Laguna Seca – TPC Racing

TPC Racing Victorious at Laguna Seca

Admin — Wed, 07 May 2014 14:39:41 +0000

(May 7, 2014) Jessup, MD – The TPC Racing / Merkle / Under Armour race team went into rounds three and four of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama wanting to repeat the results of 2013, winning. Michael Levitas, driver of the 35 TPC Racing / Merkle / Under Armour GT3 Cup and David Williams, driver of the 37 Merkle / TPC Racing / Under Armour GT3 Cup went into the weekend feeling confident and knew that the TPC Racing team would deliver strong cars to drive.

Rounds three and four of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama would make for Michael Levitas’ return to the Gold Class, piloting the teams number 35 997 model GT3 Cup. In 2013, Levitas won the Gold Class drivers and Masters drivers’ championships and looks to do the same in 2014.

“I have gotten some testing in with the TPC Racing number 35 car and felt very comfortable in it,” stated Michael Levitas. “Our TPC Racing team knows the chassis so well and I have always felt great in the 997. The 991 is fantastic, but the 997 is very satisfying for me to drive. I know that with the skill of our engineering staff, our coaches Damien Faulkner and Randy Pobst, the TPC Racing team will give me a car that I can be competitive with to fight for more wins. I came into the fight late, so in order to win the championship this year, I need to be on the podium each race weekend.”

Levitas worked hard and had a great race weekend. The team got the car sorted in practice and Michael took the 35 TPC Racing / Merkle / Under Armour GT3 Cup and put it on the top of the timing charts in qualifying. On the last lap, Levitas was knocked off of pole position, and only a few hundredths separated the top three qualifiers in Gold.

Michael Levitas took the green flag starting second in race one. Going into turn two, Levitas made the pass for the lead and held onto his position until the end. Toward the end of the race, there was a caution which bunched up the field. The finished ended up being a green-white-checker shootout to the finish. Michael did a fantastic job and held his position while everyone battled behind the 35 TPC Racing / Merkle / Under Armour machine. Levitas was able to take the checkered flag and win both the Gold and Gold Masters.

“Great race, absolutely fantastic,” stated Levitas. “The TPC Racing Porsche was outstanding. The guys did an amazing job on the setup. It was great through 3 and 4 and just killer through 9 and 10. The competition was off the charts! I had to run every lap with no mistakes. We were within a second the entire race. It was just absolute mayhem. I would work so hard to make up that one-second and boom, we’d have to restart and I would have to do it over again. I really have to thank our coach Damien Faulkner for the racing advice and calming myself down to drive such a great race. Also, a huge thanks to IMSA and all of the competitors for such an amazing race.”

David Williams was doing a fantastic job in the 37 Merkle / TPC Racing / Under Armour entry. David worked hard on his driving and was working hard for a solid finish in the Platinum class running his 2014 991 GT3 Cup. The TPC Racing team worked hard as well and delivered a great chassis that Williams was confident in to run a strong race.

“The TPC Racing team gave me a fantastic car,” stated David Williams. “The car was great and working with Damien Faulkner helped me tremendously. I was able to drive extremely well and felt great in the car.

David Williams started the race in the mix of the Gold competitors and got through the group right away. Qualifying did not go how Williams expected, so it was important to get a clean start. David did a fantastic job and had a great race, picking through the field one car after the next. It was clean racing with no mistakes. David Williams drove a fantastic race, winning the Yokohama Hard Charger award after starting 22^nd and finishing 16^th.

“I had a great start,” stated David Williams. “Right on the outside was wide open, and I probably made up five spots there on the start. I was running consistent after that and it was a great race. My TPC Racing / Merkle / Under Armour car was just fantastic. A huge thank you to the entire TPC Racing team.”

The TPC Racing team looks forward to the next rounds on Memorial Day weekend at LimeRockPark.

About TPC Racing:

TPC Racing is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier maintenance, service, tuning and modification center dedicated solely to Porsche sports cars. This long time focus on only one make, Porsche, has enabled us to become experts in Porsche service, tuning and racing. TPC Racing has its roots in the IMSA Supercar Series of the late 1980’s and early 1990s. By combining a lifetime of automotive enthusiasm, business experience and technical skill with advanced aeronautical training and certifications, Michael Levitas has managed to extend the engineering of some for the most advanced and well-regarded machines in existence – Porsche race cars.

