The 2012 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season started with a bang at Daytona International Speedway on Friday as a three-lap sprint to the finish made for a thrilling finish. In the end Billy Johnson and co-driver Jack Roush Jr. were able to hold off a trio of Fall-Line Motorsports BMW M3s to score Roush Performance’s first career win at the 3.56-mile speedway.

Defending ST champion Kinetic Motorsports and drivers Andy Lally and Nic Jonsson maintained the lead with three laps remaining in ST, but i-Moto driver Pierre Kleinubing was able to get by the No. 10 Kia and hold off a last lap charge from Jonsson to give i-Moto its second consecutive class victory by a margin of only 0.021 seconds. Co-driver Jayson Clunie moved the No. 31 Mazda Speed 3 through the field from the 38th starting position in the opening stint.

Charles Putman and Charles Espenlaub finished second in GS in the No. 48 Fall-Line Motorsports BMW M3, followed by teammates Bryan Sellers and Mark Boden in the No. 46 Fall-Line M3.

Gregory Liefooghe and David Levine finished third in ST for BimmerWorld Racing.

- Grand-Am | Photos: © 2012 Corey Beaman

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Here’s our fist set of shots from the 50th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. It has been a great time and after 6+ hours of racing Porsche leads the GT class. Leads swapping, Ferrari’s taking each other out and the Audi R8 GRAND-AMs are getting broken in, literally. However that is not unexpected it is a wonderful site to finally see the Audi R8 in race form here in the U.S.

Head on over and check out the gallery from earlier today. Time to go shoot in the dark!

Photos: © 2012 Corey Beaman

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1. Andrew Davis / Brumos Racing secures GT pole for the 50th Rolex 24 at Daytona

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For Paul Miller Racing, the Rolex 24 at Daytona couldn’t start any better. Pole position would be great but 10th on grid is pretty nice looking at the race from afar. The no48 Chopard Porsche GT3 showed strong pace in the two practice sessions they participated in. During practice 3 a 1:49.653 was well within the top times.

All four drivers of the No. 48 Chopard Porsche GT3 from Paul Miller Racing know the feeling of standing on the podium after 24 hours of racing at Daytona International Speedway.

That’s why all four drivers – Bryce Miller, Sascha Maassen, Rob Bell and Mark Wilkins – are so hungry as they head to Daytona for this week’s world-renowned twice-around-the-clock enduro, which takes the green flag on Saturday, January 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET. They’ve all been tantalizingly close to victory, but none have taken home the top prize. Yet.

Bryce Miller has finished second in the GT class twice in his five previous starts in the Daytona 24 Hours. He led 49 laps en route to a runner-up result for the No. 48 Paul Miller Racing team last year and led 26 laps in a second-place GT performance in 2008.

He and the team will benefit from a full year of experience under their belts after running as an essentially new team in 2011. They should be encouraged by competitive, top-10 lap times in pre-event testing at Daytona earlier this month.

“I am very excited for the 24-hour race this year,” said Miller. “We are coming off of a second-place finish at this event from last year and have had this entire past season to grow as a team. Consequently we’re bringing more cohesiveness, experience and intensity – all qualities that will play to our favor – in this year’s race. The newly issued shortened fuel windows places an emphasis on pit strategy and pit stops for this year’s event and our team is ready for these challenges. I am supremely confident in our driver lineup as well, and are honored to be in the presence of such professional talent.”

Indeed, the GT class in the 2012 Daytona 24 hours features a whopping 46 cars and a who’s who of international racing talent. That isn’t lost on Maassen, who will make his 13th start in the Daytona 24 Hours this year. He looks to build on a previous best result of third, which came in the GT class in 2009, and he’s confident in the team’s ability to run up front this year.

“This is going to be the toughest 24 Hours of Daytona that I can remember,” said Maassen. “There are a lot of good drivers, cars and teams in GT, so the challenge is there and we are ready to be part of it. I am proud to be part of one of the teams with a good chance to win this race. Thank you Paul Miller Racing!”

Bell returns to Paul Miller Racing for the first time since playing a key role in the team’s runner-up performance last year. The two-time Le Mans Series champion acquitted himself well in his maiden Daytona race last year. But like his teammates, he’s looking for a little bit more this time around.

