Bodymotion Makes Continental Challenge Return at Daytona with Ray Catena Porsche 911

by Thomas Moore

Rolex 24 Winner Shane Lewis Joins Andrew Baxter for 2014 IMSA GS Season

Daytona Beach, Fla., January 20, 2014 – Bodymotion Racing, working in partnership with the Ray Catena Auto Group, will make its IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge (CTSCC) return in 2014. The No. 12 Ray Catena Auto Group Porsche 911 is scheduled to campaign the full GS-class season with Rolex 24 At Daytona-winner Shane Lewis (Jupiter, Fla.) and series rookie Andrew Baxter (Rumson, N.J.) behind the wheel. The new collaboration will debut at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) on January 24. The support event to the 52nd Running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona marks the first time that the Mike Bavaro-owned operation has run in the CTSCC since 2007.

Since taking a leave of absence from the intensely competitive street car-based series at the top of its game six years ago, Bodymotion has remained involved in major road racing series. The Ocean Township, N.J.-based team, which has maintained the core of its championship caliber operation over the years, has been focused on Intercontinental Trophy Cup (ITC)-sanctioned events with an in-house developed Porsche Cayman. In that time, the operation has won multiple championships while simultaneously developing the mid-engine Cayman for competition.

"We have been very successful in ITC, winning several championships," said Bavaro. “ITC was conceived as a developmental series to promote the growth of young drivers from club racing to the professional ranks. Tim Fox won the 2011 championship with us and moved to GRAND-AM with Aston Martin in 2012. Andrew Baxter graduates to IMSA with us this year. We are humbled to re-enter the Continental SportsCar Challenge amongst the fiercest competitors in professional racing."

Founded in 1959, the Ray Catena Auto Group (RayCatena.com) has 13 dealerships representing 11 luxury brands in New York and New Jersey. The “Legend of Luxury” markets and services manufacturers such as Porsche, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Mini, Land Rover and soon to be added Audi.

“We are very pleased and proud to represent one of the finest automobile dealership groups in the U.S.A., Ray Catena Auto Group,” continued Bavaro. “When you enter an elite level of motorsports, you want to do it with partners that are elite as well. The Ray Catena Auto Group is known as the ‘Legend in Luxury’ for a reason and it is a true honor to carry the motorsports banner of such a legend.”

The No. 12 is a freshly built-for-competition Porsche 911 GTS. Developed from the road-going Porsche by Bodymotion's racing division, BMO Motorsports, Bodymotion will support the program throughout the 2014 and 2015 CTSCC seasons.

Lewis, who has six CTSCC victories throughout the various iterations of the series’ development, is internationally recognized as one of the sports top development and endurance race drivers. He won the GTX class of the 2013 Rolex 24 driving a Cayman to add to 24-hour race victories at Nürburgring and Dubai. In addition to his season-long duties with Bodymotion, Lewis will drive the No. 22 Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT America in this year’s Rolex 24.

“Mike and I have had great success together in the past, including a pole position in the Continental SportsCar Challenge, although it was called GRAND-AM Cup at the time,” reflected Lewis. “To have the opportunity to come to Daytona with a Porsche 911 built just for this series by Bodymotion has me really upbeat. This is some of the best competition on the planet. The field is so deep with such great cars but I believe in Bodymotion and I know they have the expertise to do it right. To have the chance to race this championship with a young gun like Andrew and in a Porsche carrying the legendary Ray Catena name is just the best of both worlds. I’m psyched to get out there and go racing!”

Baxter, who has been brought up the motorsports ladder by Bodymotion, will be making his first professional series start on the 3.56-mile road course at Daytona. However, he had a successful season in 2013 finishing second in ITC P2 class points driving for Bodymotion.

“This being my first year, I want to focus on building a sustainable team and a good foundation for a long term program,” offered Baxter. “To do that, I want to leverage the advantages of an awesome driving partner, Shane Lewis, and an incredible race team, Bodymotion. I’d be lying if I didn't mention my desire to stand on the podium. The view is much better up there.”

The two-hour, 30-minute season-opening race will take the green flag at 1:45 p.m. ET, Friday, January 24. Qualifying for the race, the first CTSCC race under International Motorsport Association (IMSA) sanction, will take place on Thursday, January 23 at 2:30 p.m. The race will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1 at 6 p.m. ET, Friday, January 24.

For more on the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, including live timing and scoring of each session, visit IMSA.com. For more on Bodymotion, please see Bodymotion.com.

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