March 7, 2017 | St. Petersburg, Florida | In 2011, in St. Petersburg, Florida, Alec Udell became the youngest driver, up until then, to start a Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) race. This weekend, The Woodlands, Texas-resident returns to the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg as a class champion and one rung higher on the GT car-racing ladder; clearly recognized as one of the sports’ rising stars. Udell, a junior at Clemson University studying mechanical engineering, will challenge for the twin GTA class race wins on March 11 and 12 in the No. 17 Euroworld Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R prepared by GMG. It will open the ten-round, five-weekend PWC Sprint season.
Two weeks ago, Udell announced his intention to campaign the blue and orange Euroworld Motorsports machine in the GTA class season. GMG will prepare the car, as it did during his PWC GT Cup class championship charge in 2016, for North America’s premier GT sprint racing series. Additionally, Udell will share the Calvert Dynamics Porsche 911 GT3 R with Preston Calvert (Potomac, Maryland) in the Pro-Am class of the SprintX championship where races are split between the two drivers. The SprintX season – a fully stand-alone championship – opens on April 29 at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR).
Udell was 15 years old when he pulled a race-ready Camaro SS out onto the narrow St. Petersburg streets for the first time. At an age that most kids are yet to experience anything as mundane as a supervised drive to the grocery store, the Texas karting star was barreling full throttle between the cement walls of the 1.8-mile, 14-turn track. Not only did he prove his worth at becoming the youngest driver to compete in a World Challenge race – a distinction he would hold for two years, but he did it by qualifying in third-place.
Since that day, the 2015 Porsche Young Driver Academy graduate has 15 PWC race victories, all in the one-make Porsche 911 GT3 Cup class. In 2016, he carried 12 wins and six second-places to the GT Cup title. His success was so great that he clinched the championship one event early and opted to test the GTA class waters with a two-race weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca at the conclusion of 2016. He drove a GMG-readied Porsche 911 GT3 R in the 50-minute races to ready for this week’s PWC season-opener in the Euroworld Motorsports 911 GT3 R.
The program recently completed a successful, multi-day test at The Thermal Club in Palm Springs, California. Using the private auto enthusiasts’ club’s newest track layout, Udell set a new lap record with the No. 17 Euroworld Motorsports machine. Most valuable was learning the new car and finding what the rear-engine Porsche responds to in mechanical and aerodynamic setup. The two-days spent in California testing along with teammate James Sofronas in the No. 14 GMG Porsche 911 GT3 R benefited both cars as they enter the season.
This week’s event marks the start of the third season of Udell’s partnership with Euroworld Motorsports (www.euroworldmotorsports.com). Euroworld is the country’s only certified automotive carbon fiber repair facility. Based in Houston, they are one of Texas’s leading European auto repair and performance facility.
Practice for the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg gets underway on Thursday, March 9. GT/GTA and GT Cup qualifying will be held on Friday afternoon. Round One of the Championship will take the green flag at 9:35 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 11. The second of the two 50-minute sprint races follows at 3:15 p.m., Sunday March 12. The races can be seen on the CBS Sports Network at 2:00 p.m. ET, Saturday March 18.
Alec Udell |
about the start of the season | “I’m extremely excited to start the Pirelli World Challenge GTA championship off strong at the streets of St. Petersburg. I have to be honest, this course and I have had our odds with each other in the past, so this year I’m going in extra prepared and ready for the new challenges at hand. After my run in the GMG Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race at Daytona earlier this year, I’ve been itching to get back in a racecar. ”
memories of that first start at age 15 | “I am not too proud to say I remember being extremely nervous starting my first Pirelli World Challenge race at St. Pete when I was 15. It didn’t help when Peter Cunningham, the person starting next to me, introduced himself to me by saying he won his first PWC Championship the year I was born. Nevertheless, I’ve learned a lot from him and the other veterans of the series. I have grown a lot since my first year in Pirelli World Challenge. This year I’m going wheel to wheel with the ‘big guys’ which is a new and exciting challenge that I’m ready to take.”
testing Euroworld Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R at The Thermal Club | “We had a few gremlins we had to work out of the car the first day at The Thermal Club. But by the second day, the Euroworld Motorsports Porsche was great. Nev [Agass, team engineer] and I were able to focus on the setup for the car. In the process, we were able to set a track record. I would mark that as a very good test, one that will help us all season.”
Frank Lee, Principal, Euroworld Motorsports | “After two phenomenal seasons of supporting Alec, it came time to help him get into the faster categories. Euroworld was very pleased to provide the new Porsche 911 GT3 R and continue our successful partnership up to the next level. GMG continues to lead the series with top notch racing operations and is a natural fit for our marketing priorities in 2017. We are very excited to get the season started!”
About Alec Udell |
Alec Udell is a junior studying engineering at Clemson University. The 21 year-old from The Woodlands, Texas began his racing career in karting at age five. He went on to win the Rotax National Points Championship in 2008 and represented his country as part of Team USA in Egypt in the World Championships in 2009. By 2011, he made history by becoming, at the time, the Pirelli World Challenge’s youngest ever competitor at age 15. He has 15 career Pirelli World Challenge GT Cup class wins entering the season and is the 2016 PWC GT Cup Champion.
Bio and Images Available Upon Request
More information on the 2017 Pirelli World Challenge can be found at www.world-challenge.com .
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