K-PAX Racing Enters All-Pro Effort at Road America

Seeking 50th career win in team history

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – K-PAX Racing returns to the Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) Sprint GT schedule June 22-24 for Rounds 6 and 7 at Road America. As a part of the Kohler Grand Prix weekend at the famed Midwestern road course, K-PAX Racing will enter both of its Bentley Continental GT3s in the series’ premiere GT3 Pro category.

“The Bentley Continental GT3 has had a lot of success there in the past, and I think it’ll be a good one for ours this season,” K-PAX Racing Program Manager Darren Law said. “It has fast corners and long straightaways, which should make this a strong track for us. We’re really looking forward to Road America.”

K-PAX Racing will be seeking its first win at one of America’s crown-jeweled tracks as the only Bentley Works Supported team on the series roster. In the two preceding events this season, K-PAX Racing had collected five podiums – including a sweep in the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Ont.) finale and a near-sweep of the Lime Rock Park (Conn.) finale on Memorial Day. Adding three victories to the team tally in two weeks, K-PAX Racing will look to climb the top-step at Road America to achieve its 50-win milestone.

“It’s a pleasant surprise that we are closing in on 50 wins now, but I’m not spending my time looking back at the victories we’ve had,” K-PAX Racing Team Owner Jim Haughey said. “We’re looking forward to Road America and the other races on this year’s schedule. It’s more about doing than what you’ve done.”

In the pursuit to continue the team’s recent success this season, K-PAX Racing will enter its No. 3 and No. 9 Bentley Continental GT3s in the series’ Sprint GT Pro class – the top-ranking class of some of the nation’s top professional drivers. Rodrigo Baptista, who formerly competed in the series’ amateur GT3 classes, will make his debut as a pro after being promoted earlier this month. Baptista has been on a fast track to stardom over the past two seasons, making his series debut in the GTS class in 2017.

“Last year everything was new for me here in the U.S. because the racing culture is completely different than in Europe and Brazil which are my backgrounds in racing,” Baptista said. “I was driving a slower car (the GT4). As soon as I tested the Bentley Continental GT3, I felt I was ready to race with the GT3 and incredibly the car matched my driving style. Apart from small details, everything is pretty good. We won one race overall (VIRginia International Raceway), and we are always a strong competitor in every single race.”

Álvaro Parente, driver of the No. 9 Bentley Continental GT3, said that he looks forward to competing against the pro field with Baptista this coming weekend at Road America.

“Rodrigo has been quick and has been doing really well this year,” Parente said. “We’ve been working well together trying to learn the tricks of the Bentley as quick as possible with the team. It’s quite positive, and it’s good that he’s going so fast in such short time with the car. It’s great to be working together with him, the team and everyone else.”

For more information about the PWC Grand Prix of Road America June 22-24, visit world-challenge.com.

DRIVER QUOTES

Álvaro Parente – No. 9 Bentley Continental GT3 – “Over the past two years, the Bentleys have worked well at Road America. Looking at some of the corners there – the high-speed corners around the back area, the long main straightaway and some of the big straights heading into Turn 4 – I’m hoping it’ll be a good track for us. I think we’re all looking forward to heading back to the track. I think we’re looking good and that we’re motivated. I’m anxious to get out on the track for practice.”

Rodrigo Baptista – No. 3 Bentley Continental GT3 – “I am looking forward to a great weekend at Road America. The track can be beneficial for our car, and now that I am running exclusively in the GT class, the organization will take away the weight on my car. I am excited also to see where we will be next to the other competitors. I really like the track and the place. Elkhart Lake is good for racing because there are a lot of dedicated fans.”

About K-PAX Racing
Based in Sonoma, Calif., K-PAX Racing has celebrated a total 119 podiums, 49 wins, four Driver Championships and three Manufacturer Championships, solidifying the team as a continuous championship contender. In the GT Class K-PAX has fielded Porsche 911 GT3s during the 2007 – 2008 seasons, Volvo S60s during the 2009 – 2013 seasons, McLaren 12C GT3s in 2014 and McLaren 650S GT3s from 2015 – 2017.

About Bentley Motorsport
Bentley Motorsport is based at the Bentley Motors headquarters in Crewe. From there, the operation runs Bentley Team M-Sport, and oversees customer racing operations around the world.

The Continental GT3 is built by the Bentley motorsport team in conjunction with M-Sport. The Bentley Motorsport team is led by Bentley Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush supported by M-Sport’s Chief Engineer, Christian Loriaux.

Bentley Motors’ headquarters in Crewe is home to all of its operations including design, R&D, engineering and production of the company’s four model lines, Continental, Bentayga, Flying Spur and Mulsanne. The combination of fine craftsmanship, using skills that have been handed down through generations, alongside engineering expertise and cutting-edge technology is unique to UK luxury car brands.

About Opti-Coat
Optimum Polymer Technologies, the manufacturer of Opti-Coat, was founded in Memphis, Tenn., on July 1, 2001 by Dr. David Ghodoussi. Prior to this, Dr. Ghodoussi worked for over 12 years as an Organic Chemist overseeing research and development focused in polymers and automotive paint formulations.

For more than a decade, Opti-Coat has been setting the industry standard with their unique coating technologies developing and manufacturing proprietary resins utilizing Silicon Carbide (SiC) chemistry. Opti-Coat’s purpose is to provide clients with a product that is the most durable, innovative and protective coating available.