News
Aghakhani Shines in Young Development Driving Event with US RaceTronics
Monrovia, California (May 24, 2016) - US RaceTronics' young development driver Steven Aghakhani impressed team owner Shane Seneviratne last week during his first competitive event with the team at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in Buttonwillow, CA.
Aghakhani drove a Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo car in Friday's event after spending Thursday testing with the team. The 1-day event saw the 13-year-old native Californian finishing at the top of the speed charts in each of the 20-minute sessions he ran in as well as posting the fastest overall time of the day.
Seneviratne was impressed with not only the youngster's speed, but also his focus on learning everything he could during his two days with the team.
"Steven really demonstrated his capabilities," Seneviratne said. "It was a great event; very much like qualifying where you have to find a gap and put down your fastest lap. So far Steven has done a great job in every outing he's participated in and he's made substantial improvements from when he first stepped into the car. He's a good listener; he retains the information he's given and applies what he learns. We're looking forward to participating in more events with him to continue developing his racing skills."
Aghakhani started racing go-karts when he was 7 after spending time at the race track with his dad. He just recently made the transition to cars and is already proving that he's got what it takes to succeed. He ran approximately 60 laps on Friday with a fast time of 1:49; fastest of the 65 cars participating. The participants were divided into three groups by skill level and Aghakhani was placed with 19 other drivers in the most skilled group of the day. The young driver is excited about the opportunity and happy with all the support he's getting.
"To be able to race the Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo at Buttonwillow feels amazing," Aghakhani said. "I love racing, but I also love the community and support that comes with it. My dad has supported me through this sport from the beginning and he's the best coach. Now that we are progressing into bigger events with faster cars, I just feel really lucky to have talented instructors around me and to be a part of the US RaceTronics Team".
The team intends to participate with Aghakhani in as many different environments as possible to ensure that he gets the experience he needs to compete at the top-level for his sport as soon as he's old enough to obtain his license.
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US RaceTronics' Damon Ockey Takes Points Lead in Category with Race 2 Win at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Flat Tire from Contact on First Lap Spoils Chance of Podium for No. 17 Lamborghini of Beverly Hills
Salinas, California (May 2, 2016) - US RaceTronics' driver Damon Ockey drove the No. 09 Lamborghini of Calgary Huracán to victory in Round 2 of the 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series. The win, along with his second-place finish in Round 1, moves the Canadian driver into first place in his class.
"Today was a great race," Ockey said. "We started P7 overall. I had a really clean start and was able to make it up to, I think, P4 at one point. I was running strong in my class and when I came in for the pit stop the team got me out perfectly. I had a pretty good lead on the guys in my class, so I was able to just drive a good consistent race to the end and come in P1."
Brian Thienes started the day in the No. 17 Lamborghini of Beverly Hills and was moving through the pack when a first-lap incident resulted in a flat tire. The crew did a great job getting him a new tire, but the necessity of the pit stop ruined his chances for a podium finish.
"The team did a great job preparing the car for today; it was very fast," Thienes said. "Unfortunately, I got bumped and cut a tire on the first lap and spun around and had to come in and change tires. Richie did a good job getting the car back up toward the front of the pack. I think this team has all that it takes to get us to the front. I expect better results next race."
Richard Antinucci, last season's LBSTNA Series' champion, took over the car slightly over 20 minutes into the race. He was running lap times that were faster than the leaders and making up significant ground when the gearbox on the No. 17 failed with just three laps to go.
"Well, if we came here ten times we'd have had a different outcome drastically in I'd have to say nine out of the ten," Antinucci reflected. "This was the one where perhaps things just didn't go our way throughout qualifying, race 1 and race 2. Unfortunately, today we got into another tangle at the start through no fault of ours, this time with Brian. So it seems like whoever we put in the car we were a target at the start of these races this weekend. This can happen; it's racing. We're really fortunate to be racing. I'm really fortunate to be part of this team. US RaceTronics has done a great job so far. Congrats on Damon Ockey on having a really smooth run this weekend; second and first in class and 7th overall today. He proved what we can do and I think we did as well when we had a clear track. I think on average we were a second faster than the leaders, which is not that bad, right? Good promising future for the team and I hope to be a part of it whenever I can."
Team owner Shane Seneviratne was proud of the way the team responded to the successes as well as the adversities of the weekend.
"I couldn't be happier for Damon and the entire team," Seneviratne said. "We had a fantastic weekend with the No. 09 Lamborghini of Calgary car. I think Damon's a very talented driver and his performance this weekend proved it. Not only was his at the top of his class, he was also consistently competing for an overall podium finish. We had some bad luck with the No. 17, but I'm really pleased with how well the team rallied to repair the damage from Round 1 to make the car competitive for Round 2. Unfortunately, we encountered contact on both days which ruined our chances for podium finishes, but Brian and Richie both did great jobs when they were in the car and I fully expect that we'll have better finishes moving forward."
