New Sponsorship Interest Leads to Keating Second Entry for Laguna Seca Round
Following the two most recent rounds of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar championship, Riley Motorsport’s Ben Keating is pleased to announce a second entry for the remaining races of the 2018 season. Coming at an opportune time when Keating and team are looking to bolster their championship efforts, the charismatic Texan has managed to procure enough sponsorship to fulfill a second Mercedes AMG GT3 program.
“The addition of a second entry can only benefit the entirety of our program,” stated Keating. “Race Director, Beau Barfield, has often encouraged us to ‘Race how you want to be raced’, and I believe this will allow me to achieve this lofty goal. Plus, I can also make up some lost championship points in the last two races of the year. Mathematically, the #33 is still in the championship hunt for 2018, and if you’re telling me there’s a chance, then I am pulling out all the stops. Luckily, I’ve found some terrific partners who align with not only my ambitions, but the apparent vision of the series.”
The idea of running a second car surfaced when Keating received interest inquiries from two new sponsors.
Based in Mooresville, NC, Riley’s Collision Center joins the program with a true belief that IMSA could take their business to the next level. No stranger to motorsport involvement, the popular repair franchise has been involved in everything from figure eight racing, to outright demolition derbies, however IMSA presents a premium opportunity for the brand.
Joining the venture will be, Red-Mist Auto Salvage. Based near the Florida Everglades, the popular salvage yard plans to enter into the business of slightly-used race car parts. They believe their network of corner workers and safety crews can supply a large number of take-off parts following each of the IMSA races, which will allow them to cater to the most exclusive clientele.
Searching for sources of premium advertising, it has become clear to both companies that the GTDemolition category is the place to be, with the series’ crashes featured both on national television, internet streaming, as well as countless internet memes. Keating is excited to help them grow their business.
While the 2-Driver line-up is not 100% finalized, Keating is looking to Peter Ludwig and Matteo Malucelli as the best candidates for the job. Native to Red-Mist’s home state of Florida, Peter Ludwig has been a constant threat in the IMSA-sanctioned Ferrari Challenge ranks. Ludwig has proven to be both talented and aggressive, the latter of which is key for this entry. Needing a quick pro in the car, the team is currently evaluating multiple driver entries, but sportscar ace Matteo Malucelli is considered a favorite, with the team citing his “flair” behind the wheel.
While the car’s livery remains in development, with both partners receiving prominent placements on the front half of the AMG, Keating will retain livery control on the machine’s rear. Believing that if he puts different imagery of beef and pork-cuts on the back of his cars, then Vegan drivers likely won’t touch it. This is a creative strategy, which worked flawlessly for Porsche at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.
While the second entry will give Keating’s no. 33 the usual benefits of additional data, alternate strategies during the race, as well as setup information, Keating has cited the additional benefit of testing developments for 2019 as his real reasoning. With no concern for championship points on a second entry, the team can now experiment with new updates to the car.
“Following the last few rounds, we’ve been working on an updated package, and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca will be a great venue for that,” continued Keating. “We’re looking at everything from adding a cow catcher to the front of the car, to a rear diffuser equipped with metal spikes for better weight balance and rear downforce. Additionally, we have also been working on a rear camera system which automatically sends an IM message to the Race Director when there has been contact.”
Further updates to be revealed soon.
Article from amgperformance.com
