Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge - Oh, Canada
by: Chris Jameson - RaceCanada
January 18, 2015
IMSA has released the entry list for the opening round of the Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge which takes place January 23rd at Daytona International Speedway. The entry list is down slightly from last year as some teams have closed up or moved on but it it is still a healthy field of fifty-seven cars (25 – GS / 32 – ST). Some teams have changed marques and the driver landscape has also changed.
Off the top, the most notable change is in GS with Mantella Autosport switching to the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R (from Aston Martin) and they will also run two cars. The pairing of Anthony Mantella and Mark Wilkins return in the #8 while Martin Barkey teams with Kyle Marcelli in the second #80 Camaro (with MBRP sponsorship). They had raced together in a Porsche (Rebel Rock Racing) last season.
Just down pit lane, Multimatic Motorsports returns for a second straight season with a pair of Ford Mustang Boss 302.Rs but there has been a shakeup in the driver pairings. Scott Maxwell is back in the #15 but is now joined by Billy Johnson. After three seasons co-driving with Scott, Jade Buford has moved to the #158 with Ian James. Also listed in the #158 is Austin Cindric.
Compass 360 Racing is back with their Subaru WRX STi program, this time with Pierre Kleinubing sharing the driving duties with Ray Mason. Max Riddle is back with TRG-AMR in the #07 Aston Martin Vantage while Ken Wilden is back after an "unscheduled" year off driving in another Aston Martin Vantage, this one from Automatic Racing.
With the exit of CKS Autosport, Ashley McCalmont does not yet have a ride for 2015 – although it must be noted that there are a few teams with drivers listed as T.B.A so we will keep our eyes open
Over in the ST class, Canadian content is thinner than usual. Compass 360 Racing has switched programs and will now be racing a pair of Audi S3s in 2015 although they will not debut until Sebring. The team will be running the Honda Civic Si at Daytona. Adam Isman is back in a Porsche Cayman, this time with RSI (he raced last year with Autometrics) and co-driver Jon Miller. There is no mention of his 2014 team mate Remo Ruscitti on the entry list. Also missing from the ST driver list – Michael Valiante, who previously teamed with Chad Gilsinger in the #93 HART Honda. We suspect Valiante's duties with SDR Motorsports and their focus on a TUDOR championship in the Corvette DP program took precedence this season.
The BMW Performance 200 will run for two hours and thirty minutes starting at 1:45 PM ET. We will post broadcast/streaming details as well as update any changes to the entry list when available.
GS
#8 Mantella Autosport Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R
Anthony Mantella, Toronto, ON
Mark Wilkins, Palgrave, ON
#15 Multimatic Motorsports Ford Mustang Boss 302R
Scott Maxwell, Toronto, ON
Billy Johnson, Miami, FL
#76 Compass360 Racing Subaru WRXSTI
Ray Mason, Columbus, OH
Pierre Kleinubing, Coconut Creek, FL
#80 Mantella Autosport Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R
Martin Barkey, Huntsville, ON
Kyle Marcelli, Barrie, ON
#07 TRG-AMR Aston Martin Vantage
Max Riddle, Vancouver, BC
Kris Wilson, Monument, CO
#09 Automatic Racing Aston Martin Vantage
Rod Randall, Odesa, FL
Ken Wilden, Oakville, ON
#158 Multimatic Motorsports Ford Mustang Boss 302R
Jade Buford, Brentwood, TN
Ian James, Phoenix, AZ
Austin Cindric, Mooresville, NC
ST
#18 RSI Porsche Cayman
Jon Miller, San Jose, CA
Adam Isman, Vancouver, BC
#74 Compass360 Racing Honda Civic Si
Jim McGuire, Tiburon, CA
Nico Rondet, San Francisco, CA
#75 Compass360 Racing Honda Civic Si
Paul Holton, Tallahassee, FL
Kyle Gimple, Winder, NV
#77 Compass360 Racing Honda Civic Si - UPDATED
Benoit Theetge, Quebec City, QC
Donald Theetge, Quebec City, QC
Photo credit: Mantella Autosport / swmlcrtv