“Our test went very well,” Bell said. “The new car felt great. We learned lots about it and all drivers felt at home straightaway. We also showed our pace was there or thereabouts. I’m looking forward to the race and going head to head with an amazing field of competitors. Reliability will be our strong point and with such great teammates I expect to be fighting for the win.”

The lone newcomer to the team’s driver lineup is accomplished Canadian racer Mark Wilkins. But Wilkins is no stranger to the Daytona 24 Hours, as this will be his eighth time in the prestigious race. He has raced in the Daytona Prototype class for the last five years, but he returns to GT this year and enjoyed his best success in the 24 hours in a GT car with a third-place run in 2005, his debut race.

“It’s almost time to go racing and after a successful test at the beginning of the month, I couldn’t be more excited to get back behind the wheel,” Wilkins said. “The No. 48 Paul Miller Racing Porsche GT3 ran great at the test and I know the crew has been working very hard to prep the perfect race car for this weekend. With lots of strong competition and this being the 50th running of the Rolex 24, everyone will be trying hard to win that watch and we will be no exception. This team knows how to race Daytona and I’m thrilled to get racing in pursuit of the top step of the podium.”

Photo: © 2012 Corey Beaman

- Paul Miller Racing

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1. Oryx Racing 15th on grid for 2012 Rolex 24 Hour at Daytona

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Not more than 4 weeks ago, Oryx Racing took delivery of their Audi R8 GRAND-AM. The R8 GRAND-AM does not come race ready out of the box and with little test data, the Oryx Racing crew put in a great performance. The team placed 15th in the strong and stacked GT field.

“Overall we are very pleased with the result in qualifying” Team Principal and number 1 driver, Humaid al Masaood, commented. “We have had very little running since we took delivery of the car at the beginning of the month so there are a lot of variables we are working with, a new car, a new circuit, a banked section to that circuit and of course a new driver in the team, Saeed al Mehairi. I am delighted with the way the team have responded to some many simultaneous challenges and we have out qualified the other Audi R8 team, APR, so that is very satisfying.”

“Its a long race and really qualifying does not have that much influence on the outcome, its just glory points” quipped Steven Kane. “As long as we keep out of trouble in the first few laps while the field sorts itself out we have as good a chance as anyone. I’m looking forward to getting the race underway and finding out where we really sit compared to the other GT cars”

Oryx Racing on Facebook

Photos: © 2012 Corey Beaman

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1. Andrew Davis / Brumos Racing secures GT pole for the 50th Rolex 24 at Daytona

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A strong performance by Andrew Davis secured pole for the no59 Brumos Racing Porsche GT3. A 1:49.342 would do it and top the no69 AIM Autosport/Team FXDD Ferrari 458 Italia with a very close 1:49.357.

“It was an intense session,” said Davis, who was bumped from the provisional pole three times before regaining it for good with two minutes left. “I just pushed it as hard as I could from the first lap out.”

Our good friend and Altanta local, Andy Lally, dropped the no44 Magnus Racing Porsche GT3 into third with a 1:49.388.

The entry from Flying Lizard Motorsports landed in 4th with a 1:49.550.

no62 Risi Competition Ferrari 458 was 5th.

The two Audi R8′s are definitely feeling the new entry challenges.

Oryx Racing Audi R8 Grand-Am hit a 1:50.312 for 15th and the APR Motorsport crew 22nd with a 1:50.749

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1. Magnus Racing ready for 50th Rolex 24 at Daytona

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Here we go! The 2012 North American motorsport season will kick-off this weekend with the 50th Edition of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. To celebrate the 50th Edition of the Rolex 24 Hours, Andy Blackmore Design has released a new Rolex 24 at Daytona Spotter Guide, presented by SPEED.com. Currently the guide is up to date with all 60 entries.

CLICK HERE to download the guides

We are headed down and will be bringing you live coverage, pics and more.

Wether you’re at a home watching the race or at the track, we highly recommend having a Spotter Guide with you. Andy Blackmore spends numerous of hours putting these together for the fans. Print it out, download to an iPad / iPhone / tablet etc.

