Diaz Joins 8Star for PC Sprint Races

Photo: John Dagys

8Star Motorsports will bolster its Prototype Challenge championship attack with a former ALMS champion being added for the majority of the remaining rounds.

Sportscar365 has confirmed that Luis Diaz will join the Florida-based squad for six of the remaining eight races, beginning with next month’s Continental Tire Sports Car Festival at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on May 3-4.

The Mexican driving ace, who made select starts in PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports’ Oreca FLM09 last year, will team up with 19-year-old rising star Sean Rayhall for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship sprint races.

In addition to Monterey, the duo will be behind the wheel of the No. 25 entry for the events at Kansas, Indianapolis, Road America, Virginia International Raceway and Circuit of The Americas.

“I want to thank Enzo Potolicchio and 8Star for giving me this opportunity to join them during the the 2014 sprint races,” Diaz told Sportscar365. “They are without a doubt one of the top sports car teams out there and I have no doubt that me and Sean will be fighting for wins everywhere we go.

“I’m also very proud to carry the Takis colors as my sponsor, they are a leading Mexican brand that will be very important for the team and for the series in the future.

“Last year I won the Laguna PC race, so coming back there for my first event of 2014 gives me a lot of confidence. Since I’m only running a partial schedule, my goal will be to fight for the victory everywhere we go, and help the team score as many points as possible.”

Tom Kimber-Smith, Michael Marsal and Eric Lux, meanwhile, will contest the two remaining Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup rounds for the team at Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta.

Diaz rejoins the Enzo Potolicchio-owned squad after making one previous DP start with 8Star at Watkins Glen last year.

He is no stranger to success in the sports car racing world, having won the 2009 ALMS P2 title with Adrian Fernandez and having been a regular contender in ALMS and GRAND-AM competition for the last decade.

The team currently sits second in the PC championship standings, following a runner-up finish in the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John