Orlando, Fla. (10 June 2013) – When Luis Bacardi’s Rum Bum Racing team arrives at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the Diamond Cellar Classic & Round 5 of the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, the driving duo of Matt Plumb and Nick Longhi will be targeting the team’s third consecutive Mid-Ohio podium in just four years of racing at the popular 2.258-mile Ohio road course.
Rum Bum Racing won the 2011 season-finale at Mid-Ohio driving the No. 13 BMW M3, but following the season-opening race in 2012, the team made the decision to transition to a Porsche 911 and the decision proved to be a good one. The podium run of third at Mid-Ohio helped Rum Bum Racing secure the 2012 Team Championship title with the Florida-based team also winning five races of the 10-race championship last year.
Longhi, who initially spotted for Rum Bum Racing before moving to the cockpit late in the 2010 season, proved to be a strong addition to the team from day one, playing a key role as the qualifying and starting driver. He qualified fourth in the 2011 Mid-Ohio event and followed that up last year with the second quickest qualifying time to start from the outside pole.
“The Rum Bum guys have worked hard to give us a strong, quick car each and every race weekend and those efforts have certainly shown on the track,” said Longhi. “We’ve had a strong year with solid results and I’m really looking forward to returning to Mid-Ohio. It’s a fun and challenging track and I think we have another good shot for a finish at the front.”
Rum Bum Racing played a crucial role in helping BMW win the 2010 and 2011 GRAND-AM Manufacturer Championships when the team campaigned a BMW M3. In 2012, it was Porsche that was helped most by Rum Bum Racing on the way to the Manufacturers Championship after the team made the switch to Porsche.
Rum Bum Racing has shown that no matter what they are racing, they can take it to the front. What makes this team click? Luis Bacardi assembled a veritable all-star team when he brought Rum Bum Racing together.
“Luis Bacardi and Jennifer Bacardi definitely made all of our dreams come true with the championship,” said Plumb. “There were ups and downs but Rum Bum Racing is always there and is always doing the right thing. They’re always prepared and keep moving forward. “
The team recently tested at the Mid-Ohio facility in preparation for this weekend’s event. The weekend opens with a promoter test day on Thursday followed by official practice and qualifying on Friday. The 2.5-hour Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race will begin Saturday at 10:35 AM (ET).
Live timing and scoring is available throughout the weekend at www.grand-am.com. SPEED will televise the race Sunday, June 23 at 4:00 PM (ET).