About Merkle:

Merkle is the nation’s largest and fastest-growing customer relationship marketing (CRM) agency. For more than 20 years, Fortune 1000 companies and leading nonprofit organizations have partnered with Merkle to maximize the value of their customer portfolios. Employing data-driven strategies, Merkle combines a complete range of marketing, technical, analytical and creative disciplines to offer complete integrated customer marketing solutions. With a strategically led, consultative approach, we work closely with clients to design, execute and continuously evaluate CRM programs throughout the buying cycle, across channels and media.

About Under Armour:

Founded in 1996 by former University of Maryland football player Kevin Plank, Under Armour is the originator of performance apparel – gear engineered to keep athletes cool, dry and light throughout the course of a game, practice or workout. The technology behind Under Armour’s diverse product assortment for men, women and youth is complex, but the program for reaping the benefits is simple: wear HeatGear® when it’s hot, ColdGear® when it’s cold, and AllSeasonGear® between the extremes.

Under Armour’s mission is make all athletes better through passion, design and the relentless pursuit of innovation.

About CrunchDaddy Popcorn:

CrunchDaddy Popcorn makes “Popcorn Unusual!™”, an array of sweet and savory inventions that take the sophisticated snacker beyond the common recipes for caramel, kettle and cheese popcorn. All CrunchDaddy Popcorn flavors are available on-line through their website, www.crunchdaddy.com

TPC Racing Takes On Laguna Seca

Admin — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 14:49:39 +0000

(April 29, 2014) Jessup, MD – The TPC Racing / Merkle Incorporated team has been hard at work since rounds one and two of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama Series. Since taking delivery of the teams two 2014 Porsche 991 GT3 Cup cars in December, the TPC Racing team has been working hard to better sort the new chassis. At Sebring, lady luck was not in TPC Racings favor, but the team will turn that around at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

For rounds three and four at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, Michael Levitas will make the switch to the Gold Class running the teams 35 TPC Racing 997 GT3 Cup. In 2013, Levitas won the Gold Championship and will fight to do the same in 2014. The 35 TPC Racing entry will be very competitive to fight for the Gold Class win.

“I am very happy to be back in the Gold Class,” stated Michael Levitas. “I really enjoyed driving my 991 GT3 Cup, but after Sebring, the 36 car was not ready for Laguna Seca. I took the 35 TPC Racing 997 GT3 Cup out for a test and remembered how much I liked driving the car, so I am excited to take it out at Laguna Seca. The TPC Racing / Merkle team has worked so hard and I think that we have a shot at winning. I will miss being in the same class at my teammate David Williams, but David will be fighting hard in the Platinum Class.”

David Williams is looking forward to getting his 37 TPC Racing / Merkle 991 GT3 Cup back out on track since rounds one and two at Sebring. Williams has been working hard to adjust to the new car and has done a great job. In round two at Sebring, David Williams set his fastest lap of the weekend on the last lap on the race and it ended up being the ninth quickest lap of the race. Williams looks to take that momentum forward to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

“The TPC Racing / Merkle team has been working very hard on the 991 GT3 Cup since we got them in December and that hard work has been displayed each time we are out in these cars,” stated David Williams. “I have been getting more and more comfortable with the car and the team has been doing a great job setting it up for me. We are also fortunate to have Damien Faulkner and Randy Pobst coaching, so with their help, I am definitely getting faster. I enjoyed racing at Laguna Seca last season in Gold and am looking forward to racing there again in Platinum!”

The TPC Racing starts on track with Promoter Testing on Thursday, May 1^st.The 35 and 37 TPC Racing / Merkle entries will then take to the track for official practice on Friday, May 2^nd with qualifying Saturday and rounds three and four on Sunday.

About TPC Racing:

TPC Racing is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier maintenance, service, tuning and modification center dedicated solely to Porsche sports cars. This long time focus on only one make, Porsche, has enabled us to become experts in Porsche service, tuning and racing. By combining a lifetime of automotive enthusiasm, business experience and technical skill with advanced aeronautical training and certifications, Michael Levitas has managed to extend the engineering of some for the most advanced and well-regarded machines in existence – Porsche race cars.

About Merkle:

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TPC Racing Wins Laguna Seca

Admin — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:41:23 +0000

(May 13, 2013) Jessup, MD – For rounds three and four, the TPC Racing / Porsche of Towson team dominated once again at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The team went into rounds three and four leading the team and drivers’ championship, so the goal was to continue in winning fashion and that is exactly what the TPC Racing / Porsche of Towson team did.

