After celebrating successes at NOLA Motorsports Park last month, Ricca Autosport divides to conquer this week as Jeff Ricca heads to Nordschleife and Sally McNulty heads to Circuit of the Americas. Ricca will be driving in his second Nürburgring 24 Hours while McNulty takes on TC America rounds 5 and 6.
"Nerve racking but exciting at the same time really sums up what is happening in the next week,” said team principal Jeff Ricca. “We have the team, manufacturer, and driver championship lead going into COTA. With my absence, I will not be able to collect any driver points this round, and our focus is 100% on Sally and her results. The team is ready for this and determined to bring home as many points as possible. I am confident that this is Sally's weekend!"
ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring
The infamous Nürburgring 24 Hours is over 25.3 km (15.7 mi) in lap length and allows more than 200 cars and over 700 drivers to participate. Ricca joins the two car Hyundai Driving Experience effort in the No. 525 i30 Fastback N and will be codriving with Junesung Park, Byunghui Kang, and Jens Dralle. The quartet had a strong qualifying effort in April, finishing second and first in the VT2-Front class. Ricca is confident in the production-based vehicle and his teammates.
Ricca added, "Having done the N24 last year, it is nothing new and no surprises on what is involved to do well. This year is a factory Hyundai effort and we have the team, resources, and drivers to have great success. I am confident that we will net a good result for Hyundai. I am stoked for one of the biggest races in the world!"
TC America
Following fifth and fourth place finishes in New Orleans, McNulty is set to take on the 3.4 mile circuit in Austin, TX. Piloting the No. 780 Borla Exhaust LIQUI MOLY Hyundai Veloster N, she is looking to ride the NOLA momentum and secure a TC class podium with the support of the Ricca Autosport crew.
“I’m really excited about going to Circuit of the Americas and I haven't been there in about 2 years,” said McNulty. “It’s a very exciting track. I’ve been focusing super hard on studying in-car footage and simulator practice. The GenRacer Team has been working so hard every race to give me a well setup, fast race car. I’ve been progressing each event and looking to make them proud at COTA. Aiming to collect more points towards the manufacturers championship!”
Follow Along Nürburgring 24 Hours
All times Central European
Thursday, May 18
Qualifying 1:1:15pm Qualifying 2: 6:30pm
Friday, May 19
Qualifying 3: 2:45pm
Top Qualifying 3: 5:30pm
Saturday, May 20
Warm Up: 12:40pm Formation Lap: 3:40pm Race Start: 4:00pm
TC America Rounds 5 & 6
All times Central
Friday, May 19
Practice 1: 9:15am Practice 2: 2:30pm
Saturday, May 20
Qualifying: 8:30am
Race 1: 11:15am (LIVE TV)
Sunday, May 21
Race 2: 9:45am (LIVE TV)