The team's next opportunity for those podium finishes lies in New York state at the famed Watkins Glen International June 30th through July 3rd. The 3.4-mile road course will provide the perfect setting for US RaceTronics to showcase their abilities.
www.USRaceTronics.com, and through Twitter http://www.twitter.com/usracetronics, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/usracetronics, and Instagram http://www.instagram.com/usracetronics.
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Damon Ockey Finishes 2nd in Category, 8th Overall for US RaceTronics' LBSTNA Season Opener at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Early Contact Dampens Day for No. 17 Lamborghini of Beverly Hills
Salinas, California (April 30, 2016) - Canadian Driver Damon Ockey drove the No. 09 Lamborghini of Calgary entry home in eight overall and second in class despite some mid-race challenges with the power-steering in his 620 HP Huracán.
"The race started out really well," Ockey said. "I made my way up a couple of positions into first place in class. I came in for the pit stop and when I restarted the car my power steering was out. I was down a good second a lap after that. It was a great workout though. Ended up P2. I made it back into P1 at one point, but just wasn't able to hold the position because of the power steering issue. Still, a fun race. We did pretty good. We're going to get the car sorted out for tomorrow and it's going to be awesome."
2015 LBSTNA Series' champ Richard Antinucci started 12th behind the wheel of the No. 17 Lamborghini of Beverly Hills for Round 1. Antinucci had a great start and moved quickly through the field before contact ended his chances for a repeat of last year's season opener win.
"A pretty exciting first race of the season at the season opener at Laguna Seca for the Super Trofeo Series," Antinucci said following the race. "US RaceTronics can be proud of themselves for having the quickest pace in practice, but with yesterday's red flagged qualifying we were on the back of the grid. We started 12th and drove through the pack really quickly and then encountered some overly optimistic drivers who lack experience. I'm going to drive it on the edge, that's what I do, but if the person next to me doesn't have that same understanding and knowledge then it's hard to get through the corners together in one piece; we didn't. We had three different incidents, so that's definitely something to consider for tomorrow; something I need to learn as well in terms of who I'm racing. But the team, the engineer and the whole group here has to be proud of themselves. We probably would have gotten into the lead within the first stint, so I think that's very good for starting 12th. We start in a similar position again tomorrow; let's go for it."
Brian Thienes, co-driver of the No. 17, was able to improve on the position he inherited at the mid-point of the race despite the condition of the damaged car.
"We had a difficult starting position and Richie did a really good job to get the car up to the front," Thienes commented, "but with some contact the car got knocked out of alignment. Richie did a really good job to keep it on the track and keep his position up as far as he could. The team did a really good job getting us around the track. We were basically just trying to finish the race at that point. We'll go out again tomorrow and hopefully have a better result."
Team owner, Shane Seneviratne, was impressed by how well all three of his driver's performed in the face of the challenges presented them today.
"I'm really proud of Damon for powering through and bringing the No. 09 home in second place. If he hadn't had the power-steering issue, I'm certain he would have finished first. He's a great driver and proved it again today. Unfortunately, Richie sustained some damage to the No. 17 from contact early in the race and both he and Brian had to struggle with poor handling issues after that point. They both did a remarkable job to keep the car on the track and Brian even managed to move up a couple of spots in the second stint. Eleventh wasn't what we were hoping for today, but we'll take those points and look to do better tomorrow. We learned a lot today and I think it will show when we go out for Round 2."
Round 2 of the 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series goes green at 8:30 a.m. PDT Sunday morning.
www.USRaceTronics.com, and through Twitter http://www.twitter.com/usracetronics, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/usracetronics, and Instagram http://www.instagram.com/usracetronics.
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Antinucci to Drive for US RaceTronics at Season Opener of 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series
2015 LBSTNA Champ Subs for Kujala at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Monrovia, California (April 12, 2016) - US RaceTronics is pleased to announce that the 2015 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Champion, Richard Antinucci, will join the team for the season opener at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and also at Road America.
Antinucci will fill in for Patrick Kujala in the No. 17 Lamborghini of Beverly Hills Huracán Pro Am entry. Kujala, who is the both the reigning LBST European Champion and also the LBST World Champion, will join the team beginning with Round 3 in Watkins Glen, NY after he fulfills his current commitments in Europe for Lamborghini.
Antinucci has competed in the first two rounds of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Series already this season. The LBSTNA champion finished first and second at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Rounds 1 and 2 respectively last season.
"I'm really looking forward to rejoining forces with team owner Shane for the season opener as we brought each other good luck last year! I'm also very keen to work with Brian Thienes as teammates. He's a talented driver and a great guy. Let's go have some fun and push for gold!"
Team owner Shane Seneviratne is excited to be working with Antinucci again.