When arriving to the track for test days, Michael Levitas, driver of the #36 TPC Racing / Porsche of Towson GT3 Cup and David Williams, driver of the #37 TPC Racing / Merkle / Porsche of Towson GT3 Cup worked hard to get their Gold Class Porsche GT3 Cup cars to be front running cars. The team worked hard with chassis setup as well as learning the track. Michael Levitas last raced at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 2011 and this was the first time for David Williams at the track. With great driver coaching from team coach, Randy Pobst, and the engineering behind the TPC Racing / Porsche of Towson team, the #36 and #37 cars had a fantastic setup to be competitive.

Race one of the weekend was a race with tons of excitement. On the first lap, the front of the Platinum Class pack got together, causing much carnage in turn three. Michael Levitas in the #36 Porsche of Towson car timed it perfectly, just barely missing the incident as he navigated his GT3 Cup through a cloud of dust and debris. Teammate David Williams in the #37 car made it through clean as well, just a few positions behind Levitas.

Once the field went back to green flag racing, Levitas started pulling away while leading in his #36 Porsche of Towson car. When going back to green flag racing, Levitas got a brilliant start making several positions on the Platinum Class, creating a gap between him and Williams.

Later in the race, the #36 car started to get a loose car and Williams was on the move to catch Levitas. David started turning lap time .5 seconds faster than Michael and started closing the gap. Williams drove smart and hard, reeling in teammate Michael Levitas but the checkered flag flew before David could make up more time.

“It was great!,” stated Michael Levitas, driver of the 36 TPC Racing / Porsche of Towson entry. “My Porsche of Towson car was great. Our second car of David Williams did a fantastic job. It was effortless for TPC Racing today and it was just a great beginning to our weekend.”

“It was a lot of fun,” stated David Williams, driver of the 37 TPC Racing / Porsche of Towson / Merkle entry. “The track and the car were great. This is my first time here and I am still learning the track. It’s a nice rhythm track and kind of reminds me a bit of Mid-Ohio, but probably a top-five track for me!”

Race two of the weekend would see Michael Levitas once again start on pole with teammate David Williams starting beside him in second. After making a chassis adjustment the night before, Levitas was now certain that he would have a stronger car and fix the looseness that he felt the day before. Williams had a great car from race one and was excited to run down Levitas and fight for the race win.

At the start of the race, both the #36 and #37 Porsche of Towson / Merkle GT3 Cup cars had fantastic starts. Right away, Levitas in the #36 car felt the setup changes and was turning lap times faster than the day before. David was close behind, but had slower Platinum Class cars in front that he had to battle with before being able to battle with teammate Michael Levitas.

As David was running down cars that were between him and Michael, he had a short off track excursion. The track was very greasy and with ten minutes remaining, David lost a bit of ground with the off course incident. Luckily, the car was not damaged and Williams was able to continue to finish second behind teammate Michael Levitas.

“Wow, what a race,” Levitas said. “I really had fun out there. I can’t thank my Porsche of Towson team enough!! Four wins so far this season for our TPC Racing/Porsche of Towson team is just fantastic. My teammate David Williams had me pulling double duty. He really pushed me to do better. It was a long race. We had a blast. Very exciting, very fun, we had a great time.”

“Not the race I wanted at all but I survived it,” Williams said. “Much different track today, much greasier, just completely different race. But great experience I really enjoyed it, great facility, great venue and a huge thank you to the TPC Racing/Porsche of Towson/Merkle team for such a great weekend.”

With such amazing results, the TPC Racing / Porsche of Towson team will be working hard to prepare for rounds five and six at Watkins Glen in June. The team has been up to Watkins Glen in the past with race wins and looking forward to being back out and fight for a three-peat!

About TPC Racing:

TPC Racing has its roots in the IMSA Supercar Series of the late 1980’s and early 1990s, as well in the Grand Am Rolex Series with over 28 race wins and 40 podium finishes. In 2004, the team won the team and drivers championship in the SGS class. In 2006, TPC Racing won the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in the GT Class.

By combining a lifetime of automotive enthusiasm, business experience and technical skill with advanced aeronautical training and certifications, Levitas has managed to extend the engineering of some for the most advanced and well-regarded machines in existence – Porsche race cars.

About Porsche of Towson:

Porsche of Towson is Baltimore’s only exclusive Porsche center. That means that our Porsche staff is 100% dedicated to the Porsche brand and nothing else. They will be able to assist you with all of your Porsche needs. On behalf of the entire Priority 1 Automotive Group family of dealerships, welcome to Porsche of Towson. We look forward to meeting all of your Porsche needs.

