Automatic Racing Expands To Include Street Tuner Cars ORLANDO, Fla. (Nov. 18, 2009) - Automatic Racing is joining forces with RSR Motorsports to race a pair of Mini Coopers in the Street Tuner (ST) class during the 2010 GRAND-AM KONI Sports Car Challenge season. Following eight years of success in the Grand Sport class of KONI Challenge, this marks the first time that Automatic Racing has entered the ST arena. The team will continue to campaign their two BMW M3s in the Grand Sport class, as well. In the new partnership between Automatic Racing and RSR, Automatic's veteran crew will handle the management and preparation of the Minis. "We've wanted to do an ST program for a long time, but the timing and circumstances haven't been right until now," said Automatic Racing's David Russell. "Mini is a part of the BMW family, and we expect these cars to be competitive: this is a championship effort." RSR team owner Randall Smalley agrees, noting that in the team's four years of competition, RSR has already built a successful program. In 2009, RSR earned two poles en route to nine top-10 finishes. RSR's longtime sponsors Four Winds International and Cruise America will return in 2010. Collaborating with Automatic - the 2007 Grand Sport champion - was a natural choice. "Automatic Racing's experience speaks for itself, and of course there's synergy between BMW and Mini," said Smalley. "Dependability will be key. We have the speed already, and this opportunity with Automatic will give us the reliability we need to be a championship contender." Smalley and Owen Trinkler will share driving duties in one of the RSR Minis, and additional drivers will be announced soon for the second Mini and for Automatic Racing's two M3s. Automatic Racing is already preparing the RSR Minis at their shop in Orlando, Fla., and testing will begin soon. The Automatic Racing BMW M3s and the RSR Mini Coopers will be racing in just two months during the KONI Challenge season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Jan. 29. Keep up with Automatic Racing online at Automatic Racing - Home. RSR's online home is RSR Motorsport / RSR Racing.
GRAND-AM just announced that the KONI Challenge is now the Continental Tire Challenge. A name change doesn't sound all that interesting but I wonder whether there's more. I remember the year Koni stepped in as title sponsor that the RSR guys had a bit of trouble adapting to and/or obtaining Koni parts before the season started. I don't think they were required to use Koni but there was more potential purse money if they did. I assume that means everyone will feel free to use any dampers they prefer from now on. Do Continental make tires suitable for this type of racing?
Koni's are still required in 2010 . . . kind of a blessing. The team has +$20,000 invested in Koni shocks and I don't want to replace them! Conti and Hoosier have struck a deal so I expect Hoosier will actually manufacture the tires under contract. There might be some tire opportunities. There has been discussion of adding some tire sizes so maybe we will get another choice. Unfortunately, we will have to sell off and replace the rain tires. I read that the Conti deal is for 5 years so that is good. We will have to redo all the driver's and team wear to update to the new Continental logo. . . that s**ks. Maybe I'll have a garage sale :aureola: Oh well . . . Randy
Randy - thanks for sharing the behind-the-scenes info on how things like this impact your team - VERY interesting. And put me down for an old team uniform, size XXXL. :lol: