October 30, 2005
Rolex Series Launch Pad For A Canadian Rocket
Rising Canadian racing star Michael Valiante signs to race a Daytona Prototype for Finlay Motorsports in the 2006 Rolex Series.
Finlay Motorsports today announced that it has signed the Canadian as a full-time driver beginning immediately.
Michael will make his debut as a Finlay Motorsports driver next weekend in Mexico City at the 2005 Grand American Rolex Series season finale co-driving with Rob Finlay in a second Finlay Motorsports Daytona Prototype under the Essex racing banner.
Michael, who has had three ‘guest’ drives with the Finlay team this year will race the #5 Ford-Crawford prepared for this event by Essex Racing. Next to them in pit lane at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City this weekend will be Finlay Motorsports’ regular driving duo of Memo Gidley and Michael McDowell in the #19 Air Force Reserve/Make-A-Wish Foundation/Commercial Defeasance Dinan-powered Riley.
Finlay Motorsports will expand to a 2-car team of Ford-Crawford prototypes next season, and while driver assignments have yet to be finalized, Valiante will be an integral part of the team’s plan to compete for the 2006 Grand American Rolex Series championship.
“Finlay Motorsports is a top team with the focus, talent and resources to compete for the championship, and I’m delighted to be a part it,” says Valiante. “My background is open-wheel racing, so I’m still relatively new to prototypes, but I’ve worked with many of the team members and other drivers previously, and the chemistry is excellent. I’ve already spent a day testing the Ford-Crawford we’ll be racing in Mexico and all next season, and it’s a really good package with winning potential. Add that to the support we’ll be getting from our new technical partners and 2006 looks pretty exciting.”
“Michael Valiante is an extremely talented driver who has been a tremendous asset to our team during the 2005 season and I’m happy to be sharing a car with him for my DP debut in Mexico City,” says Finlay Motorsports team owner Rob Finlay. “We’ve made major commitments to compete for the 2006 Rolex Series championship, including new cars and engines. Adding a driver of Michael’s caliber was another essential element because of what he can bring to our testing and development program and because he’s a proven winner, a team player and as fast as any driver in the series.”
Though a new team, Finlay Motorsports has quickly become a force to be reckoned with in the well-ordered world of Grand American Rolex Series racing. The team’s 2005 record includes five top-5 and four top-10 finishes, leading seven races and a 2nd-place finish at Barber Motorsports Park on July 31. With one race yet to run, Finlay Motorsports currently 6th in the 2005 Rolex Series championship battle.