After a productive Roar Before the 24 weekend of testing its new Mercedes-AMG GT4, TeamTGM has announced its driver pairings for the 2018 IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar championship season.
Ted Giovanis and Guy Cosmo will co-drive the No. 4 JKTG Foundation / Camp Boggy Creek Mercedes-AMG GT4, while the second team entry will see Hugh Plumb and Owen Trinkler share the driving duties in the No. 46 JKTG Foundation / Camp Boggy Creek Mercedes-AMG GT4.
The quartet of TeamTGM drivers took their first official laps around Daytona International Speedway in the all new Mercedes-AMG GT4 machine at the traditional Roar Before the 24, maximizing testing time by completing every lap of every session during the three-day test.
Looking to learn as much as possible about the Mercedes-AMG GT4 machine, TeamTGM also focused on a range of considerations for the driver pairings including everything from seat fittings for driver changes to the driving style of each of the racers.
Team owner and driver, Giovanis will be partnered with Cosmo in the No. 4 Mercedes-AMG GT4.
Capping his remarkable comeback from an injury sustained last year, sidelining him from the second half of the 2017 season, Giovanis took his first laps in his new machine as he quickly adapted to his role back behind the wheel of the new Mercedes-AMG GT4.
“The car was really awesome to drive and I’m glad we had the chance to test it at Daytona,” said Giovanis. “We took it right to the track and it just didn’t miss a beat so it helped us be really productive. I really like the car! It is a great package and even though it is the first Continental Tire SpotsCar Challenge season for the AMG guys, it was a big confidence boost to get running with this car so we could be prepared for the race at the end of the month.”
Cosmo will be paired with Giovanis and has driven with TeamTGM since 2016 and has racked up 11 starts with the Braseton, Georgia based team. In between CTSC competition, Cosmo is competing in the Asian Le Mans Series where he just recently won his first race in December. Cosmo will be aiming to use that winning momentum to bring home another run to the podium in the CTSC.
Plumb and Trinkler will round out the team’s expanded effort for 2018, running the No. 46 Mercedes-AMG GT4. Plumb was a part of the team’s 4-hour events last season and also co-drove with Cosmo for the second half of the 2017 season, and will now be taking on a full season effort partnered with Trinkler.
As the newest member of the TeamTGM squad, Trinkler will be bringing his 20+ years of racing experience and title of one of the winningest drivers in series history to the forefront as he embarks on a new year with Mercedes. Most recently, Trinkler brought home two victories in the CTSC in the ST class.
“It was great to get some laps in the car at Daytona and I’m really impressed with the Mercedes-AMG,” said Trinkler. “It is just really straightforward to drive-no surprises. For me getting back into a GS class car with rear wheel drive and more power than I’ve had for a few years, it was a blast! Now I’m looking forward to the race with Hugh in a couple of weeks!”
The team now eagerly awaits the arrival of its second Mercedes-AMG GT4 – due for delivery on the 16th. The season opener of the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge kicks off at Daytona International Speedway for the BMW Endurance Challenge on Friday, January 26th.
Source. Sunday Group
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