Orlando, Fla. (6 August 2013) – The GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series (CTSCC) travels to diverse racetracks all across the country, but the visit to historic Road America has become a driver favorite ever since the series began competing at the road course in 2011. And Luis Bacardi’s Rum Bum Racing may well be the most enthused for the 2013 event as the Florida-based team returns as the defending race winners carrying a 33-point advantage in the championship.
Rum Bum Racing rallied to score a dramatic race victory at Road America last year as a huge crowd of Rum Bum Racing fans were on hand to take part in the podium celebrations after Matt Plumb and Nick Longhi combined for the team’s third race win of the season. The race result was a sweet salvation for the team, having been in position to win the 2011 Road America event only to have their chance for the win cut short by yellow flags.
It marked the second consecutive podium for the Rum Bum Racing squad at Road America in as many races and the team will look to go three-for-three in this weekend’s race. The group has extra incentive to perform well at the famed 4-mile Wisconsin road course as it’s a bit of a home race for the team. Team owner Luis Bacardi’s wife Jennifer is a Wisconsin native, and has brought a large group of her extended family and friends to the previous two Road America events.
The Road America 200, which was added to the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series schedule in 2011, sees the highly competitive series staging a pivotal race on a track that most racers are hard pressed not to call their favorite.
“The competition in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series is just fantastic,” said Longhi. “What’s going on right now – the level of racing right now in this series is unbelievable. There are so many good drivers. Everybody is nose to tail for two and a half hours and as soon as something goes wrong it’s a big issue. But it’s really fantastic. We love to be in Wisconsin, and love to be at this racetrack!”
With a race that started in the light and raced into the darkness last year, the verdant natural surroundings set the stage for an exciting Round 6 of the 2012 championship.
The Road America win gave Rum Bum Racing the championship lead heading into the remainder of the season. The Rum Bum team would go on to win two more races and secure the 2012 Team Championship title in the season-finale race held at Lime Rock Park.
Having sat among the top of the point standings once again throughout most the 2013 season, Rum Bum Racing currently leads the championship by 33 points and is hoping for a repeat performance as the team targets another trip to Road America victory lane and another healthy haul of points toward the 2013 championship.
“Nick (Longhi) and I work really hard in the car to get the best possible result that we can, but we all know that without the hard work of this crew that we would have no chance of success,” said Plumb. “All the credit goes to Mr. Bacardi for believing in this group and to Joe (Varde) for his vision and leadership on the pit wall. Hopefully we can continue to bring big results for the entire team and work towards another championship.”
The GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge weekend will open on Wednesday with a promoter test day. Friday will see practice ahead of qualifying on Saturday. The 2.5-hour race is set to go green at 1:30 PM (ET).
Live timing and scoring is available on www.grandam.com. SPEED will televise the race Saturday, August 17 at 4:00 PM (ET).
