Author: tanya

Frank DePew and Robin Liddell are coming off their best finish of the campaign, with Andrew Davis joining them in a fifth-place showing for the No. 71 Urban Grid Solar/MVP Capital Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R in Saturday’s four-hour Tioga Downs Casino Resort 240 at Watkins Glen International.

Now, the team faces a short turnaround for Saturday’s race at the historic 10-turn, 2.459-mile circuit in the Toronto suburbs.

“I’ve never driven Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in a race car,” said DePew, who is coming off his best opening stint of the season, at the Watkins Glen event. While he’s never raced at the circuit, he has taken a non-track prepared street car around the course on a lapping day, and he hopes that knowledge of the track will pay off this weekend.

DePew’s next experience at the circuit will be on Thursday, for promoter’s testing, which will be followed by official practice on Friday.

“I feel good, because I think I know the track well enough,” DePew said. “We have a promoter’s test day up there, and I’m learning the car better, so I think I can do pretty well.”

Liddell is pleased with the progress of his co-driver.

“My hat’s off to Frank for his job at Watkins Glen,” Liddell said. “He had a great opening stint, and he stayed out of trouble. He did a couple of restarts, which put him under pressure. He did exactly what he needed him to do. He’s got a solid first stint under his belt, and now we can move forward for the rest of the year.”

With the tight turn around, it is an extra challenge for the team but also a change to keep the momentum.

“There was a long break between races from Sebring through Mid-Ohio to Watkins Glen, and even though we’ve been busy there is no substitute for going racing in terms of learning to gel as a team. I do think we can take a lot of positives from the weekend we’ve just had however and go forward into Mosport with a better idea of the things we need to improve on. I’m excited and really looking forward to it,” said Liddell.

The CTMP 120 is set for Saturday at 1:55 p.m., following qualifying at 10 a.m. The race will be streamed live onIMSA.tv.

Additional updates via:
https://www.rebelrockracing.co
https://twitter.com/rebelrockracing
https://www.instagram.com/rebelrockracing/

The team is all set for Saturday‘s Tioga Downs Casino Resort 240, the fourth race of the 2019 season.

Andrew Davis will join Rebel Rock Racing’s full season drivers Frank DePew and Robin Liddell in the No. 71 Urban Grid Solar/MVP Capital Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R for the four-hour race, one of two endurance events this season. DePew and Liddell have shown promise but have experienced some bad racing luck in the opening rounds of the season.

“We have been hit with a little bit of bad luck so far this year, but the team has not missed a beat and we are really eager to get back to racing this weekend; I’m also looking forward to having Andrew in the lineup again,” said Depew.  “The team has worked hard to make the most of the break since Mid-Ohio, and now we’ve got two races in two weekends (Watkins Glen and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park). So hopefully all that preparation will pay off. The  Glen is such a drivers track and so I’m really looking forward to our run there this weekend.”

While DePew is set to take to the famed Finger Lakes circuit for the first time behind the wheel of a Camaro, both Liddell and Davis have winning records at The Glen. Davis was part of the Rebel Rock run to the VIR podium in 2018, and is hoping to pick up where he left off last season.

“It was a great honor last year to help Rebel Rock get the program started off, and I’m really excited to be joining them again,” Davis said. “Robin and I are great friends and we have enjoyed a lot of success as teammates. It’s a real pleasure to be back in the Camaro. The team has been working real hard and has made a lot of progress. The results haven’t shown this year so far, but the team is much more polished and working together better. I’m really looking forward to getting a solid result at Watkins Glen for Rebel Rock.”

The Liddell-Davis combination is a strong one at the Glen, as the duo teamed to win there in 2014 and 2015 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge competition, driving a Stevenson Motorsports Z28 Camaro. In addition, Liddell was a three-time winner of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, taking Grand-Am GT class victories for Tafel Racing in 2006 and with Stevenson Motorsports in 2012 and 2013.

“I’ve always loved coming up to Watkins Glen; it’s a lovely part of the world and the circuit is one of the very best around,” said Liddell. “It’s a great track to drive and has a great history and I always look forward to coming back and driving here, especially as we’ve had some good results here over the years.”

