@WeatherTech • @RaceWeatherTech • @weathertechca • @UnitedSportsCar • TAVERES, Fla. (Dec. 2, 2014) – WeatherTech Racing drivers Cooper MacNeil and Leh Keen are returning to the TUDOR United Sportscar Series in the No. 22 WeatherTech Racing GTD Class Porsche prepared by Alex Job Racing.
The 2013 and 2012 GTC sports car champions are looking to add a third modern-era championship to the trophy case. Having endured an unusual up-and-down year navigating the new GTD racing landscape, the team is returning with their WeatherTech Racing Porsche that they have continued to develop since Petit Le Mans in October.
Drivers Cooper MacNeil (Hinsdale, Ill.) and Leh Keen (Charleston, S.C.) will again be a tough team to beat as they look forward to the season opening 24 Hours at Daytona.
“I am thrilled to be back with WeatherTech and AJR for 2015,” Keen said. “The most exciting thing to me is knowing we will have an even better platform for the season to really make a run for race wins and the championship. I really look at 2014 as a warm-up for our 2015 TUDOR season. We were the best Porsche all year and I really think the car will be strong for 2015. From testing at Daytona early this month and thinking back to January the car is a different animal with all of the improvements that have gone into it. The biggest thing is we have gained stability. That, of course, helps with lap times and makes it easier to drive, which is important for a 24-hour race. In addition, the tire life gained from the car not sliding around as much really helps over a stint. I really enjoy the vibe that we have under the AJR tent with Cooper, Alex and all the guys. WeatherTech is just a great company to be associated with and gives us the resources to win.”
MacNeil is poised to return to the winners circle as well as the champions table in 2015.
“We had a turbulent season in 2014,” MacNeil said. “We had our issue at Sebring, but the team rallied the rest of the year and we went into Petit Le Mans with a chance to win the championship. We were really developing the Porsche on the run throughout last season which made the season that much more difficult. Leh and I still managed to post a total of eight top five finishes, often being the fastest Porsche. It is great that we are continuing with Alex and the team in 2015. We have built a strong relationship over the past four years, which is pretty unique in top level motorsports. We are confident that the series will run much smoother and we are committed to winning races and the championship in 2015.”
Team owner Alex Job is ready for another competitive season in GTD.
“It is a rare thing in motorsports when you can come back with the same team intact for another season,” Job said. “We were able to have some success last season and were in a position to race for the championship at the last race, which is always the goal. We haven’t stopped developing the Porsche since Petit Le Mans. We will be heading to Daytona next month with the goal of winning the season opener. With Cooper and Leh running together again and with Aussie V8 driver Shane Van Gisbergen joining them for the 24 we have a lot of experience and speed behind the wheel of the WeatherTech Racing Porsche. The competition level gets tougher every year and we are looking forward to another season of tight racing in the GTD class.”
The TUDOR United SportsCar Championship series will return to the track for the traditional Roar Before the 24 practice at Daytona International Speedway January 9-11, 2015 in preparation for the Rolex 24 At Daytona, January 22-25.
The TUDOR United SportsCar Championship GTD (GT Daytona) Class is made up of some the world’s most sophisticated cars, including the Porsche 911 GT America, Ferrari 458, Aston Martin, BMW Z4, Viper SRT and Audi R8. All GTD Class cars run on the spec Continental tire.
Alex Job Racing is one of the most successful teams in sports car racing with 70 wins (since 1995); including two Rolex 24 GT Class wins in 1999 and 2013. This record is supported by 48 pole positions and 106 podium finishes. The team has won five championships (GTC 2013, 2012, GT in 2004, 2003 and 2002) complimented by their two GT class wins at Le Mans. The team also boasts nine Sebring 12-hour wins.
The Alex Job Racing media guide can be viewed at alexjobracing.com. For additional information please contact Kyle Chua, kyle@kcapr.com or (248) 821-0468.
WeatherTech: WeatherTech, headquartered in Bolingbrook, Illinois, has long been recognized by the discerning automotive enthusiast as a supplier of accessories of unparalleled quality. In addition to the WeatherTech brand, the company supplies products to many automobile manufacturers (OEM) as an original equipment supplier. In fact, WeatherTech currently supplies accessories to all four German manufacturers of luxury automobiles as well as a host of other automobile manufacturers worldwide! More information can be viewed at www.weathertech.com.
For more information about AJR, visit www.alexjobracing.com, or visit our fan page on Facebook by searching WeatherTech Racing.
Further inquiries, please contact Kyle Chura at kyle@kcapr.com or (248) 821-0468.
{fcomment}
Discussion about this post