Automatic Confirms Two-Car Aston GT4 Effort for Daytona

Automatic Racing will return to a two-car team for this month’s season-opening IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge round at Daytona International Speedway where the trio of Jim Jonsin, Tom Long and Brett Sandberg will co-drive the No. 9 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 alongside Automatic Racing’s longtime lineup of Rob Ecklin and Ramin Abdolvahabi in the No. 09 Stoner Car Care entry.

“We are super happy to have Jim Jonsin with Rebel Rock join us for the Daytona opener,” said team owner David Russell.

“Jim and I have been talking about putting something together and I have always had a lot of respect for what he’s been able to do in the past. He’s a super entrepreneur and understands how to properly assemble business-to-business platforms in the motorsports paddock.”

The No. 9 Aston Martin will be the on-track centerpiece of a soon-to-be-announced promotion for a Jonsin-produced upcoming album on the Rebel Rock/EMPIRE label.

Jonsin is an accomplished and Grammy Award winning record producer, songwriter, DJ and music industry businessman who added motorsports a decade ago to his successful Rebel Rock lineup of enterprises that includes Rebel Rock Entertainment and Rebel Rock Productions.

Russell is a long-time IMSA competitor as both a team owner and driver.

Under his leadership, Automatic won what was then the GS class championship in 2007 and finished third in 2008.

Long and Sandberg have been among Russell’s drivers over the years and, along with Ecklin and Abdolvahabi, return to a familiar team at Daytona.

“We are equally excited to have my good friends Tom Long and Brett Sandberg join Jim as co-drivers and coaches,” Russell said.

“It is also fantastic to have Rob and Ramin back this year between Michelin Pilot Challenge and the new VP Racing SportsCar Challenge series. I am fortunate enough to have Rob drive with us for 12 years now and Ramin for seven years.”