Connect with us

GT World Challenge America

Dalziel Joins EFFORT Racing for Mid-Ohio

Ryan Dalziel lands EFFORT Racing drive for Mid-Ohio…

Photo: John Dagys

Photo: John Dagys

Hot on the heels of its maiden overall win in Pirelli World Challenge, EFFORT Racing will welcome yet another sports car racing star to its lineup, beginning next weekend at Mid-Ohio.

Sportscar365 has learned that Ryan Dalziel will pilot the team’s GT class Porsche 911 GT3 R in the doubleheader round, with an eye towards completing the remainder of the season.

Dalziel, who is coming off a pole-winning run in last week’s Brickyard Grand Prix with Extreme Speed Motorsports, jumps into the seat of EFFORT’s No. 31 entry, which was piloted to victory at Toronto by Porsche factory driver Nick Tandy.

Tim Bergmeister previously drove the car in the opening rounds this season. EFFORT’s GT-A class No. 41 Porsche, meanwhile, will continue to be driven by Michael Mills.

“It’s a great opportunity for me and I’m very grateful to EFFORT for giving me this opportunity,” Dalziel told Sportscar365.

“The introduction was actually made last year from my Starworks engineer, Stefan Pfeiffer, who also engineers for EFFORT.

“We kept in communication and when asked if I would be available for Mid-Ohio shortly after their Toronto race, I jumped at the deal.”

The 32-year-old Florida-based Scot is no stranger to PWC competition or Porsche machinery, having driven a TrueSpeed Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car at the St. Pete round in 2013, which he provisionally won.

Dalziel had been searching for a way back to the series since TruSpeed’s withdrawal from the series last year.

“I think every sports car driver loves the idea of being back in a sprint race, one driver format,” Dalziel said. “Throw in some really cool GT3 machinery, standing starts and great venues, what’s not to love about that?

“I feel like my driving style has always suited the 911, so I’m really looking forward to getting out there, especially after seeing EFFORT’s pace in Toronto.”

As for the rest of the year, Dalziel is hopeful to complete the season in EFFORT’s Porsche. None of the remaining PWC rounds clash with his Prototype class commitments with ESM in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

“For now it’s left open and we want to get through Mid Ohio,” he said. “It came together very late so we haven’t really focused on the final races but I’d love to be part of the team if they allow me. We just need to win Mid Ohio first!”

Dalziel joins an expected 23-car GT entry between the GT/GTA cars for the Mid-Ohio round, which should also see the debut of RealTime Racing’s Acura TLX-GT and the return of KPAX Racing’s second McLaren MP4-12C GT3 for Alex Figge.

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

4 Comments
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

More in GT World Challenge America