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8star Motorsport Announces Expansion, Customer Program
Following a promising start to the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Championship powered by Mazda, 8Star Motorsports is already looking to the future, with the newly formed organization revealing a long-term, multi-car commitment leading into next year’s United SportsCar Racing series.
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Team principal Enzo Potolicchio, a multiple-time championship winning driver who launched the South Florida-based team last October, has laid out plans for an expanded two-car Daytona Prototype (DP) campaign beginning this summer, while also launching a Prototype Challenge (PC) program later this year.
Along with its two Elan DP02 Prototype Lites cars, which made their debuts last weekend at Sebring, 8Star will now offer a complete development ladder system for aspiring professional and gentlemen drivers wanting to compete in the top levels of North American sports car racing.
“We’re very excited about this next big step for 8Star Motorsports,” Potolicchio said. “We have been encouraged with the direction of GRAND-AM and the American Le Mans Series towards a unified series. With the class structure already known, it’s important to get a jump start on 2014 and build up our organization this year so we will be fully prepared for the first year of United SportsCar Racing.
“By offering rides in IMSA Lites, PC and DP, it opens up an opportunity for 8Star to develop new driver talent as well as being a perfect fit for gentlemen drivers, like myself. We’re committed to making this program a success and are investing in new cars and equipment to have 8Star be a clear choice for all prospective drivers, sponsors and partners.”
8Star’s No. 3 Corvette DP, which finished fourth in last month’s GRAND-AM of The Americas, will continue to be driven by 2012 FIA World Endurance LMP2 champion Potolicchio and French endurance racing standout Stephane Sarrazin, with the team scheduled to take delivery of a second brand-new Pratt & Miller-built Corvette DP on April 5. The car will be ready to race beginning as early as the Chevrolet GRAND-AM Detroit 200 at Belle Isle on May 31-June 1.
Plans are also being put into place for the team’s expansion into PC, a popular and cost-effective single-make prototype platform currently featured in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón, and also set to be part of United SportsCar in 2014. The first of two ORECA FLM09 cars is scheduled to arrive later this month and will begin an aggressive test and development schedule prior to a possible debut towards the end of the year.
8Star will also continue to run two Elan DP02 prototypes in the IMSA-sanctioned Prototype Lites Championship this year for second-generation racers Gianncarlo and Christian Potolicchio.
"It was always our goal to be a two-car Daytona Prototype team," Potolicchio added. "We're looking at trying out some drivers this year on a race-to-race basis, with the goal of having a full-time lineup secured for the second car in 2014. The PC effort is more about preparing for 2014 as we have an extensive testing and driver development program planned. Along with a great start in IMSA Lites, and our upcoming FIA WEC program in association with AF Corse, I think everyone at 8Star has a lot to look forward to."
PaddockTalk Perspective
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