"We had such a great year last year with Richie," Seneviratne said. "It was also a pleasure working with Richie at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in January where he set the fastest race lap in his class. He performed beyond everyone's expectations. I had faith in him and am very happy to have him filling in for Patrick. He will be a valuable asset to our team and an instrumental factor in keeping momentum going for our entire team. I would love to continue to compete with Richie for the rest of the season and will continue to look at other opportunities to do so."
Brian Thienes who will co-drive with Antinucci and Kujala is looking forward to having another champion joining him in the No. 17 Lamborghini of Beverly Hills Huracán.
"I met Richie at Thermal and think he's a great guy," Thienes said. "I can't wait to work with him. His knowledge and success at Laguna Seca will be a huge advantage for our team."
The 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series will kick off next month at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway with Rounds 1 and 2. Catch the action April 29th through May 1st.
You can follow the team's progress at www.USRaceTronics.com, and through Twitter http://www.twitter.com/usracetronics, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/usracetronics, and Instagram http://www.instagram.com/usracetronics.
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Damon Ockey Joins US RaceTronics for 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series
Monrovia, California (April 7, 2016) - US RaceTronics is pleased to announce that driver Damon Ockey will be joining the team for the 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series. Ockey will drive the No. 09 Lamborghini of Calgary Huracán Am entry.
The Calgary native, coming off a third place finish last season in the Am class, is eager to face the challenges of his sophomore season in the series.
"I am really looking forward to the 2016 season with US RaceTronics," Ockey said. "The tracks we will be at this year are all challenging and exciting to drive. The first race is always a bit of an unknown with new drivers and teams coming up to speed. So far we are looking to be in great shape for the season opener at Laguna Seca."
US RaceTronics team owner, Shane Seneviratne, is thrilled to be working with Ockey for the second straight season and has high expectations for him this season.
"I'm extremely excited to be working with Damon again this year," Seneviratne said. "He did a great job last season - he put in the work and drove hard at every event. I expect he'll do even better this season now that he's familiar with the car as well as most of the tracks. He'll be working with the same engineer, Peter Jacobs, he had last season, and I think that consistency gives him a legitimate shot at the Am Championship this year. I'm proud to have him join our team."
Asgar Virji, President of Lamborghini Calgary / Vancouver, is delighted to be working with Seneviratne again.
"We worked with Shane last year and produced a championship team," Virji said. "Lamborghini Calgary is thrilled to be a part of the next chapter in the story."
The 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series will kick off next month at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway with Rounds 1 and 2. Catch the action April 29th through May 1st.
You can follow the team's progress at www.USRaceTronics.com, and through Twitter http://www.twitter.com/usracetronics, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/usracetronics, and Instagram http://www.instagram.com/usracetronics.
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Justice Brothers Partner With US RaceTronics for Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series
Monrovia, California (March 30, 2016) - US RaceTronics is pleased to announce the signing of Justice Brothers as an official sponsor. Justice Brothers will support the team during its participation in the Lamborghini BlancpIain Super Trofeo Series.
"My relationship with Justice Brothers goes back to when we had a very successful program in Indy Lights. Justice Brothers provides virtually all the consumables-which can take care of the equipment for your entire race team-from transporter, to race car, to the company vehicle. I'm glad to continue our long relationship in the fastest one make series in the world" - Shane Seneviratne
Justice Brothers, Inc. is a manufacturer and worldwide distributor of over 100 car care products, fleet, farm, and industrial lubricants and cleaners. Since their beginnings in the additive industry, the Justice Brothers Corporation has been an innovator in the development of new and better products to solve problems in the automotive service industry. Today, they have built a large and loyal customer base that encompasses many different markets throughout the world.
"Shane's relationship with Justice Brothers goes back quite a few years. We look forward to the upcoming year and renewing our partnership." -Ed Justice, Jr. President & CEO
About Justice Brothers, Inc.
Justice Brothers, Inc. is a manufacturer and worldwide distributor of over 100 car care products, fleet, farm, and industrial lubricants and cleaners. Since their beginnings in the additive industry, the Justice Brothers Corporation has been an innovator in the development of new and better products to solve problems in the automotive service industry. During their over 75 years in the automotive industry, Justice Brothers has built a large and loyal customer base that encompasses quick lubes, dealerships, and independent auto stores.
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SONIC Tools Joins US RaceTronics as Partner for Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series
Monrovia, California (March 24, 2016) - US RaceTronics is pleased to announce the signing of SONIC Tools as an official partner. Under the multi-year agreement, SONIC Tools will support the team during its participation in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series.
SONIC Tools is headquartered in Auburn, Alabama and serves the needs of U.S. and Canadian automotive dealerships, independent service centers, tuner shops, technicians and do-it-yourself automotive enthusiasts.The brand is also the official hand tool of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Continental SportsCar Challenge, as well as an official partner of the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA).
