Victory For Racing4Research Team At Rolex 24

New York, NY (February 4, 2016) – They say that the third time is a charm and that old adage proved true at this year’s Racing4Research (R4R) event at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. For the third year, the Foundation partnered with the highly competitive team of Magnus Racing and for the first time ever a car carrying the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF) logo finished the historic race on top of the podium, with the all-new No. 44 Magnus Racing Audi R8 LMS taking top honors in the GT-Daytona class.

For the past eight years, the names of NF Heroes – children and adults living with neurofibromatosis (known simply as NF) – have been carried on a single car during the historic 24-hour race weekend. For 2016, CTF began a new tradition by spreading the NF Hero names across multiple IMSA teams. Coining the phrase “Embedded Fans”, NF-affected kids and their families were be assigned to specific teams, expanding support of the Foundation across multiple cars throughout the paddock. In addition to Magnus Racing, partner teams carrying the CTF logo included Park Place Motorsports, Turner Motorsport, BAR1, Konrad Motorsport, and Performance Tech Racing.

The Foundation, through their Racing4Research program, has been a long-time fixture of the motorsport scene. Campaigning to raise both awareness and fund research into neurofibromatosis, a common yet under-recognized genetic disorder that can cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body, Racing4Research has raised nearly $4 million for NF research since its inception.

Nearly one hundred Children’s Tumor Foundation guests attended the twice-round-the-clock event, arriving in Daytona on Friday. The weekend began with the families enjoying the opening race of the weekend, the BMW Performance 200, featuring long-time Foundation partners C360R (Compass360 Racing) and their three cars carrying both the CTF and “END NF” logos. The first podium of the weekend went to the C360R squad, with the newest Children’s Tumor Foundation “Art Car” – the No. 76 Ford Mustang GT350R-C driven by Paul Holton and Pierre Kleinubing – taking second place in its’ first-ever race.

Friday evening saw the families join together for the Foundation’s traditional Team & Family Dinner, hosted for a second year by FOX Sports reporter or former R4R driver Justin Bell. Park Place Motorsports team owner and driver Patrick Lindsey stopped by to meet with the guests as did a number of the C360R crew who were greeted by cheers from the thankful NF families.

On Saturday, beautiful sunny weather greeted the CTF group, outfitted in their now-familiar blue T-shirts, as they made their way through the IMSA garage to meet with the teams and drivers supporting the Foundation. Four primary cars carried the names of the NF Heroes in attendance: the No. 73 Park Place Porsche, No. 44 Magnus Audi and the No. 96 and No. 97 Turner BMWs. Each NF Hero was able to not only sign the car carrying their name but to feel what it’s like to sit behind the wheel of a race car.

Once the green flag dropped on the 24-hour battle on track, the group gathered at the Foundation’s Pit Road Patio suites where the families could share time together, a team of families who are enduring one of the toughest battles – living with NF. Enjoying the sights and sounds of Daytona throughout the evening, the CTF group awoke to find a battle in the GTD class, with eight cars on the lead lap, three of which were carrying the CTF logo. When all was said and done, the No. 44 team and their four drivers – John Potter, Andy Lally, Rene Rast, and Marco Seefried – emerged victorious, welcoming our NF Heroes to join them atop the podium in Victory Lane, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

“To see the smiles and joy on the faces of children who endure so many hardships is heartwarming. The kindness that flows from the teams as they greet the families and share time with our NF Heroes is priceless. The Foundation is grateful to all of the team owners, drivers, and series for their support and for providing a platform where we can give these deserving CTF families a weekend to escape the stress and realities of NF and simply enjoy the camaraderie and excitement of Daytona. Ending up on top of the box in Victory Lane with our friends at Magnus Racing is simply icing on the cake,” enthused Racing4Research Director Jill Beck. “It’s a gift that we do not take for granted and I know all of our NF Heroes are counting the days until Daytona 2017.”