Returning E0 class winners go for a repeat at famed NASA Endurance Race
Benicia, Calif. (November 2016) – Winning any major endurance event three times in a row is tough. Winning four out of five years in a row is tougher. That’s the challenge presented to El Diablo Motorsports, the Northern California-based endurance sports car team, entering next week’s NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill as defending champions in the E0 category.
With primary sponsorship from Red Line Synthetic Oil and BimmerWorld, the El Diablo squad is entering its ex-SCCA World Challenge BMW E46 325i powered by an BMW M3 S54 engine tuned to NASA ST3 specifications. The team presents an identical driver lineup as last year in its effort to repeat, with team owner Lance Boicelli, BimmerWorld owner and IMSA regular James Clay, as well as event veterans James Colborn, Cameron Evans, Charlie Postins and Dale Sievwright.
The team is reuniting with long-time crew chief Navid Kahangi, who ran with the team at its shakedown test last week at Thunderhill Raceway Park, in Willows, Calif., and will call strategy from atop the pit box over the first weekend in December.
“Clever strategy and an awesome drive through a rainy night by Clay helped us last year without question,” said Boicelli. “This year, I’d love to see a dry race so that we can run hammer down the entire way. We couldn’t see last year! We are all hoping for a little less stress and more visibility. The tweaks that we made to the car in the past year should help us that much more.”
“I love this event, this car, and more importantly this team and my co-drivers — the band is back together!” Clay explained. “Lance does such an amazing job with car build and preparation, and it is an honor to run with him again, ten years after we first worked together at this event on the BMW Diesel program. We have great equipment and a cohesive group of top-tier drivers — I am excited for the opportunity to repeat in this year’s running.”
The E0 category is vastly competitive, with Nissan 370Z and Mazda Global MX-5 Cup cars entered by factory-supported teams, as well as top privateer entries with BMWs of varying build styles. This class in particular features the hottest aftermarket engine swaps and tuning accessories, representing the thriving automotive aftermarket industry. The event attracts other factory-supported teams and pro drivers compete, as well, with everything from LMP3 prototypes to Spec Miatas on track.
Additional sponsorship for the team comes from Hoosier Tire, Motion Control Suspension, AiM Sports, Performance Friction Brakes, Magnaflow, OPTIMA Batteries, and Diffsonline.com. Live in-car video feeds as well as official timing and scoring information, will be available live on the RaceHero app and at redlineoil.com beginning at 2pm EST/11am PST on Saturday, December 3.
About Red Line Oil
Red Line Synthetic Oil Corp. manufactures more than 100 quality products for the automotive, racing, motorcycle, marine and industrial markets. Its complete line includes a wide variety of motor oils, gear oils, additives, and greases. For more information, please visit www.RedLineOil.com or contact Red Line Synthetic Oil Corp., 6100 Egret Court, Benicia, CA 94510, (800) 624-7958.
