Gearbox issues bring Hoggard’s impressive Daytona Debut to premature halt

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Johnathan Hoggard showed exactly why he is the 2020 Sunoco Whelen Challenge winner, delivering a sterling performance on his Daytona debut despite having an injured knee.

The 19-year-old came into the weekend on the back foot having had to switch teams, moving to Precision Performance’s Lamborghini Huracan GT3, after Rick Ware Racing had to withdraw their Multimatic Riley LMP2 chassis from the 58th running of the world famous 24-hour race.

Getting his first experience of driving the Italian GT car during Thursday’s Free Practice session, Johnathan demonstrated why he won the Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Award, with his ability to rapidly adapt to any racing car evident from how quickly he got comfortable, not only with a new car, but also a new team and team-mates.

With regular driver Brandon Gdovic qualifying the car in 14th place in the GTD class he was back behind the wheel as the flag fell at 1:40pm local time to start the historic twice around the clock race. Before the hour was out Johnathan was behind the wheel for a double stint and quickly set fast times, moving up to P6 when he handed the car over to bronze driver Mark Kvamme. His pace all the more impressive after sustaining a knee injury during driver change practice on Friday afternoon, requiring him to right foot brake.

Sadly, the car would sustain heavy damage when Eric Lux was hit from behind whilst entering the pits by the 98 Aston Martin during the sixth hour of running. With a large part of the Aston lodged in the Lamborghini’s rear suspension, a lengthy pit stop was required to repair the damage.

The car rejoined four laps down with the right hand side of the rear diffuser missing as a result of the incident, severely affecting the car’s aerodynamics. With Johnathan back behind the wheel for a second stint at 9pm, he once again impressed as he set a time of 1:46.660 to record the team’s fastest lap of the race.

Excellent strategy and some solid drives from Brandon, Eric, Mark and Johnathan allowed the team to regain a lap, but the car ground to a halt after 608 laps as Johnathan was in the closing stages of his third double stint. After investigating the problem in the garage, the team quickly diagnosed the gearbox was the cause and had no choice but to retire the car with four hours of the race left to run.

Johnathan Hoggard

“I was very excited to come to the ROAR, unfortunately it didn’t really go to plan and there was a last-minute switch to the PPM Lamborghini for the race. We started off well, but I had a knee injury which put another spanner in the works, which meant we had to figure out a new way to do driver changes and then I also had to learn to right foot brake.

Overall, it’s not the result the team wanted or deserved. It has been a great experience, racing during the night-time is mega, I’ve really enjoyed it. I need to say a massive thank you to Whelen and Anglo American Oil Company for giving me this opportunity, it has been great.”

Anders Hildebrand, Managing Director – Anglo American Oil Company

“At the ROAR we were in the LMP2 car but the pro driver had an accident, and the bronze driver left, so we tried to find a quick bronze driver with some money but we couldn’t, so we then went to PPM who ran Linus Lundqvist last year and they had a seat available for Johnathan. Of course, they knew the performance of our winners, so they said ‘yeah, we want him!’

“We were running tenth, unfortunately we lost a number of laps due to the shunt with the Aston Martin. That said, the lap times Johnathan was able to put in, despite all this damage, was just fantastic.  He’s a very special driver and it’s just amazing to be involved at such an early stage with these guys.”

Rick Ware Racing number 2 Livery Design

Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Award winner to race LMP2 in Rolex 24 At Daytona

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Sunoco Whelen Challenge award winner Johnathan Hoggard will race an LMP2 with Rick Ware Racing at the 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona, his reward for winning the prize drive after a superb season of competition.

While the team is best known for its NASCAR exploits, it took second place in LMP2 Am in the opening round of the Asian Le Mans Series in November, despite freight issues ahead of the contest.

Johnathan will team up with an impressive trio of racers in the team’s Riley-Multimatic Mk 30 LMP2 car. Joining him will be Indycar and sportscar racer James Davison, and the team’s current Asian Le Mans Series racers Cody Ware, who also competes in NASCAR, and Mark Kvamme, a Rolex 24 podium finisher in 2017.

Finishing vice-champion in the BRDC British F3 Championship, Johnathan then went on to claim the prestigious Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Award, which will earn him a drive in both a Red Bull Formula 1 car and Aston Martin Vantage GTE machinery.

The 19-year old will travel to Daytona right after the start of the New Year for the fabled Roar Before the 24 over the weekend of January 3 – 5, where he will turn his first laps of the 3.56-mile Sports Car Course at the famous Speedway.

