Miami, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/22/2016 -- The races which BMW Motorsports describes as "Fantastic cars, legendary race tracks, top-class drivers and passionate fans" is seeing a new competitor hit the track on March 19th, 2016. Jayson Colavalla is turning heads as he makes his debut entrance into the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Races at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours Of Sebring just three hours from his home town of Miami, Florida.
"I cut my teeth with years of street racing and I loved every minute of it," Colavalla says, "To be able to work with such world-class teams like BMW and Porsche - I could never imagine this. It's like a dream come true."
Jayson Colavalla's excitement is no exaggeration. The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is North America's top racing series for sports cars drawing a huge number of both racers and spectators. This past January's 24 Hours of Daytona race launched the 46th season of the Championship organized by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). This Championship traces its history all the way back to the 1971 IMSA Camel GT season and shows no signs of slowing down as being one of the premier places to see the sport's best drivers competing against each other in a test of control, performance, endurance, and speed.
The 12 Hours of Sebring race to be held March 19th is the second classic at the start of the season. The 12-hour, 17 corner, 3.7 mile circuit race has been held at the Sebring International Raceway since 1952. BMW has always played a major role in the IWSC (the former title of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Races). The race at Sebring has been especially good to BMW Team RLL in recent years. In both 2011 and 2012 the team from Hilliard won both times. It finished third to later return to the podium in 2014.
Being such a strong leader in the IMSA, it's no surprise the BMW CCA Club brought Jayson Colavalla, nicknamed 'RUSH,' onto their team. The BMW CCA both organizes and oversees the BMW CCA Club Racing series which has become one of the largest single-marque amateur racing series in the USA. Since it's founding in 1995, BMW CCA Club Racing has grown to nearly 50 annual races, organized by region, with more than a dozen classes for different models and levels of modification. The club is always on the lookout for new drivers with a knack for commitment, control and speed. Colavalla is no exception to that rule.
When asked how the Miami born driver with a Cuban-Italian heritage got his start in racing Colavalla recalls his younger years, "I was racing cars and motorcycles before I had a drivers license." Being no stranger to commitment, hard work and gratitude he continues on with excitement in his voice, "To have the opportunity to be able to race with BMW, Porsche, and Ferrari is a dream come true. They are the best of the best world class teams."
Bringing even more buzz to the air, Colavalla's full time racing schedule will be taking off at full speed all the way in California on March 12th, just several days before The 12 Hours Of Sebring race. The BMW CCA Club's race at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway will officially initiate Colavalla as a full time racer. Every professional driver remembers the race that initiates their official full time racing schedule. For Jayson Colavalla, this is it. His voice reverberates with the same excitement and enthusiasm he typically produces on the track. Seasoned viewers of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Races appreciate the excitement and buzz that fresh talent like Colavalla brings to the community.
Race enthusiasts are especially excited for this season's events. Year after year the the races provide a great opportunity to appreciate the performance of perfectly built engines, the honed skills of committed drivers, and the inspiration that anyone who works hard can still fight for their dreams whether if it ends in checkers or wreckers.
Colavalla's story of success is an inspiration for all those aspiring to be on the track professionally. Racing isn't for a limited group of elite; it's for anyone who has the motivation to perfect their talent, who's willing to work hard, and keep looking for the right opportunities that make a career.
"I've had great opportunities working with NASCAR teams," Jayson remembers, "That has helped to mold me so that I can work with great teams like BMW, Porsche, and Ferrari."
Racing is one of the last things in life you need to see live. Streaming will never do. The roar of the engine, the speed of the cars, the thrill as the finish line approaches, and the anticipation as an accident unfolds before your eyes in what feels like slow motion. If your'e a fan of racing, you know you get your money's worth at every event. This season's IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Races will be no exception. Watch the inside gap folks, Jayson Colavalla is coming up fast and it's going to be a good race.
Get up on your feet! Let's go racing boys!
Website: http://www.imsa.com