By Jeff Olson
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Two races, same time, one team.
As Alegra Motorsports prepares to compete in Motul Petit Le Mans next week at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, the team’s principal and founder, Carlos de Quesada, will be preparing for the Race World Offshore world championships in Key West, Fla.
De Quesada will pilot a 50-foot, 200 mph catamaran at Key West while his son, Michael de Quesada, readies the team’s No. 28 Mercedes-AMG GT3 for Petit with co-drivers Daniel Morad and Daniel Juncadella. All of this was made possible in part by a new partnership with Huski, the Swedish chocolate beverage and adventure gear brand that will feature prominently on the liveries for both the race car and the boat.
“There are some similarities between these two styles of racing, but more differences,” Carlos de Quesada said. “It says a lot about the skill and commitment of the Alegra team that we’re able to mobilize for two totally different events in different corners of the country. Regardless of how we fare, it’s sure to be an exciting weekend.”
The Key West event takes place in three stages, starting Wednesday and concluding Nov. 14. Activities surrounding Motul Petit Le Mans begin Wednesday and conclude Nov. 13 with the 10-hour race.
What happens at SEMA doesn’t stay at SEMA
The Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) show is wrapping up today in Las Vegas. As always, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship made itself known at the annual trade show.
Longtime IMSA competitors, AIM Autosport, took note of the SEMA crowds and were reminded of a key similarity:
Seen at #SEMA Just like #IMSA grid walk only less people. #ComingThru pic.twitter.com/GTSsz9It0s
— AIM Autosport (@AIMautosport) October 30, 2018
Eyes forward, everyone
Speaking of SEMA, Racing Optics used the platform Wednesday to announce its partnership with the IMSA Prototype Challenge for windshield tear-offs and an award.
Racing Optics’ Vision to the Front Award will be given to the team that advances the most positions in each Prototype Challenge race.
“Racing Optics is a fantastic example of a company using the racetrack to prove and develop a product and adapt it for use by general consumers,” IMSA President John Doonan said.
Proud to announce our new partnership with @IMSA for windshield tear offs & “Vision to the Front Award” https://t.co/DdcZfNNktl #IMSA #RacingOptics #SEMA2021
— Racing Optics (@RacingOptics) November 3, 2021
One championship down, more possible
Mike Conway, who will join Felipe Nasr and Pipo Derani at Petit as they try to win the Daytona Prototype international (DPi) championship, helped Toyota Gazoo Racing clinch the team championship in the FIA World Endurance Championship last weekend at Bahrain.
Conway will join Nasr and Derani in the No. 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R next week at Petit. The No. 31 team trails the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-05 co-driven by Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque and Alexander Rossi by just 19 points.
Winners in Bahrain and @TGR_WEC World Champions🥇It was a great job by all the crew, and my team-mates to get the win! Huge thank you and congratulations to everyone at Toyota to make it four @FIAWEC team titles 🏆🏆🏆🏆
Now we push for the drivers’ title 👊 pic.twitter.com/MNGOZy0kf6
— Mike Conway (@Mikeconway26) November 1, 2021
Helio hits the links
What’s ICYMI without a celebratory Helio Castroneves post? Incomplete, that’s what.
So… here’s Helio about to play golf:
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