The prize drive is courtesy of the generosity of Sonny Whelen, who has helped a number of European racers make a name for themselves in the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Johnathan Hoggard

“It’s really exciting and quite unexpected, but I am really happy to be racing a prototype. It’s more like a single-seater so hopefully, I’ll adapt to it quite quickly, so I just have to learn the track as quickly as possible. I’ve done a bit of sim work, but it is never going to be like real life. It’s good to learn the layout so at the Roar I can learn everything in the limited time I have.

“It will be a different experience because all your team mates are working together on one car to ensure that you are able to get the best possible result. Normally in single seaters, you are the only driver you only have to worry about, however with an extra three team mates it is definitely going to make it very interesting.

“This drive wouldn’t be possible without Anders, Sonny, and Rick being so generous. Coming into the year this was something that would have been great so to win it and be in the position I am now is incredible.”

Anders Hildebrand, Owner, Anglo American Oil Company

“The Sunoco Whelen Challenge once again went down to the wire and we are very pleased that 2019 Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Award winner Johnathan Hoggard is our 11th winner. I monitor all racers in the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship and the Pro drivers in the British GT Championship and I must say that Johnathan stood out from a very early stage. He consistently put in pole positions and fastest laps and apart from a low scoring round at Spa he consistently fought for race wins, scoring seven victories which is a remarkable achievement in a fiercely competitive Championship.

“When we were approached by Rick Ware Racing who were offering Johnathan a competitive LMP2 drive we accepted it immediately. The Riley-Multimatic Mk 30 LMP2 race car and strong driver line-up makes it a very competitive package and together with the experienced race team means it is very promising.

“In 2018 the Sunoco Whelen Challenge winner, Stuart Middleton finished 2nd overall, so, although an LMP2 might not be able to win overall, I feel that we should be able to fight for a class podium finish and maybe even a win.”

Rick Ware, Owner, Rick Ware Racing

“We’re really happy to have Johnathan join our programme for the upcoming Rolex 24 hours At Daytona, to round out a strong driving line-up. We feel honoured that Rick Ware Racing was tasked with carrying on the strong tradition of running Sunoco Whelen Challenge winners in the Rolex 24, which has churned out some great racers in the sport. RWR would like to thank both Sonny Whelen of Whelen Engineering and Anders Hildebrand of Anglo American Oil Company for their belief in our programme.”

Johnathan Hoggard claims Sunoco Whelen Challenge and drive at Daytona

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After a thrilling season-long battle, Johnathan Hoggard has secured the Sunoco Whelen Challenge and with it a dream drive in the 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona, courtesy of Whelen Engineering Inc and the Anglo American Oil Company Ltd.

Consistently quick throughout the year in the competitive BRDC British Formula 3 Championship, Johnathan not only took seven victories – more than anyone else – but also seven pole positions and eight fastest laps, all of which propelled him to Challenge success.

The 18-year old not only follows Linus Lundqvist, who won the Sunoco Whelen Challenge in 2018 after racing in the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship, but also joins names such as Jonny Adam, Felipe Nasr, Seb Morris, and Phil Keen in a funded seat at the prestigious race.

It will be Johnathan’s first drive in endurance racing, but he will no doubt prove himself quick around the 5.73km sports car configuration of the famous Daytona International Speedway.

The prize drive is courtesy of the generosity of Sonny Whelen, who has helped a number of European racers make a name for themselves in the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

While Johnathan becomes the 11th Sunoco Whelen Challenge winner, it is all still to play for in the Sunoco 240 Challenge, where a number of competitors are in contention for a drive in the BMW Endurance Challenge contest, held before the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The Anglo American Oil Company donates the entry fee from all Challenge hopefuls, as well as donations from members of the public, to Team Fox for Parkinson’s Research, a worthy cause.

Final Sunoco Whelen Challenge standings (average points per race):

Johnathan Hoggard: 91.56
Clement Novalak: 79.38
Ayrton Simmonds: 74.06
Jonny Cocker: 71.00
Seb Priaulx: 61.65

Johnathan Hoggard, 2019 Sunoco Whelen Challenge winner

“I’ve watched the Rolex 24 for many years with drivers like Fernando Alonso and Felipe Nasr racing, so to be in it is a great opportunity and I am really thankful for it.

“I enjoy watching endurance racing; it’s a completely different style of competing. It isn’t just about outright speed it’s also about calculations, strategy, and things like that. It’s going to be a great experience.

“I wasn’t expecting to win the Challenge to be honest. Halfway through the season I was fourth or fifth, so those pole positions and fastest laps really can change the whole challenge around.