"SONIC offers a unique streamlined system, which greatly improves our efficiency- a critical factor in high-performance racing," said team owner Shane Seneviratne. "I'm impressed with the products they offer, particularly the SONIC storage systems, and we plan to take that message far from the track. We believe SONIC tools and toolbox solutions ought to be in workshops and garages throughout North America."
"We have had an opportunity to witness the professionalism of Shane Seneviratne over the past several months, and we are honored to be a part of his program," said SONIC Tools Chief Marketing Officer Colby McConnell. "His team is smart, they are dedicated and they operate in a highly efficient manner. We are looking forward to seeing the incremental improvements in efficiency that our storage systems provide. We are committed to provide the team with the tools they need to compete at the highest level of this sport."
SONIC products are available online at www.sonictoolsusa.com, direct from the SONIC Team, or track-side at all IMSA events. The mission of SONIC Tools is to change industry standards by introducing unrivaled organization and efficiency solutions to positively impact a company's bottom line.
The 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series will kick off next month at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway with Rounds 1 and 2. Catch the action April 29th through May 1st.
About SONIC Tools
SONIC Tools is the North American subsidiary of Netherlands-based SONIC Equipment, the world's market leader in the design and manufacture of premium hand tools and tool box systems for both commercial and consumer use. SONIC Tools' precision-crafted tools, tool boxes and wall systems are found in the world's most progressive automotive enterprises, service centers, race shops, aftermarket businesses and personal garages.
Experience SONIC Tools online, through Facebook at www.facebook.com/sonictoolsusa , Twitter at www.twitter.com/sonictoolsusa, and via Instagram at www.instagram.com/sonictoolsusa or @sonictoolsusa.
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Brian Thienes and Patrick Kujala Sign with US RaceTronics for 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series
Monrovia, California (March 16, 2016) - US RaceTronics is pleased to announce that veteran racer Brian Thienes and the 2015 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo champion Patrick Kujala will be joining the team for the 2016 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North American Series; the most thrilling one-make series in the world. The pair will join forces in the No. 17 Huracán Pro-Am entry.
Spanish born driver, Kujala dominated the Squadra Corse Lamborghini Series (Super Trofeo Europe) last season and took the 2015 Championship at the World Finals in Sebring, Florida.
Brian Thienes is the owner of successful civil engineering and land surveying company, Thienes Engineering, and has a long standing history with Seneviratne, having raced together in the Formula Atlantic Series.
"I jumped at the opportunity to work with Shane again," Thienes said. "He's definitely focused on getting the best possible results. He has a unique leadership quality; the ability to identify and rally the industry's brightest talent. Peter (Jacobs) is a "rock star" engineer. It takes an engineer to know if you really have a good engineer and Peter is a really good engineer. Bryce (Miller), the driver coach, is also very detail oriented; he sent me pages of notes and data after the test. The entire crew, Kerry, Dan, Nate and all the other guys are very serious and dedicated to keeping the car in good order and well prepared. Shane is the hardest working person in racing and is a great role model for his team; he leads by example. I'm also extremely excited to have the opportunity to partner with Patrick this season. He's a fantastic driver and I think we're going to make a great team."
Kujala will join Thienes in 2016 for eight of the 12 races along with the World Finals in Valencia, Spain. Kujala, who is competing for Lamborghini in its European GT3 program, will miss the season opener at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway along with the two rounds held at Road America. His replacement driver has not yet been confirmed.
"I am thrilled to have this opportunity to do the Super Trofeo North America Championship this season with US RaceTronics and Brian Thienes as my teammate," Kujala said. "We had two great days of testing at Buttonwillow. The team did great job and I found myself very comfortable from the very first moment. Brian has important racing experience with single seaters and even though he has not been racing for a few years, he was very quick, able to do very good laps and had a good pace. I am convinced that we will make a good pair for the North American PRO-AM Championship and of course for the World Final at the end of the year. I'm excited about the program and want to thank Shane, the team & Brian for this opportunity."
The signing of Thienes and Kujala represents the first step forward as Seneviratne moves to continue the success he established last season as race team director of O'Gara Motorsport.
"I'm happy to be working with Brian again," said Seneviratne. "We had a good stint together in Formula Atlantic and I'm looking forward to having him join the team. He is a professional racer and I'm excited to have him on board along with Patrick. Patrick is an extraordinary young talent, and we're inspired by his passion and determination to win. I'm confident that, with Brian and Patrick, we'll be able to build a competitive program."
The 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series will kick off next month at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway with Rounds 1 and 2. Catch the action April 29th through May 1st.
You can follow the team's progress at www.USRaceTronics.com, and through Twitter http://www.twitter.com/usracetronics, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/usracetronics, and Instagram http://www.instagram.com/usracetronics.
