Laguna Beach, CA – Nicolai Elghanayan scores his first Pirelli World Challenge win in Round 5 of the GTS – AM Series held at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut. After capturing Pole Position in Qualifying, Nicolai slid wide at the first corner and battled hard to stay in touch with the leader all the way to the pit stops. With superior pit strategy and execution by the Marco Polo Motorsports team, Nicolai found himself with an extremely narrow lead but managed to battle past the lapped competitors to keep second place at bay. The race ended under caution after two racers tangled in the high speed corner entering pit straight with the Marco Polo Motorsports team claiming their first checkered flag in Pirelli World Challenge competition!
Most first time winners have a critical adjustment in their program to increase performance, the Marco Polo Motorsports team made a key decision after much post event analysis from their PWC series debut. The choice was made to focus all resources on testing and setup for Lime Rock Park, a track which highlights the strengths of the Reiter Engineering KTM X-bow GT4, and take aim at improved qualifying speed and finishing on the podium. An ambitious testing plan was scripted for the week prior to Lime Rock. To have the highest potential of success for both Nicolai and team, Reiter Engineering’s chief development driver Tomas Enge was enlisted to test with Nicolai at the high speed Willow Springs Raceway, and also Buttonwillow Raceway Park in California the week preceding Lime Rock.
During these sessions many combinations of vehicle setup and driving techniques were tested, with a solid improvement in qualifying trim and approach to driving the KTM. To close out the team’s week, they towed to Portland International Raceway to test again on the Friday to start preparations for racing at the July PWC event. While on site at Portland, Nicolai competed in the SCCA event in his Lotus, winning the STU class race to close out an extremely successful week.
Race 2 at Lime Rock Park started with Nicolai on pole positon, as the qualifying grid was set by the fastest race lap times in Race 1. The MarcoPolo KTM took the lead at the start, only to have the first lap end with the beginning of a lengthy full course caution, due to competitor contact and subsequent course clean up. Once the green flag dropped again, Nicolai had a huge battle for the lead which ended at his scheduled pit stop. His pit stop went flawlessly, and crew chief John Mueller’s choice of timing of his stop was key as the KTM rejoined in clean air and started turning extremely fast laps stretching the lead. Unfortunately, an issue developed resulting in massive vibration and with 8 minutes remaining in race 2, Nicolai slowed to ensure a finish, taking a third place podium in the Amatuer class and sixth place overall.
With the win in Race 5 and lessons learned in Race 6, Nicolai and the Marco Polo Motorsports team are prepared and ready for the next racetrack, Road America, to continue their efforts and secure points for this fledgeling team and build experience in the series.
About MarcoPolo Motorsports
Marco Polo Motorsport started in the 80’s as a self-funded independent race organization that participated in vintage motorcycle racing. As of 2014, Jeff Elghanayan founder of Marco Polo Motorsports acted on his family’s enthusiasm with Lotus, and purchased 3 Lotus race cars to participate in the Lotus Cup USA events with his older sons Nicolai and Bryson for the 2015 -2017 season. As the 2017 season ended in Lotus Cup USA with a championship for Nicolai, Jeff set his sights for the Pirelli World Challenge 2018 season. Marco Polo Motorsports purchased 2 KTM X-BOW GT4 cars for Nicolai to campaign and expand his talents. Marco Polo Motorsports is on the search for additional corporate partners to grow the brand for the 2018 PWC season.
About Muellerized Inc.
Muellerized Inc. is a suspension and chassis specialist shop founded in 2004 by third generation champion racer John Mueller, who draws upon his 34 years of road race driving experience to identify and implement many unique solutions. The Muellerized Team offers a full range of vehicle services, for street, competition and also track day vehicles in their well-equipped 5600 sq. ft. headquarters located in Santa Ana, California.
About Tahirih Justice Center
The Tahirih Justice Center, or Tahirih, is a national charitable non-governmental organization headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, United States that aims to protect women and girls fleeing gender-based violence and persecution. Tahirih’s holistic model combines free legal services and social services case management with public policy advocacy, training and education.
About Scuderia Rare Parts
Rod Drew from FAI founded Scuderia Rare Parts in partnership with Jeff Elghanayan to create a cutting-edge rapid prototyping machining company to re-create the unavailable, and often obsolete Ferrari vintage parts. Scuderia Rare Parts is capable in reproducing automotive, motorcycle and aviation components for any rare vehicle in need of this service.
About Ferrari Electronics
Rod Drew from FAI founded Ferrari Electronics in partnership with Jeff Elghanayan to repair, refurbish, and restore electronic dash clusters for Ferrari vehicles including any rare Ferrari electronic components that is need of this service.
