Grahovec, Clunie Take Fast Track Racing/Classic BMW BMW M4 GT4 to Second Friday in Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 |
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Topics: Alan Jay Automotive Network 120, Toby Grahovec, Jayson Clunie
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Tom Blattler
Fast Track Racing
16 March 2018
For Immediate Release
Grahovec/Clunie Come from 15th to Podium in CSCC Two-Hour Race at Sebring
SEBRING, Florida (March 16, 2018) – Veterans Toby Grahovec and Jayson Clunie put in spectacular drive Friday with their No. 26 Fast Track Racing sponsored by CLASSIC BMW BMW M4 GT4 sports car to finished second in the Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 (2-hour race) at the famed Sebring International Raceway, part of the legendary Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring endurance weekend.
Starting 15th in the 37-car field, Clunie, the former open-wheel racer from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada, drove the No. 26 BMW M4 GT4 from the 15th starting position and battled towards the top-ten at the midway portion of the two-hour contest at the historic, 3.74-mile road course. Jayson then pitted for the driver change with Grahovec and the Fast Track Racing team made a superb strategic move.
With the a full-course caution, Grahovec took over the driving chores and came out of the pit lane in sixth spot. The former Touring Car series champion drove a stellar stint to move to second in the field. Unfortunately, lapped traffic hindered Toby’s challenge for the lead. Nate Stacy and Kyle Marcelli took a 7.65-second win over the Grahovec/Clunie combination in the 47-lap contest.
“Jayson made an awesome start with our BMW M4 GT4 today,” said Grahovec, whose team scored fourth at Daytona in January. “The team had a great strategy with the pit stop and the yellow flag coming at the same time. The car felt great throughout my stint, but I just couldn’t get to the leader at end. It feels great to get fourth at Daytona and second at Sebring in the new M4 GT4. Plus, we got second last weekend at St. Pete as well (in the GTSA class).”
The Fast Track Racing/Classic BMW team car with Mike Vess and Jason Hart had a tough weekend at Sebring after posting second quickest time in practice. The crew finished repairs on the No. 72 Vess Energy Group BMW M4 GT4 after a Thursday incident. Unfortunately, Vess and Hart completed just 20 laps after some issues in the race.
“This race was my first time in the new Classic BMW BMW M4 GT4 and it is a tremendous car,” said Clunie. “I have raced single-seaters at Sebring in the past, but this was my initial experience in a sports car here. Overall, it was a great weekend for Toby and myself. I got a good start and had a little contact on the first few laps. But I settled in and ran well. Toby jumped in the car and drove a strong run to the finish. I think he got held up in traffic or we might have had a shot to get to the leaders. But it was great to finish on the podium today.”
The Fast Track Racing/Classic BMW squad now moves to Circuit of the Americas (COTA) next week for the Pirelli World Challenge weekend when Fast Track Racing will field eight BMWs – four in the GTSA class and four in the Touring Car division.
Classic BMW in Plano, Tex., heads up the BMW customer racing program in North America, with customer-built cars and has already captured the 2016 Touring Car driver’s title with Grahovec and the BMW M235iR car. The BMW M235iR racing sedan also won the Touring Car manufacturer’s championship in 2017.
In addition, CLASSIC BMW of Plano Texas is the leading BMW purchaser of Continental tires in one location in the U.S.