For more information:
Linda Mansfield, Restart Communications
Cell: (317) 201-0729
E-mail: LKMRestart@gmail.com
Photo of Michael Schein is attached. Photo credit: IMSA.
BATAVIA, Ohio, Jan. 27 - Wright Motorsports is pleased to announce that it will field a brand-new Porsche 911 GT3R for Michael Schein to drive in the GTA class this year in Pirelli World Challenge.
Schein (pronounced Shine), of New York City, recorded three podium finishes in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama series in 2015 for Wright Motorsports. The Batavia, Ohio-based team has won the team championship in that series' top class in three of the last four seasons, including last year.
The 2016 season marks Schein's third year with Wright Motorsports and his rookie season in Pirelli World Challenge.
"It will be a big step up from the 991 Cup car I have been driving, and I'm really excited to do some testing with the car in February," Schein said. "Traction control and more importantly ABS will be welcome upgrades, not to mention a whole lot more downforce.
"Running the past two years with Wright Motorsports has been a great learning experience and a whole lot of fun," he added. "I'm eagerly waiting to get back to work with the team. I hope to be able to run towards the front of the pack in the GTA class."
“We are excited for Mike and excited to help him make this transition," said team owner John Wright. "We have established a great working relationship, and the chemistry in the team could not be better! The new Porsche GT3R appears to have a lot of potential, and we are excited to work on this project.
"Although Mike will be a rookie in Pirelli World Challenge and there are many good drivers and teams in the series, we expect to be very competitive," Wright added. “We are also exploring options to add a second car to the team, either in the GT or Cup classes, to make this a two-car effort.”
Schein will face some circuits that will be new to him this year as well as some tracks where he's run very well in the past. He's especially looking forward to returning to Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, which is now called the Utah Motorsports Campus. "I ran there in 2010 and 2011 with IMSA and really enjoyed the track and the facility," he said.
Another highlight of the season will be when he races at the track nearest his home, Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn., in May.
The Pirelli World Challenge season begins March 3-6 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The complete schedule is posted on the series' Web site at world-challenge.com.
For more information on Wright Motorsports, see WrightMotorsports.com and follow it on Facebook and Twitter.
About Wright Motorsports:
Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series, international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio near Cincinnati, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning nine driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013 and 2015. In 2014 it had four podium finishes in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. For more information see WrightMotorsports.com and follow it on Facebook and Twitter.