About KTM Reiter Engineering
REITER Engineering is the only manufacture worldwide of Race – Lamborghinis, Camaros and KTM X-BOW GT4 vehicles. Its core business sectors are the race team division and engineering unit. The company is able to provide a full range of race services and development services for racecars. It covers the full range of motorsport service from design, development, prototyping, testing and manufacturing. Up to now, the race cars developed by Reiter Engineering fight on 4 continents in several championships (e.g. Blancpain GT Series, ADAC GT Masters, Asian GT, Pirelli World Challenge) and in the History (24h von Le Mans)
About Performance and Racing Tech Talk
A full public relations, News Media, Global Web & Radio Marketing Company with specialty websites for the Automotive, Marine, and Motorcycle Industry.
Laguna Beach, CA – A new year for MarcoPolo Motorsports and newcomer Nicolai Elghanayan as they launch racing campaign for the Pirelli World Challenge Championship with a pair of KTM Xbow GT4s prepared by third generation champion racer John Mueller, and the Muellerized team. Nicolai has been testing throughout the winter months to acclimate himself to the new cars and the Pirelli tires to ready himself for the challenges that await him in PWC. The last three seasons Nicolai has successfully competed in the Lotus Cup USA series, rising from the 2015 series most improved driver to dominating the 2016 and 2017 series championships. 2017 also saw SCCA race experience gained with 5 victories and his PWC touring class debut at the season finale at Laguna Seca.
Pirelli World Challenge GTS will be a significant year for the Elghanayan organization, both in racing and personal achievement, for Nicolai Elghanayan will be graduating from USC Architecture School while actively campaigning in the 2018 season. Nicolai said, “I am excited to step up in class from Lotus Cup USA and into PWC, I know exactly what I am getting into. It is the chance of a lifetime, and a commitment from my parents has certainly been a motivating factor. I have done more testing this year with the new KTM Xbow GT4 car’s development and perhaps and most important, I trust John’s valuable set-up judgment for my first PWC GTS series race start in Texas.”
Muellerized Inc. is a southern California race shop that specializes in developing, installing and mail order shipping pre setup automotive suspension systems. During the 14 year history of the company, the race preparation side of the business has been a strong championship contender in every series they have participated in. Muellerized clients have won 9 season championships between SCCA and Lotus Cup USA competition, including winning 24 consecutive races and multiple automotive media contests. Team leader John Mueller is really excited and inspired by this opportunity, “My family has been winning races for the past 54 years and getting the chance to mentor the sublime talent of such a fine young man as Nicolai Elghanayan, as he takes the next step up in his racing career is such a special privilege to me. Bringing the Mueller brand back to one of the top racing series in North America has been a lifelong goal for me personally, to do so with my Muellerized teammates and Marco Polo Motorsports is such the icing on this Pirelli World Challenge cake!!”
MarcoPolo Motorsports is a multi-generational motorsports racing/collection/restoration family. Beginning in the early 1980s racing historic motorcycles, Marco Polo Motorsports strives to race, preserve and present rare and valuable racing vehicles. With that drive to get some of the finest collectibles from any part of the planet, Marco Polo Motorsports also has partnered with Scuderia Rare Parts and Ferrari Electronics to service, refurbish, and manufacture rare components for Ferrari® vehicles. Team owner Jeff Elghanayan looks forward to the adventure that Pirelli World Challenge brings to each competitor, “the Marco Polo Motorsports mission is to challenge ourselves and our competitors with thoughtful, clever innovation and execution both on and off the track. Like our namesake we continue exploring the racing landscape.”
About MarcoPolo Motorsports
MarcoPolo Motorsport started in the 80’s as a self-funded independent race organization that participated in vintage motorcycle racing. As of 2014, Jeff Elghanayan founder of MarcoPolo Motorsports acted on his family’s enthusiasm with Lotus, and purchased 3 Lotus race cars to participate in the Lotus Cup USA events with his older sons Nicolai and Bryson for the 2015 -2017 season. As the 2017 season ended in Lotus Cup USA with a championship for Nicolai, Jeff set his sights for the Pirelli World Challenge 2018 season. Marco Polo Motorsports purchased 2 KTM X-BOW GT4 cars for Nicolai to campaign and expand his talents. Marco Polo Motorsports is on the search for additional corporate partners to grow the brand for the 2018 PWC season.
About Muellerized Inc.
