The Relapsing Polychondritis Foundation and Race for RP are excited and energized by Kohr Motorsports’ incredible performance this season. Throughout the unpredictable racing season, the distinctive No. 60 Race for RP Aston Martin consistently ran in front of a field of talented drivers and teams, significantly boosting airtime to drive awareness of relapsing polychondritis (RP) while galvanizing our efforts to accelerate RP research. Drivers Kyle Marcelli and Nate Stacy’s path to the Championship victory were featured in national broadcasts and social media platforms, representing Race for RP and reinforcing our message of hope for patients with relapsing polychondritis.
The recap of this year’s racing season is absolutely thrilling. It was just before “Roar 24,” the unofficial start of the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship and Michelin Pilot Challenge season, when Dean Martin, team owner of KohR Motorsports, made the announcement that they had switched their lead No. 60 car to Aston Martin. Amid a good deal of fanfare, the Aston, which featured a full Race for RP-themed livery, was unveiled and quickly became the talk in the paddocks. With rising star, Nate Stacy, along with seasoned co-pilot and Race for RP Brand Ambassador, Kyle Marcelli, at the helm, by the time the season kicked off at the Rolex 24 hours of Daytona they were confident they had a powerful machine which would be a serious contender in this highly competitive field of drivers and teams. They finished top 5 at Daytona.
Then, everything changed as much of the country and activities were shuttered due to the Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions. The next set of races were cancelled by early March, and the rest of the season looked uncertain. However, IMSA took extraordinary steps to recalibrate its schedule of races and events, and by late spring, talk of resuming the season was firmly on the table, and the remaining yet more condensed schedule was finalized, with Round 2 set for mid-July at Sebring. Like most teams and drivers, KohR was eager to get back out and see what the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 could really do, and they didn’t disappoint.
After a nearly 6-month hiatus due to the pandemic, the team ran an impressive race at Sebring where they finished on the podium in P2 for the highly anticipated return of the season. This was followed by a fantastic performance at Road America, where Nate Stacy took his first of many poles in qualifying, and the team once again found themselves in P2 on the podium. After two more races, at VIR and Road Atlanta, the team finally got their breakthrough win at the Mid-Ohio doubleheader, as they swept qualifying and the top honors of both races that weekend. From there it was no turning back, and they delivered solid performances in the last three races, ending the season with a total of 6 podium finishes, 4 poles, 2 wins and the overall IMSA Michelin Piot Challenge GS Championship title.
Congratulations, Dean Martin, and the KohR Motorsports team for an exciting and incredibly successful racing season!
About Race for RP
Race for RP supports research and awareness programs for relapsing polychondritis and related diseases.
About the Relapsing Polychondritis Foundation
The RP Foundation’s purpose is to facilitate education, awareness and research initiatives that improve the quality of life for patients with RP. For more information, visit https://www.polychondritis.org.
About Relapsing Polychondritis
Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a debilitating and sometimes fatal systemic inflammatory disease that is characterized by recurrent inflammation of cartilage and other tissues throughout the body. The disease affects multiple organs, particularly cartilaginous structures such as the ears, nose, airways and joints as well as eyes, skin, heart valves and brain. The cause of RP is unknown and there is no cure for RP.
