8Star Motorsports and its drivers Sean Rayhall and Luis Diaz will pursue LMPC victory when the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship resumes with the Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix Powered by Mazda at California’s Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (3-4 May).
Rayhall, aged 19 from Atlanta, Georgia, has a remarkable record in motorsport, having taken no less than 74 race wins, 118 podium finishes, 47 pole positions and 70 fastest laps from 172 race starts.
The young hotshot raced to second in class on his LMPC debut in 8Star machinery at last year’s Petit Le Mans and returned to the cockpit of the Enzo Potolicchio-led squad’s striking ORECA FLM09 prototype for the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring earlier this year.
The 2013 Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Champion will front the Pompano Beach-based team’s assault in the remaining sprint races on the 2014 TUDOR Championship calendar and is focused on bolstering his trophy collection, with the ultimate aim being title glory.
“I’m definitely hoping to win at Mazda Raceway, as my teammate Luis (Diaz) has won there before and I actually haven’t lost a race on the track,” said Rayhall. “It’s definitely home away from home for me and I really get on well with its high-speed, flowing and low-grip nature, as it requires an interesting driving style to make it work. Everybody expects 8Star’s ORECA FLM09 to be at its best at Laguna Seca and it will be great to finally demonstrate the potential we had in the 12 Hours of Sebring, where we undoubtedly had the car to compete with the eventual winners.
“To miss out on a result at Sebring was obviously disappointing and you’ll always question what could have been, but it’s all about how you respond and I’m looking forward to getting out title bid underway this weekend. I believe Luis and I will be a good match for each other. Luis has a lot of experience and history in the sport, while I’m the younger one. We’ll have the best of both worlds and should be able to learn from one another, growing as a team.”
Mexican Luis Diaz has been prolific in open-wheeled, prototype and sportscar competition and will partner Rayhall for the TUDOR Championship sprints, beginning with the Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix on the 2.23mile Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca – a circuit that’s defined by one corner, the infamous Corkscrew (3-4 May).
The 36-year old from Mexico City is eager to take 8Star Motorsports to the top and is bullish about the team’s prospects, particularly as he achieved the LMPC class victory at Laguna Seca in 2013.
“I’m feeling great, as I really enjoy racing LMPC machinery and I love Laguna Seca, having won there last year,” said Diaz. “It’s a good track for me and I’m bringing a great deal of experience and enthusiasm to the 8Star Motorsports fold, particularly knowing I have such a great teammate in Sean (Rayhall) – he’s a talented individual and in short sprints it’s a very important thing to have two competitive drivers.
“With this in mind, my goal is to repeat last year’s victory. I definitely feel 8Star has all the key ingredients to provide a great car and I think we have a responsibility to bring home some solid results for new sponsors, including Takis. We have six races to show them that we want to grow with them in the TUDOR Championship.”