2016 News
Defending Race Winner Visit Florida Racing Returns to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
- 26 April 2016
DRIVING AT MAZDA RACEWAY: Ryan Dalziel and Marc Goossens will drive the No. 90 Visit Florida Racing Corvette Daytona Prototype.
CONTINENTAL TIRE MONTEREY GRAND PRIX POWERED BY MAZDA: Round 4 of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, a 2.238-mile track with 11 corners featuring the famous Corkscrew.
2016 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS: 4th with 84 points
DEFENDING WINNERS: After three consecutive third place finishes to open the year in 2015, Visit Florida Racing broke through for its first win of the season after the team’s best qualifying effort of the year of third with drivers Michael Valiante and Richard Westbrook. That finish propelled the team into the championship lead with four races completed.
TEAM HISTORY AT LAGUNA: Visit Florida Racing has made seven previous starts at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with two wins at the track in IMSA competition. Antonio Garcia and Richard Westbrook stormed from the pole position in 2012 to take the win. Westbrook was joined by Michael Valiante last year when the duo won after qualifying third.
VISIT FLORIDA DRIVERS AT LAGUNA: Ryan Dalziel has made eight previous starts at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with his best finish coming in the form of a victory in 2008 while driving for Peter Baron. He stood on the podium for a second time at the track when he finished third for Starworks Motorsport in 2012. Marc Goossens has made six previous starts at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with a best finish of second in 2008 while driving for Bob Stallings.
DALZIEL SECOND AT SILVERSTONE: While the Visit Florida Racing team competed at Long Beach with Marc Goossens and Ryan Hunter-Reay, Ryan Dalziel took part in the 6 Hours of Silverstone as part of his full-season WEC effort. He and his ESM team finished second in the event.
TESTING: Following the Long Beach event, the No. 90 Visit Florida Racing Corvette DP tested at Buttonwillow Raceway with both Ryan Dalziel and Marc Goossens on hand to take part.
DRIVER QUOTEBOARD:
Ryan Dalziel: “We are going into Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with a lot of motivation. When you look at how dominant the No. 90 Visit Florida Corvette DP was in 2015 we are hoping to score our first win of 2015, and back to back victories at Laguna Seca. After we had a little bit of a struggle on the bumps of Sebring and Long Beach, this smooth surface should be a little bit more in our favor. After Long Beach we had a two-day test at Buttonwillow and we learned some things in regards to the car set up. Hopefully we can roll off the trailer strong at Laguna.”
Marc Goossens: “Laguna is a track where Visit Florida has some strong records. Both Ryan (Dalziel) and I have some good and competitive memories there so I think we will be ready to challenge for a podium finish again! The track itself is one of my favorites on the calendar. Like a couple of others, this is an old school track. You look for the limit but if you pass that limit slightly, you get punished! But it is a nice smooth layout with some elevation changes which challenges us and the cars. And I don't think I need to explain the world renowned corkscrew corner! Like I said, I very much believe that the No. 90 Visit Florida Racing Corvette DP is up for a good showing in Monterey.”
Visit Florida.com Racing 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Drivers:
Ryan Dalziel
Birth Date: 12th April 1982
Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland UK
Residence: Windermere, Florida USA
Website: www.ryandalziel.com
Twitter: @ryan_dalziel
Marc Goossens
Birth Date: 30 November 1969
Birthplace: Geel, Belgium
Residence: Westerlo, Belgium
Website: www.marcgoossens.com
Twitter: @marcthegoose
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Birth Date: 17 December 1980
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas
Residence: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Website: www.ryanracing.com
Twitter: @RyanHunterReay