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Monrovia, California (May 24, 2016) - US RaceTronics' young development driver Steven Aghakhani impressed team owner Shane Seneviratne last week during his first competitive event with the team at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in Buttonwillow, CA.
Aghakhani drove a Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo car in Friday's event after spending Thursday testing with the team. The 1-day event saw the 13-year-old native Californian finishing at the top of the speed charts in each of the 20-minute sessions he ran in as well as posting the fastest overall time of the day.
Seneviratne was impressed with not only the youngster's speed, but also his focus on learning everything he could during his two days with the team.
"Steven really demonstrated his capabilities," Seneviratne said. "It was a great event; very much like qualifying where you have to find a gap and put down your fastest lap. So far Steven has done a great job in every outing he's participated in and he's made substantial improvements from when he first stepped into the car. He's a good listener; he retains the information he's given and applies what he learns. We're looking forward to participating in more events with him to continue developing his racing skills."
Aghakhani started racing go-karts when he was 7 after spending time at the race track with his dad. He just recently made the transition to cars and is already proving that he's got what it takes to succeed. He ran approximately 60 laps on Friday with a fast time of 1:49; fastest of the 65 cars participating. The participants were divided into three groups by skill level and Aghakhani was placed with 19 other drivers in the most skilled group of the day. The young driver is excited about the opportunity and happy with all the support he's getting.
"To be able to race the Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo at Buttonwillow feels amazing," Aghakhani said. "I love racing, but I also love the community and support that comes with it. My dad has supported me through this sport from the beginning and he's the best coach. Now that we are progressing into bigger events with faster cars, I just feel really lucky to have talented instructors around me and to be a part of the US RaceTronics Team".
The team intends to participate with Aghakhani in as many different environments as possible to ensure that he gets the experience he needs to compete at the top-level for his sport as soon as he's old enough to obtain his license.
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US RaceTronics' Damon Ockey Takes Points Lead in Category with Race 2 Win at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Flat Tire from Contact on First Lap Spoils Chance of Podium for No. 17 Lamborghini of Beverly Hills
Salinas, California (May 2, 2016) - US RaceTronics' driver Damon Ockey drove the No. 09 Lamborghini of Calgary Huracán to victory in Round 2 of the 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series. The win, along with his second-place finish in Round 1, moves the Canadian driver into first place in his class.
"Today was a great race," Ockey said. "We started P7 overall. I had a really clean start and was able to make it up to, I think, P4 at one point. I was running strong in my class and when I came in for the pit stop the team got me out perfectly. I had a pretty good lead on the guys in my class, so I was able to just drive a good consistent race to the end and come in P1."
Brian Thienes started the day in the No. 17 Lamborghini of Beverly Hills and was moving through the pack when a first-lap incident resulted in a flat tire. The crew did a great job getting him a new tire, but the necessity of the pit stop ruined his chances for a podium finish.
"The team did a great job preparing the car for today; it was very fast," Thienes said. "Unfortunately, I got bumped and cut a tire on the first lap and spun around and had to come in and change tires. Richie did a good job getting the car back up toward the front of the pack. I think this team has all that it takes to get us to the front. I expect better results next race."
Richard Antinucci, last season's LBSTNA Series' champion, took over the car slightly over 20 minutes into the race. He was running lap times that were faster than the leaders and making up significant ground when the gearbox on the No. 17 failed with just three laps to go.
"Well, if we came here ten times we'd have had a different outcome drastically in I'd have to say nine out of the ten," Antinucci reflected. "This was the one where perhaps things just didn't go our way throughout qualifying, race 1 and race 2. Unfortunately, today we got into another tangle at the start through no fault of ours, this time with Brian. So it seems like whoever we put in the car we were a target at the start of these races this weekend. This can happen; it's racing. We're really fortunate to be racing. I'm really fortunate to be part of this team. US RaceTronics has done a great job so far. Congrats on Damon Ockey on having a really smooth run this weekend; second and first in class and 7th overall today. He proved what we can do and I think we did as well when we had a clear track. I think on average we were a second faster than the leaders, which is not that bad, right? Good promising future for the team and I hope to be a part of it whenever I can."
Team owner Shane Seneviratne was proud of the way the team responded to the successes as well as the adversities of the weekend.
"I couldn't be happier for Damon and the entire team," Seneviratne said. "We had a fantastic weekend with the No. 09 Lamborghini of Calgary car. I think Damon's a very talented driver and his performance this weekend proved it. Not only was his at the top of his class, he was also consistently competing for an overall podium finish. We had some bad luck with the No. 17, but I'm really pleased with how well the team rallied to repair the damage from Round 1 to make the car competitive for Round 2. Unfortunately, we encountered contact on both days which ruined our chances for podium finishes, but Brian and Richie both did great jobs when they were in the car and I fully expect that we'll have better finishes moving forward."