A great idea we’ve seen many do is having one at the autograph sessions!

Partners including RadioLeMans.com, DailySportsCar.com, Fourtitude, Speedhunters, l’endurance and oneighturbo.com.

Many thanks to our partners and the teams who helped us along the way. Extra thanks to Graham Goodwin, Marcel ten Caat, John Dagys and Marshall Pruett for all their help.

Never miss a race with the 2012 Racing Wall Planner from Spotter Guides / Andy Blackmore Design. Name the series, it’s in here!

CLICK HERE to download

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We are very excited to see another Audi R8 Grand Am entry. If you recall, Oryx Racing ran a B09/86 LMP Coupe in the American Le Mans Series. For 2012 they have switched gears and joined the Audi Customer Racing program. Along with APR Motorsports, these will be the first racing Audi R8 to hit the U.S. The livery looks outstanding and we can’t wait to bring you more this weekend!

Oryx Racing, the Abu Dhabi based international race team, will continue to compete in the USA in 2012. “Sports car racing in America is very competitive and professional so it offers us a challenging environment in which to develop as a team and as drivers.” said Humaid al Masaood Team Principal and Number 1 driver.

For 2012 Oryx will race in the Rolex Grand Am series in an Audi R8 Grand Am as part of the Audi Customer Racing program. The championship consists of 13 races starting with the 50th running of the legendary Rolex 24 at Daytona.

“Grand Am is the up and coming sports car series in the USA at the moment, grids are increasing and it has a great TV package with most races covered live on Speed TV delivering huge audiences. We enjoyed racing in ALMS last year but we felt it was time for a new challenge.” explained Commercial Manager, Jonathan Tait.

“The Rolex 24 at Daytona is one of the worlds most famous endurance races; it is a great honor to be competing in the 50th running of the race.” Humaid said, “I enjoy 24hr races having done the Dubai 24hr several times and the team are good a delivering and maintaining a reliable car. We have not had much time with the car yet but we will take a pragmatic approach to the race and hopefully will still be in it and running well by hour 24″

“The car was only delivered in early January so we have not had much time to run it or work on it yet.” explained Team Manager, Tom Maplethorpe. “Having said that the build quality direct from Audi Customer Racing is exceptionally high, it really was ready to hit the track straight out of the box, it seems like they build their race cars to the same quality assurance standards as their road cars!”

“I cant wait to get stuck into the 24hr in this car”, quipped Steven Kane, number 2 driver, “The Audi R8 has proved itself a great GT car in Europe and it has loads of grip and strong brakes. It would have been good for the team to have more time with it but the 24hr will gives us a lot of data and a good understanding of the car and we expect to be very competitive across the season”

reveal

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Here’s our first round of gallery shots from the 2012 Roar Before the Rolex 24. Photog guru, James Boone is down at Daytona putting his D7000 to work this weekend. More to come throughout the weekend but click over for some sweet Audi R8′s, Porsche and more.

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1. FOAMETIX / Burtin Racing with Goldcrest Motorsports enters Rolex 24 at Daytona

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FOAMETIX®/Burtin Racing with Goldcrest Motorsports has entered the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona, and the inaugural 2012 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series North American Endurance Championship, with drivers Claudio Burtin, Martin Ragginger, Bryan Sellers, Jack Baldwin and Sebastian Asch.

The team will campaign the No. 17 FOAMETIX Porsche GT3 in the Rolex 24 for the fifth consecutive year while team owner and driver Burtin will join Austrian standout Ragginger for the remaining rounds of the North American Endurance Championship later in the season at Indianapolis and Watkins Glen.

“We are proud to return with FOAMETIX to Daytona for this historic running of the Rolex 24 and also look forward to expanding our racing program this year to include the full North American Endurance Championship,” Burtin said. “Working with Goldcrest, we feel we are bringing our best team and car yet to the Rolex 24 and we look forward to the additional races later in the season. The endurance championship is something that suits our type of professional but part time team and we are grateful to GRAND-AM for the opportunity.”