“We’ve been pretty busy since the beginning of June and had a two day test here to help us all prepare as much as possible for this weekend,” said Liddell. “With the race format and the historical success of the Camaro here, I feel as though this is our best chance so far for a good result. The car is as always very well prepared and I do think it will be fast here. The schedule is obviously very tight heading to Mosport next week so we’ve been flat out, but are ready to go for both of these races.”

The Glen event joins Daytona as the only four-hour endurance races on the Michelin Pilot Challenge schedule, with the remaining eight events at just two hours in duration.

“It’s great to have Andrew back on board again and he will add real strength to our driver line up,” said Liddell. “Our guys haven’t had a chance so far to really show what they can do in terms of pit stops but I think we will be in good shape. The only other change is that coming into these events we will now be running on the harder Michelin tire, although with the anticipated higher track temperatures and cornering loads we see here I’m sure the tire will be ideally suited to this event.”

The Tioga Downs Casino Resort 240 will take the green flag at 1:55 p.m. ET on Saturday, with GS qualifying on Friday at 1:25 p.m.

Additional updates via:

https://www.rebelrockracing.co
https://twitter.com/rebelrockracing
https://www.instagram.com/rebelrockracing/

Rebel Rock Racing drivers Robin Liddell and Frank DePew shared the driving duties in the No. 71 Urban Grid Solar/MVP Capital Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R as the two-hour race opened under tricky conditions following a weekend of rain and cold temperatures at the rural-area Ohio circuit.

Early in the race, DePew saw his run change dramatically following a quick spin while battling with another car after racing through one of the wet sections of the track that saw him mired in a gravel trap.

“I hit a wet spot coming out of the Keyhole, then it snapped right, going off into the muddiest place on the planet,” said DePew. The process to return to the track took a number of laps, but DePew had a solid run after the early off before turning the car over to Liddell.  The duo was credited with a 21st place finish in the lead Grand Sport class. Earlier Saturday, DePew had braved rainy conditions to qualify 19^th. Once back underway, DePew worked his way up to speed.

“After running 2 laps off line to try to shake the mud off the car and the tires, the call was made for me to pit early and get new tires and clean up the mud still adhered to the bottom of the car,” DePew said. “After returning to the track, the car felt really good, but we were a number of laps down at that point, so I just drove it and continued to learn the track. I’ve never raced here before, and I only had half an hour in the car before the race, so I’m reasonably happy ultimately with my driving, but I’m upset because I put us laps down due to the off.  My stint continued to become more enjoyable as I got more comfortable with the track.”

Liddell ran with the leaders late in the race, but was still several laps in arrears.

“After the last restart, I just wanted to stay out of trouble with the leaders around me and not get involved in their race,” Liddell said. “I’m disappointed with the result. I thought we had a very good car, but you can’t overlook the steep learning curve Frank’s been on. He’s never been to this track before, and he’s never driven this car in the wet before today. The track conditions were very difficult, and we’ve got a very experienced group of quick guys out there. It’s no mean feat to come into this series and be in a position to hold your own. Frank has been progressing very well, but sadly we’ve yet to have a result that reflects that effort both he and the team have been making. Now, we’ll dust ourselves off and get ready for Watkins Glen.”

The next race for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge will be the Tioga Downs Casino Resort 240, a four-hour event at Watkins Glen International on Saturday, June 29.

After an encouraging start to the 2019 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season that hasn’t yielded the results to match the effort, Rebel Rock Racing is looking forward to Saturday’s Mid-Ohio 120 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Frank DePew and Robin Liddell will co-drive the No. 71 Urban Grid Solar/MVP Capital Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R in the two-hour race, part of the 23-car entry in the lead Grand Sports class. DePew has been to Mid-Ohio as a spectator for an IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship event, but has yet to turn a lap on the 13-turn, 2.258-mile circuit.

