sofronas

Less than two weeks after Alec Udell’s most recent podium sweep during the penultimate weekend at Sonoma Raceway, Global Motorsports Group (GMG) will head to this weekend’s Pirelli World Challenge season finale with three cars in the series’ three premier categories. In addition to Alec Udell returning in the GT-Cup category, long-time team veteran Alex Welch will also return to the GTA ranks as well as team owner James Sofronas in the GT category.

“Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca feels very much like a home event for us,” stated James Sofronas. “With Monterey only being a few hours away, we always have several guests and friends on hand, and you couldn’t ask for a better venue than Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. It should be a strong event for us. Alec has been enjoying a spectacular second half of the season and we really want to finish on a high note. Having Alex Welch back is always welcome, and after driving a variety of machinery this summer, it will be nice to get him back in his Audi. It’s been a mixed season for me this year, especially with some nagging injuries, but I really want to end the Pirelli World Challenge season on a high.”

Returning to the team’s GT-Cup category, Alec Udell and the No. 17 Panther Pipeline / Euroworld Motorsport Porsche 911 GT Cup has been on a strong run during the second half of the season. Most recently at Sonoma, consistent driving led to the 19-year-old’s third win in as many race weekends, adding to a 2015 season where he’s been on the podium in 12 of 13 races in which he competed.

Heading to the scenic 2.2-mile, 11-turn circuit, Alec is optimistic on the season finale.

“We definitely want to end the season strong,” stated Udell. “Everyone at GMG and I have really found our rhythm recently, and headed to Monterey I think we’re all looking to continue the same pace. I’m pretty optimistic that we should run well, and there’s no doubt that I think we all want to carry a lot of momentum into the off season.”

Returning to the series’ GTA category, Colorado’s Alex Welch will return to the team in the No. 76 Torque Branding Audi R8 LMS ultra. It’s been a busy summer for the team veteran who has driven in a variety of machinery and categories including everything racing at the prestigious Le Mans circuit, to touring cars in Canada, to a number of additional events.

Looking to close out his season on a positive note, Alex is also excited about the opportunity to return to Monterey.

“It’s always great to return to everyone at GMG,” stated Welch. “James and crew always do an excellent job to make sure we’re taken care of and of course, the competition in the GTA category is always very tough. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a circuit like no other so we’re looking forward to pushing the Audi as hard as we can and see where we end up.”

Adorning Alex’s Audi will be Torque Branding, a specialty company providing powerful, forward-thinking, one-step-ahead branded items and programs for clients, employees, executives, and everyone in between. More information can be found at www.torquebranding.com.

“We are stoked to see the Torque Branding logo on the Audi R8 LMS ultra,” stated Mark Mullens, Principal of Torque Branding Ltd. “Partnering with Alex – a talented pro-am who shows a great deal of passion for his craft – is both an honor and a privilege as we work to turn our love for racing into a new line of Motorsports-inspired apparel set to debut in 2016. Our support of Alex and his career is an exciting new cog to add to the wheel of our ever-expanding work in the automotive branding and promotions industry.”

Finally, driving the No. 14 The Thermal Club / Mobil 1 / Spyder Audi R8 LMS ultra, James Sofronas will enter the event with an aim to show well for himself and Audi during the final event of the year. Sofronas, the first driver to win with the R8 in Pirelli World Challenge competition, has had a mixed season so far including a series of injuries forcing him to skip several rounds. Having sat out the most recent event in Sonoma as he looks after a recurring back injury, the Californian looks forward to getting back behind the wheel.

Practice begins this today, September 11, with the event only taking on a single race this Sunday, September 13, at 1:30PM ET. Live coverage can be found at world-challengetv.com.