With new drivers, a debut for its Prototype Challenge car on the famed high banks, and racing in a new series, there were plenty of unknowns for 8Star Motorsports heading into Tuesday’s TUDOR United SportsCar Championship test at Daytona International Speedway. Yet, the Florida-based organization passed with flying colors, as both of the 8Star’s prototypes recorded top-five runs following a productive day of testing at the “World Center of Racing.”
8Star welcomed IZOD IndyCar Series driver Bia Figueiredo and rising open-wheel/sports car star Gustavo Yacaman to its No. 03 Corvette DP for the single-day test, while team principal Enzo Potolicchio joined 2013 Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda Champion Sean Rayhall in the No. 25 ORECA
FLM09 Prototype Challenge car in preparation for next year’s TUDOR Championship.
All four drivers quickly adapted to the 3.56-mile oval/road course, including single-seater standout Figueiredo, who not only made her sportscar racing debut, but along with 18-year-old Rayhall, were both getting their first laps at Daytona. Potolicchio, meanwhile, gained his first competitive laps at the wheel of a PC car, while Colombian pilot Yacaman drove a Coyote-based Corvette DP for the first time.
In the end, the No. 03 Corvette DP posted the fourth quickest overall time in the afternoon test session, with a best lap of 1:42.697, while 8Star’s No. 25 entry was fifth fastest in the competitive PC class. The two 8Star entries combined for more than 600 miles of running over the trouble-free day of testing, giving the Gary Neal and Brian Colangelo-managed organization plenty of optimism heading into 2014.
The team will return to Daytona for the annual “Roar Before the Rolex 24” on Jan. 3-5, 2014, prior to the 52nd annual Rolex 24 at Daytona, the opening race of the new TUDOR Championship, on Jan. 25-26. News about 8Star’s 2014 plans will be announced in the coming weeks.
Enzo Potolicchio (Team Principal/Driver, No. 25 ORECA FLM09): “We wanted to come here for one day and get our baseline for the race and I think we have it. In PC, we have a good setup with a car that’s easy to drive and is real consistent. I was happy with my pace and Sean was happy with the new tires. We’re right there with everyone else and are happy with that.
“On the DP side, we had a test plan as well because we had to work on the gearbox and the paddle shift system we’re developing. We made improvements over our 2013 package and that will carry on into 2014. It’s good. Now we’ll wait for Coyote, as the manufacturer, to complete the upgrade kit and show up for the race.
“We were really happy with Bia’s pace. She was really good in the car and was getting used to it in a smart way. I think we have a good Brazilian talent there. Gustavo also did a good job and I think they would be great teammates for next year if everything falls into place.”
Bia Figueiredo (Driver, No. 03 Corvette DP): “I’m pretty happy with what we accomplished today. We were always improving. Even at the end with old tires, the times were pretty good. It makes me happy. I’m looking forward to doing something good in this series. I’m glad Enzo gave us the opportunity to test. We have some work to do on sponsorship but a good test definitely helps, so I’m confident we’ll have something.”
Sean Rayhall (Driver, No. 25 ORECA FLM09): “I had a solid run. I had never seen the track before. It was really good. I got about eight laps in the morning then Enzo took over and made some really good calls on where we were going with the setup of the race car, which ended up paying big dividends. We definitely have a little way to go but as usual, the 8Star Motorsports crew performed great. We’re just looking forward to getting back here for the Roar, then trying to make it 24 hours in the race and be able to stand on the podium again.”
Gustavo Yacaman (Driver, No. 03 Corvette DP): “It was my first time in the Corvette and first time in a Coyote car. Sitting on the right hand side was the hardest thing to adjust for the first few laps. But other than that, it was pretty straight forward. It was smooth sailing for there. We’re working towards running the full season, which would be great.”
