In the first of a series of announcements regarding Muscle Milk Pickett Racing’s 2014 plans, the team is confirming its commitment to the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and IMSA with a full-time entry into the PC class.
It will mark the second time that Pickett Racing fields a PC car after doing a partial season, alongside its Championship winning P1 entry, in the American Le Mans Series at the beginning of 2012.
After many successful seasons in the American Le Mans Series in which it took home 21 wins, 39 podium finishes in 46 races and won back to back P1 Championships, Pickett Racing is thrilled to be taking on a new challenge in the TUDOR Championship, after having to bid farewell to its P1 car.
“With the changes in sportscar racing, we knew we would be going in a somewhat different direction for this coming season, so we studied many different options for 2014, including other racing series, but at the end of the day, our heart is in sportscar racing and we couldn’t be more pleased to be a part of the TUDOR Championship,” team owner Greg Pickett said.
“Entering a PC car made a lot of sense to us on many different levels, we know this car and we’ve had success with it in the past and we’re looking forward to more of that. It will once again be a very competitive season in the PC ranks and we’re happy to be able to be a part of it.
“This gives us a chance to get an up close and personal look at some up and coming talent. These are big, powerful, fun to drive cars and they require the kind of engineering set-up support and race strategy we have shown to be so successful with over the last couple of years in P1.
“I think the growing popularity of this class is because it has the right ‘fun to cost ratio’. Also, the continuing pro/am format is critical to its ongoing success. PC in the US is kind of the equivalent to P2 in Europe. Pairing up drivers with somewhat less experience with experienced professional ones has proven hugely successful overseas and I’m sure this format will continue to be very successful here as well.
“This is only one piece of the puzzle that has fallen into place for us. All I can say is that we’re very excited about the future at Muscle Milk Pickett Racing,” concluded Pickett.
With the start of the season less than three months away, the team’s preparation for 2014 is well underway. Pickett Racing will be making its first outing with its ORECA FLM09 as a TUDOR Championship team this coming weekend at the IMSA test at Sebring International Raceway November 16 – 17.
Muscle Milk Pickett Racing will have more news regarding its 2014 plans in the coming weeks, including its driver lineup.