacturers and try to put together a different program at a different level. And I need to do that by myself.
"I'm really thankful for Peter for everything we did together. I hope he feels the same way about me because we definitely were key to what happened and we complemented each other for all of the success we had.”
Potolicchio joined Starworks at the beginning of 2011, embarking on a full-season in the Rolex Series prior to a dual program this year, that included both WEC and GRAND-AM. He withdrew his entry from GRAND-AM in August, citing rules inconsistencies in the series.
Starworks, meanwhile, continued in GRAND-AM, finishing runner-up in the Daytona Prototype championship, while also going on to clinch the LMP2 title in WEC, which saw Potolicchio's full support.
Baron, who has plans to continue in both WEC and GRAND-AM without Potolicchio, echoed some of the Venezuelan's thoughts on their relationship.
"Even though we won the World Championship together, Enzo and I had different views on where we each wanted to be next year,” Baron told SPEED.com. “It's difficult because, after a few years in motorsports, some guys with the financial backing want their own teams.
“It's just a natural progression of racing/driver evolution. We'll move on from here and are looking forward to some exciting things in 2013."
Potolicchio began laying the groundwork for his team, with a yet-to-be-announced name, earlier this year when the former Ferrari Challenge champion purchased the 18,000 sq. ft. Champion Racing workshop in Pompano Beach, Fla.
Plans are in place for an ambitious 2013 program, which will include a full season of WEC as well as a Corvette Daytona Prototype effort in the Rolex Sports Car Series.
Having owned the HPD ARX-03b and equipment used in Starworks’ 2012 WEC campaign, Potolicchio feels he already has a jump start on next year’s program, although he confirmed that Ryan Dalziel will not continue with him next year, as the Scot has opted to remain at Starworks.
"I think we have all of the pieces together,” Potolicchio said. “We've talked to a lot of good teammates for me for next year. Ryan [Dalziel] is going separate ways; he's going to stay with Peter. Ryan and I had a really good run for two years and we helped each other a lot. So I'm now looking for someone else to take his seat."
As for the future of Starworks, Baron told SPEED.com he plans to expand to a two-car WEC LMP2 operation for next year, with one of the driving squads already being confirmed. Additionally, the team is set to remain with the potent HPD ARX-03b combination, although new cars will have to be sourced.
A full-season Rolex Series program with at least two Daytona Prototypes is also again in the cards, according to the Starworks team owner, who achieved a dream 2012 season in both championships.
Beyond Dalziel, no word has been given on the identity of drivers for Starworks or Potolocchio's programs, with further announcements expected to be forthcoming from both teams.
Potolicchio and co-drivers Dalziel and Stephane Sarrazin will be looking to cap off their history making season with a fourth class victory of the season on Sunday, in what will be their final race together under the same roof.
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
SPEED.com has learned that Enzo Potolicchio will not return to American squad for 2013, opting to form his own team for next year’s attack on the FIA World Endurance Championship and GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.
The decision, which appears to have been months in the making, comes on the heels of the Peter Baron-owned Starworks team clinching the FIA LMP2 Endurance Trophy in the Six Hours of Fuji earlier this month and ahead of this weekend’s season finale in Shanghai, China.
"I needed to make a step forward in my racing career and with Peter, I felt that the conditions were not there for all of us," Potolicchio told SPEED.com. "He has his own ideas of how to run the team and I have mine.
“We were really successful together, but I now want to take it one step higher and get closer to manufacturers and try to put together a different program at a different level. And I need to do that by myself.
"I'm really thankful for Peter for everything we did together. I hope he feels the same way about me because we definitely were key to what happened and we complemented each other for all of the success we had.”
Potolicchio joined Starworks at the beginning of 2011, embarking on a full-season in the Rolex Series prior to a dual program this year, that included both WEC and GRAND-AM. He withdrew his entry from GRAND-AM in August, citing rules inconsistencies in the series.
Starworks, meanwhile, continued in GRAND-AM, finishing runner-up in the Daytona Prototype championship, while also going on to clinch the LMP2 title in WEC, which saw Potolicchio's full support.
Baron, who has plans to continue in both WEC and GRAND-AM without Potolicchio, echoed some of the Venezuelan's thoughts on their relationship.
"Even though we won the World Championship together, Enzo and I had different views on where we each wanted to be next year,” Baron told SPEED.com. “It's difficult because, after a few years in motorsports, some guys with the financial backing want their own teams.
“It's just a natural progression of racing/driver evolution. We'll move on from here and are looking forward to some exciting things in 2013."
Potolicchio began laying the groundwork for his team, with a yet-to-be-announced name, earlier this year when the former Ferrari Challenge champion purchased the 18,000 sq. ft. Champion Racing workshop in Pompano Beach, Fla.
Plans are in place for an ambitious 2013 program, which will include a full season of WEC as well as a Corvette Daytona Prototype effort in the Rolex Sports Car Series.
Having owned the HPD ARX-03b and equipment used in Starworks’ 2012 WEC campaign, Potolicchio feels he already has a jump start on next year’s program, although he confirmed that Ryan Dalziel will not continue with him next year, as the Scot has opted to remain at Starworks.
"I think we have all of the pieces together,” Potolicchio said. “We've talked to a lot of good teammates for me for next year. Ryan [Dalziel] is going separate ways; he's going to stay with Peter. Ryan and I had a really good run for two years and we helped each other a lot. So I'm now looking for someone else to take his seat."
As for the future of Starworks, Baron told SPEED.com he plans to expand to a two-car WEC LMP2 operation for next year, with one of the driving squads already being confirmed. Additionally, the team is set to remain with the potent HPD ARX-03b combination, although new cars will have to be sourced.
A full-season Rolex Series program with at least two Daytona Prototypes is also again in the cards, according to the Starworks team owner, who achieved a dream 2012 season in both championships.
Beyond Dalziel, no word has been given on the identity of drivers for Starworks or Potolocchio's programs, with further announcements expected to be forthcoming from both teams.
Potolicchio and co-drivers Dalziel and Stephane Sarrazin will be looking to cap off their history making season with a fourth class victory of the season on Sunday, in what will be their final race together under the same roof.
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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