Muellerized Inc. is a suspension and chassis specialist shop founded in 2004 by third generation champion racer John Mueller, who draws upon his 34 years of road race driving experience to identify and implement many unique solutions. The Muellerized Team offers a full range of vehicle services, for street, competition and also track day vehicles in their well-equipped 5600 sq. ft. headquarters located in Santa Ana, California.
About Tahirih Justice Center
The Tahirih Justice Center, or Tahirih, is a national charitable non-governmental organization headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, United States that aims to protect women and girls fleeing gender-based violence and persecution. Tahirih’s holistic model combines free legal services and social services case management with public policy advocacy, training and education.
About Scuderia Rare Parts
Rod Drew from FAI founded Scuderia Rare Parts in partnership with Jeff Elghanayan to create a cutting-edge rapid prototyping machining company to re-create the unavailable, and often obsolete Ferrari vintage parts. Scuderia Rare Parts is capable in reproducing automotive, motorcycle and aviation components for any rare vehicle in need of this service.
About Ferrari Electronics
Rod Drew from FAI founded Ferrari Electronics in partnership with Jeff Elghanayan to repair, refurbish, and restore electronic dash clusters for Ferrari vehicles including any rare Ferrari electronic components that is need of this service.
About KTM Reiter Engineering
REITER Engineering is the only manufacture worldwide of Race – Lamborghinis, Camaros and KTM X-BOW GT4 vehicles. Its core business sectors are the race team division and engineering unit. The company is able to provide a full range of race services and development services for racecars. It covers the full range of motorsport service from design, development, prototyping, testing and manufacturing. Up to now, the race cars developed by Reiter Engineering fight on 4 continents in several championships (e.g. Blancpain GT Series, ADAC GT Masters, Asian GT, Pirelli World Challenge) and in the History (24h von Le Mans)
About Performance and Racing Tech Talk
A full public relations, News Media, Global Web & Radio Marketing Company with specialty websites for the Automotive, Marine, and Motorcycle Industry.
PR & Media Contact
Stefan Pagnani
Performance & Racing Tech Talk
spagnani@performanceracingtechtalk.com
Muellerized…Team
Lotus has made our return
to the Lotus Cup USA
series with a new driver and
car combination.
We are
extremely proud to
introduce Nicolai
Elghanayan with his
supercharged V6 Exige S.
Nicolai raced to his first
career pole position and
his first career victory
by taking the overall and
trophy class wins at
Thunderhill Raceway Park,
August 29, 2015.
Here he
battles competitors for
the overall lead entering
turn 10 on his way to the
win.
Victory
feels so good after a
multi year quest to win in
the Lotus Cup USA Series.
Nicolai
out front and pulling
away.
We are thrilled to see
teammates Jet Black
Racing, Jem F/X
Motorsports, Road Race
Engineering, and our young
driver, Canaan O'Connell,
conquer the 2015 Pikes
Peak International Hill
Climb with a finish of
25th overall and 5th in
the Unlimited Division
using our Muellerized
Ohlins suspension.
Our entire
Muellerized team is so
proud of our Lotus Cup
driver Derek Wang and
his willingness to
consistently push the
bitter limit to showcase
our work each lap he has
driven this season,
thanks for bringing us
the 2014 Lotus Cup USA
championship! Derek
Wang's Lotus Cup USA
2014 results:
Auto Club Speedway - Race 1 - 1st in class, 2nd overall
Auto Club Speedway - Race 2 - 1st in class, 1st overall
Chuckwalla Valley Raceway - Race 1 - 1st in class, 2nd overall
Chuckwalla Valley Raceway - Race 2 - DNF, led overall, fastest lap
Buttonwillow Raceway - Race 1 - 1st in class, 2nd overall
Buttonwillow Raceway - Race 2 - 1st in class, 3rd overall
Thunderhill Raceway - Race 1 - 1st in class, 1st overall Thunderhill Raceway - Race 2 - 1st in class, 1st overall Laguna Seca Raceway - Race 1 - DNF electronic throttle failure Laguna Seca Raceway - Race 2 - 1st in class, 2nd overall Sonoma Raceway - Race 1 - 1st in class, 2nd overall Sonoma Raceway - Race 2 - DNF fuel pump failure Spring Mountain - Race 1 - 1st in class, 1st overall Spring Mountain - Race 2 - 1st in class, 1st overall
Get your 2014 Muellerized Lotus Cup Champion Hoodie or T-shirt - email sales@muellerized.com
$35 each Available Hoodie Sizes XL 46-48 Large 42-44 Medium 38-40 Small 34-36
$15 each Available T-shirt Sizes 2XL XL Large Medium
Derek
