Photo : DOMINIQUE BREUGNOT/ACO

 

Originally from Caracas (Venezuela) Enzo Potolicchio landed suddenly on the international stage on the 17th of March 2012. That day, at the 12 Hours of Sebring it was the launch of the new FIA World Endurance Championship. With Ryan Dalziel and Stephane Sarrazin, Enzo Potolicchio finished third overall and won the LM P2 class at the wheel of the Honda HPD of Starworks Motorsports. In Grand Am, the American team had more surprises: with two more wins (24 Hours of Le Mans and the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo), they won the class title at the end of the season. "I think we really opened the way for competitors of the Grand Am series,” said Enzo Potolicchio. “They realized that we can win in the World Championship although we are a small team. It is not necessary to have big budgets, big support and big sponsors to make it work. In fact, just having the right people and the right drivers. "

In 2013, Enzo Potolicchio set up his own team, 8Star Motorsports, entered in the LM GTE Am World Championship with a Ferrari 458 Italia. The beginnings of 8Star were equally impressive, with a second place at Silverstone in April and the LM GTE Am victory at Spa-Francorchamps. 8Star Motorsports is also entered in Grand Am with two Corvettes in the Daytona Prototype class. "Our success in the World Championship also enabled us to contact Sebastien Bourdais last year for the Grand Am race in Indianapolis," said Enzo Potolicchio . "He was especially happy to run because at Starworks Motorsport we won the race! Now, the big drivers know who we are and they are happy to join us. Thus, someone like Sarrazin has really become a friend. " The two French drivers will be in the Grand Am race this Saturday, 10th of August at the wheel of the orange Corvette of 8Star Motorsports. Stéphane Sarrazin will share the wheel with Enzo Potolicchio and Michael Valiante, and Sebastien Bourdais in the No. 4 car with Emilio di Guida.

Click these links to find out more about Grand Am and American Le Mans Series races on 10th and 11th of August.
Click here HERE for Stéphane Sarrazin and Sébastien Bourdais in qualifying for Grand Am Indianapolis (26th July), and HERE to find out about 8Star Motorsports.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO

Photo : CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES (LE MANS, SARTHE), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, QUALIFYING, 20 JUNE 2013. Driven at Le Mans by Enzo Potolicchio, Rui Aguas and Jason Bright, the Ferrari of 8Star Motorsports carries the logo of United Sportscar Racing, the name of the new American series for 2014 with the merger of the American Le Mans Series and Grand Am.