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CB Motorsports Steps Up to GS With Mercedes-AMG GT4

Hyundai TCR team to make GS class debut in Mercedes-AMG GT4 this weekend at Road America…

Image: CB Motorsports

CB Motorsports will step up to GS class competition in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge with a Mercedes-AMG GT4 beginning with this weekend’s race at Road America.

After running a Hyundai Veloster N in TCR since the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway, the team recently leased a Mercedes for its move to the series’ premier category, to be driven by team regulars Mark Kvamme and Trenton Estep.

“Our clients wanted to make the jump to GS, so we leased the new Mercedes,” said team owner Chad Bacon.

“It’s a big jump and a lot of work ahead, but we got a lot accomplished in our limited amount of time with the car. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough time to take it to a track, so Road America will be the test.”

Bacon is excited to head back to a track that he has plenty of experience at.

“I drove my first IMSA race at Road America in 1986, so I’ve got a lot of experience there,” Bacon said. “Road America is a great track, and we look forward to going back.”

Based in a new 9,000-square foot shop in Mooresville, N.C., CB returned to IMSA after competing in the SRO TC America ranks.

Following in the footsteps of his father, four-time Rolex 24 At Daytona GTU class winner Dr. Al Bacon, Chad Bacon began his racing career in the late 1980s driving his father’s Mazda MX-6 in GTU.

His career highlights include finishing second in the SCCA National Championship Runoffs in GT3 in both 2015 and 2019. He’s now overseeing the career of his son Caleb, who turned 16 a few days before hitting the high banks of Daytona for the 2021 IMSA opener.

While the team will concentrate on the new Mercedes for Road America, Bacon hopes to field cars in both classes for the final three races of the season, beginning at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sept. 11.

“We had our struggles with some reliability issues, but now we have the Hyundai pretty much figured out,” Chad Bacon said.

“We’ve been in the top three, speed-wise, every weekend, only to have parts failures take us out.

“Now I think we’re in a pretty good spot with the TCR car, we have been in negotiations with a driver to join my son Caleb for the final three races of the season. I hope to make the announcement next week”

De Quesada Joins Automatic Racing for Road America

Michael de Quesada will join Automatic Racing as the No. 99 Invisible Glass-sponsored Aston Martin Vantage GT4 makes its season debut.

The 2016 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA Gold class champion will make his series debut after starting his IMSA campaign in Alegra Motorsports’ Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, which has not taken part in the last two GT Daytona races due to sponsorship issues.

Team veteran Ramin Abdolvahabi will drive alongside the 21-year-old this weekend.

“The Aston Martin program with Stoner Car Care and Automatic Racing was the perfect opportunity,” said de Quesada.

“I’ve known those guys for a while, we shared a tent back in 2016. It’s a good chance to keep racing and stay fresh, so that I’m on top of my game for the next WeatherTech race.”

Automatic team manager David Russell said he’s looking forward to working with de Quesada, given the team’s longstanding relationship with both he and his father, Carlos, a former racer and the current team principal with Alegra Motorsports.

In their early days in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA, the de Quesadas, based in Tampa, Fla., shared transportation with the Automatic team.

“We’ve known the de Quesadas for some time,” said Russell. “We even helped them with transportation and shared an awning a few years ago, so there’s a built-in trust factor there.

“Michael was available so it made sense and it was easy to put together.”

A total of 37 cars are on the entry list for Saturday’s two-hour race, which marks the seventh round of the season.

The latest news, photos and video features from the trusted Sportscar365 web staff.

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