leading overall on the
way to the overall
victory, Race 2 -
California Speedway -
Lotus Cup:
Derek
barely leading overall
having a heated battle
with the fastest
Trophy class Lotus 211
which is the factory
built Lotus race car
following our humble
2007 Exige all day
long:
Derek
Wang leading overall
at the Chuckwalla
round of the Lotus Cup
on his way to the
Super Sport class win:
Almost
carnage lap 1 of the
Buttonwillow Lotus Cup
Round. We are running
third overall, about
to be second,
thankfully he missed
Greg's 211 which spun
and is picture
re-entering the track
backwards:
We are
extremely thankful to
have had the pleasure
of working with Derek
Wang over the past
decade with multiple
racing programs. It's
people like him that
make our work here at
Muellerized worth it
on so many levels:
Lotus
Cup USA - Round 2 @
Chuckwalla Valley
Raceway 2014 - Notice
our Muellerized Lotus
leading overall in
every shot:
Derek
Wang about to debut
the first track
session of the
Muellerized Lotus in
it's stock
configuration,
December 2012. The
only thing the same
are the smiles:
Dale E
Dog is getting older
so the shared events
with the Vintage Auto
Racing Association are
her favorites:
We are
excited to announce
that there has been an
unprecedented price
reduction on the
Ohlins Road &
Track line which will
allow us to offer
Muellerized Ohlins at
drastically reduced
rates:
NOTE:
Muellerized custom
configured setup and
alternative springs
available at
additional cost for
each of the above
applications. Sales
tax additional for
sales to customers
within California.
We look
forward to campaigning
Derek Wang's
Muellerized Lotus
(constructed entirely
in house in our Costa
Mesa facility) in the
Lotus Cup in 2014.
Here's some shots of
our work and success
in this series this
past year:
Derek
Wang qualified first
and finished 1st and
2nd with his
Muellerized Lotus in
Round 5 at Sears Point
(with no prior
experience at this
track):
Derek
Wang's Muellerized
Lotus Exige S featured
often in the Lotus Cup
USA Round 5 @ Sears
Point video (look for
"Wang" on helmet and
middle support on
windshield):
Congratulations
to Ron from RS Motors
for winning the road
course event (by
nearly two full
seconds) and the
autocross event (by a
full second) with his
Muellerized Ohlins and
Competition Rear Diff!
The Modified Magazine
Street Car Shootout
results are in the
September issue
available now.
Congratulations to our
teammates from Team
Falken, Race Tech
Services, and our driver
JTP (Justin Pawlak) for
qualifying first for the
2nd consecutive round
and putting our Ford
Racing Mustang on the
podium in New Jersey. We
look forward to
continuing our success
at Round 5 in Seattle
and for the remainder of
the 2013 Formula Drift
Season.
It
was our pleasure to
participate in
preparing what we
consider to be one
of the most
important vehicles
on Pike’s Peak 2013.
We configured a
custom set of our
Muellerized Ohlins
for the 2014
Mitsubishi Outlander
safety car to be
used on this year’s
hill climb.
MITSUBISHI MOTORS
ALL-NEW OUTLANDER THE
“OFFICIAL SAFETY
VEHICLE” OF THE 2013
PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL
HILL CLIMB
Monday, Jun.
17 2013
Colorado
Springs, June 17———Mitsubishi
Motors North America,
Inc. (MMNA) is proud to
announce that its
completely redesigned
2014 Mitsubishi
Outlander crossover will
be the “Official Safety
Vehicle” for this year’s
91st running of the
Pikes Peak International
Hill Climb (PPIHC) to be
held on June 30, 2013.
With available
technologically-advanced
safety features
including Lane Departure
Warning (LDW), Adaptive
Cruise Control (ACC) and
Forward Collision
Mitigation (FCM),the
stylish seven-passenger
2014 Outlander will
represent Mitsubishi in
serving as the “Official
Safety Vehicle” for this
annual motorsports
extravaganza.
Held in the
breathtaking Rocky
Mountains in Colorado
Springs, the challenging
Pikes Peak International
Hill Climb features a
unique road course that
is 12.42 miles in length
with 156 corners,
commencing at an
elevation of 9,390 feet
and finishing at 14,110
feet – nearly three
miles above sea level.
First run in 1916, this
annual event is the
second oldest motor race
in America after the
Indianapolis 500.
In addition to its
remarkable safety
technology, the new 2014
Mitsubishi Outlander is
available with the
company’s outstanding
Super All-Wheel Control
(S-AWC) all-wheel drive
system that provides
superior stability,
traction and control –
perfect for negotiating
not only the many
serpentine twists and
turns of the Pikes Peak
course but also the
harsh weather and road
conditions that can
change in an instant
along this
high-elevation route.
