After a long season hiatus, DeBoer and Gibbons are looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the #66 TRG | LaSalle Solutions | BRM Chronographes | Frog | Armor | Fastlife TV Porsche Cayman GT4 MR to gain a lightening quick jump on the full-season SprintX championship.
TRG’s history of success and achievement certainly extends to Circuit of the Americas. The team had an epic GT win in 2013 with Porsche and also took the GTD pole position in 2014. TRG has achieved numerous wins and podium finishes across many series at COTA, including last year’s PWC double SprintX victories with DeBoer and Gibbons behind the wheel.
DeBoer had a breakout 2016 season with two wins and multiple podiums and took a hotly contested overall SprintX GTS driver championship down to the wire before ultimately finishing second, driving TRG to the 2016 PWC SprintX GTS title. He also scored two second-places in Lamborghini Super Trofeo racing action within that season. Last year at COTA, DeBoer teamed up with Gibbons to win both SprintX GTS races and finished the season with a stellar four wins, two second-place finishes and a third place podium position.
Dallas’s Sean Gibbons, is also no stranger to the podium, having achieved top three finishes in close to 70 percent of his races and is a top contender in everything he drives. He’s a proven winner with the two SprintX victories achieved last year with DeBoer here at COTA. He made his PWC debut in 2017 at St. Petersburg, breaking into the top 10 in both Florida contests, winning the Hard Charger award along the way. Gibbons, an executive at Sirius XM when he isn’t in a race car, is eager to team up once again with DeBoer.
“I couldn’t think of a better duo of drivers and friends to bring to the PWC SprintX championship run — this is my “Dream Team!” says The Racers Group CEO Kevin Buckler. “Derek and Sean are always incredible together both on and off the track. They’ve really been gearing up for this weekend and can’t wait to defend their SprintX title here at COTA. I’m looking forward to showing what happens when we put consummate professionals together in every category and with the right team.”
Of course, the TRG team is bringing their renowned world-class business and corporate entertainment platforms to the race. Kevin is also eager to showcase his company’s strengths in the paddock. “The future of sportscar racing is off-the-charts strong and I’m glad to be doing my part to help lead the way. This awesome B2B environment, as well as our 5-star hospitality events, give our guests like long-time partners La Salle Solutions and new ones like Frog and Armor a unique and beneficial platform to engage. And, oh yeah… we really love to win too! I feel confident we will achieve all of our goals on the track and off.”
Drivers
Derek DeBoer and Sean Gibbons
Fan favorite Derek DeBoer returns to COTA in the TRG #09 Aston Martin V8 GT4 Vantage. DeBoer had a breakout 2016 season with two wins and multiple podiums and took a hotly contested overall SprintX GTS driver championship down to the wire before ultimately finishing second, helping TRG to the 2016 PWC SprintX GTS title. He also scored two second-places in Lamborghini Super Trofeo racing action. Last year at COTA, DeBoer teamed up with Gibbons to win both SprintX GTS races and finished the season with a stellar four wins, two second-place finishes and a third place.
“I am thrilled to join TRG once again,” says DeBoer. “I have a lot of confidence in our program and in Sean as my co-driver this season. We have some big shoes to fill jumping back in where we left off last season with two wins at Circuit of the Americas together! Longevity and consistency are such a big part of a team’s success and we have those boxes checked, for sure.”
His co-driver, Dallas’s Sean Gibbons, is no stranger to the podium, having achieved top three finishes in close to 70 percent of his races and is a top contender in everything he drives. He’s also a proven winner with two SprintX victories last year with DeBoer here at COTA. He made his PWC debut in 2017 at St. Petersburg, breaking into the top 10 in both Florida contests, winning the Hard Charger award along the way. Gibbons, an executive at Sirius XM when he isn’t in a race car, is eager to team up once again with DeBoer.
“It’s great to be running the full SprintX GTS season with The Racers Group and Derek this year,” says Gibbons. “Derek and I approach life and racing in much the same way. That result is us working really well together toward our shared goals. And that’s winning!”
