2021 SRO Awards
California 8 Hours Intercontinental GT Challenge
Endurance event will see Bell, Sofronos and Davis join forces
Filling some gaps in the offseason is usually tough but Floridian driver Jason Bell is having no issues at all. With plans to compete in at least two major events before the close of the calendar year, the Global Motorsports Group driver has confirmed participation in the Pirelli World Challenge 8 Hours Intercontinental GT Challenge. Joining forces with GMG Racing teammate and 2018 champion, James Sofronos as well as Andrew Davis, Bell will share the driving duties in his first endurance style event.
“It has been a big process to ensure that we had the right driver combination for Laguna,” explained Bell. “The 2018 Pirelli World Challenge Championship just finished but I do not want to slow down in any way. We are working hard to confirm more events in the very near future and should have an announcement next week.”
Taking place at the famed 2.238-mile long WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Bell and his co-drivers will pilot an Audi R8 GT4 LMS in the California 8 Hours Intercontinental GT Challenge. Running over the October 25-28 weekend, a pre-event promoters test day will kick off the weekend before official practice and qualifying take place on Friday and Saturday. The green flag will fly at 9:15am (PDT) Sunday morning as the race runs through the daylight hours with the checkered flag scheduled for 5:15pm.
“We’re all very excited to return to the second running of the California 8 Hours, and having Jason Bell join us makes it that much sweeter,” explained GMG Racing’s James Sofronos. “Ever since Jason joined us this summer, he’s been an instant fit within our program. Jason is not only a joy to work with and someone very passionate about racing, but he’s been incredibly fast and only getting stronger, as we saw with a fantastic close to the Pirelli World Challenge season where he took a strong podium in the GTSA class. Now in its second year, the 8 Hours should be great for Jason and our team. We were fortunate to take a second in the GT4 class year, and our hope is to take the top spot, as it’s a great event with a fantastic roster of international competitors.”
Bell continued, “I believe we have a solid team and a good group of drivers that will be able to not only have great pace, but also take care of the equipment. Who knows, we may end up racing some more endurance style races in the future but for now, we are focused on this event.”
Jason Bell would like to thank his partners for their continued support. A special thanks to Continental Benefits, Osteria, Frost NYC, Gridsport, Reeves Motorsports, Audi of Tampa and Global Motorsports Group.
For more information on Jason Bell please visit him online at www.JasonBellRacing.com or follow him on his social media channels: Twitter @JasonBellGTS2 and Instagram via @JasonBellGTS.
JASON BELL CLOSES 2018 PWC SEASON STRONG
Additional Information
Descending on the Watkins Glen International Raceway of the Labor Day weekend, Audi Sport customer racing and Global Motorsports Group (GMG) driver Jason Bell closed the 2018 season on a high note. Taking on the final event weekend of the Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) program, Bell claimed a seventh place finish on Saturday before rallying to a third place podium result on Sunday.
“What a weekend for myself and the entire GMG Racing Team,” explained Bell. “We unloaded and were pretty quick right off the trailer so we fine tuned from there. It was nice to have our team cars up front and to end the season strong. Our results in the last half of the year are a true testament of the hard work and teamwork from everyone at GMG.”
Competing in the Pirelli World Challenge GTS division, Bell had two great practice sessions that saw him fifth and fourth respectively in class. Looking to continue that trend in qualifying, a missed setup and track position cost Bell a top-five starting position as he was mired back in 17th overall and ninth in class.
Bell continued, “Qualifying was not what we had hoped and it really put us behind for race one. Luckily we were able to move forward and progress throughout both races and score a good result.”
In race one, Bell was able to advance forward three positions overall and two in class to come home in the seventh position. More importantly, lap times during Saturday’s events set the grid for Sunday and the Global Motorsports Group driver lined up fourth in class. With a podium result the goal, Bell achieved what he had set out to do claiming the checkers in P3 and stood on the final step of the podium.
“Great to finish the season strong. We can now focus on some other events that we had planned as well as look forward to the 2019 season.”
Jason Bell would like to thank his partners for their continued support. A special thanks to Continental Benefits, Osteria, Frost NYC, Gridsport, Reeves Motorsports, Audi of Tampa and Global Motorsports Group.
For more information on Jason Bell please visit him online at www.JasonBellRacing.com or follow him on his social media channels: Twitter @JasonBellGTS2 and Instagram via @JasonBellGTS.
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GP of Utah
UP AND DOWN WEEKEND FOR JASON BELL IN UTAH “Pace not reflected in weekend results”
August 13, 2018 – It was an up and down weekend for Jason Bell in Tooele, Utah as finishing results did not reflect the true pace of his Global Motorsports Group (GMG Racing) Audi R8 GT4 LMS entry. Taking on the Pirelli World Challenge program at the ultra fast Utah Motorsports Campus, Bell showed great pace in practice but was forced to overcome some adversity in qualifying that set the tone for the rest of the race weekend.
“We had a great test here last week and that showed in our practice pace,” explained Bell. “We were quick right out of the trailer in were sixth quickest in the first session. The second session was even better as I was second for the majority of the run, but would end final practice in fifth. We had some cooling issues but think we have it sorted out for the weekend.”
Trouble would plague Bell from there on throughout the weekend as an ECU issue began in Saturday morning’s qualifying. His practice pace was immediately lost as he ran down the running order. Putting together a stellar lap behind the wheel, the car was not performing to its full potential, claiming the eleventh position in qualifying.
Saturday afternoon would be the host of the first wheel-to-wheel action of the weekend and Bell would improve on his qualifying position. With the goal of moving forward, the Floridian pilot was able to secure another top ten result in a stout field of competition.
Bell continued, “The competition in the GT4 class is fierce and when you have an issue in qualifying like I did, it is very hard to claw your way back. We showed good pace again, but our on track position was not ideal.”
The second and final race on the weekend took place on Sunday morning and disaster would strike for Bell. Involved in an incident that was no fault of his own, the GMG driver was out before the race even got going in the first corner melee.
“It really sucks for not only myself, but the team and my supporters,” expressed a disappointed Jason Bell. “The guys worked really hard as usua,l and they deserve good results. With an impressive amount of talent in the GT4 class, some drivers were just a little over anxious in the first corner and I was collected. Not good for our program, but we need to focus forward.”
Jason Bell would like to thank his partners for their continued support. A special thanks to Continental Benefits, Osteria, Frost NYC, Gridsport, Reeves Motorsports, Audi of Tampa and Global Motorsports Group.
For more information on Jason Bell please visit him online at www.JasonBellRacing.com or follow him on his social media channels: Twitter @JasonBellGTS2 and Instagram via @JasonBellGTS.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jason Bell – Jason@JasonBellRacing.com
Prepared by: RTD Media – Info@RaceTechDevelopment.com
Graphic by: RTD Media
Date: August 13, 2018