“I’ve never raced at the track, so it will be a bit of a learning curve, but hopefully I’ll be up to the challenge,” DePew said. “I’ve got a pretty good idea of what I need to do, so hopefully I can get in there, hit my marks, and get close to where I need to be. I want to qualify as best as I can, stay on the lead lap and avoid trouble. Then, I’ll turn it over to Robin, and see what he can do.”

Liddell won two races among five podium finishes in Grand-Am Rolex Series GT competition at Mid-Ohio, but has not raced there since 2013. “I’m really looking forward to getting back to Mid-Ohio, because as strange as it may sound I’m just excited to be visiting a circuit which I haven’t seen for over five years,” said Liddell, who serves in the dual role of driver and team manager for Rebel Rock Racing. “Mid-Ohio is a fun track to drive, but only when the car is working well,” Liddell said. “I’m confident the team at Rebel Rock can give Frank and myself a good car for this event.”

Rebel Rock Racing was caught up in an early incident in the most recent event at Sebring, where the team lost 10 laps after being knocked off course by a competitor. In the season opener at Daytona, the team was taken out on the third lap and finished 35^th.

“At Sebring I started 21^st, moved up three positions and then during a pass at Turn 16 to move up another position our Camaro was hit, breaking the left front control arm and putting us out of contention, and our crew did an amazing job to get us back into the race so quickly and after the quick repair the car felt solid and was still turning good lap times.” said DePew. “I felt good about my driving at Sebring; I got up to speed and felt confident behind the wheel. I feel good about Mid-Ohio and I’m looking forward to it.”

Liddell is also optimistic returning to the circuit. “Usually the races are pretty intense at Mid-Ohio and coupled with the layout makes it an exciting event for the fans,” Liddell said. “Our goal this weekend is simply to deliver a solid finish with no mistakes, and I’m sure that if we do that we will net a strong finish. It’s been nice to have a break since Sebring to allow everyone to reset, and I know that we are all as prepared as we can be and are looking forward to hitting the track on Thursday.”

On-track activity begins on Thursday with promoter’s day testing. Official practice sessions run on Friday from 11:40-12:40 a.m. and 4:35-5:20 p.m., and Saturday from 9:20-9:35 a.m. GS qualifying will be Saturday from 10:05 a.m-10:20 a.m. The Mid-Ohio 120 is set to take the green flag for two hours of racing on Saturday at 1:45 p.m.

 

After an impressive team effort to effect repairs on the No. 71 Urban Grid Solar/MVP Capital Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R, DePew and Liddell rebounded to run competitive laps on the way to a 24th place finish in the two-hour event, Round 2 of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.

“It was a shame we had an early off," said Liddell. "We’ve done most of our winter testing at Sebring and the car felt really good this weekend. Frank had some contact with another car in Turn 16 which broke the left-front lower control arm. He sensibly drove the car back to the paddock, the boys repaired it and we were able to get back out there and finish the race, albeit 10 laps down.”

In the opening segment of the race, DePew was holding his own, picking up a couple of positions before being taken out on lap eight, resulting in a lengthy trip to the paddock. After returning to the race, Depew finished his stint before turning the car over to Liddell.

While they were able to maintain a steady pace, they were not going to be able to make up any of the lost 10 laps.

“I was following an Audi for several laps,” DePew said. “He was fast on the straightaways. Coming through Turn 15 I was right on his tail. He bobbled a little bit, so I went to the inside coming into 16, and he cut down on me and hit my front wheel with the front of his car. The resulting damage took us out for quite a few laps.

“After the incident, the car was not handling quite right,” DePew added. “Not undriveable but something felt a little awry after the team had replaced the whole left-front suspension.”

Despite the final race result, the team came away buoyed by the progress.

“We were pretty happy with how the weekend was going up to that point and the boys did a super job to get the car repaired quickly and sent back out there to finish the race,” said Liddell, who doubles in the role of team manager in addition to driving. “Everyone on this team has been working really hard and we’ve really started to gel as a group. It’s just unfortunate we got caught up in an incident.”

Coming off only his second IMSA start, DePew is looking for continued improvement in the upcoming events.

