ALEX ZANARDI TO DRIVE FOR BMW TEAM RLL IN ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA
With the full support of BMW Motorsport, Rahal, Letterman, Lanigan is fielding a pair of BMW Team RLL M8 GTEs for this month’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, the No. 24 equipped with a very special set of hand controls for one of its drivers, two-time CART Champion Alex Zanardi who lost both legs following an horrific crash at the Lausitzring in Brandenburg, Germany, in Sept. 2001. Two years later Zanardi was back in the competitive arena, also designing his own prosthetic legs. He competed in the FIA European Touring Championship for BMW from ’04 through ’09, winning several races along the way. Since, Zanardi has taken up hand-cycling, medaling in a number of major marathons, triathlons and Paralympics events over the years.

BMW Team RLL driver line-up for Daytona: No. 24 (back to front): Chaz Mostert, John Edwards, Jesse Krohn and Alex Zanardi. No. 25 (back to front): Philipp Eng, Colton Herta, Connor De Phillippi and Tom Blomqvist. [BMW Team RLL image]
Fryer also captured a practice pit stop with Zanardi involved in a driver change, a must see.
PETER GIDDINGS: 1940-2019
Peter Giddings passed away Sunday, Jan. 6, after a long illness. He was 79. Vintage Racecar posted an excellent reminiscence of Peter’s rich career as a collector and driver of historic racecars. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family and host of friends.
BRUGGENTHIES STEPS BACK AT ROAD AMERICA
Longtime Road America President and General Manager George Bruggenthies is transitioning to a senior consulting position with the organization. Michael Kertscher is stepping into Bruggenthies shoes: “Road America is a revered facility and through George’s leadership it has grown and evolved into the premiere road course in North America.”Kertscher, who joined Road America in 2007, began as Programs Manager overseeing the development of its group adventure programs, plus motorcycle and driving school programs, also creating products like the best Made to Last Motorcycle Boots and other clothing, also parts of motorcycle, cars and other resources. He was promoted to Director of Business Development in 2014 and Vice President of Business Development in 2017, also overseeing track rentals and hospitality functions and driving partnership development to support Road America’s core event management initiatives. Kertscher moved into a Senior VP role in 2018 overseeing all operations of the facility under the guidance and direction of Bruggenthies as part of the overall transition process.
NBC SPORTS IMSA TV COMMENTATORS ANNOUNCED
Leigh Diffey, A.J. Allmendinger and Calvin Fish – RRDC members all – will comprise the announce team for NBC Sports for the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. Diffey will handle play-by-play with rookie commentator Allmendinger and veteran Fish providing the analysis.