MOMO NGT Motorsport Team ready for 51st annual Rolex 24 at Daytona

The familiar No. 30 MOMO NGT Motorsport racing team is ready to embark on a new chapter of its history for this year’s 51st annual Rolex 24 at Daytona race, January 24-27, 2013.

After achieving several important successes during the 2012 season, including a class victory at the ALMS Petit Le Mans race, the MOMO NGT Motorsport Team returns to make history again.

#30 MOMO/NGT Motorsport Porsche GT3: Jakub Giermaziak, Angel Andres Benitez Jr., Sean Edwards

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

Returning MOMO driver, Sean Edwards, is just coming off his second in a row victory at the 24 Hours of Dubai. He hopes to add another twice-around-the-clock victory to his portfolio this weekend in Florida.

Daytona rookie Kuba Giermaziak will be attempting to make an impression in his first Daytona 24-hour race. The Porsche Supercar pilot, along with Sean Edwards shared driving duties at the Daytona Test earlier this month.

Porsche factory driver Patrick Pilet will be making his fifth appearance at Daytona, where he scored a podium in 2009, and his first drive with the MOMO NGT team.

Henrique Cisneros, No. 30 MOMO NGT Motorsport owner/driver:

Your last race was the Petit Le Mans where you won in class. Does that give you some confidence coming in to the 24 Hours of Daytona race? “A victory is always a boost for your driving confidence. I’m ready to get some laps in the car at Daytona again because I was unable to participate in the Test Days.

It should not take me long to get into a rhythm and be reacquainted with the Daytona circuit. We’ve got a lot of hours of driving during the race.”

You have an impressive line-up of drivers for this year’s Rolex 24…and the first time you will all race together. How has this group of drivers been assembled and what are the goals?

“Of course the goal is to win! We have some very talented drivers who are familiar with the Porsche GT3 and they have all had many successes.

Sean is coming off a big victory last weekend at the 24 Hours of Dubai. Although I don’t make my living as a racing driver, I try to hold my own on the race track and positive results have followed.”

Sean Edwards, No. 30 MOMO NGT Motorsport driver:

You are just coming off a big win at the 24 Hours of Dubai. How has that prepared you for the Rolex 24 at Daytona?“Yes, we had another great win in Dubai. Many things have to go right to win a 24-hour race and so many things can go wrong.

Well, it's always good to be in the rhythm before a race like this, so Dubai gives me the right preparation physically and mentally.

At Daytona I will now have to beat my Dubai teammate, Jeroen Bleekemolen, who will race for Alex Job this weekend!

You’ve got some tough competition in the GT field. How do you plan on coming out on top? “It helps that we have a very good lineup and a strong car, so we have the tools to win.

Obviously, it's a strong field and it will be a very tough race, but I am confident as long as we get through the night with the car intact and on the lead lap we can really fight for the win.

We have to have no problems; as soon as you lose more than three laps in Daytona the race is lost, as there are always a few cars that will never have problems.”

Kuba Giermaziak, No. 30 MOMO NGT Motorsport driver and Daytona rookie:

You have been driving a Porsche GT3 for many years. How well do you feel the Porsche is suited for endurance racing like the Rolex 24? “The Porsche is a great car for sprint and endurance racing. Of course the car which I'm driving in the Supercup is quite different to the endurance car, but still the driving style is the same.”

You recently tested at Daytona. What is your favorite part about Daytona - both the event and the circuit? “All the events I've been to in America were great. The crowd and the organization are just fantastic and it is real pleasure to race here.

About the circuit, I can't say yet so much as I maybe did around 35 laps at Daytona Test Days. The infield is quite tricky, as there is no grip at all, which makes it difficult to keep it consistent.”

Patrick Pilet, No. 30 MOMO NGT Motorsport driver:

Tell us about your past Daytona experiences... “I drove at Daytona in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012. My best result was a third place in 2009.”

What is your favorite part about Daytona - both the event and the circuit? “My favorite part of the Daytona track is the banking because is a different feeling to compare with a normal track. And my favorite about the event is the grid presentation with all the spectators.

Ramez Wahab, NGT Motorsports Owner/No. 30 MOMO NGT Motorsport Team Manager:

You have an impressive line-up of drivers for this year’s Rolex 24. How do you think they will deliver in the race? “We have three professional Porsche drivers on the team and an excellent gentleman driver.

Everyone will do their job to the best of their ability in the conditions on track. In a 24-hour race there are always many variables. The most important thing is to keep the car on track and try to stay on the lead lap.”

There is some tough competition this year in the GT class. How do you expect to succeed against such tough competition? “There are numerous good GT teams entered in this year’s Rolex 24, and many of them are other Porsche teams.

Our business is Porsche racing so we hope to deliver the best car possible for the start of the race. In 24 hours of racing you have to be ready for anything.

We think we have a team that can be ready for whatever the race throws at us. Let’s see what happens on Sunday afternoon.”

MONO NGT Motorsport