The team's next opportunity for those podium finishes lies in New York state at the famed Watkins Glen International June 30th through July 3rd. The 3.4-mile road course will provide the perfect setting for US RaceTronics to showcase their abilities.
www.USRaceTronics.com, and through Twitter http://www.twitter.com/usracetronics, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/usracetronics, and Instagram http://www.instagram.com/usracetronics.
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Damon Ockey Finishes 2nd in Category, 8th Overall for US RaceTronics' LBSTNA Season Opener at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Early Contact Dampens Day for No. 17 Lamborghini of Beverly Hills
Salinas, California (April 30, 2016) - Canadian Driver Damon Ockey drove the No. 09 Lamborghini of Calgary entry home in eight overall and second in class despite some mid-race challenges with the power-steering in his 620 HP Huracán.
"The race started out really well," Ockey said. "I made my way up a couple of positions into first place in class. I came in for the pit stop and when I restarted the car my power steering was out. I was down a good second a lap after that. It was a great workout though. Ended up P2. I made it back into P1 at one point, but just wasn't able to hold the position because of the power steering issue. Still, a fun race. We did pretty good. We're going to get the car sorted out for tomorrow and it's going to be awesome."
2015 LBSTNA Series' champ Richard Antinucci started 12th behind the wheel of the No. 17 Lamborghini of Beverly Hills for Round 1. Antinucci had a great start and moved quickly through the field before contact ended his chances for a repeat of last year's season opener win.
"A pretty exciting first race of the season at the season opener at Laguna Seca for the Super Trofeo Series," Antinucci said following the race. "US RaceTronics can be proud of themselves for having the quickest pace in practice, but with yesterday's red flagged qualifying we were on the back of the grid. We started 12th and drove through the pack really quickly and then encountered some overly optimistic drivers who lack experience. I'm going to drive it on the edge, that's what I do, but if the person next to me doesn't have that same understanding and knowledge then it's hard to get through the corners together in one piece; we didn't. We had three different incidents, so that's definitely something to consider for tomorrow; something I need to learn as well in terms of who I'm racing. But the team, the engineer and the whole group here has to be proud of themselves. We probably would have gotten into the lead within the first stint, so I think that's very good for starting 12th. We start in a similar position again tomorrow; let's go for it."
Brian Thienes, co-driver of the No. 17, was able to improve on the position he inherited at the mid-point of the race despite the condition of the damaged car.
"We had a difficult starting position and Richie did a really good job to get the car up to the front," Thienes commented, "but with some contact the car got knocked out of alignment. Richie did a really good job to keep it on the track and keep his position up as far as he could. The team did a really good job getting us around the track. We were basically just trying to finish the race at that point. We'll go out again tomorrow and hopefully have a better result."
Team owner, Shane Seneviratne, was impressed by how well all three of his driver's performed in the face of the challenges presented them today.
"I'm really proud of Damon for powering through and bringing the No. 09 home in second place. If he hadn't had the power-steering issue, I'm certain he would have finished first. He's a great driver and proved it again today. Unfortunately, Richie sustained some damage to the No. 17 from contact early in the race and both he and Brian had to struggle with poor handling issues after that point. They both did a remarkable job to keep the car on the track and Brian even managed to move up a couple of spots in the second stint. Eleventh wasn't what we were hoping for today, but we'll take those points and look to do better tomorrow. We learned a lot today and I think it will show when we go out for Round 2."
Round 2 of the 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series goes green at 8:30 a.m. PDT Sunday morning.
www.USRaceTronics.com, and through Twitter http://www.twitter.com/usracetronics, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/usracetronics, and Instagram http://www.instagram.com/usracetronics.
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Antinucci to Drive for US RaceTronics at Season Opener of 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series
2015 LBSTNA Champ Subs for Kujala at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Monrovia, California (April 12, 2016) - US RaceTronics is pleased to announce that the 2015 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Champion, Richard Antinucci, will join the team for the season opener at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and also at Road America.
Antinucci will fill in for Patrick Kujala in the No. 17 Lamborghini of Beverly Hills Huracán Pro Am entry. Kujala, who is the both the reigning LBST European Champion and also the LBST World Champion, will join the team beginning with Round 3 in Watkins Glen, NY after he fulfills his current commitments in Europe for Lamborghini.
Antinucci has competed in the first two rounds of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Series already this season. The LBSTNA champion finished first and second at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Rounds 1 and 2 respectively last season.
"I'm really looking forward to rejoining forces with team owner Shane for the season opener as we brought each other good luck last year! I'm also very keen to work with Brian Thienes as teammates. He's a talented driver and a great guy. Let's go have some fun and push for gold!"
Team owner Shane Seneviratne is excited to be working with Antinucci again.
