– Be sure to tune into the Rum Bum Racing Facebook page for special promotions on Rum Bum Gear this weekend! –

Orlando, Fla. (6 September 2012) – Following a six-week break in race action since round 8 of the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge championship at Indianapolis, Luis Bacardi’s championship leading team of Rum Bum Racing is eager to return to racing this weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (MRLS) with drivers Nick Longhi and Matt Plumb in the No. 13 Porsche as GRAND-AM stages the penultimate round of the championship on Saturday.

The Continental Tire Sports Car Festival event marks the team’s second Continental Tire GS start at the 2.238-mile road course after scoring a podium result of third in their debut last year in which the team campaigned the No. 13 BMW. Racing a Porsche machine for the first time at the track this year, Longhi and Plumb target a second consecutive MRLS podium with a victory as the team looks to capture maximum points in an effort to extend their lead in the championship.

With only two races remaining and the top-three championship contenders separated by just nine points, the Rum Bum squad will face an uphill battle at the hilly Laguna Seca circuit–literally. The fabled track features a nearly 200 foot elevation change from turn four to the run up to the Corkscrew, making the 100 pound competition adjustment given to the team’s Porsche earlier this year all the more challenging.

The previous event at Indianapolis did not play into the hands of the Rum Bum team when contact from the No. 55 machine took the No. 13 out of contention during the final stages of the race. Though damaged, Plumb was able to continue but only to salvage a 12th place finish. Rum Bum Racing has put that disappointment behind them and with the championship title always the main goal, the team is ready to rebound at Laguna Seca – a track where they’ve seen success before. After starting ninth in last year’s race, Longhi and Plumb drove to a third place finish to score their fourth podium of the year.

Despite the weight disadvantage, the Joe Varde-led team is fully prepared to fight hard through the weekend.

“We know that with our little 3-liter 6 cylinder motor going up against the big V8’s on a track has some flowing corners that really reward torque, we are going to have to fight for everything we are going to get this weekend,” said Plumb. “We feel like we are at a disadvantage, but then again, this is racing and you just never know what’s going to happen—we could have rain or some crazy number of yellows that give Joe (Varde, Crew Chief) a chance to throw some strategy at it. The main thing is to avoid any serious setback like we had at Indianapolis, and just try to be in a position to fight for the Championship at Lime Rock Park.”

Both drivers have extensive experience at the challenging 11-turn road course with Longhi having competed at the circuit in Rolex Series competition driving a Porsche GT3 Cup and Mazda RX-8. Plumb contested two Rolex Series events at the track in both GT (2005) and Daytona Prototype (2008). The experience between the two drivers combined with the adroit group of Rum Bum Racing team members has the entire organization ready for a fierce battle on Saturday.

“Indianapolis was a pretty big disappointment and a very big hit in the points, but we’ve got to put that behind us and focus on the bigger picture,” said Longhi. “We have two chances to put as many points up on the board as we can and try to win this championship, and it’s going to be typical, close GRAND-AM competition every lap of the way. Lime Rock Park is very much a home track for Matt and I, and there is little better than the idea of winning a championship for Mr. Bacardi there. But we know that in order to do that, we’ve got to have as good a weekend as we can at Laguna.”

Rum Bum Racing has already delivered a bevy of strong showings throughout the first eight races of 2012 having already claimed four victories, five podiums, and six top-five finishes. The team’s impressive performances have placed them right in the middle of the championship fight all season long and as the season nears its end, Rum Bum Racing understands the importance of bringing home another good result as they remain focused on winning the championship title.

Rum Bum Racing will take to the track on Thursday, September 6 for a promoter test day, followed by official practice on Friday. Saturday will feature a busy day of on-track action with a 30-minute morning practice followed by qualifying at 1:30 PM (ET). The 2.5-hour Continental Tire Sports Car Festival race is set to go green at 5:30 PM (ET).

Live timing and scoring can be followed at www.grand-am.com throughout the weekend.

SPEED will televise the event September 16th at 1:30 PM (ET).