AT-A-GLANCE • A Welcome Return: Sarah Cattaneo returns to RSR Motorsports in the No. 198 MINI with Kyle Gimple as co-driver. Cattaneo raced with RSR in the 2010-2011 seasons, earning two poles, a win and a second place. • Fostering Talent: RSR Motorsports has built its program to foster new, promising talent through mentoring, shared data, and veteran insight. • Pole Power: Cattaneo put RSR Motorsports on the Mid-Ohio pole in 2011. Most recently, Corey Fergus gave RSR the pole at New Jersey Motorsports Park. • Homecoming: Mid-Ohio is the home track for Corey Fergus, who is from Powell, Ohio. His dad has been racing at Mid-Ohio for the past 30 years. LEXINGTON, Ohio—RSR Motorsports will have a familiar face in one of its MINI Cooper S entries during this weekend’s EMCO Gears Classic at Mid-Ohio. Sarah Cattaneo returns to drive the No. 198 MINI with Kyle Gimple in the ST class of GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. Cattaneo joined RSR Motorsports in 2010 with less than one season of series competition to her credit. In her first season with RSR Motorsports, Sarah took the pole at Homestead-Miami Speedway and had a best finish of second at Miller Motorsports Park. The 2011 season held even more success, with a win at New Jersey Motorsports Park and the pole at Mid-Ohio. That kind of driver development is something in which RSR Motorsports takes a great deal of pride. Like Cattaneo, series rookie Corey Fergus is able to see the benefit of working with a team that focuses on developing new talent. He took the pole at New Jersey Motorsports Park before he and co-driver Owen Trinkler went on to win the race in the No. 197 Honda Civic Si. “The team does a great job by helping us rookies. I have Owen as a mentor, and even when we weren’t co-drivers, I could still go to him and look at data or ask questions. Everyone is helpful even if we’re technically competing against each other,†Fergus says. “Chris Puskar and Jason Hart have also been big helps to me. RSR has great resources to help younger drivers get adapted to the series quickly, and it’s a great program that they have.†“This team succeeds because we work to get everyone fast,†agrees team manager Trinkler. “Team owner Randall Smalley gives us competitive equipment across the board to make sure everyone succeeds. The young drivers on our team benefit from the knowledge of the veteran drivers and crew.†Jason Hart, who co-drives the No. 196 US LED Honda Civic Si with Ron Farmer, says, “RSR really promotes everybody sharing their knowledge with the rest of the team: not just in setup and development, but also developing the newer drivers to the series. Owen and I have a long history of working at racing schools around the country and doing coaching, and the drivers we work with can benefit from that experience.†Fergus, Cattaneo, and the rest of the RSR Motorsports lineup will be putting that knowledge to good use at Mid-Ohio. Cattaneo hopes for some redemption: last year, she and Trinkler both led the race. They were en route to clinching the team championship when a mechanical problem ended their hopes. “Mid-Ohio just works for me,†says Cattaneo, who raced there just two weeks ago. “I’m excited to get back into an RSR MINI. I love those cars and hope I can pick up right where I left off. The car is so good at Mid-Ohio.†Fergus is especially excited since Mid-Ohio is his home track. He grew up going to the circuit to see his dad race there. “I love Mid-Ohio,†Fergus says. “I’m excited to go there because I have experience I can bring with me. I’m feeling a lot more comfortable and confident going into this race. A win at Mid-Ohio would mean a lot, especially since it’s been my dad’s home track for 30 years.†Chris Puskar and Mark Congleton, driving the No. 195 MINI Cooper S, complete the RSR Motorsports four-car line-up at Mid-Ohio. The race gets underway on Saturday, June 9, at 11:00 a.m., followed by the SPEED broadcast on Sunday, June 17, at noon. Keep up with RSR Motorsports online at RSR Motorsport / RSR Racing. RSR Motorsports is sponsored by Cruise America, Thor Motor Coach, US LED, MINI USA, Pilot/Flying J Travel Centers, CaseTech, OS Giken Racing Clutches and Limited Slip Differentials, Eibach Springs, Performance Racing Oils/Millers Oils, Midway Ford Truck Sales, DBA USA, MINI North Scottsdale, Team RaceWorks, Performance Speed Tech, and Carbotech Pads.
WOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!!!!! Sarah back with all of us at Mid-Ohio.....this is great news. Also having Corey in a RSR MINI will make the weekend complete. The MoM's will be in full force there this weekend. WOOT...WOOT.
CHKMINI you have my evil twin from the Dragon this year, will be at MO on Fri. Hope to see you there.
Strange. I just checked the entry list and Sarah isn't listed. Says Randy Smalley is driving the 198 with Kyle Gimple. I guess Sarah's taking Randy's seat?
Yep I am sick of KIA too. You willl have to admit it was pretty funny when the one KIA punted the other off at the key hole. Simply brilliant. :lol::lol::lol:
Looking first hand at the Kia's in the paddock, since when was all the carbon fiber pieces under the hood considered OEM? All the other makes appear to have tougher rules than Kia in this series. Being a series sponsor has its advantages!