"We had such a great year last year with Richie," Seneviratne said. "It was also a pleasure working with Richie at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in January where he set the fastest race lap in his class. He performed beyond everyone's expectations. I had faith in him and am very happy to have him filling in for Patrick. He will be a valuable asset to our team and an instrumental factor in keeping momentum going for our entire team. I would love to continue to compete with Richie for the rest of the season and will continue to look at other opportunities to do so."
Brian Thienes who will co-drive with Antinucci and Kujala is looking forward to having another champion joining him in the No. 17 Lamborghini of Beverly Hills Huracán.
"I met Richie at Thermal and think he's a great guy," Thienes said. "I can't wait to work with him. His knowledge and success at Laguna Seca will be a huge advantage for our team."
The 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series will kick off next month at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway with Rounds 1 and 2. Catch the action April 29th through May 1st.
You can follow the team's progress at www.USRaceTronics.com, and through Twitter http://www.twitter.com/usracetronics, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/usracetronics, and Instagram http://www.instagram.com/usracetronics.
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Damon Ockey Joins US RaceTronics for 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series
Monrovia, California (April 7, 2016) - US RaceTronics is pleased to announce that driver Damon Ockey will be joining the team for the 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series. Ockey will drive the No. 09 Lamborghini of Calgary Huracán Am entry.
The Calgary native, coming off a third place finish last season in the Am class, is eager to face the challenges of his sophomore season in the series.
"I am really looking forward to the 2016 season with US RaceTronics," Ockey said. "The tracks we will be at this year are all challenging and exciting to drive. The first race is always a bit of an unknown with new drivers and teams coming up to speed. So far we are looking to be in great shape for the season opener at Laguna Seca."
US RaceTronics team owner, Shane Seneviratne, is thrilled to be working with Ockey for the second straight season and has high expectations for him this season.
"I'm extremely excited to be working with Damon again this year," Seneviratne said. "He did a great job last season - he put in the work and drove hard at every event. I expect he'll do even better this season now that he's familiar with the car as well as most of the tracks. He'll be working with the same engineer, Peter Jacobs, he had last season, and I think that consistency gives him a legitimate shot at the Am Championship this year. I'm proud to have him join our team."
Asgar Virji, President of Lamborghini Calgary / Vancouver, is delighted to be working with Seneviratne again.
"We worked with Shane last year and produced a championship team," Virji said. "Lamborghini Calgary is thrilled to be a part of the next chapter in the story."
The 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series will kick off next month at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway with Rounds 1 and 2. Catch the action April 29th through May 1st.
You can follow the team's progress at www.USRaceTronics.com, and through Twitter http://www.twitter.com/usracetronics, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/usracetronics, and Instagram http://www.instagram.com/usracetronics.
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Justice Brothers Partner With US RaceTronics for Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series
Monrovia, California (March 30, 2016) - US RaceTronics is pleased to announce the signing of Justice Brothers as an official sponsor. Justice Brothers will support the team during its participation in the Lamborghini BlancpIain Super Trofeo Series.
"My relationship with Justice Brothers goes back to when we had a very successful program in Indy Lights. Justice Brothers provides virtually all the consumables-which can take care of the equipment for your entire race team-from transporter, to race car, to the company vehicle. I'm glad to continue our long relationship in the fastest one make series in the world" - Shane Seneviratne
Justice Brothers, Inc. is a manufacturer and worldwide distributor of over 100 car care products, fleet, farm, and industrial lubricants and cleaners. Since their beginnings in the additive industry, the Justice Brothers Corporation has been an innovator in the development of new and better products to solve problems in the automotive service industry. Today, they have built a large and loyal customer base that encompasses many different markets throughout the world.
"Shane's relationship with Justice Brothers goes back quite a few years. We look forward to the upcoming year and renewing our partnership." -Ed Justice, Jr. President & CEO
About Justice Brothers, Inc.
Justice Brothers, Inc. is a manufacturer and worldwide distributor of over 100 car care products, fleet, farm, and industrial lubricants and cleaners. Since their beginnings in the additive industry, the Justice Brothers Corporation has been an innovator in the development of new and better products to solve problems in the automotive service industry. During their over 75 years in the automotive industry, Justice Brothers has built a large and loyal customer base that encompasses quick lubes, dealerships, and independent auto stores.
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SONIC Tools Joins US RaceTronics as Partner for Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series
Monrovia, California (March 24, 2016) - US RaceTronics is pleased to announce the signing of SONIC Tools as an official partner. Under the multi-year agreement, SONIC Tools will support the team during its participation in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series.
SONIC Tools is headquartered in Auburn, Alabama and serves the needs of U.S. and Canadian automotive dealerships, independent service centers, tuner shops, technicians and do-it-yourself automotive enthusiasts.The brand is also the official hand tool of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Continental SportsCar Challenge, as well as an official partner of the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA).
