Grand-Am team to skip Rolex 24
GSR, in partnership with Dyson Racing, had entered a Lola"Ford Daytona Prototype in the 2010 season finale race at the Utah 250 with Le Mans overall Champion, Davy Jones and Pro"Am driver, John McCutchen, at the controls. GSR had hoped to enter the Rolex 24 but could not raise the necessary funding in time to contest the Florida enduro.
“The Dyson guys helped us advance our ball considerably at the recent Homestead test, but we are still assembling all the pieces it takes to be on leader board," John McCutchen said. “Both Rob Dyson and Davy Jones have won the Rolex 24 multiple times. They reminded us it takes more than just the will to win to compete at Daytona."
Godstone founder Karen Garrett added, “At the end of the day, we exist to raise money and awareness for our target charities. The Rolex 24 takes a big bite out of our hard"won budget. We were very close to having a Sprint Cup star fill the fourth seat, but could not work out a release from his team," said Garrett. “Absent some other compelling made"for"TV story that would break through the clutter, the Heart Car really needed to be a factor in the race or the ultimate financial benefit for the Texas Heart Institute would never be realized. The team decided we were still a bridge"to"far from being in the lead pack at Daytona this year."
“We have never gone to Daytona with the intention of just making up the numbers," said Dyson Racing Vice President Chris Dyson. “We are disappointed to skip the Rolex 24, but if we can’t do it right, then there’s simply no reason to run around burning up the earth’s natural resources. Every top team that expects to compete for the win at the 24 begins assembling the substantial amount of parts and spares during the off"season. Many of those parts need to be run in at the
4099 McEwen, Suite 400 Dallas, Texas 75244
Roar," Dyson explained. “On a practical level, that takes early commitment from the underwriting sponsors, which was a luxury Godstone did not have. The Roar comes a week earlier this year, and time simply ran out. This is the right call."
Godstone Ranch/Dyson Racing is expected to take the grid in additional sprint races in important markets throughout the 2011 season. The ultimate goal is to build the program towards a full season of competition in 2012.