MONTEREY, CA (Saturday, April 30, 2022) – Team TGM’s high hopes of Californian success came unstuck in the latest round of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
After Hugh Plumb was able to post the team’s best qualifying this season and stay in the top three for the first 40 minutes of the race, hopes were high for Team TGM’s success during today’s Monterey Sports Car 150.
However, fates changed after a pit lane incident ruptured the radiator on the #46 car after Matt Plumb took over, and 30 minutes later, the #64 car, which was working up through the field after an early penalty, lost power.
“We were very optimistic about the race, especially after Hugh took third in qualifying. He ran a great stint, and I think a win was possible and certainly a podium. Matt was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time,” explained Ted Giovanis, team owner and driver.
“I made a bit of a mistake on the start, which caused us to go down a lap in the #64 car, but Owen was doing his usual fantastic job of moving the car up, and we were hopeful of getting a break on a caution and get the lap back.
“It’s unclear what exactly happened to cause the car to lose power, but Joe (Varde) and the guys will get it back to the shop and work with Porsche to determine the cause.
“These are the kind of days in racing where you can only learn what you can, put it behind you, and look forward to Mid Ohio in a couple of weeks.”
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All the action from Sebring International Raceway as Team TGM prepares for round two of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Championship. Today - we race!Ted Giovanis the author FOCUS FORWARD: Life lessons from racing Life comes at you fast when you’re traveling 180...
Ted Giovanis
“We’ve come up empty-handed because we had high hopes for this event. Unfortunately, at the start, I made an error by changing lanes trying to protect the inside line, but I did it before the start/finish line so I got a drive-through penalty. Then Owen got in the car and was doing great. Late in his stint, we had changed tires to help him get upfront if there were a double yellow, but the car had problems, and he had to pull off. All in all, it was a disappointing weekend for both cars, but we will regroup and come back.”
Owen Trinkler
“We’re always thinking long game, coming in here just two races in and arrived here leading the points. Obviously, that won’t be true going out, but we’ve had a good run of momentum and have gotten sidetracked – it’s about how you bounce back. Motorsports is going to be up and down. Ted had an issue at the start when he changed lanes, I take some responsibility, I’m there to coach him and the spotter is on the radio, but anytime Ted makes a mistake, I put it on me. We’ll come back and make sure we clean that up next time. The car was running fine; we were just a lap down. The car had some sort of problem, not sure what but it just all of a sudden shut off. It’s just unfortunate; even if we are a lap down, I want to finish races, I hate to have this DNF, but we will take the points we get out of here and move on to Mid Ohio.”
Hugh Plumb
“As difficult as this was, I think there are always good positives to take away. We had a good car at the start, I got hit into turn one, which did something to the toe in the front. Leading up to the race, all good positive things, we made headway, and the team performed well. Sometimes you just have these days where the stars are aligning and everyone is looking for the same piece of real estate in pit lane, and there wasn’t a whole lot to control. A car turned in while we were coming out, and that was the end of our day. Unfortunately for the other TGM car, Ted and Owen, not sure exactly what happened, but the car stopped running, and that’s the end of their day. That’s what makes the sport what it is, big highs, big lows, it’s just important to not to overthink it and keep trying to get better.”
Matt Plumb
“I think we’ve made strides with the cars. It’s been a while since Team TGM has been with Porsche, so we’ve made it better and better. Hugh qualified well, and we were on track to a good finish. The racing gods didn’t smile on either car, but that’s what makes this sport great, and so we will take the positives and move on.”
Ted Giovanis the author
FOCUS FORWARD: Life lessons from racing
Life comes at you fast when you’re traveling 180 miles per hour. For Ted Giovanis, it’s also where you can learn the most valuable lessons. Since becoming a race car driver three decades ago at age forty-six—a ride that is still in overdrive—Giovanis has discovered how the tools of racing and the teamwork within it are applicable to life and business. In forty-eight motivating and, at times, exhilarating chapters, he shares his experience and knowledge.