“It’s great what Whelen Engineering and the Anglo American Oil Company are doing with this drive they give away. I can’t thank them enough. It is great they are donating the prize.”

Anders Hildebrand, Anglo American Oil Company Ltd

“What has been impressive about Johnathan this year is that he is always quick. When he is on song, he gets fastest laps, pole positions, and wins, and that is how the Challenge points system is built; You have to be consistent to win, but you get a boost for the fastest laps and poles.

“If you are going to be a top-notch racer you have to be able to qualify and put in fast laps when needed, so I think he will be a very good ambassador for the Sunoco Whelen Challenge.

“He follows in the footsteps of Felipe Nasr and Linus Lundqvist, who won the prize last year. It is nice to see how a Formula 3 driver can jump into a GT3 or DPi and be on the pace straight away and I think Johnathan will show us what he is made of at Daytona.”

To find out more about Team Fox, is the grassroots community fundraising program of The Michael J. Fox Foundation, please visit: https://www.michaeljfox.org/teamfox

What are the Sunoco Challenges?

The Sunoco Challenges provide an accurate assessment and comparison of performances across multiple championships during any given season. Points are awarded for qualifying and race results, including fastest lap, which are then converted into an individual average score for each competing driver over the course of a full campaign.

That means each race weekend offers drivers an equal chance to climb and drop down their respective Sunoco Challenge table. It also ensures that performances are taken into consideration across an entire season while placing less emphasis on one-off or unfair results.

This year’s Sunoco Whelen Challenge champion will win a fully funded race seat at the 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona, courtesy of Whelen. Sunoco’s 240 Challenge champion will contest Daytona’s 240-minute BMW Endurance Challenge support race held over the same January weekend at the wheel of a Sunoco-supported GT4 car.

The Sunoco Challenges are organised by Sunoco Racing Fuels’ official European distributor, Anglo American Oil Company Ltd.

Sunoco Whelen Challenge-eligible series:

BRDC British Formula 3 Championship
British GT Championship – GT3 Pro and GT4 Pro

Sunoco 240 Challenge-eligible series:

British GT Championship – GT3 Am and GT4 Am
F3 Cup
GT Cup Championship
Mini Challenge – JCW and Cooper Pro
Radical UK Challenge
Ginetta GT5 Challenge
Ginetta G40 Cup
Touring Car Trophy / TCR UK

Thrilling season-long battle for once-in-a-lifetime Daytona drive comes down to Donington Decider

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The Sunoco Whelen Challenge will come down to the wire at Donington Park in two weeks’ time (September 14/15), as a three-way battle to race at the 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona will finally be settled.

Clement Novalak and Johnathan Hoggard, both front-runners in the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship, have consistently been at the sharp end of the Challenge standings this season. However, Ayrton Simmons has been within touching distance of the top spot with a consistent run of late, coupled with outstanding weekends at Spa and Silverstone.

The three drivers are separated by just five average points heading into the final two races, so a strong or disappointing weekend could swing things one final time. Currently, with the lead, Hoggard simply has to maximise his performance to remain on top, which is exactly what the teenager will be trying to do as he attempts to overhaul a 52-point gap in the BRDC F3 standings.

Novalak, meanwhile, is in an interesting position. Needing to simply stay in touch with Hoggard to ensure he remains on top of the championship would net him the BRDC F3 title but would not be enough to vault him back into top spot in the Sunoco Whelen Challenge. Therefore, he cannot rest if he wants to compete at the Daytona International Speedway in January.

For Simmons, things are clearer. He needs to top the times in qualifying to tie Hoggard in the Jack Cavill Pole Position cup, and with a 61-point deficit to Novalak in the championship, also needs a strong weekend to cause an upset. If he can achieve this then he could just steal the Challenge title in the process.

Whatever way it pans out at Donington Park in September, it has definitely been another fantastic Sunoco Whelen Challenge with three talented young drivers aiming to emulate 2018 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship victor Linus Lundqvist in appearing in the legendary Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Johnathan Hoggard, first place, 85.36 average points

“The BRDC British Formula 3 Championship is going well and I’m currently leading the Sunoco Whelen Challenge too. I am looking forward to seeing how it is going to pan out. I have been quite good at getting pole positions and points for fastest laps in the races so I’m looking forward to the final rounds of the season at Donington Park.

“Winning would be a good opportunity. Racing at Daytona would be different to driving a single-seater and having never raced in America it would be a great experience and open up a lot of opportunities. I want to win the drive and I’m going to give it my everything.”

