Starworks Motorsport Makes IMSA Return with Ryan Dalziel

POMPANO BEACH Fla., (November 28, 2018) – Starworks Motorsport has committed to return to full season competition in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Ryan Dalziel in 2019. Dalziel will run as one of two full season drivers in the 2019 spec Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo with Parker Chase locked in as a driver for the North American Endurance Cup Championship, potentially stepping in as the second full-season driver.

The Starworks Motorsport Audi R8 LMS GT3 that will enter in the 2019 IMSA GTD class championship is the same 2016 Audi R8 LMS in which Dalziel and Chase won the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge SprintX Pro/Am Championship. The car will be converted to the 2019 GT3 Evo kit, featuring a modified splitter to improve the car’s heat evacuation, and increased durability with a revised transmission.

“Despite not fielding a Starworks Motorsports entry ourselves, our team has still been very busy in both IMSA and Pirelli World Challenge,” said team owner Peter Baron. “I have enjoyed success and working personally with the Audi Sport Customer Racing group and look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship in America. Based on all the success we had with Parker Chase and Ryan Dalziel in Pirelli World Challenge in the Audi R8 LMS, we felt it was the right time to move and enter into the IMSA WeatherTech series full time.”

Following its establishment in 2010, the team has competed in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, GRAND-AM Rolex Series, FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), and the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Starworks Motorsport clinched the 2012 WEC Championship, 2012 IMSA North American Endurance Cup, and 2016 IMSA team and driver championships.

The relationship between Baron and Dalziel goes back 13 years, as the two have worked together on sports car racing programs for all but one season from 2005 to 2013. Together with Enzo Potolicchio and Tom Kimber-Smith, Starworks Motorsport and Dalziel won the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans with the HPD ARX-03b.

“When my 2018 program was announced it was ending the first call I got was from Peter Baron at Starworks saying we should get the band back together,” said Dalziel. “I’ve enjoyed much of my racing success under the Starworks banner and I’ve put all my efforts in the past few months making this happen. Continuity is so important in racing, and surrounding yourself with people who truly believe in you. This program is a continuation from the 2018 championship winning effort with Parker. He and I sharing a car with Peter Baron steering the ship is a force to be reckoned with. Audi has been a big part of making this happen and I’m extremely grateful for their trust in us to represent them.”

Parker Chase joined the Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) in 2016, where he clinched the Rookie of the Year title with eight podium finishes. Chase joined TruSpeed Autosport in an Audi R8 LMS for the full 2018 PWC season, where he earned two wins in the Sprint championship, and another five in the SprintX championship with co-driver Ryan Dalziel. Together, the pair drove to win an impressive 15 podium finishes, winning the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge SprintX Pro/Am Championship. Partners Vertical Bridge will continue to sponsor Chase as he joins Dalziel for the 2019 North American Endurance Cup, the four race endurance championship within the existing IMSA schedule. Chase will possibly expand his role to also race the entire year as the second full season driver, a decision to be made at a later date.

“I’m super happy to be joining Starworks Motorsport for my 2019 IMSA campaign, and to be driving with Ryan again,” said Chase. “It’s great to continue my relationship with Audi as well in the new R8 GT3 Evo. It’ll be my first time at Daytona and I can’t be more excited. I’m ready to get started.”

“I’m very excited to have two drivers who not only bring in strong, consistent results, but who also work so well together,” said Baron. “Ryan and I have had tremendous success in the past and look forward to us pushing again for more wins and championships. Watching how Parker has matured in the car over last season was very rewarding, and I believe this 17 year old is going to have a fantastic future in sports car racing as he develops from a successful sprint driver into an endurance driver.”

The 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will unofficially begin January 4 with the Roar Before the Rolex 24, the big pre-season all series test before competition kicks off at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, January 26-27. The IMSA GTD class championship will feature eleven races across North America, returning to iconic tracks such as Sebring International Raceway, Mid-Ohio SportsCar Course, Watkins Glen International, Road America, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Road Atlanta. For more information, visit imsa.com.

###

View as Webpage

2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Schedule

January 24-27

Rolex 24 at Daytona

Daytona Beach, Florida

March 13-16

Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring

Sebring, Florida

May 3-5

Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio

Lexington, Ohio

May 31-June 1

Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Presented by Lear

Detroit, Michigan

June 27–30

Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen

Watkins Glen, New York

July 5 - 7

Sports Car Grand Prix

Bowmanville, Ontario

July 19 – 20

Northeast Grand Prix

Lakeville, Connecticut

August 2-4

Road America

Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

August 23-25

Michelin GT Challenge at VIR

September 13-15

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

Monterey, California

October 8-12

Motul Petit Le Mans

Braselton, Georgia

About Starworks Motorsport

Established in 2010 by Peter Baron, Starworks Motorsports is a sports car racing team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The team entered the history books in 2012 by becoming the first LMP2 Champions in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the first North American team to win an FIA World Championship in 46 years. The team also won the 2012 GRAND-AM North American Endurance Championship and led with the most laps in a Daytona Prototype. The team again clinched the driver and team championships in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2016.

About Vertical Bridge

Vertical Bridge is the largest private owner and manager of communication infrastructure in the United States owning or master leasing towers, rooftops, billboards, utility attachments and other site location assets, and leasing them to telecommunications carriers and other users of wireless technology. Vertical Bridge sites and assets are located in hard-to-zone areas, and offer significant opportunities to their clients to enhance their subscribers’ experience via improved network performance.

Sparco

Sparco USA is an online retailer for action sports enthusiasts offering high end performance apparel and accessories for vehicles, racing and karts. As one of the most recognizable brands in the world of motorsports, Sparco provides the world of motorsports with safety gear including suits, gloves, shoes, helmets and underwear. Sparco is also a leader in sportswear and team wear.

FOLLOW Starworks Motorsport