The Racers Group (TRG) returns to Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) SprintX competition this weekend at the challenging Virginia International Raceway (VIR). Drivers Drew Regitz and Kris Wilson are partnering to compete in the #007 LaSalle Solutions, Ring Central Aston Martin Vantage GT3 V12 and Jerry Kaufman and Kyle Tilley will be teaming up in the #09 Exterior Cleaning Professionals , LaSalle Solutions, Ring Central Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4. All four drivers have years of experience in multiple racing series and platforms and the team is excited to support them as TRG begins defense of its 2016 PWC SprintX team championship. VIR is a track where TRG has enjoyed immense success over the years and the team is anxious to return this weekend.
DRIVERS
SprintX – GT Class
Drew Regitz hadn’t even sat in a race car until 2012, but he’s made up for lost time. Starting in 2013, Drew raced a seven-race schedule in PWC for TRG and he hasn’t looked back, competing in a total of 18 events to date where he’s had numerous podium finishes, including a first place finish in SprintX along with second and third place finishes in Sprint GTA.
Kris Wilson, Regitz’s current driving coach, has seen and done nearly everything in the realm of sports car racing, from driving and coaching to wrenching on cars. He’s always a threat to make it to the top of the podium each weekend. Wilson is a PWC paddock stalwart and a go-to driver for TRG. Kris took rookie of the year titles in Formula Mazda, US F2000 and Firestone Firehawk. He’s also competed in the Rolex Series, World Challenge, World Sports Car and the American Le Mans Series. Kris raced the entire 2014 Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge with Max Riddle, and the two were integral to TRG’s SprintX team title in 2016.
SprintX – GTS Class
Jerry Kaufman grew up with a need for speed and a passion for motorsports. 2013 was Jerry’s first year of club racing and he was rookie of the year and garnered a national championship with BMW CCA. Fast-forward to 2016 and Kaufman had jumped to the pro level, competing in the IMSA Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge. 2017 marks his first year with TRG and he is excited to get behind the wheel of the #09 Aston Martin.
Kyle Tilley is a second-generation racer with a strong history of competition racing under his belt. He spent his early years in the British Formula Ford series, where he won 11 of the series’ 12 races, nine pole positions, and 12 fastest laps. A veteran of over 70 races, Kyle has piloted a variety of cars with class wins and always aims to win. He and the team expect great things with Kyle as part of the team heading into the very competitive SprintX season.
TRG has a remarkable history at VIR in Porsche, Pontiac, and Aston Martin. Andy Lally and Marc Bunting led the team to a historic Pontiac 1-2 finish in the 2006 Grand-Am VIR 400. In 2008, the Porsche driven by Spencer Pumpelly and Tim George finished in 2nd in GT. In 2010, the team was victorious in GT with Andy Lally and Ted Ballou and again in 2012 in GTC with Damien Faulkner and Ben Keating. Most recently, in 2014, TRG-AMR drivers Kris Wilson and Max Riddle won the Continental Tire SportsCar Championship race in their Aston Martin V8 Vantage, and in 2015 Christina Nielsen and Kuno Wittmer finished 2nd in GTD to take the championship lead for the hotly contested IMSA class.
“Its great to be back with Aston Martin at one of our favorite road racing circuits in North America,” said Kevin Buckler, CEO. “We’re back with a great team of drivers in Drew, Kris, Jerry and Kyle. We all really enjoy racing at VIR and admire the work that Connie Nyholm and her staff have done to maintain it as a premier facility. We have an incredible history here over the years and plan on adding to that history this weekend.”