Clement Novalak, second place, 82.14 average points

“It would be a cracking experience to drive around Daytona and race for 24 Hours. It would mean a lot, obviously, but we have to finish the work here first. We have been very consistent this season, with a few wins and lots of podiums, so hopefully we can keep doing that.

“Finishing the year on top would make me happy. Winning the Challenge would give you lots of exposure and people look at you as a driver for the future whether in the States or Europe. Winning the championship and the Challenge would help me move forwards to next year. It puts your name on the map wherever you are.”

Ayrton Simmons, third place, 80.36 points

“The step up from Formula 4 has been good. I think I have adapted well to a new car and some new circuits, so I am looking forward to the end of the season.

“The Sunoco Whelen Challenge is something I keep an eye on every weekend because it has an important prize at the end of it. Going to the States and racing there would put your name on the map. I haven’t raced in the US before so it would be cool to see how things work out there. I’m going to be pushing to get that Daytona drive and I’ll be giving it my all.”

What are the Sunoco Challenges?

The Sunoco Challenges provide an accurate assessment and comparison of performances across multiple championships during any given season. Points are awarded for qualifying and race results, including fastest lap, which are then converted into an individual average score for each competing driver over the course of a full campaign.

That means each race weekend offers drivers an equal chance to climb and drop down their respective Sunoco Challenge table. It also ensures that performances are taken into consideration across an entire season while placing less emphasis on one-off or unfair results.

This year’s Sunoco Whelen Challenge champion will win a fully-funded race seat at the 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona, courtesy of Whelen. Sunoco’s 240 Challenge champion will contest Daytona’s 240-minute BMW Endurance Challenge support race held over the same January weekend at the wheel of a Sunoco-supported GT4 car.

The Sunoco Challenges are organised by Sunoco Racing Fuels’ official European distributor, Anglo American Oil Company Ltd.

Sunoco Whelen Challenge-eligible series:

BRDC British Formula 3 Championship
British GT Championship – GT3 Pro and GT4 Pro

Sunoco 240 Challenge-eligible series:

British GT Championship – GT3 Am and GT4 Am
F3 Cup
GT Cup Championship
Mini Challenge – JCW and Cooper Pro
Radical UK Challenge
Ginetta GT5 Challenge
Ginetta G40 Cup
Touring Car Trophy / TCR UK

Summer shake up for Sunoco Challenges as Goodman and Simmons make progress

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Once again, It is all change at the top of the Sunoco Whelen Challenge and Sunoco 240 Challenge standings, with only a few points separating the top of both after an enthralling few weeks of racing.

It is still almost impossible to tell who will come out on top to win those Rolex 24 At Daytona and BMW Endurance Challenge At Daytona drives as the thrilling battles to lead the standings continue.

Sunoco Whelen Challenge: Simmons remains in contention

BRDC British Formula 3 Championship drivers continue to remain the focal point of the Sunoco Whelen Challenge. Series leader Clement Novalak returns to the top of the standings thanks to a podium finish in Belgium.

Hot on his heels is rival Ayrton Simmons who had an outstanding weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, taking a win, a podium, and two pole positions, which puts him right back in contention with only one and a half average points separating him and Clement.

A difficult weekend for Johnathan Hoggard has pushed him into third place despite his perfect point-scoring weekend at Donington Park, but a strong trip to Brands Hatch could change that quite quickly. Jonny Cocker, in the British GT Championship, is only two average points behind Johnathan after he finished seventh in GT3 at Spa, with Seb Priaulx fifth after a sixth-place finish in GT4 in the same contest.

Click here for the complete Sunoco Whelen Challenge standings.

Sunoco 240 Challenge: Carey remains on top whilst Goodman jumps to third.

It could not be closer in the Sunoco 240 Challenge where Cian Carey holds onto the lead despite no track action over the last few weeks. However, it remains an extremely tight fight for the top spot as Robbie Dalgleish closed the gap to Cian with only 1.96 average points between the pair after the Mini Challenge Cooper Pro driver stood on each step of the podium in three races at Brands Hatch.

Toby Goodman has vaulted himself into third place after a superb weekend in Kent as well. He took two wins and a third place, as well as a pole position, to move 0.12 average points ahead of Dominik Jackson, who bounced back from a DNF in race one at Oulton Park to take a win and second place in the Radical Challenge Championship, keeping his hopes alive.

Another driver on the move is British GT Championship competitor Kelvin Fletcher. He leaps ahead of Scott McKenna, who has not raced in the previous few weeks. Just five average points cover fifth to 11th in the standings, so a strong weekend for Jerome De Sadeleer, Nathan Harrison, Rob Keogh, James Gornall, or Alastair Barclay will bring them right back into the mix.

