There are still decisions to be made at Starworks Motorsport with regard to its 2014 racing programs, however Alex Popow is confirmed as the first of its drivers for the two-day test at Daytona International Speedway, 19-20 November.
The 52nd anniversary ‘Rolex 24 At Daytona’ (23-26 January 2014) will be the first race for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, the newly unified organization between the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and the American Le Mans Series. Starworks Motorsport plans to run its two LMPC cars, and possibly a 2014 specification Daytona Prototype, at the forthcoming test session next week. But time is not on the Fort Lauderdale squad’s side.
Peter Baron, Team Owner comments, “2014 is starting off as one of my most emotionally draining years in racing; I have never experienced anything like this. Alex [Popow] and I badly want to participate in the new P class, but we are a week away from the first official test for the new TUSCC and there are only a few of the planned rules out for the updates to the Daytona Prototype. It's so hard to land sponsors and funding when we do not know what we are racing and the related costs. And now the series has implemented a November 22nd entry deadline. We, and the entire racing community, were expecting 2014 spec DP’s to be testing at Sebring and Daytona this month to prove that the DP can race against a LMP2 car, but that will not happen due to late rules and availability of the new developed parts. Because of this we are having to look at other options, including programs with a LMP2 car and racing in the ELMS and 24 Hours of Le Mans.”
Alex Popow, from Lecheria in Venezuala, joined Starworks Motorsport in 2011 and has played an integral role in the team’s success. Crowned LMP2 Champions in the inaugural World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2012, Alex also won the ‘Jim Trueman’ Pro-Am Award by a considerable margin following the #2 Starworks car's incredible GRAND-AM Rolex Series season. With victories at the 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Le Mans and the first Rolex Series race at Indianapolis, the Fort Lauderdale based squad also won the 2012 GRAND-AM North American Endurance Championship. Alex was also crowned LMPC Champion in the American Le Mans Series to conclude a stellar year.
Alex Popow adds, "I'm very excited about going to Daytona with Starworks to test the LMPC car after being out of a race car for a month. As a team we are currently trying to decide which class to enter for the 2014 championship, but this will ultimately depend on the final rules.”
Alex is determined to continue his relationship with Starworks Motorsport after taking the 2013 Rolex Series title fight down to the wire at Lime Rock Park in September.
Peter Baron concludes; “Alex has shown, since arriving on the US racing scene, that he is one of the top Venezuelan and Latino drivers worthy of sponsorship. We have landed some deals, but we are not there yet. But the good news is we have the back-up plan of the PC car for Alex. We have three of them under our roof right now and solid plans to participate in the PC class. We know we can contest for wins and a championship in any class we compete in. We have to have all of our plans in order by next Friday or we will be forced to run only our PC cars next year. But Alex and I still want to race for the overall win in a DP too, but we need the parts to do that!"
Parties and drivers interested in talking to Starworks Motorsport about 2014 opportunities should contact Peter Baron on peter@starworksmotorsport.com.