Ragginger is a top sports car talent and experienced Porsche driver who has served as the lead driver for Foametix for the past several years. He recently co-drove in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring with Asch, a quick German driver who is new to the team this year along with American road racer Bryan Sellers, who was part of last year’s driver lineup on the second-place GT Porsche team. Baldwin is a racing legend who is a Trans-Am Champion, two-time Camel GTU Champion and former Rolex 24 class winner.

“I have been involved with dozens of teams since first racing in the Rolex 24 back in the early 1980s and I can definitely say the effort we are putting together for the 50th Anniversary race is as good as any of them,” said Baldwin, who will be competing in the day-long Daytona classic for the 23rd time. “Bob Sanderson, Steve Cosgrove and all of the guys at Goldcrest are doing a great job and bring more experience to this race than may be apparent. They know how to prepare a car for this type of race and the lineup of drivers we have will certainly be able to get the most out of it. I am looking forward to a great result for FOAMETIX.”

Goldcrest is made up of the same key personnel that were behind the success of the 2009 championship-winning No. 87 Farnbacher/Loles Porsche GT3 of Dirk Werner and Leh Keen. Last year, Goldcrest worked with Keen and the returning Brumos Porsche GT3 team at the Rolex 24, which helped move that effort off to a successful start in what proved to a be championship-winning season.

In addition to the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, the additional rounds of the North American Endurance Racing Championship will include the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International, June 29 – July 1 and the three-hour debut race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, July 27. Awards for the championship will be presented at dusk on Indy’s legendary victory podium following the historic race on the 2.605-mile road course.

Next up for FOAMETIX/Burtin Racing with Goldcrest Motorsports is the annual Roar Before the Rolex 24 At Daytona Test Days, January 6-8, where all five drivers will come together as a team for the first time. The 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona will be run at Daytona International Speedway, January 26-29.

- Grand-Am

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Dutch racing driver Jeroen Bleekemolen will join The Racer’s Group (TRG) in its effort to defend its 2011 Rolex GT victory at the running of the 50th Anniversary of The GRAND-AM Rolex 24 at Daytona, later this month.

Bleekemolen has experience in many different disciplines of racing from DTM to Formula 3. A renown Porsche competitor, Bleekemolen is a multi-time winner of the Porsche Supercup Championship and most recently, a two-time series GTC champion in the American Le Mans Series. He joins TRG for his third Rolex 24 at Daytona in its famed No. 67, adding to the stellar lineup that TRG has assembled. In addition to Bleekemolen, The Sargent & Lundy 2012 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup GT entrant will driven by Steve Bertheau, Porsche factory driver Wolf Henzler, Sportscar and Prototype Champion Marc Goosens and Rolex Series veteran Spencer Pumpelly.

“We are very excited to add Jeroen to our team.” said TRG team owner Kevin Buckler. “We spent much of 2011 battling against him and to now add him to our lineup for our defending car is really special. I consider him, Spencer and Wolf part of a very small and elite group of 911 assassins – probably some of the best in the world and now they are in the same car. He will fit right in with our guys here. We look forward to having everyone together later this week at the Roar.”

The No. 67 was the class of the field at the Daytona December test, setting fastest lap each day of practice. Bleekemolen will join the team this weekend, January 6-8, when the No. 67 hits the track for The Roar Before The 24 at Daytona International Speedway. The 50th Rolex 24 at Daytona will begin on January 28th at 3:30 p.m. EST and will be televised by SPEED.

TRG is a full-service motorsports company offering a total driver ladder approach, as well as comprehensive sponsorship and business opportunities. For drivers, this approach starts with track days, goes to club events, up into street stock series and culminates in the ultimate goal of professional motorsports. For sponsors and business partners, this method starts with everything from executive events, to traditional sponsorship models, all the way to comprehensive business-to-business opportunities and experiential marketing. With facilities in Petaluma, California and Mooresville, North Carolina the team can offer turn-key marketing programs as well as arrive-and-drive support.

The Racer’s Group was founded in 1993 and has been competing at the top level of motor racing. The team boasts Rolex Series GT championships in 2005 and 2006 and holds the record for the most wins in Grand-Am with 32. The team’s resume is highlighted by five championships, four Rolex 24 Hour at Daytona victories, and a Le Mans 24 Hour win. Detailed team info can be viewed at www.theracersgroup.com

- TRG

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