Cosmo Takes Two Top Tens to Close Out KONI 2008

(Alton, VA) 8 October 08—Guy Cosmo was in high demand this weekend as he was called to duty to race in both segments of the Bosch Engineering Twin Six-Hours at Virginia International Raceway to close out the 2008 Grand-Am KONI Challenge season.

Teaming with Andrew Carbonell in the Next-Generation Motorsports BMW 330i, Cosmo brought home a tenth place finish in the ST class race on Saturday after 146 tours of the 3.27-mile natural terrain road circuit. The result was compromised, particularly on the tracks two long straights, as the race wore on and revealed that the motor was well on its way to the powerplants own final laps and wasn’t delivering full power. But the BMW still made it to the checkered flag after Cosmo and Carbonell hustled the car through the corners to make up as much as possible for the lack of straight line speed.

Sunday’s final GS race of the year witnessed Cosmo rejoin Daytona Beach-based BGB Motorsports to share a Porsche 911 with Mike Piera as the team posted a two-car entry. The race sported championship implications, as the sister No. 83 of Jon Miller, Craig Stanton, and John Tecce was looking to deliver a KONI driver championship for Stanton.

At the start of the six-hour enduro, Cosmo and Stanton ran in lock step, setting a fast pace and working to create a gap to the championship contenders.

“That was some of the most intense running I’ve done in a long time, with Craig and I chasing the leaders for nearly that entire stint,” said Cosmo. “Craig had a chance to take the championship right until the final laps and the team was obviously doing everything possible to put him in position to do that. Unfortunately that meant that our final pit stop was delayed a bit and I got back out on track pretty deep in the pack, but I was able to make up a few spots and finish in seventh.”

After a 2008 season that saw Cosmo busy with coaching, Daytona Prototype competition, and KONI Challenge events, he was happy to close out the year with a solid weekend of racing.

“It was great to be back with the BGB guys again this weekend,” said Cosmo. “It’s been a few years, and I was really impressed with how the team has raised their game since the last time I raced with them. The organization that the team showed, and the preparation of the equipment was all top-notch. It was a really great car. It was too bad the championship didn’t go Craig’s way, but it was still a good way to end off the year, running a strong car to the finish at VIR.”


For additional information, please visit: www.guycosmo.com
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Contact: Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com
317.908.2975 (m)

Cosmo Pumped up About Double-Duty Close Out to 2008

Next-Gen Racing on Saturday, With BGB Calling Cosmo to duty on Sunday
 
(Alton, VA) 2 October 08—Racers love nothing more than seat time, the chance to brag, and then more seat time. And this weekend, Guy Cosmo will barely have time enough to brag as he has been called into action for both feature races in this weekend’s Grand-Am KONI Challenge season-ending Bosch Engineering Twin 6 Hours at Virginia International Raceway.
 
After racing in both team entries during the Grand Prix de Trois Rivieres, Guy Cosmo has been tapped once again by Next Generation Motorsports to share the controls of the BMW 330i with young up and coming racer Andrew Carbonell, who scored his maiden KONI Challenge pole two rounds ago at New Jersey Motorsports Park. The ST–class entry is one of 45 cars slated to race on Saturday, with a green flag set for 2:00 PM.
 
Next Generation Motorsports, previously Fountain Motorsports, will once again be sporting two entries for the six-hour enduro with Hawk Brakes, Rogue Engineering, and Marren Fuel Induction supporting the effort.
 
“This weekend is going to be a blast,” said Cosmo. “Two six-hour races-who could ask for more? I’m excited to be in the Next Gen car with Andrew, I think he’s going to be a really strong teammate and I know he’s raced well at VIR before. Hopefully we can just get into a good race pace and be there at the end for a strong finish. I really want to help Jeffery Bock (team owner) show what this team is capable of, and I’m glad he’s giving me the chance to do that on a track that’s just so much fun to race on.”
 
But even after 6 hours of ST-class racing on Saturday, the weekend will be far from over for Cosmo, as he is also slated to compete in Sunday’s GS-class edition of the Bosch Engineering weekend with BGB Motorsports in a Porsche 911.
 
Cosmo has long-standing ties to the team, having brought them their first-ever KONI Challenge race win in 2003 at Mt. Tremblant before going on to back that up with another KONI race victory the very next round at VIR.
 
“It’s like a reunion that’s five years in the making!” joked Cosmo. “I’ll be in the orange 911, so everyone will be able to see us coming. I haven’t raced with BGB for a couple of years, so it’s going to be fun to be back with those guys. I think that car will be good on the long runs here for the six hour, and hopefully I’ll be going for my second podium of the weekend!”
 