“This is a tough track, so I’m happy with the car and happy with the crew, happy with Rebel Rock Racing, Urban Grid and MVP Capital,” said the Richmond driver. “Now we’re looking forward to the next one. Mid-Ohio should be fun.”

Next up for the Michelin Pilot Challenge will be the Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on May 3-5.

 

The race is the second round of the 10-race championship, with the 2-hour sprint race being staged as part of a blockbuster Sebring event that will also include races from both the FIA World Endurance Championship as well as the feature IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 12 Hour on Saturday.

Frank DePew and Robin Liddell will co-drive the No. 71 Urban Grid Solar/MVP Capital Camaro GT4.R in the two-hour race, set to take the green flag on Friday at 12:05 p.m. (ET), with live streaming of the race available at IMSA.com.

After the team outing was cut short at Daytona, the Rebel Rock crew rebounded to prepare the Urban Grid Solar Camaro GT4.R in time for a productive test at Sebring in February.  DePew and Liddell continued to learn the nuances of the new Michelin tire on the challenging and bumpy Florida circuit whilst gaining valuable data for the engineers coming into this event.

“Our test was very positive and Frank did a great job in the car; very relaxed and smooth so we were able to make some good progress with the Camaro and really learned a lot,” said Liddell, who has the dual role of driver and Team Manager.

Heading to a track that has seen Liddell take victory behind the wheel of a Camaro before (2014+2015), Rebel Rock Racing will look to fight back to the IMSA podium in Sebring.

“Daytona was a disappointing start to the season, but we’ve worked really hard since then to get ready for this event and we think we have a really good car,” said Liddell,“On reflection we learned quite a lot at Daytona in terms of how we could approach the weekend a little differently and we know from previous experiences that the Camaro performs very well at Sebring as it is good on the brakes and rides the bumps well so we are excited about coming back here and just want to focus on enjoying the weekend. The crew have worked very hard to turn things around since Daytona and I know we are all excited just to get back to the racetrack again”.

With the Rebel Rock squad having rallied to prepare for the test, the team now has its sights set on putting on a competitive performance at Sebring.

“Our race ended a lot earlier than we wanted it to at Daytona, but it was still a very good weekend for us as a team,” said Depew. “The guys really hustled to have the car repaired in time for our test and we’ve just been building up as a group. Sebring is a tough place, with the conditions changing all the time and we will have a lot of different tire companies on track this weekend so that will make it different every time out. But the Camaro has been very good and hopefully we can show more of that in the race this weekend.”

The Sebring weekend opens with official practice beginning at 8:20 a.m. on Thursday. Additional practice sessions will be held at 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., with a 15-minute GS qualifying at 6:15 p.m. Thursday evening. The pre-race open grid and fan walk for the Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 will begin at 11:10 a.m. on Friday. The race—set to be streamed live at IMSA.com—will go green at 12:05 PM ET.

Andrew Davis and Robin Liddell were looking to reprise their VIR podium performance along with Rebel Rock co-driver Frank Depew in the No. 71 Urban Grid / MVP Capital Chevrolet Camaro GT4 machine as the 2019 IMSA season opened at Daytona International Speedway on Friday.

Unfortunately, the race ended early after DePew suffered an off-track excursion that saw him make impact with the tire barrier at a high rate of speed. The damage was significant enough that even the hard-working Rebel Rock Racing crew had to call it a day.

“I went in full throttle through the kink, and I don’t think the tires were quite up to it,” DePew said. “It was the second time by. Just a mistake on my part. It was a good impact, but I went in backwards and had a lot of support from the car.”

DePew was released following a brief visit to the infield care center.

“I’m fine,” said the Richmond driver. “Racing with IMSA is the best thing that there is, because they have a medical staff right there. They checked me out and let me go.”

Co-drivers Andrew Davis and Robin Liddell were happy to see their teammate was OK, and are now looking forward to the remainder of the season.