"SONIC offers a unique streamlined system, which greatly improves our efficiency- a critical factor in high-performance racing," said team owner Shane Seneviratne. "I'm impressed with the products they offer, particularly the SONIC storage systems, and we plan to take that message far from the track. We believe SONIC tools and toolbox solutions ought to be in workshops and garages throughout North America."
"We have had an opportunity to witness the professionalism of Shane Seneviratne over the past several months, and we are honored to be a part of his program," said SONIC Tools Chief Marketing Officer Colby McConnell. "His team is smart, they are dedicated and they operate in a highly efficient manner. We are looking forward to seeing the incremental improvements in efficiency that our storage systems provide. We are committed to provide the team with the tools they need to compete at the highest level of this sport."
SONIC products are available online at www.sonictoolsusa.com, direct from the SONIC Team, or track-side at all IMSA events. The mission of SONIC Tools is to change industry standards by introducing unrivaled organization and efficiency solutions to positively impact a company's bottom line.
The 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series will kick off next month at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway with Rounds 1 and 2. Catch the action April 29th through May 1st.
About SONIC Tools
SONIC Tools is the North American subsidiary of Netherlands-based SONIC Equipment, the world's market leader in the design and manufacture of premium hand tools and tool box systems for both commercial and consumer use. SONIC Tools' precision-crafted tools, tool boxes and wall systems are found in the world's most progressive automotive enterprises, service centers, race shops, aftermarket businesses and personal garages.
Experience SONIC Tools online, through Facebook at www.facebook.com/sonictoolsusa , Twitter at www.twitter.com/sonictoolsusa, and via Instagram at www.instagram.com/sonictoolsusa or @sonictoolsusa.
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Brian Thienes and Patrick Kujala Sign with US RaceTronics for 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series
Monrovia, California (March 16, 2016) - US RaceTronics is pleased to announce that veteran racer Brian Thienes and the 2015 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo champion Patrick Kujala will be joining the team for the 2016 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North American Series; the most thrilling one-make series in the world. The pair will join forces in the No. 17 Huracán Pro-Am entry.
Spanish born driver, Kujala dominated the Squadra Corse Lamborghini Series (Super Trofeo Europe) last season and took the 2015 Championship at the World Finals in Sebring, Florida.
Brian Thienes is the owner of successful civil engineering and land surveying company, Thienes Engineering, and has a long standing history with Seneviratne, having raced together in the Formula Atlantic Series.
"I jumped at the opportunity to work with Shane again," Thienes said. "He's definitely focused on getting the best possible results. He has a unique leadership quality; the ability to identify and rally the industry's brightest talent. Peter (Jacobs) is a "rock star" engineer. It takes an engineer to know if you really have a good engineer and Peter is a really good engineer. Bryce (Miller), the driver coach, is also very detail oriented; he sent me pages of notes and data after the test. The entire crew, Kerry, Dan, Nate and all the other guys are very serious and dedicated to keeping the car in good order and well prepared. Shane is the hardest working person in racing and is a great role model for his team; he leads by example. I'm also extremely excited to have the opportunity to partner with Patrick this season. He's a fantastic driver and I think we're going to make a great team."
Kujala will join Thienes in 2016 for eight of the 12 races along with the World Finals in Valencia, Spain. Kujala, who is competing for Lamborghini in its European GT3 program, will miss the season opener at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway along with the two rounds held at Road America. His replacement driver has not yet been confirmed.
"I am thrilled to have this opportunity to do the Super Trofeo North America Championship this season with US RaceTronics and Brian Thienes as my teammate," Kujala said. "We had two great days of testing at Buttonwillow. The team did great job and I found myself very comfortable from the very first moment. Brian has important racing experience with single seaters and even though he has not been racing for a few years, he was very quick, able to do very good laps and had a good pace. I am convinced that we will make a good pair for the North American PRO-AM Championship and of course for the World Final at the end of the year. I'm excited about the program and want to thank Shane, the team & Brian for this opportunity."
The signing of Thienes and Kujala represents the first step forward as Seneviratne moves to continue the success he established last season as race team director of O'Gara Motorsport.
"I'm happy to be working with Brian again," said Seneviratne. "We had a good stint together in Formula Atlantic and I'm looking forward to having him join the team. He is a professional racer and I'm excited to have him on board along with Patrick. Patrick is an extraordinary young talent, and we're inspired by his passion and determination to win. I'm confident that, with Brian and Patrick, we'll be able to build a competitive program."
The 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American Series will kick off next month at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway with Rounds 1 and 2. Catch the action April 29th through May 1st.
You can follow the team's progress at www.USRaceTronics.com, and through Twitter http://www.twitter.com/usracetronics, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/usracetronics, and Instagram http://www.instagram.com/usracetronics.
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