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GMG Driver Development Program Shines with POC at Laguna Seca



SALINAS, Calif. (July 2, 2014)- While Global Motorsports Group (GMG) is primarily known for their current exploits in professional racing, taking part in such series as The Pirelli World Challenge and the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship (formerly American LeMans Series and Rolex Sports Car Series), the team continues to show commitment to many grassroots forms of racing as evidenced this weekend during the Porsche Owner’s Club (POC) round at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

“Club racing remains a big part of GMG’s day-to-day business,” stated team owner James Sofronas. “What we do in the Pirelli World Challenge and TUDOR Championship is the most high profile, but it’s built on our involvement in club racing and track days all around the country. Between our experienced group of technicians and engineers, our immense amount of data we can share, and of course an experienced roster of drivers, the tools we offer to our participants is unparalleled and I think our performance shows that.”

Taking place this past Saturday and Sunday, the POC’s most recent round in the beautiful hills of Monterey provided a significant number of highlights for GMG’s roster of drivers. With the event providing a meeting ground for a number of sportsman Porsche drivers with a variety of experiences, the event featured a full day of practice sessions, time attacks, and sprint races for a number of categories including the highly-touted Pirelli Cup.

Driving in the signature event, GMG brought three entries to the venue: team owner James Sofronas, the highly experienced Chip Romer, and relative newcomer Chris Thompson. After a series of tests and driver development sessions with GMG's local partners, The Thermal Club near Palm Springs, the trio came in to the race ready for action.



Sofronas, despite his current status as one of the top drivers in the Pirelli World Challenge, is no stranger to club racing himself. Unlike many of his peers that he competes against on a professional stage, Sofronas’ driving career began much later in life utilizing the earnings from a career in medical sales to fund his driving habit. Starting as a club racer, any opportunity to return to grassroots racing is welcome for the Californian.

Beyond the satisfaction found in the camaraderie of racing in the POC, the Villa Park, California resident would actually be the star of the weekend, not only taking the overall victory, but utilizing his Pirelli rubber to set a series track record in qualifying of 1:26.3.

“I had so much fun racing out there,” stated Sofronas, driving the No. 1 The Thermal Club / Spyder Porsche 911 GT2 Cup 997. “The environment with the POC is such a relaxed, supportive environment and it’s a great change of pace from some of the other racing that we do. At the same time, there are some really, really talented guys and that’s what makes this racing so fun. You have quite a range of experience here, from guys who could compete with the pros, all the way to folks who are getting their first taste of wheel-to-wheel racing, and the Pirelli's are just awesome to race with! I also have to thank our partners at The Thermal club for getting our drivers ready, what a great facility to have at our doorstep. Thanks to them, we were able to not only test the cars but to also develop new drivers as both Chip and Chris were able to get ample seat time under our tutelage."



Driving the No. 155 Porsche 911 GT3R 997, seasoned veteran Chip Romer would also have a banner day chasing Sofronas for much of the race en route to second.

“We had a great weekend,” stated Romer. “The guys at GMG do a great job of bringing a knowledgeable, experienced crew and it shows when we take to the track. At an event like this, you can have a range of different teams with different levels of experience and GMG brings a level of quality and service that is second to none. Thanks to everyone for such a great time, and I’m glad we were able to bring home some hardware.”



Meanwhile, GMG driver Chris Thompson, competing in only his third POC event, drove a clean weekend en route to two different fourth-place finishes resulting in a sign-off on his competition license.

“I just wanted to have a clean, safe experience out there,” stated Thompson. “This was my first time at Laguna Seca and everyone on the team really helped walk me through the process and keep me calm. The access that the team gave me to driving information and data went a long way. For someone new like myself, I couldn’t ask for a better way to properly get introduced.”

While Sofronas and his crew are busy preparing for the second half of the Pirelli World Challenge season, the team remains committed to a number of upcoming local events for club racers and aspiring professionals alike. With a vertically integrated system that can take drivers from their first laps in a sportscar all the way to the top levels of motorsport, the team welcomes any and all inquiries on the next steps.

About GMG




Founded in 2001 by James Sofronas and Fabryce Kutyba, GMG has quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning and racing facility. What began as a small 1200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a 30,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility located in (Orange County) Santa Ana, California. The staff's experience, attention to detail, and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts world wide. Whether you want to maximize the performance of your street car, or race wheel-to-wheel on both amateur and professional racing series across North America, GMG’s reputation for service and quality is unmatched.

To learn more, please visit www.gmgracing.com.

For all inquiries about GMG's motorsports program, please email James@GMGRacing.com

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jrgordonsenior

James it was great to have you back at a POC event. You should post your in-car of your DFL to first run Saturday.....

