2022 Aspiring Driver Shootout winner Henry Drury looks to build on the lessons learned in his first three Toyota GR Cup weekends
MILLVILLE, NJ (July 16, 2024) – Precision Racing LA w/PT Autosport and Henry Drury head to VIRginia International Raceway this week for a pair of Toyota GR Cup races – with Drury looking for that breakthrough podium finish.
Almost nine weeks have passed since the GR Cup’s last race weekend at COTA, where Drury earned an 11th place finish in his No. 88 PT Autosport Toyota GR86 Cup Car – and checked off a significant number of educational items from the information database. Clearly the 24-year-old English born, Tampa, Fla. resident can’t wait to get back on track, clocking numerous hours behind the wheel of the iRacing version of his car to prepare and stay sharp.
“So they call it a summer break, but in reality nothing slows down and none of us take any time off!” said Drury. “From the moment the checkered flag fell at COTA, I went straight back into the rhythm of training and preparing, and the entire Precision Racing LA w/ PT Autosport team wasted no time in analyzing where we need to improve to keep moving forwards and break into the top 5. Obviously nothing compares to actual track time but we’re very lucky in that the GR Cup series has such a tight partnership with a simulator provider in iRacing, so racing in the GR Cup eSports League gave me the chance to learn a bit more in terms of what to expect wheel to wheel!. You can run a million laps on your own, but nothing compares to close, hard racing.”
PT Autosport team principal Jason Myers oversees the team’s junior program, that includes 2023 Shootout winner Brenna Schubert, and Alex Sedgwick’s Porsche Carrera Cup North America program. With applications now closed for the 2024 Shootout, Myers appreciates Drury’s continued commitment to furthering his racing career.
“We’re very excited to have Henry back in the No. 88 PT Autosport Toyota GR Cup car for VIR this coming weekend,” said Myers. “Henry was here testing a couple weeks back and really took to the historic circuit, especially the high-speed esses! I think this track is an equalizer for many, as it’s got a lot of high-speed/high-risk areas coupled with some very technical corners. We’re excited to see how Henry has been performing, and now in the second half of the season, hoping he continues to bring his fight to the top-10 and land some great positions in qualifying and the races.”
Ramping up his sim game, Drury joined PT Autosport eSeries winner Michael Janney last weekend, racing the Precision Racing LA Toyota GR86 Cup Cars in a virtual event at VIR, finishing P2 and P8.
“The eSports league event last weekend was awesome,” said Drury. “We ran P1 and P3 until Michael just barely lost out at the line and a random incident damaged my car, but I could wax lyrical about the quality of the league and the drivers all day – it’s an awesome showcase of both the racing that Toyota GR Cup puts on both real and virtual, as well as the level of talent in eSports..”
Drury has added a new sponsor for the VIR weekend – Apex Racing Lab. He will be on-site at Apex’s HQ in Cary, NC this Wednesday for media, and an event that will give fans the chance to race against him on the Apex simulators.
“I’m incredibly excited to work with Apex Racing Lab for the VIR Race weekend! As with any racing series, testing is hard to come by, and the closest you can get to track time without testing is through a professional simulator. I’m incredibly grateful to Apex Racing Lab and John Dicostanzo for their support this weekend – their open-to-anyone professional grade equipment has made a huge difference in preparation for this race weekend and I love that I have the opportunity to continue proving that eSports is a true starting point for aspiring young racing drivers.”
The Toyota GR Cup series will contest two 45-minute races at VIR – race one will take the green flag Saturday at 1:55 p.m. ET, with race two Sunday at 12:15 p.m. Both races will be broadcast live at www.grcup.com.
PT Autosport would like to thank partners STEAM Sports Foundation, Classic Car Club Manhattan and New Jersey Motorsports Park.
About PT Autosport — Discover Unique Talent. Develop Champions.
PT Autosport, based at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ, campaigns rising star Alex Sedgwick (UK) in the 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup North America series with JDX Racing, 2022 Aspiring Driver Shootout winner Henry Drury (UK) in the Toyota GR Cup North America series with Precision Racing LA, and 2023 Aspiring Driver Shootout winner Brenna Schubert (USA) in select SPEC-MX5 races for the 2024 season.
PT Autosport is dedicated to providing merit-based motorsport industry opportunities for diverse individuals with high integrity, grit, and coach-ability, achieved through a development program for young aspiring drivers, engineers, mechanics, and other professionals. The first step of this process is applying for the annual Aspiring Driver Shootout, in which aspiring drivers aged 18-23 can compete for a team racing partnership with the team.
A rigorous evaluation process of applicants determines the final competitors for the driver shootout. The winner earns financial support of up to $250,000 ($50,000 guaranteed) to pursue their racing career. The review process also provides the team the chance to identify unique talent for other roles in motorsport, including race engineers, mechanics, and professionals.
PT Autosport is building a community that fosters the development of young talent to find a place where they can make an impact in the motorsport community as a career.
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