Sonoma, CA. (August 22nd, 2014)-TRG-AMR’s Pirelli World Challenge presence has grown this weekend, with the team fielding a total of six racecars in the highly-competitive series: five in the GTS field and one in the GT category. While Team Owner Kevin Buckler was initially slated to drive the PassTime USA sponsored V12 Vantage GT3 machine, there is now a very special guest driver – Christina Nielsen – who will be piloting the 007 powerhouse.
In the hugely competitive GTS class, TRG-AMR is fielding five V8 Aston Martin Vantage GT4s, the same type of car that won this race last year with TRG-AMR Team Driver Brandon Davis behind the wheel. Making up the stable of GTS drivers includes World Challenge newcomers Derek DeBoer and Santiago Creel alongside season-long Team Drivers Nick Esayian, Drew Regitz, and Jorge De La Torre.
Last year at Sonoma was a great weekend for TRG-AMR. The V12 GT3 had just arrived fresh from the ProDrive/AMR factory in England and was running for the first time on American soil, and the team had three solid drivers running in the GTS category. Buckler started from the rear of the entire GT and GTS field after missing the grid with a clutch failure after qualifying a respectable 7th place. Starting 40+ cars back,
Buckler was able to chomp away at the competition, eventually finishing 6th overall when the checkered flag fell. Drivers Drew Regitz, Mark Klenin, and former World Challenge Champion Brandon Davis were piloting the Vantage GT4s around the track, with Davis taking the win for TRG-AMR and Regitz and Klenin finishing 10th and 11th, respectively.
Kevin Buckler, CEO, TRG-AMR North America: “This is going to be a great weekend for us – we’ve got five strong drivers gunning for the win in GTS and defending our win from last year, while our special guest driver Christina Nielsen in the GT car will surprise a lot of people. It’s nice to welcome Santiago (Creel) and Derek (DeBoer) to our team this weekend. They are both super strong and heads up drivers and will have a good shot here. This track is one of the most technical and challenging circuits we run at and we love running here. Also close to home, and it allows us to host our annual party. We love to share
our northern California hospitality, and it allows for all of us in the series to really relax and get to know each other outside of the paddock. I’ve made some great friends in the Pirelli World Challenge and look forward to making some more this year.”
TV Broadcast Information
The Sonoma Pirelli World Challenge event will air on the NBC Sports Network on Saturday, August 30 at 1 PM EST and re-air Thursday, Sept. 5 at 12:30 AM EST.