in Debut Race with Global Motorsport Group Audi Team
James Sofronas Gives CTF/R4R Season-Opening Pirelli World Challenge St. Petersburg Repeat in First Race Together Last WeekendThe Childrens Tumor Foundation (CTF) Racing4Research (R4R) program, and new partner Global Motorsport Group, came a home a winner in their first event together at last weekends Pirelli World Challenge Championships on the streets of St. Petersburg where James Sofronas and the No. 14 GMG/Mobil 1/Childrens Tumor Foundation Audi R8 LMS gave CTF/R4R its second season-opening race win in a row.The CTF and its unique R4R program is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by Neurofibromatosis, a common yet under-recognized genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. Neurofibromatosisknown as NFcan lead to blindness, bone abnormalities, cancer and excruciating and disabling pain.Found in one of every 3,000 children born, NF is a more common disorder than many more widely known illnesses, including cystic fibrosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The CTF/R4R program raises funds and awareness for the fight against NF through a busy and diverse racing program that is annually anchored by a Rolex 24 program and, for the second consecutive year, a season-long campaign in Pirelli World Challenge. Donations to CTF/R4R can be made directly at www.Racing4Research.org.The announcement of the year-long CTF/R4R fundraising campaign with GMG was made just days before the Pirelli World Challenge Championships doubleheader, March 2224. Last year, CTF/R4R also won at St. Petersburg not once but twice when Justin Bell swept the weekends GTS class races in the No. 50 Tiger Racing Mustang Boss 302S.This year, Sofronas, GMG and its GT-class Audi R8 LMS teams are flying the flag for CTF/R4R in the Pirelli World Challenge, and it was a checkered one in St. Petersburg. After finishing second in Saturdays opening race, Sofronas drove his No. 14 Audi to victory in Sundays closing race of the weekend.We knew our 2013 relationship with GMG was going to be a winning one and they proved it this past weekend in St. Petersburg, said Childrens Tumor Foundation Racing4Research National Program Director Jill Beck. We were fortunate to win in our very first starts in the series last year and it was fantastic to be able to do it again with James Sofronas and everyone at GMG. The team had their first meeting with our young 'NF Heroes' on Friday and James may have become a hero for them after winning during the weekend! It was a great way to start our Pirelli World Challenge season and bring awareness to this seasons fundraising campaign.Named for their unwavering courage in fighting the disorder, NF Heroes are the brave young people tackling NF head on who are nothing short of an amazing inspiration for the teams and drivers that are fortunate enough to compete in their honor. A group of 20 enthusiastic supporters, made up of NF Heroes and their families and friends, visited with the GMG team at St. Petersburg on Saturday.
The Childrens Tumor Foundation, what can I say, it was very inspirational to have those kids here, Sofronas said. They give you that extra little 20 horsepower when you see their smiles and that really means a lot. I am glad that I had an opportunity to meet them this weekend, and we will continue to work with them, support the cause, and welcome them to all of the races this year. I am really looking forward to that. We are off to a good start, the stars were aligning. We got a little luck in the second race to get the win, and maybe thats what the kids were all about, pushing us there to the front.Next up for CTF/R4R and GMG is Round Three of the Pirelli World Challenge, April 1921, on the streets of Long Beach as part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. The race will be streamed live online at www.world-challgetv.com. Find more information at www.world-challenge.com and follow on Twitter @WCRacing.Noteworthy- Sundays St. Petersburg win was incredibly the third of the still young 2013 motorsports season for CTF/R4R. In Januarys Rolex 24 At Daytona, the overall winning No. 01 TELMEX/Chip Ganassi Racing BMW Riley of Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas, Juan Pablo Montoya and Charlie Kimball also carried the CTF/R4R logo, the first time a top-level GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype team supported the cause. The winning GX class No. 16 Porsche Cayman S of Shane Lewis, David Donohue, Dr. Jim Norman and Nelson Canache Jr. also raced in support of CTF/R4R at the Rolex 24. No. 16 team entrants Napleton Racing are also Pirelli World Challenge competitors, longtime CTF/R4R supporters and first joined in the fight against NF at Rennsport Reunion IV two years ago.
About Children's Tumor Foundation/Racing4Research: Developed by the Childrens Tumor Foundation, the Racing4Research (R4R) program utilizes competitive, professional auto racing as a vehicle to increase awareness of neurofibromatosis and raise funds for research through corporate sponsorship, personal donations, and individual fundraising by NF Heroes: children and adults from around the country who live with neurofibromatosis. NF affects one in every 3,000 children, more than cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Huntingtons disease combined, and can lead to a wide variety of complications, including blindness, bone abnormalities, cancer, deafness, disfigurement, learning disabilities and excruciating and disabling pain. The Racing4Research program offers children and families living with the disorder a uniquely empowering weekend, and has raised over $2 million dollars since its inception six years ago. Donations can be made at www.racing4research.org.
