New York, New York - March 27, 2020 - There's an old saying that ‘You can't keep a good man down’ and that would certainly be the case both where both the Trans Am organizers and the F.A.S.T. Auto Racing team from Queens, New York are concerned. The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli Championship schedule for 2020 had Atlanta inked in for the upcoming weekend but while the current virus crisis sadly put a rest to that, it by no means a blank weekend for Trans Am fans.
Instead, and for the first time ever, current, former, and even future Trans Am Series drivers from all five Trans Am classes will come together on the virtual stage to compete in the inaugural Trans Am by Pirelli Showdown at Lime Rock Park in a groundbreaking event that fans can follow on the new App. To even-up the simulated race, all the digital cars in competition will be prepared identically with spec trim.
Aiming for the podium in this highly innovative and welcome development at this testing time for all of us, is Adrian Wlostowski, who we would normally expect to find behind the wheel of the No. 96 F.A.S.T. Auto Racing Ford Mustang. Hailing from NYC where COVID-19 is taking a hard hit (44,000 cases estimated in NY state) Adrian tells us that they set up the simulation rig in the Queens office of their performance auto shop just hours ago.
Sponsored by Hawk Performance, Forgeline Wheels, APEX, and F.A.S.T. Auto, Adrian finished third at Sebring in SGT earlier this month. Adrian's Birthday happens to be this weekend, on Sunday, March 29th, but his mind was on the exciting substitute for the Atlanta race when he spoke to us earlier today.
"This is my first time using a simulator," stated Adrian Wlostowski. "I am missing real life racing, but this is the next best thing we can do in a time like we are currently in. This is a good way to help people to get their mind off things and have fun for a little bit. We are praying for everyone sick and everyone on the frontline of the COVID-19 putting themselves at risk to help others."
The Trans Am Racing Company President John Clagett made a statement late Friday and was understandably delighted that Trans Am had something for the fans at such a difficult time, "Taking Trans Am racing to the virtual world is a historic move for the series,” he stated earlier this week. “We miss racing just as much as our fans and drivers, and with the help of our app team, NAGRA, Sim partner Torque eSports, we will be able to deliver exciting Trans Am racing to a global market during this extended break.”
Live coverage begins at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time with live commentary starting with a swift 10-minute qualifying session followed by two 20-minute main events. For added excitement, the second event will feature an inverted field.
Fans can stream the action by downloading the FREE Trans Am by Pirelli app and via Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/umggaming.
WHEN:
Saturday, March 28 at 4 p.m. EST
HOW TO WATCH LIVE:
Watch the LIVE Stream on the Trans Am by Pirelli App, available via a FREE download:
Android:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nagra.ion.transam&hl=en_US
Apple App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/trans-am-by-pirelli-racing/id1494720210
F.A.S.T. Auto Racing: fastautoracing.com
Trans Am Series: gotransam.com
Forgeline Wheels: forgeline.com
Hawk Performance: hawkperformance.com