Mitsubishi Motors will
also serve as the
Presenting Sponsor at
the 2013 Pikes Peak
International Hill
Climb.
The legendary
Mitsubishi Lancer
Evolution
high-performance sports
sedan will also join the
dynamic new 2014
Mitsubishi Outlander
crossover as a
supplemental safety
vehicle. These vehicles
were built specifically
for the race with
support coming from
AEM®, BBS USA, Cobb
Tuning, DC Sports®,
Kenwood USA Corporation,
and Muellerized
Suspension Tuning.
In Mitsubishi Motors’
debut in last year’s
running of the Pikes
Peak International Hill
Climb, its innovative i-MiEV
Evolution
all-electric prototype
racing car (using the
identical electric
motors and lithium-ion
battery cells found in
the 100%
electric-powered
Mitsubishi i-MiEV
production vehicle)
scored an impressive
second-place finish in
the Electric Vehicle
Division in 2013.
This year, Mitsubishi
Motors will return to
the Pikes Peak
International Hill Climb
with an all-new, more
powerful 100%
electric-powered
prototype racing car
dubbed the MiEV
Evolution II in a
two-car assault, in the
very capable hands of
two-time Dakar Rally
winner Hiroshi Masuoka
and six-time Pikes Peak
overall motorcycle
champion and 2002 SCORE
International off-road
series champion Greg
Tracy.
About Mitsubishi
Motors North America,
Inc.
Mitsubishi Motors North
America, Inc., (MMNA) is
responsible for all
manufacturing, sales,
marketing, research and
development operations
for Mitsubishi Motors in
the United States. MMNA
sells coupes, sedans and
sport utility vehicles
through a network of
approximately 400
dealers. In November of
2011, MMNA launched the
battery-powered electric
vehicle Mitsubishi
i-MiEV as part of a
corporate mission to
offer consumers more
environmentally
responsible modes of
transportation. This
battery-powered electric
vehicle technology
addresses the need for
vehicles that produce
zero tailpipe emissions
and support a growing
agenda for
sustainability. For more
information, contact the
Mitsubishi Motors News
Bureau at (888) 560-6672
or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.
Congratulations
to our friends at Top
Power Racing in Guyana
(South America) for
breaking the lap record
and for continuing to
crush their competition in
the Caribbean Championship
with our Muellerized Moton
Suspension System under
"The Bush Cow" Evo 8!:
Muellerized
Evos run Circuit of the
Americas on Feb 1-3, 2013:
Muellerized
looks forward to serving
our clients in 2013:
The right
equipment, knowledge, and
inventory to help you
succeed:
Muellerized
track-side support/driver
development - Lotus Exige
Cup:
Ohlins Road
& Track for Nissan
Skyline GT-R (R35):
C6 Z06
Corvette with Muellerized
Ohlins TTX Coilovers:
Muellerized
RS Wins Street + Unlimited
@ XtremeSpeed:
Muellerized
RS Modifications
(Sampling):
Muellerized
Ohlins Road & Track
for R56 Mini Cooper Setup
+ Install:
R1 FD RX-7
with Muellerized Ohlins
Road & Track in Puerto
Rico:
2013 Evo X
with Muellerized Ohlins
R&T installed from
new:
Congrats to
all Muellerized clients
successful 2011 season!
La Goma Evo
wins championship in
Dominican Republic with
Muellerized Ohlins:
Bullet
Performance Wins 25 Hours
of Thunderhill w/
Muellerized Motons:
La Goma
Mazda 6 Wins in Dominican
Republic w/ Muellerized
setup:
BMW 1M with
Muellerized Moton
Clubsport Coilovers:
Mazda FD
RX-7 with Muellerized
Ohlins Road & Track:
Mazda Miata
with Muellerized Ohlins
Road & Track:
After focusing on other
race team programs for
the past few years we
have retooled our multi
SCCA championship
Evolution. Shown below
are the first shake down
laps since 2006 with
Muellerized principal
John Mueller at the
helm.
1-18-2011 at the Streets
of Willow Springs
Muellerized Moton Street
Sport Suspension is here!
Currently we are
developing our staged
upgrades for the 997
version of Porsche's
timeless 911. More to
come...
Muellerized...
Ohlins
Road
&
Track
Coilover
Suspension
Select application: Evo
8/9 or Evo
X (pictured below):
Below are a
few pictures from our
friends/neighbors at
Bullet Performance who
recently took 1st in class
(again) and 2nd overall in
this year's 25 Hour Race
at Thunderhill Raceway
with Muellerized Motons:
