PETALUMA, Calif (February 20, 2018) – The Racers Group (TRG) is set for some thrilling Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) racing as it opens the 2018 season on the beautiful streets (and tight corners) of St. Petersburg, Florida in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, March 9-11. The team will be reunited with former TRG professional driver Spencer Pumpelly behind the wheel of the TRG | LaSalle Solutions | Adobe Road Winery 00 Aston Martin V12 Vantage and will compete for the overall win in the PWC GT Class. TRG and Pumpelly are looking forward to building on their long history of success together in St. Petersburg and improving on TRG’s second place finish in GT in 2016 and 2017.
Pumpelly returns to St. Pete after delivering a maiden win in GTS class at the circuit in 2015. He can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the fierce TRG Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 and return to the top of the PWC podium again during this festival of speed, shared with IndyCar. St. Petersburg’s beautiful oceanfront track boasts 14 turns winding along the sunny streets of the breathtaking Florida shoreline. An electric atmosphere of fans sipping champagne on yachts moored between the swaying harborside palm trees is broken by the roar of powerful sportscars charging down the oceanside streets’ twists and turns at over 160 miles per hour.
Spencer, known as one of the most talented drivers on the sportscar racing circuit, is no stranger to success with TRG. He began his six-year long relationship with TRG in 2006 and brought home an epic GT class (Pumpelly’s second) win at the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona in 2011 with owner (and two-time Rolex 24 winning driver) Kevin Buckler and the team. During his tenure with TRG, Pumpelly was a fixture on the podium: four top-three finishes in the Rolex 24, a second-place at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2011, two six-hour victories and more than a dozen victories and many podiums across a variety of series including Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge, Grand-Am and American Le Mans. He also scored a podium in NJMP ARCA NASCAR series.
Pumpelly is looking forward to returning to winning ways with the team in St. Petersburg. “It’s awesome to be back with TRG and to be going for the win in St. Pete,” he says. “Last time I raced there, I did some victory lap donuts! I’m thrilled and excited to be part of Kevin’s weekend in Florida and I think we’ve got a great chance to bring home some trophies.”
The St. Petersburg Grand Prix is one of The Racers Group’s signature events. Not only is it an opportunity to watch world-class racing along one of the most beautiful tracks in North America, but with TRG’s hospitality program, this race is elevated focusing on TRG’s singular capabilities. TRG is a leader in bringing together key influencers and decision makers, encouraging collaboration and providing important networking and business opportunities that go above and beyond expectations. Entertaining clients, providing an experience for your team, forging new contacts… the motorsports paddock is the place to be, offering world-class business opportunities at the race and beyond.
The team has arranged private seating in two locations at the stunning Salvador Dalí Museum next to the track. Inside, team partners LaSalle Solutions, along with the team’s guests, partners and VIPs will enjoy lunch and drinks throughout each race day. Outside, they’ll share TRG’s private stadium seating with long views of the track, the harbor, and a high definition TV screen showing all of the racing action around the course, turns this spectator event into an experience to remember.
“We are excited to once again join TRG for this special event in St. Petersburg,” said Steven Robb, president of the Solutions Group at LaSalle Solutions. “With its waterfront views and unique downtown racing circuit, the St. Petersburg venue is one of our favorites for hosting customers and partners. We look forward to watching the iconic TRG Aston Martin take to the streets of St. Pete for what is sure to be an exciting race and hopefully another podium finish.”
The weekend will also be a showcase for the award-winning wines of TRG sister company, Adobe Road Winery at events throughout the throughout this beautiful and luxurious venue.
Four evening events are planned for TRG’s guests. The team’s traditional penthouse dinner, featuring artwork just as stunning as the glittering harbor views, will feature chefs preparing delicious hors d’oeuvres served alongside Adobe Road Winery’s award-winning wines. Estate owners Carlos and Beverly Yepes and are dear friends of the team and are founding supporters of the St. Petersburg Grand Prix. Additional one-of-a-kind events include a winemaker dinner at Sea Salt for our VIP guests and partners in the heart of St. Petersburg, an exclusive private event hosted by Swirl, Sip & Savor in Tampa, as well as another exclusive Adobe Road wine experience at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, featuring exquisite nighttime circuit and bay views.
“As an event, our race in St. Petersburg is one of the highlights of the year!” says TRG and Adobe Road Winery founder and CEO Kevin Buckler. “We have put together a formidable team and we are coming here to run up front and put on a terrific show for our friends, partners, and fans at this wonderful venue. We have brought out the big guns with both, the powerful TRG 00 Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3 and of course our former team driver and sportscar star, Spencer Pumpelly.
As usual, we have an amazing weekend of wonderful entertainment options planned for all of our business executives and VIP guests. The Pirelli World Challenge series has just done an amazing job on all fronts. Greg Gill and the rest of the team have assembled a first-class organization around world class events and we are proud to be involved. And a big thanks to our friends at LaSalle Solutions, Aston Martin, Carlos and Beverly Yepes and all of partners for bringing together a fantastic group of friends and clients to share in the experience and to build further relationships around motorsports. We are truly charting new territory both on and off the track and we come here to win. On all counts!”