Team Drivers Dr. Jim Norman, Craig Stanton, Norbert Siedler and Timo Bernhard Make It to the End in a Fast but Frustrating Race
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 30, 2014) – The No. 71 Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT America team, and its team of all-star and title-winning drivers Dr. Jim Norman, Craig Stanton, Porsche Supercup standout Norbert Siedler and factory LMP1 Porsche driver Timo Bernhard, performed like the champions they are in the face of a problem-plagued and frustrating Rolex 24 At Daytona this past weekend.
Despite a competitive performance all weekend, particularly in the early stages of the race, the No. 71 Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT America team wasn’t able to escape the myriad of typical endurance racing pitfalls at Daytona. After minor issues slowed the team during the seventh hour, the drivers of the No. 71 Porsche settled into a steady pace as they waited for the race to unfold.
“The biggest thing I will remember about this race is that we never gave up,” Norman said. “We had multiple problems, multiple adversities, multiple opportunities to quit, and we would have been justified in quitting because things were hard. But we didn’t quit, we kept working, everybody worked harder.”
Just past the halfway point, a problem with the cooling system forced the team to thegarage to replace the right radiator. A detailed and precision repair due to the placement of the radiator in relation to the front splitter, the team lost valuable time as the crew worked diligently to switch out the part. The delay knocked the No. 71 from contention for the Rolex 24 win but the team quickly focused on season-long championship point standings.
“In the end, we finished the race,” Norman said. “We didn’t win first place, but we won first place in our hearts, first place with our friends and we know we gave our best. We became much stronger people and a much stronger team because of this.”
Stanton, Norman’s full-season co-driver, mirrored his teammate’s perspective in the team-bonding benefits that will be realized by Park Place Motorsports after Daytona, as well as the overall enthusiasm for the upcoming year.
“I’m really grateful to be here with Park Place Motorsports in the No. 71 car, which is an amazing group of guys,” Stanton said. “It’s one of those things – it’s a brand new car, it’s a brand new team, and there is a lot of development going on. As the day progressed throughout the race, we got better and better in terms of pit stops, understanding what the car needs, and then, as drivers we all really came together as an amazing team. I saw both the No. 71 and No. 73 Park Place Motorsports teams really gel together, as well. I’m really excited going into Sebring, it’s our next event, and we have high hopes.”
Both Park Place Motorsports Porsches finished the Rolex 24 with the No. 71 crossing the line 23rd in the GTD division.
Next up for Park Place Motorsports and the IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship is the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, March 12 – 15.
About Park Place Motorsports
Park Place Motorsports is an extension of Dallas-based Park Place Dealerships, which represents upscale manufacturers Porsche, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Lexus, Bentley, Maserati, Lotus, Rolls-Royce, Volvo and Smart. Park Place Motorsports augments the unparalleled attention its dealerships provide by offering customers a premium level of support in relation to their motorsports activities. Services include maintenance and repair, driver and racecar support, and parts engineering and distribution. These offerings are authentically promoted by Park Place Motorsports’ flagship GT Daytona team in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.
Learn more at www.parkplacemotorsports.com
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