OPERATION MOTORSPORT and SRO Motorsports America announce a colabrative cooperation to advance the Excite, Engage and Empower recovery programs and expand into Blancpain GT World Challenge America!
Operation Motorsport is working in cooperation with SRO Motorsports America to assist military veterans with their recovery and rehabilitation. During each round of the Blancpain GT World Challenge America beginning April 26-28, 2019 at Virginia International Raceway, Veterans in the Operation Motorsport Immersion Program will be partnered up with various teams to learn new abilities and share the transferable skills they have picked up from their service.
This partnership will give Veterans from the Canadian and United States militaries the chance to work with teams to see how they can use their skills from military service and transfer them to useful skills with the race teams and potential civilian jobs. The first teams taking part in the collaboration and accepting veterans are; Alegra Motorsports, KohR Motorsports, JCW Mini and Wright Motorsports.
“Looking back to how I felt at this time last year, I am so thankful we took that leap and entered into partnerships with teams in World Challenge. I was nervous about entering into a new series, but we have had nothing but warm welcomes, and absolute commitments from the teams we're working with.”, said Tiffany Lodder, Executive Director, Operation Motorsport. “I'm proud of the opportunities we've been able to provide for our injured soldiers and veterans as we work together to share opportunities for them to be able to use their transferable skills and know there is a place for them in the civilian world.”
“It’s been remarkable to see the success the Operation Motorsport program has had with Veterans in our paddock,” said Greg Gill, president and CEO, SRO Motorsports America. “We’re excited to work closer with the team and grow the opportunities within our series this season.”
Tony Ditto, Team Manager, Alegra Motorsports reflects, "The time and opportunity spent with Operation Motorsport and it's Beneficiaries has been quiet eye opening and great for all involved. The personalities, hard work, and team ethic runs strong between both the team and beneficiaries alike. We are thankful and hopeful to be of great help to these outstanding military service men and women, that have endured so much, to spend the time with us to engage and excite them in our motorsports program. We hope it provides them with they need to excel and opens them to a whole new world of opportunity in the motorsports world, to help their personal healing process. All the beneficiaries that we have had to date have been amazing individuals that bring something special and each unique to our team. We hope to keep this partnership with Operation Motorsport going for many years to come, and we hope to keep learning from one another to take the program to a place the beneficiaries see as a helping moment in their lives that they will never forget. Alegra Motorsports is very proud to be a part of this program and will never forget each of the awesome individuals that have come to work with us."
At the end of the North American racing season in November 2019 "Operation Motorsport" will provide an opportunity for all active beneficiaries to join an effort to field a two car multi-national entry (Canada / USA / UK) in the 2019 Race of Remembrance at Circuit Anglesey, Wales, UK. Where a number of disabled veterans and serving soldier beneficiaries, as part of "Team Canada" and "Team USA", will act as crew, drivers and support staff.
ABOUT OPERATION MOTORSPORT:
Operation Motorsport is a Canadian Veteran operated Not for Profit, based in Brighton, Ontario and was founded on the basis of three simple words; Excite / Engage / Empower. The premise is to engage, through Motorsport activities, ill & injured Service Members & disabled Veterans, affected by military service, leading to aiding in their recovery & rehabilitation. For more information @OpsMotorsport and to donate, visit http://operationmotorsport.org/
SRO Motorsports Group, the architect of modern GT racing
Over the past 25 years SRO has specialized in the promotion and organization of motorsport series around the world. Inextricably linked with GT racing’s revival in the early 1990s, currently SRO predominantly promotes series that adhere to the successful GT3 and GT4 regulations. Indeed, these rules – a common framework allowing manufacturers, teams and drivers to compete equally with one another – have helped to establish SRO as the global leader in customer GT racing.
Today, SRO’s influence and organisation can be seen around the world. Its flagship continues to be the European-based Blancpain GT Series, which features both the Sprint and Endurance Cups. Its annual highlight remains the iconic Total 24 Hours of Spa.
SRO Motorsports Group is chaired by company founder and CEO Stephane Ratel and has offices in London, Paris, Liège, Austin, and Hong Kong. Its dedicated team of full-time and freelance staff work with the support of numerous national sporting authorities and sanctioning bodies to offer teams, drivers and manufacturers the world’s best professional, Pro/Am and amateur GT racing platforms.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Tiffany Lodder at 613-921-6172 or email at Tiffany@OperationMotorsport.ca