A promoter test day will open the weekend on Thursday, with Friday hosting a full day of practice. Saturday’s race will go green at 2:00 PM, with Sunday’s race starting with an 11:00 AM green flag. 

 
Contact: Matt Cleary
Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com   
317.908.2975 (m)

Spirit of Daytona Racing Ready For Montreal Debut

Porsche V8-Coyote heads north after posting great performance in the South

MONTREAL, Que 29 July – Porsche has always been known for sporting international appeal, attracting envious glances and attention across the globe. Spirit of Daytona Racing will embody that wide range this week, as the team puts an impressive run in Alabama’s high heat last weekend in the rear view mirror and heads North to cosmopolitan Montreal for round ten of the 2008 Rolex Sports Car Series season.
 
The Porsche V8-Coyote combination was stout in the South, sporting the best qualifying performance for the package to date with fifth on the grid. That helped the team show even more strength in the race, running in the lead pack all day long only to be knocked off the track and out of contention by contact from a fellow Daytona Prototype in the waning laps of the race.
 
Despite that setback, the team was enthusiastic about the weekend performance, and will look to continue that progress again this weekend with drivers Guy Cosmo of Florida, and Quebec’s Marc-Antoine Camirand, who hails from just over an hour away from the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.
 
“We’re excited to be taking this V8 Porsche-Coyote up to Montreal with Marc Antoine Camirand and Guy Cosmo,” said team owner Troy Flis. “We’ve had some really strong runs in the last few races, and people are paying a lot of attention because we continue to make strides with this car. Of course, this is our first race for Spirit of Daytona in Montreal, but Marc and Guy both know this track, and I’m pretty sure that Marc has a big fan club up there so I think we’re going to have some fun. Hopefully we can find the right balance and let this V8 Porsche stretch its legs a little bit and also be quick in the mid-speed corners as well. ”
 
With wins on the track in both formula car competition and touring cars on his way to a Canadian championship, Camirand has lots of laps and plenty of speed on the island-based track. The Quebecer is excited to run with the fastest combination yet in his career on the circuit with the Porsche V8-Coyote.

"This circuit is a big deal, and it's very emotional on me, with Formula 1 and the Grand Prix." Camirand said. "The circuit has a lot of background, so it's always good to race down there. You have to be on the curb to go fast here," he explained. "That's the key to Montreal. The circuit is pretty flat and not that difficult, so you need to get down in the corner, make the apex and be aggressive. I like the circuit. The crowd will be awesome, and I'm looking forward to it.”
 
Cosmo, who will likely watch qualifying during the Canadian round after handing that duty admirably in Alabama with a run to fifth, is anxious to get back to the track, as he loves the track, the crowds, and the people that come with this event.

"The first and only time I raced in Montreal was in 2001, in the Toyota Atlantic Series, and it remains one of the greatest memories of my life.  The city is incredible, the race track exciting and challenging, and the fans are so enthusiastic - saying I'm excited about this race weekend is an understatement.  Having Marc-Antoine (Camirand) as my teammate this year has been great, as we started our racing careers in go-karts racing against each other years ago.  Marc-Antoine should clearly be the crowd-favorite as a native Quebecer, and we plan to let the fans cheer for their local talent and get both Marc, myself and the Spirit of Daytona team on the podium this weekend."
 
The race weekend is part of the NASCAR Nationwide Series visit to Montreal, with the first practice session slated for a 12:30 PM start on Thursday, with the grid being set at 1:15 PM on Friday before a 4:15 PM ET race start, which will be broadcast on SPEED starting at 8:00 PM on Friday.
 
For more information: www.spiritofdaytona.com

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Guy Cosmo’s extensive background with open-wheel formula cars and sports prototypes has earned him a reputation as one of the most successful and versatile young racing drivers in North America. The 2005 American Le Mans Series Rookie of the Year ranks among the top-level road racers in the world. He has earned overall racing titles and major successes in many disciplines including karting, Formula Ford, Formula 2000, Star Mazda, Toyota Atlantic, Grand American and American Le Mans. You can learn more about Guy Cosmo at www.guycosmo.com.

The Grand American Road Racing Association, which operates and sanctions the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 and the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series, is the premier road racing organization in North America. The 15-race 2008 Rolex Series and the 11-race KONI Challenge Series calendars deliver professional sports car racing to key markets throughout North America in addition to being televised in the United States and Canada on SPEED and distributed globally through ESPN International. Learn more about Grand-Am at www.grand-am.com.