With a successful Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway last week, our friends at EFFORT Racing have formally announced their three-car and driver lineup for the 2013 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge season. Having achieved four race wins, two pole positions, seven podium finishes, and finishing third overall in points during the 2012 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge season, EFFORT Racing has been consistently performing at the top of the field.
For the 2013 season, the Angleton, TX based EFFORT Racing team brings back Michael Mills who any regular readers know as our resident hot shoe. New to the EFFORT Racing team for 2013 but not to the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge is Sloan Urry who enters his second season. Also joining EFFORT Racing for the 2013 season is 21 year-old Ashley Freiberg who will be entering her rookie season in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge after a successful start in open wheel racing.
Michael Mills will be running in a new 2013 Platinum class Porsche GT3 Cup car and retains the familiar No. 41. “I’m very excited about this EFFORT Racing’s 2013 GT3 Cup Challenge program,” said Michael Mills, who has multiple GT3 Cup Challenge wins and podium finishes under his belt in both the Platinum and Gold classes. “Turning 40 this year, I’m honored EFFORT has given me the opportunity to be a part of the foundation of these young talents with very bright futures.” As an EFFORT veteran, Mills has emphasized the importance of a junior driver development program, and is excited to be racing alongside with Sloan Urry as a teammate this year, as well as developing the driving talents of Ashley Freiberg in her rookie season.
Sloan Urry returns to the GT3 Cup Challenge for his second season in the No. 20 2011 Platinum Porsche 911 GT3 Cup which he made podium with at Road America and Virginia International Raceway in the 2012 season. “EFFORT Racing is an exciting, fresh and aspiring racing team that is very focused on developing their team into a world class organization,” said Urry, “and I’m pumped to be a part of it. EFFORT has given me a great opportunity for the upcoming season, and I plan to take full advantage of it. The number one goal is to get the Team Championship, and if we work together, all three of us should have a shot at the Driver’s Championship. I can’t wait to get after it!”
Open wheel racer, Ashley Freiberg makes her GT3 Cup Challenge debut in the series for 2013 in the No. 51 2012 Platinum Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, which is the same car Michael Mills used during his successful 2012 season. Well established in open wheel racing, winning multiple national championships and races, she hopes to make a good impression in her debut in the sports car world. “EFFORT Racing has given me so much support from day one; I really can’t thank them enough for giving me this incredible opportunity,” said Freiberg. “The entire team is very focused on the same goals, and to be honest, I think we are going to be a force to be reckoned with this year.” In the first of six test sessions at the Sebring Winter Test, Ashley set the fast lap of the 21 car field with a time of 2’08.308, which remained the fast lap for three of the six sessions.
EFFORT Racing team principal Chuck Toups and the entire EFFORT Racing team look forward to the 2013 season and beyond with the lineup of new drivers. “It’s a very exciting opportunity for me to have the ability to work with a team of drivers of that caliber,” said Team Manager and Engineer, Hunter Wright. “To have three drivers under our tent that have the ability to podium is the goal for EFFORT Racing. The team that has been assembled is going to make for a season worth watching.’
EFFORT Racing’s IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge season kicks off with Rounds 1 and 2 of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama at Sebring International Raceway on March 14th and 15th ahead of the American Le Mans Series 12 Hours of Sebring.
To find out more information on the team and drivers, please visit:
EFFORT Racing http://effortracing.com/
IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge http://imsachallenge.com/
Ashley Freiberg www.AshleyRacing.com
Sloan Urry www.SloanUrryRacing.com