Porsche of Towson is a part of the Priority 1 Automotive Group which is a family owned and operated group of dealerships. As a family dealership, the family’s reputation in the community is of the utmost importance. Therefore, there is a tremendous focus on providing exceptional customer service. With a brand new state-of-the-art Porsche dealership (completed in 2010), the most elite and experienced group of client advisors for sales and service, and a highly trained team of service and support personnel, your sales and service experience is assured of being second to none. Our clients appreciate the way we do business. We know you will too!

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TPC Racing On Pole at Laguna Seca

Admin — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:08:48 +0000

Earlier today, TPC Racing drivers Michael Levitas and David Williams took the green flag in their TPC Racing / Porsche of Towson / Merkle GT3 Cup cars. The session started well with Michael Levitas in P1 and teammate David Williams right behind in P2.

About two laps after Levitas set his first fast lap, David Williams grabbed the pole in the 37 TPC Racing / Porsche of Towson / Merkle machine. Three laps later, Levitas had a clean track ahead and went for his flyer. As Michael Levitas crossed the start/finish in his #36 TPC Racing / Porsche of Towson / Merkle GT3 Cup, he was .5sec quicker that Williams in the #37 car and regained the pole. In the end, Michael turned a 1:30.7 and David turned a 1:31.2

This race will be a battle of the teammates today. Both Michael and David have great cars and are close to each others times which will make for very exciting racing. Race 1 will start today at 2:25pm PST (5:25EST)

After Qualifying in pit:

Both cars in tech and ready to go for Race 1:

TPC Racing Ready for Laguna Seca

Admin — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:19:20 +0000

(May 6, 2013) Jessup, MD – The TPC Racing team has finished up the final touches on the #36 and #37 TPC Racing / Porsche of Towson / Merkle Porsche GT3 Cup cars in preparation for Laguna Seca. After back-to-back wins for the 36 car of Michael Levitas and back-to-back second place finishes for David Williams in the 37 car, the TPC Racing team is ready to take that momentum forward to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California for rounds three and four of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama series.

TPC Racing has done a great deal in regards to preparation for Laguna Seca to keep the Porsches of Michael Levitas and David Williams up front. Both Michael and David are excited to take it on as it is a fun and challenging circuit.

“I always enjoy racing at Laguna Seca,” stated TPC Racing team owner and driver Michael Levitas. “2011 was the last time I raced there and we did well. After starting the season on such a high note, I am ready to work with my teammate David Williams and keep our TPC Racing / Porsche of Towson / Merkle GT3 Cup cars up front.”

This will be my first time at Laguna Seca,” stated David Williams, driver of the 37 entry. “Working with Mike (Levitas) and Randy Pobst to get me up to speed will be great, and from there, I know that the TPC Racing team will deliver a car that I can run at the front of the field with as I did at Sebring for rounds one and two.”

Also during the event, TPC Racing will be taking delivery of the team’s new 997.2 GT3 Cup that will run in the Platinum class later on in the season as well as a few racing in GTC with the ALMS series. The team has been working closely with Kevin Buckler and his TRG organization on the build of the new car for TPC Racing.

“Our TPC Racing team is thrilled to be taking delivery of our new 997.2 GT3 Cup during the Laguna Seca weekend,” stated Michael Levitas. “It has been an amazing build and Kevin Buckler and the TRG team have done a fantastic job getting the car assembled. Knowing Kevin and the TRG ream, we will be taking delivery of a car that we are assured will be at the front of the field in both the Platinum class of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge and GTC endurance category in ALMS. TRG is the top-choice organization to partner with TPC Racing for these tasks.”

“We are so excited to have TPC Racing and Mike Levitas joining us for several select events this year running with the ALMS GTC class”, stated TRG owner Kevin Buckler. “Mike and I have known each other for over 20 years and we have been good competitors and good friends as well — which is some the best part of racing. He has done a fantastic job with his racing programs and his business model and when the opportunity came for us to join forces and do a few races together we both immediately said…LETS DO IT!! We are really looking forward to putting a solid program together and hopefully a few podiums or wins and sharing a little champagne after it’s all over…”

On another high note, the TPC Racing team would like to welcome new sponsors and supporters to the team for the 2013 season. The team has just signed Porsche of Towson to join the TPC Racing / Merkle team. As well, TPC has CrunchDaddy Popcorn and Metro Pawn on board and is thrilled with the support.

About TPC Racing:

TPC Racing has its roots in the IMSA Supercar Series of the late 1980’s and early 1990s, where team owner and driver Michael Levitas managed the turbocharger programs that gave the fire-breathing Nissan 300ZX, Mazda RX7 Twin Turbo, Lotus Turbo Esprit and Consulier GTPs their prodigious power.

About Porsche of Towson:

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