“I couldn’t think of a better duo of drivers and friends to bring to the PWC SprintX championship run… this is my “Dream Team!!” says TRG CEO Kevin Buckler. “Derek and Sean are always incredible together both on and off the track. They’ve really been gearing up for this weekend and can’t wait to defend their SprintX title here at COTA. I’m looking forward to showing what happens when we put consummate professionals together in every category and with the right team.
We’re so proud to continue our long term partnerships with LaSalle Solutions and BRM Chronographes, as well as with Derek and Sean. Our TRG staff and crew have been working so hard back at the shop to be sure our TRG Aston Martin is in top-top condition and ready to win. We’re really bringing it to COTA and hope to deliver. We have a fantastic group of partners and sponsors that we will have the pleasure of entertaining throughout the weekend to show them the power of motorsports. All of the elements are in place for us to have a stellar race weekend and we can’t wait for the green flag!”
Pictures of Hope
Pictures of Hope, helmed by award-winning photojournalist and philanthropist Linda Solomon, encourages disadvantaged children of all ages to express themselves through photography. The program is a proven winner, going directly to the schools and shelters where Linda and her mentors can have the most impact. Now, partnering with Derek DeBoer and TRG, Pictures of Hope will provide one full-ride four-year college scholarship in each SprintX racing community to Blackburn College in Illinois — a $100,000 value. TRG friends, partners and sponsors are helping to fund the program with a two-to-one donation match.
“Pictures of Hope is so very honored to work with Derek DeBoer,” Solomon says. “He’s devoted to helping homeless and disadvantaged youth believe in AND achieve their dreams. Because of Derek, kids all over the world are now on the ‘Circuit of Dreams.’”
Fastlife
Filmmaker Brooke DeBoer follows her husband Derek to the track — with her camera in hand. She captures all of the on-track and off-track racing action for her Amazon Prime series Fastlife, now in production on season two. TRG is prominently featured and Amazon Prime members can watch the highly rated docuseries for free.
Events
The weekend begins with a series of special events, designed to highlight TRG’s radical shift in event marketing and B2B opportunities. First up on Friday, March 23 is an Adobe Road Winery Winemaker Dinner at Austin’s premier steakhouse, III Forks. This event features exquisite Adobe Road award-winning wine and food pairings. VIP guests will enjoy a wonderful evening, elevated by TRG’s signature camaraderie and networking, all designed to enhance and activate business around motorsports.
The Texas-sized race week concludes with a winemaker dinner at Cordillera Ranch March 27. Located north of San Antonio, Cordillera Ranch takes full advantage of 8,700 acres of unsurpassed beauty and boasts seven resort-style clubs. There’s simply no place like it — in the Texas Hills or perhaps any place on earth.
Guests will enjoy an inspired wine menu centered on our acclaimed Adobe Road wines with a menu crafted and presented by Cordillera Ranch Executive Chef Isaac Cantu and his team. And, of course, Kevin and TRG drivers Derek DeBoer and Sean Gibbons — and the team’s Aston Martin race car — will also be on hand, hot on the heels of the team’s Pirelli World Challenge SprintX race weekend at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas.
“Many of our team partners and sponsors will be activating with us at this race, highlighting our ability to provide top shelf experiential marketing and B2B opportunities like business activation opportunities, full track access, trackside hospitality and Adobe Road Winery winemaker’s dinner combined with several other events,” says Kevin Buckler, TRG CEO. “We work hard to be the leader both on and off the track.”
Info for Editors:
Schedule of Events, SprintX GTS
FRIDAY, MARCH 23 – 8:40 AM to 9:20 AM PM EDT
SprintX Practice #1
FRIDAY, MARCH 23 – 12:50 PM to 1:40 PM EDT
SprintX Practice #2
SATURDAY, MARCH 24 – 9 AM to 9:30 AM PM EDT
SprintX Qualifying
SATURDAY, MARCH 24 – 3:45 PM to 4:45 PM EDT
SprintX Race #1 (race duration: 60 minutes)
SUNDAY, MARCH 25 – 10:15 PM to 11:15 PM EDT
SprintX Race #2 (race duration: 60 minutes)
(SprintX races will be live-streamed: world-challenge.com)
Live timing for all events: world-challenge.com