Click here for the complete Sunoco 240 Challenge standings.

What are the Sunoco Challenges?

The Sunoco Challenges provide an accurate assessment and comparison of performances across multiple championships during any given season. Points are awarded for qualifying and race results, including fastest lap, which are then converted into an individual average score for each competing driver over the course of a full campaign.

That means each race weekend offers drivers an equal chance to climb and drop down their respective Sunoco Challenge table. It also ensures that performances are taken into consideration across an entire season while placing less emphasis on one-off or unfair results.

This year’s Sunoco Whelen Challenge champion will win a fully funded race seat at the 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona, courtesy of Whelen. Sunoco’s 240 Challenge champion will contest Daytona’s 240-minute BMW Endurance Challenge support race held over the same January weekend at the wheel of a Sunoco-supported GT4 car.

The Sunoco Challenges are organised by Sunoco Racing Fuels’ official European distributor, Anglo American Oil Company Ltd.

Sunoco Whelen Challenge-eligible series:

BRDC British Formula 3 Championship
British GT Championship – GT3 Pro and GT4 Pro

Sunoco 240 Challenge-eligible series:

British GT Championship – GT3 Am and GT4 Am
F3 Cup
GT Cup Championship
Mini Challenge – JCW and Cooper Pro
Radical UK Challenge
Ginetta GT5 Challenge
Ginetta G40 Cup
Touring Car Trophy / TCR UK

Jackson and McKenna climb back into contention while Hoggard reasserts control in Sunoco Challenges

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Last month the Sunoco Whelen Challenge and Sunoco 240 Challenge standings had changed drastically, and things are no different this time out.

At this rate, neither contest will have a clear victor until the very end of the season, when two deserving winners will race in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and BMW Endurance Challenge at Daytona, respectively.

Sunoco Whelen Challenge: Hoggard leapfrogs into lead

A perfect weekend at Donington Park, from an eligible points-scoring point of view, means Johnathan Hoggard climbs from fourth place to the lead of the Sunoco Whelen Challenge standings. Taking two pole positions and two wins in the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship, the youngster heads series rival Clement Novalak by almost seven average points.

Meanwhile, another podium finish for Jonny Cocker in GT3 in the British GT Championship keeps him in third place, ensuring that neither Johnathan nor Clement can relax. Just behind him, Seb Priaulx’s GT4 victory keeps the youngster in contention and puts him ahead of Ayrton Simmons, with the leading five starting to pull clear of the rest of the pack.

Click here for the complete Sunoco Whelen Challenge standings

Sunoco 240 Challenge: McKenna races forward while Jackson dominates

With the leading duo of Robbie Dalgleish and Cian Carey not in action over the past few weeks, their close battle atop the Sunoco 240 Challenge standings has not changed, however things are on the move behind.

Dominik Jackson had a fantastic trip to Spa in the Radical Challenge Championship, taking three wins to move up one spot into third place. Scott McKenna, meanwhile, took two victories in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge at Zandvoort to jump from 12th to fourth, narrowly moving ahead of James Gornall, who had a second and fourth in the Mini Challenge UK JCW series at Donington Park.

Click here for the complete Sunoco 240 Challenge standings

What are the Sunoco Challenges?

The Sunoco Challenges provide an accurate assessment and comparison of performances across multiple championships during any given season. Points are awarded for qualifying and race results, including fastest lap, which are then converted into an individual average score for each competing driver over the course of a full campaign.

That means each race weekend offers drivers an equal chance to climb and drop down their respective Sunoco Challenge table. It also ensures that performances are taken into consideration across an entire season while placing less emphasis on one-off or unfair results.

This year’s Sunoco Whelen Challenge champion will win a fully funded race seat at the 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona, courtesy of Whelen. Sunoco’s 240 Challenge champion will contest Daytona’s 240-minute BMW Endurance Challenge support race held over the same January weekend at the wheel of a Sunoco-supported GT4 car.

The Sunoco Challenges are organised by Sunoco Racing Fuels’ official European distributor, Anglo American Oil Company Ltd.

