Entry list || Race weekend schedule
MONTEREY, Calif. – At 20 years old, should Sean Rayhall really have to sweat the details?
The Georgia native will tell you that it’s all part of the business of motorsports and that he’ll benefit from the GoFundMe.com initiative he engaged to be able to compete in the Indy Lights Grand Prix Presented by Cooper Tire and Powered by Mazda this weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Several individuals involved in the Verizon IndyCar Series, who wish to remain anonymous, were among the contributors.
In seven Indy Lights races this season with 8Star Motorsports, Rayhall has recorded victories on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Additionally, he has a pair of top-five finishes. He was third quick in testing Sept. 10 totaling 50 minutes on the 2.238-mile, 11-turn Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca road course.
Rayhall also turned to GoFundMe.com in spring to secure an entry spot for the Freedom 100, qualifying third and finishing sixth in his debut on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval.
“I am really fortunate to have Bass Egg and Silver Arrow Technologies on board, along with the crowdfunding effort that went in to do this,” Rayhall said, “and to be around such a great team like 8Star Motorsports. We haven't done any testing, which is a handicap at this level of competition, and we've been able to have two wins out of seven starts.
“That's unheard of. Yves Turon, our engineer, and the entire team have put in the extra legwork and effort from the start. It is a true testimony to how great the guys at 8Star are. Hopefully, we can finish on a strong note.”
Rayhall had a strong finish at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 2014, co-driving an 8Star Motorsports entry to second place in the Prototype Challenge class in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship race. In 2013, Rayhall won two races at the track on the way to sewing up the IMSA Cooper Tire Prototype Lites Championship.
Streaming video, augmented by real-time Timing & Scoring and the track audio, of the races Sept. 12 and 13 will be available at www.Racecontrol.indycar.com.
“I am very happy that Sean found the necessary funding and we will be able to participate in these final rounds at Laguna Seca as it is a track where we have done well in other classes,” team owner Enzo Potolicchio said. “Since we did not participate in the full championship, our approach to this race will be to do our best and push for our third win of the season.”
Scott Hargrove of British Columbia competed in two races for the first-year Indy Lights team. Potolicchio said his goal is to have two full-season entries for the 2016 season.