“I’m bitterly disappointed for the team and for Frank,” Davis said. “It’s not the way you want to start the season. I’m thankful to see that Frank is OK. It’s a testament to Pratt and Miller, I’ve always said they build safe cars, because that was a big hit.”

DePew has worked to put the right talent in the right spots as he looks to build Rebel Rock Racing, with a lot of talented crew members behind the No. 71 Urban Grid Solar/MVP Capital Camaro GT4.R.

“Everybody is so emotionally invested in this Rebel Rock team,” Davis said. “Robin Liddell and every one of the crew are putting everything out to make it work. It’s disappointing, but now we’ll work even harder for the Sebring race. We’re looking forward to seeing the car coming back and running up front.”

Liddell is with Rebel Rock in a dual role, as both driver and team manager.

“To echo Andrew’s comments, I’m obviously very glad that Frank is OK,” Liddell said. “The car can be fixed and we can have another go. It’s a disappointing start to the season as we felt we had a good car; we’ve worked very hard to be fully prepared. It’s a shame for this to happen to Frank in his debut. Hopefully, we’ll go home and see what we can do to improve, and come back even stronger.”

The next Michelin Pilot Challenge race will be a two-hour race on Friday, March 15, at Sebring International Raceway.

 

Rebel Rock Racing is set to open its return to full-time IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge competition when it races in Friday’s BMW Performance Challenge at Daytona International Speedway.

Staged on the 3.56-mile oval-based circuit, the race marks the opening round of the championship, and provides a unique challenge with a four-hour race length. While the event is the start of the season, it also marks the culmination of hundreds of hours of effort for the Rebel Rock Racing squad in preparation for the 2019 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season.It will also mark the return to IMSA competition for team owner Frank DePew, who will share the driving duties in the No. 71 Urban Grid / MVP Capital Rebel Rock Racing Camaro GT4.R with co-drivers Andrew Davis and Robin Liddell for the four-hour event. DePew has built his racing resume with outings in a wide range of categories including PCA, Radical, and vintage racing ahead of  his maiden competitive outing in the Camaro GT4.R.

“I’m excited about getting Daytona under my belt and looking forward to getting the year started,” said DePew. “I’ve made three starts in Michelin Challenge before, but this is the most preparation I’ve had—my first three races all happened last minute so this is a big improvement!”

The team has continued to develop, and has the infrastructure and equipment for a possible second entry in the future. But for DePew, the big focus is on Friday’s race.

“To be racing at this level is another step up for me as a driver, but I’ve been preparing for a long time and I’m ready to go,” said DePew. “It has taken a lot of time and work to have all the right people in place with us at Rebel Rock but I’m eager to show what the group is capable of starting here at Daytona.”

“Frank has done a great job with his pace, consistency, and progression since he first started running the car to where he is now with only a small amount of time in the seat,” said Liddell. “He’s well prepared to make this debut and it is great to see him continue to step up as a competitor.”

The Daytona round is one of two endurance races for the series that was previously known as the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge. That new name also reflects a new competitive package in 2019, as the series now features two classes of competition (GS and TCR), down from three in 2018.

Just like the series, Rebel Rock Racing will roll into Daytona with a different look, having kicked off preparations for the 2019 campaign with an impressive three-race run to close out the 2018 season carrying the Urban Grid colors.

Liddell – a Rolex 24 class winner in 2004 – is in a dual role for Rebel Rock, as team manager and driver. “We have had a few staff changes over the winter, and we have a really tight group of people now,” said Liddell. “There also have been a few regulation changes, and the new Michelin tires to get used to, develop, and test over the offseason. While we have had these changes, we have been trying to tweak and improve our processes as a team with what we have been doing. There was plenty of work over the winter, but we are well prepared. The car's performance at Roar was strong and the car will perform quite well which makes me excited.”

The field will also make the switch to Michelin Pilot tires as part of the new program, which will now be broadcast on NBCSN (February 6, 2019 1:00-3:00 PM ET) as well as streamed live via IMSA.TV.