Sunoco Whelen Challenge-eligible series:

BRDC British Formula 3 Championship
British GT Championship – GT3 Pro and Silver, and GT4 Pro and Silver

Sunoco 240 Challenge-eligible series:

British GT Championship – GT3 Am and GT4 Am
F3 Cup
GT Cup Championship
Mini Challenge – JCW and Cooper Pro
Radical UK Challenge
Ginetta GT5 Challenge
Ginetta G40 Cup
Touring Car Trophy / TCR UK

Novolak and Barclay head early running in Sunoco Challenge standings

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With all eligible series having now started their 2019 campaigns, the Sunoco Whelen Challenge and Sunoco 240 Challenge standings are starting to take shape. The BRDC British F3 Championship again heads the way in the former, after Linus Lundqvist won the prestigious drive at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in January, while a remarkable five drivers from five different series fill the top places in the Sunoco 240 Challenge.

Sunoco Whelen Challenge: Novolak heads the way

Clement Novolak sits atop the Sunoco Whelen Challenge standings after leaving Oulton Park with a win and a second place finish. However, he is joined on 102.50 average points by Johnathan Hoggard who took a win and a third in Cheshire. Hoggard has taken advantage of the Team Fox five average point boost donation, whereas Novolak is yet to do so, so this could pull the latter clear at a later date.

The first of the British GT Championship runners sits third, as Jonny Cocker finished fourth in race one at Oulton Park but followed up with the victory in race two after excellent work by team-mate Sam De Haan, who is competing in the Sunoco 240 Challenge. Cocker is looking strong with 95.75 average points ahead of this weekend’s races at Snetterton.

Just behind on 80.00 average points is Ayrton Simmons, another BRDC F3 driver, after he scored a second and third place to open the season, though a DNF in race two leaves him a little behind at this stage. Narrowly in fifth with 79.20 average points is the first GT4 competitor in British GT, as Seb Priaulx recorded a pole position and race win alongside Scott Maxwell.

Click here for the complete Sunoco Whelen Challenge standings.

Sunoco 240 Challenge: Barclay fending off host of competitors

Alistair Barclay has the lead in the Sunoco 240 Challenge, but it is a narrow advantage in these early stages of the season. His three wins, three pole positions, and two fastest laps in the Ginetta G40 Cup, as well as his Team Fox five average points donation boost mean he has 138.33 average points.

Close behind, with 131.67 average points, is Cian Carey, racing in F3 Cup this year. Cian has not been outside the top three in the six races so far, taking three wins to boot.

Robbie Dalgleish sits third, with 117.50 average points from the Mini Challenge Cooper Pro driver, hoping to emulate Kyle Reid who claimed the Sunoco-backed drive at Daytona earlier this year. With James Gornall from Mini Challenge JCW on 107.50 and Jerome De Sadeleer from Radical UK Challenge on 105.00, not only are the top five places closely fought, but there are five different championships represented in those places.

However, with those having had two race weekends so far, the standings are likely to change significantly after two more races for the eligible British GT Championship GT3 and GT4 Am drivers, as well as those in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge and Mini Challenge JCW series this weekend. It will be an exciting battle throughout the year and one well worth keeping an eye on.

Click here for the complete Sunoco 240 Challenge standings.

What are the Sunoco Challenges?

The Sunoco Challenges provide an accurate assessment and comparison of performances across multiple championships during any given season. Points are awarded for qualifying and race results, including fastest lap, which are then converted into an individual average score for each competing driver over the course of a full campaign.

That means each race weekend offers drivers an equal chance to climb and drop down their respective Sunoco Challenge table. It also ensures that performances are taken into consideration across an entire season while placing less emphasis on one-off or unfair results.

This year’s Sunoco Whelen Challenge champion will win a fully funded race seat at the 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona, courtesy of Whelen. Sunoco’s 240 Challenge champion will contest Daytona’s 240-minute BMW Endurance Challenge support race held over the same January weekend at the wheel of a Sunoco-supported GT4 car.

The Sunoco Challenges are organised by Sunoco Racing Fuels’ official European distributor, Anglo American Oil Company Ltd.

Sunoco Whelen Challenge-eligible series:

BRDC British Formula 3 Championship
British GT Championship – GT3 Pro and GT4 Pro

Sunoco 240 Challenge-eligible series:

British GT Championship – GT3 Am and GT4 Am
F3 Cup
Britcar Endurance
GT Cup Championship
Mini Challenge – JCW and Cooper Pro
Radical UK Challenge
Ginetta GT5 Challenge
Ginetta G40 Cup
Touring Car Trophy / TCR UK

Lundqvist not fazed by torrential rain on debut at Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona

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2019 Sunoco Whelen Challenge winner Linus Lundqvist completed his debut appearance at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, despite some of the most extreme conditions the race has been held under. With torrential rain arriving at the circuit through the night, the contest was red flagged twice – for the first time in its history – when conditions deteriorated.