James-GMG

I had a blast JR, what a perfect weekend for racing...and the weather was perfect!
I will get video up soon........

Let's get a big POC contingent out to the Road America PCA race end of Aug!

Krokodil

James, is that an offer to sponsor a group of POC members for the trip

I suspect not, but unfortunately that is probably the only way it is going to happen.

Cheers,

m42racer

Last to first, pole and track record. Wow!!! Very impressive, as a driver and machine.

Nothing against your ability as a driver, but that cannot be a Cup engined 997? It has GT2 badge so is this a turbo engined car?

Cannot think of many successful Turbo race cars. Most are some sort of street car with the typical street car mods, that would never survive a race, nor come from the back to win.

Regardless of talent, that must be some engine? Can you share what you have?

James-GMG

Thanks.....car is a blast to drive for sure and my guys do a great job setting it up. It's fast for sure......but we did get our WC Cup to run 1:26.0 back in 2011 when the ALMS rubber was sticky as hell that year......but this was the first time out with this car since we rebuilt the motor and there is more time in it for sure.
This car is built for the gentleman racer as its has tons of torque and is easy to drive, with plenty of power and the H pattern is easy for most to drive as well.

Laguna is about maintaining your mid corner speed and finding grip off the corners as it's traditionally a low grip circuit. This car was built to WC Spec 2 years ago and then was put on hold as we focused on customer cars.
We built this car to showcase what we can build from the ground up as this car started out as a bare chassis.

I plan to do a full write up on the car but here are the basics:
-Cup car chassis with full 2010 Cup suspension, uprights and subframes
-GMG built 3.6 liter Twin Turbo engine with GMG turbos and intercoolers. Car is tuned more for a flat torque curve and driveability, vs big HP numbers, as that's what counts in a road race car.
-996 GT3R gearbox
-Full WC spec Stoptech Brake System with Motorsport ABS
-Cup S front end and rear wing with wide body Turbo quarters
-GMG/WC Shocks, sway bar and spring package
-Tilton race clutch

More to come.......I hope to bring it to Road America for the big PCA weekend.
For that track, we will turn more for top end....

Cheers,

drbooba1

Is this the Performance Developments Turbo engine Neil engineered.

regards

James-GMG

Yes and no, the final engine build was done in house by one of my techs, who also runs my WC Audi.

drbooba1

He did a good Job it was impressive

regards

m42racer

James, I knew Neil was building a 4.0L engine for you but he did this one too?

That makes sense now. There are not many that can make an engine do what this one apparently does.

I called him today and asked about this engine. He was pretty tight lipped about this and the others he built for you. But he did say there is a huge amount left on the table as this engine does not have the original designed heads that go with the camshafts he designed. He told me that the original heads you gave him to use were the old French heads that crack. And they did after all of the work that went into them and the testing. He said he tried to repair them but it was unsuccessful. He said you fitted stock 997 heads and reassembled the engine. He said he was disappointed that the original design never got a chance to show itself, but was happy that you had a great weekend. Imagine what this engine could do?

Nothing taken from your tech, your car and driving, but some credit should be given where credits due.

Now what about that 4.0L Turbo engine. That must be something if this engine is a 3.6L.

James-GMG

m42racer, do I know you? Can you share with me your name and how you know Neil or what is your affiliation with him?
And you are getting half the story regarding the history behind this engine.....I don't want to get into the pitfalls and the issues we had with the prior to builds....all I know is that the final build was done in house and the car was over .5 seconds a lap faster than before and it ran flawlessly throughout the entire weekend. As someone mentioned earlier, it's very difficult to build a turbo engine for the race track and Aki did a great job with the final build.

Regarding the 4.0 Motor......that was a monster.

drbooba1

My intent was to complement the in house Engine builder my apologies James I had not intended to steer this in another direction.

regards

James-GMG

No need to apologize........I have nothing to hide here, just curious as to who you are?

m42racer

James,

I too offer up any apologies needed. No offence was meant or implied.

I was mearly pointing out the performance of this or any engine is in the design and configuration, not in the assembly. Taking nothing away for your tech either. He did a great job in assemblying this engine or it would not have made it to the end of the race.

I know of the issues that were had at the beginning and although minor in nature did require the engine to be re built.

Neil was very gracious and complimentary of you and your driving. He was bitterly disapointed in the heads he built for this engine not been used. He suggested to me that there is a huge amount of performance lleft in this engine had they been used. He blames himself, no one else for not knowing that early 996 heads crack.

You had a great weekend and I ceratinly do not wish to take anything away from your efforts nor from your tech.

Sorry if I offended in any way. I and many others would love to hear more about the 4.0L Turbo engine. He will not give up any info on it other that it was built by Performance Developments.

Great job and look forward to hearing more great results.

You ask how I know Neil? Who doesn't.