CRP Racing Announces New Manufacturer and Driver for 2017
Pirelli World Challenge team CRP Racing has made significant off season changes to its motorsports program, today announcing the GT racing team will return to the series for 2017 with a new manufacturer and new driver. With the continued support of longtime sponsor Carlisle Companies, CRP Racing has taken purchase of the new Mercedes-AMG GT3, to be piloted by sports car racing veteran Ryan Dalziel.
Earlier this month, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) and Mercedes-AMG announced the expansion of the customer racing program to the United States, confirming entries in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship. CRP Racing is the first Pirelli World Challenge race team to announce purchase of the naturally aspirated, 6.3-liter V8 Mercedes-AMG GT3 race car.
"Pirelli World Challenge is a significant part of the Mercedes-AMG Customer Sports Program in 2017, and we look forward to supporting a premier team like CRP Racing and a top driving talent like Ryan Dalziel," said Robert Moran, Director of Communications, Mercedes-Benz USA. "We are excited to welcome CRP Racing to the Mercedes-AMG family for 2017."
Ryan Dalziel joins the team with an extensive resume in Pirelli World Challenge, having finished third in the 2015 championship, despite missing three races due to schedule conflicts. In high demand, the Scot has spent the last two years dividing his time between full time rides in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Pirelli World Challenge and the FIA World Endurance Championship.
"We have been extremely fortunate to secure the services of a driver of Ryan Dalziel's caliber," said Team Owner Nick Short. "Put that together with the awesome new Mercedes-AMG GT3, and we believe we have a winning combination of car and driver to contend for the championship."
"I'm absolutely ecstatic about the opportunity to compete in the 2017 Pirelli World Challenge with CRP and their new Mercedes-AMG," said Dalziel. "I've always admired CRP from my time in the series, and have gotten to know Nick and the crew well. They are like a family and I'm honored to be adopted in for this new challenge. I truly appreciate their faith in me, and I know we will deliver good things next season."
Carlisle Companies, owner of Devilbiss, has been a long time sponsor of the team, and confirmed its continued support of the GT racing team for the upcoming season.
"The 2017 season represents our seventh year supporting CRP Racing in Pirelli World Challenge," said David A. Roberts, Chairman of Carlisle Companies, Scottsdale, AZ. "All of Carlisle is excited about the addition of Ryan Dalziel as our driver and the Mercedes-AMG GT3 as our car for the new season. Combined with the Team at CRP Racing, our DeVilbiss brand will be on the path to podium finishes as we challenge for both the Driver's and Manufacturer's Championships in 2017. We know the competition will be tough, but we like our odds in the coming year."
"I look forward to the 2017 season with CRP Racing, the new Mercedes-AMG GT, and Ryan Dalziel," said Dave Smith, Director of Sales, DeVilbiss Automotive Refinishing. "This is a great opportunity to share the DeVilbiss brand and world class products with our valued customers and grow our business together."
"We are thrilled to once again represent Devilbiss through the support of Carlisle Companies," said CRP Racing Team Owner Nicholas Short. "We would not have been able to put such an incredible program together for 2017 without such great support from our incredibly loyal and supportive sponsor."
Founded in 2008, CRP Racing has created a competitive racing program, earning 10 wins, 16 podiums and 33 top five finishes. The No. 2 DeVilbiss / CRP Racing Audi R8 LMS showed a strong program in 2016, with the season highlight of a double podium finish for driver Kyle Marcelli at Lime Rock Park.
"Kyle was a great asset to our team," said Short. "He's an incredible driver and brought a strong performance to every race weekend. He was a true team player and fought hard to bring us some strong finishes. We're excited to see where his career in racing will take him."
The approaching season begins March 10-12 at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in conjunction with the Verizon IndyCar Series. The eleven race weekend calendar will again visit some of motorsport's most iconic tracks including Road America, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and the temporary Long Beach Grand Prix Circuit. For more information, world-challenge.com.
Contact:
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