Linus drove the Precision Performance Motorsport (PPM) Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO masterfully despite competing in single-seaters last year, and the BRDC British Formula 3 Champion was immediately on the pace during the race and able to hold his own amongst factory-backed professional drivers in other GTD-class cars.

After a busy autograph session and driver and car presentation on Saturday morning, Don Yount, who qualified the car, climbed back behind the wheel at 14:35, for the 57th running of the Rolex 24. Linus suited up after the opening two stints and completed a significant career milestone, his first racing laps around the 31-degree banking of Daytona International Speedway.

The current BRDC British Formula 3 Champion was immediately on the pace and able to hold his own amongst factory backed professional drivers in the other cars. Completing a double stint with no problems, Linus returned to the pits and handed over to his colleagues. Unfortunately, the car stuck in gear at around 22:20 and had to be towed back to the garage. A faulty clutch was identified and the team worked swiftly to replace the part, returning to the track just three-and-a-half hours later.

Getting back onboard the car at 06:00 on Sunday morning, Linus could only circulate behind the Safety Car before the race was red flagged almost 90-minutes later. After this point there was little action on track as any racing laps were quickly curtailed by incidents and yellow flag periods before once again being halted at 13:00 and called for good 15 minutes before the 24 hours were due to expire.

The final results show that after a trying debut for Linus and the team at PPM they were classified 20th in class but most of all, after everything that had been thrown at them, they finished the race which, given the extreme conditions, was a result in itself.

“My first 24-hour race is complete,” said Linus. “It’s maybe not the way I would have wanted it to end as I only got to do one double stint and the rest of the time was spent behind the Safety Car. We had an issue with the clutch, but the team did an incredible job to fix it and I’m really happy with the way the guys came together so a massive thanks to them for that.

“It’s a dream come true. Looking back twelve months ago I wasn’t even sure I was going to be racing. It’s an incredible journey and to be able to stand here aged 19 and say that I’ve finished my first Rolex 24 is pretty amazing and I hope that one day we can come back. This is one of the biggest prizes to win in motorsport and an incredible experience that I will carry throughout my life not just my racing career.”

“It’s the tenth year of the Sunoco Challenge and it’s incredible when you look back and see the kind of winners we’ve had,” said Anders Hildebrand, Managing Director of the Anglo American Oil Company. “What’s amazing is that every year our winners do so well and never put a foot wrong in extremely difficult conditions.

“Linus didn’t make one single mistake. He came from British Formula 3 and it’s difficult to go from a very stiff, very responsive single seater to a much heavier, softer GT car, but he took to it like a duck to water and it has impressed me and the team a lot.”

Dual milestone celebration for Sunoco Whelen Challenge at Daytona

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With the 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona rapidly approaching, the Anglo American Oil Company (AAOC) is celebrating two key milestones with its successful Sunoco Whelen Challenge.

This year is not only the tenth in which the winner of the Challenge will receive a drive in the prestigious 24-Hour contest around Daytona International Speedway, but also the fifth in partnership with Whelen Engineering, which funds the seat thanks to the generosity of owner Sonny Whelen.

Derek Johnston was the first Sunoco Whelen Challenge winner, taking part in the 2010 Rolex 24 At Daytona

In recognition of the generosity of Sonny, AAOC makes annual donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, though its Team Fox fundraising platform. The Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson’s today.

“Parkinson’s is an incurable degenerative brain disease,” said Sonny Whelen. “When you have Parkinson’s, the cells in your brain that create dopamine start to die off. That dopamine is basically like a grease for your car. Without it the wheels, the hinges, are going to get tight, and not move as well. You end up a bit like the tin-man in The Wizard of Oz.

“The good news is, you die with it not from it. It’s something you can continue to live with, and still do a lot of the things you want to do. I became involved with the Michael J. Fox Foundation, because it’s devoted to finding a cure, seeking better therapies and funding the research that needs to be done.”

Felipe Nasr races past the Sunoco sign in the 2012 Rolex 24 At Daytona, en route to third place.

For 2019, AAOC has produced a very limited number of desktop calendars celebrating ten years of the Sunoco Whelen Challenge, which are available to anyone who kindly donates at least $10 to its fundraising page. If you would like to contribute, please visit the following link:

https://fundraise.michaeljfox.org/tf-2019/SunocoWhelenChallenge

Sunoco Challenge winners Lundquist and Reid impress on Daytona debuts

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Kyle Reid set some impressive time on his Daytona debut in the Roar before the 24

Kyle Reid set some impressive time on his Daytona debut in the Roar before the 24

2019 Sunoco Challenge winners Linus Lundquist and Kyle Reid made their mark on the historic Daytona International Speedway, taking part in the ‘Roar Before The 24’ ahead of the 2018 Rolex 24 Hours and showing impressive speed, despite neither having visited the circuit before.

