– Julie Bentley Joins International GT to Lead Administration
– Shane Lewis Returns to Manage Driver Development Program
– New Pirelli Tire Supplier JX2 Performance Group Taking Sebring Orders
– Racerink Presenting Sponsor of Season-Opening Race at Sebring, March 3 – 6
FERNANDINA BEACH, Florida (February 10, 2016) – International GT™ has expanded its management team and joined with new series partners in preparation for the 2016 racing seasons for The Stuttgart Cup and The Maranello Cup, which begin at Sebring International Raceway, March 3 – 6.
Entries for the Sebring race are being accepted now through International GT’s new secure online system that is available by clicking here. The provisional International GT event schedule, which is part of the SVRA Spring Vintage Classic race weekend, is available by clicking here.
Well-known motorsports professional Julie Bentley has joined International GT where she will oversee the day-to-day and at-event administration of The Stuttgart Cup and The Maranello Cup. Bentley was a key member of the IMSA American Le Mans Series (ALMS) administration staff for 13 years and most recently filled a partner relations position in the Pirelli World Challenge last season.
Already a familiar face in the International GT paddock, accomplished race car driver Shane Lewis has been retained for the full 2016 season to lead International GT’s Driver Development Program. He will also assist International GT General Manager and Competition Director Ken Fengler with race weekend on-track and competition operations. Lewis, who currently competes in the Trans Am Series, has career class victories in such notable races as the Rolex 24 At Daytona, 24 Hours of Nurburgring and the 24 Hours of Dubai.
“We have seen solid growth in International GT the last few years and look forward to our biggest season yet in 2016 for The Stuttgart Cup and The Maranello Cup racing series,” said International GT Cup President and CEO Bill Riddell. “The momentum started late last year when we announced our strategic partnership with the SVRA, which motivated us to give Ken and his existing team some additional and qualified personnel. We are fortunate to have Julie and Shane on the team in addition to several great new series partners that will be with us for their first full seasons in 2016.”
JX2 Performance Group has partnered with International GT for 2016 as the new and exclusive Official Pirelli Tire Supplier of the series-standard Pirelli P Zero racing slicks and wet-weather racing tires for The Stuttgart Cup and The Maranello Cup. Advance Pirelli tire orders for Sebring and other early-season races are now being accepted by phone at (866) 325-5426 and by email at customer.service@jx2pg.com. Learn more at www.JX2pg.com.
Racerink, a custom clothing supplier to the racing industry that joined International GT as Official Clothing Supplier late last year, will begin its first full season in The Stuttgart Cup and The Maranello Cup as the presenting sponsor of the Sebring race. Among the prizes competitors will be battling for at Sebring in the International GT races will be a collection of exclusive Racerink-designed Stuttgart Cup and Maranello Cup clothing and race attire. Racerink can also facilitate the 2016 clothing needs of any of racing team. For orders and information, please contact Ashley@racerink.com or call at (239) 470-0872. Learn more at www.Racerink.com.
“We welcome JX2 Performance Group and Racerink to their first full seasons in International GT,” Fengler said. “Along with returning partners Pirelli Tire, BRM Chronographes, Pacifico Costa Rica and the Palm Beach Driving Club, we are honored to have such a fine lineup of corporate partners for 2016 and beyond. The great products they provide are second only to the fine people within each organizations that are as committed as we are to the growth and success of International GT.”
In addition to Riddell, Fengler, Lewis and Bentley, the complete International GT personnel lineup for 2016 includes returning team members Will Riddell and Adam Saal. Will Riddell manages series Operations while Saal oversees all series Communications.
The complete 2016 schedule to date for International GT includes the following races:
– Spring Vintage Classic at Sebring International Raceway, March 3 – 6
– Amelia Island Vintage Gran Prix, March 17 – 20
– Road America Spring Vintage Festival, May 12 – 15
– Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio, June 23 – 26
– U.S. Vintage Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International, September 8 – 11
– Heacock Classic Gold Cup at Virginia International Raceway, September 22 – 25
– Mardi Gras in October at NOLA Motorsports Park, October 13 – 16
The Sebring, VIR and NOLA races are companion weekend events with Trans Am.
Learn more about the Spring Vintage Classic at Sebring International Raceway, March 3 – 6, in this great preview video by SVRA. Click on the arrow below to check it out.
About International GT: International GT is a North American racing series that includes three different championships for late model Porsche and Ferrari competitors. Home primarily to sportsman drivers, with the occasional professional driver/coach joining the action in endurance races, International GT annually presents The Stuttgart Cup and The Maranello Cup championships. The Stuttgart Cup includes two classes, one for Caymans and another division that features 996, 997 and other GT3 Cup cars from the last decade. With rare exception, all three divisions compete on track at the same time for individual class honors in their own and exclusive International GT run group at SVRA race events. Most race weekends feature a minimum of one enduro and two sprint “points” races that count toward the season championships. Learn more about International GT at www.IntlGT.com and follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/InternationalGT and Twitter @InternationalGT.
For more information on International GT, please visit us at www.IntlGT.com. Follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/InternationalGT and Twitter @InternationalGT.
Media Contact: Adam Saal, (321) 890-2848 and SaalGoodPR@gmail.com