“The tires have been a huge improvement,” said Liddell. “The drivability of the car, overall grip level, balance and handling, and the consistency of the tire over a stint all appear to be very good. The tire is one that we can be quite aggressive on and use its peak performance and not lose quality of performance from that point on. We are really excited to get out there and go racing.”

Davis and Liddell were co-drivers for four seasons with Stevenson Motorsports. Davis – the 2011 Grand-Am Rolex Series GT champion with Brumos Racing – paired with Liddell in winning the 2015 CTSCC GS title, with Davis also slated to race with the team at Watkins Glen in July.

Practice and qualifying for the BMW Performance Challenge will be held on Thursday. The event takes the green flag at 12:15 p.m. on Friday, with the race set to be televised on NBCSN at 1 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Feb. 6.

Images via www.racemsm.com

The No. #71 Rebel Rock Racing/Urban Grid Solar/MVP Capital Camaro GT4.R was caught up in several incidents not of its making during the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge (CTSC) Fox Factory 120 on Friday.

The team, which returned to IMSA action at VIR under the direction of new team owner Frank DePew and scored a podium finish in its debut, had the Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R ready for two hours of intense CTSCC action. IMSA veteran pilots Robin Liddell and Andrew Davis shared the driving duties, having earned significant success competing in multiple generations of Camaros (GT.R, Z/28.R and GT4.R) together. The race held special meaning for Davis, who hails from nearby Athens, Ga. Davis qualified the car in eighth position in the Grand Sport (GS) class and took the green flag to start the race.

Davis quickly realized that he had a good race car, and steadily worked his way up through the field in the early going, taking advantage of mistakes by the leaders and making strategic passes. Up to third by Lap 23, Davis ran afoul of the spinning No. 82 BMW, who did not see the Camaro and hit it hard directly in front of the right rear wheel which bent the suspension. Nursing the wounded car, now requiring 90 degrees of steering input to go straight, David headed to pit lane on Lap 27 so the team could take a look at the damage and make the change to Liddell.

Returning to the fray in 15th position after pitting in 3rd, due to the extended pit stop, and looking to make up lost ground the race instead only offered new setbacks as Liddell was tagged in two separate incidents. On Lap 54, he headed into the pit lane with a smoking left front tire after getting spun out in the chicane, and the decision was made to retire. But for the new team, there were plenty of positives to take from its debut races.

“I’m super proud of the Rebel Rock guys,” said Davis. “We had a really good car for the long run so the first few laps were just about managing the gaps, as we were all nose-to-tail. We were in P4 toward the end of my stint but two cars spun ahead of me, and while I avoided the first one spinning across my bow, the other car didn’t see me and smashed into the right side of the car. Robin (Liddell) got in shortly after but it turned into bumper cars from there on out. Frank (DePew), Robin, Joe Hall, everyone has done a great job and I appreciate that they put me in the car. These guys work so hard and work so well together. We’re just looking forward to next year – hopefully I’ll be back in there and we can fight for a championship.”

“It was a frustrating race,” said Liddell. “We had a decent race car, with the changes we’ve made and all the hard work the team has done to get it to this point, led by Joe Hall. Andrew (Davis) got hit early on, and James Clay apologized and said he never saw him, so it was just an accident. We were nursing a sick car after that and ended up back in the field and caught up in other peoples’ messes. The car still lacks straight line speed so it’s hard to get around people and you fall back into the clutches, especially with a sick race car. After the second incident, I saw the smoke off the left front tire and Frank decided we should retire.”

The race marked the final IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge event of the 2018 season, as the series will return in 2019 as the Michelin Pilot Challenge. A Michelin test will be held at Road Atlanta on Monday as teams will get their first look at the new tire configuration.

“There are many positives from the races we’ve done,” said Liddell, “but many unknowns as well, since we’re going to the Michelin tire now. We’ll do the test Monday and wait to see what tire the series will give us.  We’ll see what they give us and make decisions from there on where we go.”

Additional updates via:

https://www.rebelrockracing.co
https://www.facebook.com/rebelrockracing2.0/
https://twitter.com/rebelrockracing
https://www.instagram.com/rebelrockracing/