News & Notes Roundup: 1.20

Photo: GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing

***GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing tested at Sebring International Raceway with its new McLaren 650S GT3. Jon Fogarty turned laps in the team’s new GT class contender that will take part in Pirelli World Challenge for a full-season campaign.

***McLaren GT has named Alex Fontana and Struan Moore as additions to its new driver academy. They join the previously announced young driver Andrew Watson. All three drivers will work closely with factory drivers Rob Bell, Alvaro Parente and Bruno Senna. 

***K-PAX with Flying Lizard Motorsports is close to announcing its drivers for a planned three-car McLaren effort in World Challenge. Look for a McLaren GT factory driver to be among the lineup, with all three cars likely to compete in the GT class. Kevin Estre, who has become a Porsche factory driver, will not return to the team.

***Renowned designer and engineer Sergio Rinland has joined Project Brabham as technical advisor. Rinland is the first public hire to the crowdfunded-based team since the departure of team manager/technical director Piers Phillips, who has joined Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in the Verizon IndyCar Series.

***IMSA Chairman Jim France helped install the final new seats of Daytona Rising on Tuesday. The $400 million project, which has transformed the front-stretch of Daytona International Speedway, will debut in next weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

***Two-time and defending IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar champions Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi will tour the Motor City to promote the 2016 Chevrolet SportsCar Classic on the streets of Detroit’s Belle Isle Park as part of the annual Detroit Grand Prix.

***The date for the next Luftgekühlt event has been set. Hosted by Patrick Long, the event celebrating the culture of air-cooled Porsches will take place April 10 in Los Angeles.

***Tire Kingdom has rejoined Michael Shank Racing as primary sponsor of its No. 60 Ligier JS P2 Honda for the Rolex 24 at Daytona and Twelve Hours of Sebring. It marks the second consecutive year for this partnership in the two WeatherTech Championship races.

***Stephane Sarrazin is a father, with his wife having given birth to baby Lucien on Tuesday. The Frenchman is expected to return as part of Toyota Gazoo Racing’s lineup in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

***A number of iconic circuits have been covered with snow this week, including Le Mans, Spa-Francorchamps, the Nurburgring and Watkins Glen.

Tony DiZinno contributed to this report

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