Sunoco 240 Challenge winner Kyle was the first to hit the track in a BMW M4 GT4, resplendent in a striking blue chrome with Sunoco yellow colour scheme. The 2018 Mini Challenge Cooper Pro champion got up to speed with the 3.0 litre, 431 BHP machine, methodically working through the team’s schedule, building his confidence each time out. In the final session he completed a qualifying run on low fuel with new tyres and was on race pace, a great way to finish the weekend.

The ‘Roar’ also presented BRDC British Formula 3 Champion Linus with his first opportunity to meet the team and acclimatise to his new car, the awesome Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO. He had his first opportunity to sit in the Precision Performance Motorsport-run car on Thursday, hitting the track for his first laps a day later. He wasted no time and very quickly asserted himself as the fastest driver in the car, utilising the advice of former Sunoco Challenge winner and Lamborghini factory driver Phil Keen, who was also testing at the circuit.

The super Swede had his final run in the car on Saturday during the evening test session, allowing him to experience the 31-degree banking for the first time under floodlights. Having completed several trouble-free runs in the car over the four test sessions Linus can be happy with his performance, setting consistently quick times as he worked with the team and his team-mates to dial the car into the circuit.

The 2019 race is a significant one with many milestones being achieved. IMSA is celebrating 50 years of close racing, Anglo American Oils is 20 years old, and the Sunoco Whelen Challenge programme has clocked up ten years.

The drivers now head to Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre where they will be attending Autosport International on Thursday 10th January, participating in a press conference at 11:00 on the Anglo-American Oil stand (number 1230) in Hall One. This will be followed by an appearance on the main stage for the drivers and Managing Director Anders Hildebrand, where they will discuss the ‘Roar’ and ten years of the programme at 14:30.

Linus Lundqvist, 2019 Sunoco Whelen Challenge champion:

“It’s an impressive circuit; your body gets really compressed on the high banks and that was quite an unusual but cool feeling! It was also the first time for me using spotters and, while it took me some time to get used to, in the end you start to realise that it’s actually very useful. It’s been an important test for me, trying out the car and track for the first time. All in all, it’s been a good couple of days, and I’ve enjoyed working with the team. I can’t wait to be back for the race in a few weeks’ time.”

 

Kyle Reid, 2019 Sunoco 240 Challenge Champion:

“It has been an amazing experience. It has been a steep learning curve for me with a new car, new team, and a new circuit, but I’m really happy with the way things have gone. The team couldn’t be nicer and the BMW M4 GT4 is a brilliant car to drive. I did some simulator sessions before we came over so I would know what I was letting myself in for which really helped, but it can’t prepare you for your first visit to Daytona because it is just such a special place. This really has been a once in a lifetime trip and this is only the Roar! I can’t wait for the race.”

 

Anders Hildebrand, Anglo American Oil Company Ltd Managing Director:

“Both drivers have performed extremely well. We know Linus is a top-flight driver, but he had to take a step back because the Lamborghini GT3 EVO GTD is much softer, much heavier, and rolls much more, but I must say he has coped really well. He was very quickly on par with other drivers and I think we’ll see him improving his times even more come the race.

“Kyle did really, really well. I always say, ‘you don’t need to prove you’re fast’. The Roar is so you can learn the track, get yourself happy with the team and car, and for Kyle it was a huge step going from a 130bhp Mini Cooper to over 400bhp, with downforce and rear wheel drive in his BMW. He did a qualifying run and was bang on the pace.”

 

What are the Sunoco Challenges?

The Sunoco Challenges provide an accurate assessment and comparison of performances across multiple championships during any given season. Points are awarded for qualifying and race results, including fastest lap, which are then converted into an individual average score for each competing driver over the course of a full campaign.

That means each race weekend offers drivers an equal chance to climb and drop down their respective Sunoco Challenge table. It also ensures that performances are taken into consideration across an entire season while placing less emphasis on one-off or unfair results.

This season’s Sunoco Whelen Challenge champion will win a fully funded drive aboard a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO in the 2019 Rolex 24 At Daytona. The Sunoco 240 Challenge champion will contest the 240-minute BMW Endurance Challenge At Daytona support race held over the same January weekend at the wheel of a Sunoco-liveried BMW M4 GT4 car.