Max Hyatt Racing's Blog

Hyatt Completes Successful 2011 Rolex 24 at Daytona Test

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:33:09 -0800

Hyatt Completes Successful 2011 Rolex 24 at Daytona Test

San Jose resident ready to back up last year's accomplishments.

Jan 11, 2011

Daytona Beach, FL -

The 2011 GRAND-AM Rolex 24 at Daytona will once again see Max Hyatt pilot the #32 Autosport Designs Inc./ Corsa Car Care/ Dinan/ MOBOTIX/ PR1 Motorsports BMW M6 for Fresno, CA based PR1 Motorsports. While preparing to make his second appearance in the twice around the clock endurance classic, Hyatt took to the legendary Daytona International Speedway this past weekend in a GRAND-AM sanctioned test. Lapping the 3.56-mile, 12-turn speedway road course that uses a significant portion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Daytona 500 course, Hyatt recorded a 1:51.178 lap, with a 115.274 average mph. Hyatt's time was good enough for tenth in class for the session and was nearly a second faster than his quickest lap from the 2010 24-hour race.

"I tested the car for the team a few weeks ago to make sure that all of the systems were working correctly and that our initial chassis setup was ready for Daytona," Hyatt said. "When we unloaded the M6 in Florida, the car was quick right away and all of my co-drivers were able to get up to speed within their first few laps."

Being the only member of the four PR1 Motorsports driver lineup with experience in the car at Daytona, Hyatt is highly regarded amongst the team and was therefore used to test a series of new components and engineering experiments throughout the weekend.

"Daytona's NASCAR oval was recently repaved and it is a completely different animal from what we've experienced in the past," Hyatt explained. "It used to be extremely bumpy and it's glass smooth now. The infield portions of the track were not repaved though, so there are significant difference in track surfaces that we have to transition through four times every lap. On top of that challenge, there is an all-new tire supplier that we must acclimate to as quickly as possible. With so many variables, and with our competition getting quicker every year, it is vital that we push ourselves to utilize new technologies that will help us get an edge on the rest of the GT class."

"I have the highest respect for the PR1 Motorsports engineering team, so to have them put their trust in me to test and evaluate new components and strategies was quite an honor."

While Hyatt's co-drivers were learning the BMW's characteristics and familiarizing themselves with Daytona's unique oval/ road course layout, (or "Roval" as it is affectionately known) Hyatt's testing duties were rewarded when the team allowed him to begin simulating qualifying laps, which are typically much faster, and riskier than normal race-pace efforts.

"I was out on really old tires when we set one of the fastest time of the whole weekend," Hyatt continued. "So the decision was made to bolt on a new set of Continental slicks and make a mock qualifying effort. Even with traffic, which normally isn't as prominent in an actual qual' session, we were still able to put up some impressive sector times. Right now, our data shows that our hypothetical obtainable lap will be more than enough to get us to the front of the grid."

"When you combine that data with how well the whole team performed, I am very optimistic that we'll be able to run up front again this year. We definitely have what it takes."

GT Class qualifying for the 49th Rolex 24 at Daytona begins on Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 1:15pm PT with the 24-hour event beginning Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 12:30pm PT.

Max Hyatt Racing sponsor and partnership opportunities are immediately available. For more information, please contact JMH Racing Group LLC at 505.699.8385.

About GRAND-AM:

MEDIA REACH:
GRAND-AM Road Racing is covered throughout the U.S. on several mediums as well as throughout the world. Rolex Sports Car Series races are broadcasted live on SPEED while ESPN International provides full race coverage or recap shows on six of seven continents. Media in key markets, including those in or near New York City, Philadelphia, Montreal, Boston, San Francisco, Dallas, Miami, Cleveland, Columbus (Ohio), Birmingham (Ala.) and Salt Lake City, provide weekend and/or season-long coverage on races, and several markets provide season-long exposure on their local teams and drivers.

FAN BASE/ATTENDANCE:
The estimated at-track attendance for GRAND-AM events in 2009 exceeded 300,000. The GRAND-AM fan base is 68 percent male and 32 percent female. GRAND-AM fans are spread across all age groups, with 47 percent between the ages of 18-34 and 64 percent who are 18-44. GRAND-AM fans show a passion for motorsports through their love of cars.

GRAND-AM series information can be found at www.grand-am.com

About PR1 Motorsports:

In paddocks packed with excellent teams and quality drivers, PR1 Motorsports has established itself as one of the top driver development programs. Based in Fresno, CA, PR1 Motorsports occupies an expansive facility housing a stable of F2000 Zetec and professional sports cars. Team drivers enjoy the benefits of a completely professional program including engineering support, state-of-the art data acquisition, and a race winning experienced crew. PR1 Motorsports drivers, and partners, also enjoy first-class trackside hospitality and comprehensive marketing support.

PR1 Motorsports team information can be found at: www.PR1Motorsports.com

About Max Hyatt:

Born into a racing family and a lifetime racing enthusiast, Max was attending club race events before he could walk. After graduating Cum Laude from Santa Clara University with majors in economics and psychology, he began winning his way up the ranks to his earn his place on the PR1 Motorsports team as a serious contender in the popular American Le Mans Series and the famed Grand-Am Rolex series.

For more information, visit www.maxhyattracing.com

###

Permalink | Leave a comment »

ALMS signs multi-year television deal with ABC and ESPN!

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 12:20:50 -0800

http://americanlemans.com/primary1.php?cat=news|15452

Permalink | Leave a comment »

First Founders Join!

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:59:29 -0800

We are happy to announce our first Founders have signed with JMH Racing. This marks a major milestone in my career and business development. It is our pleasure to welcome them into the company and look forward to the network they bring to our effort.

More information will be available at a later date. For more information on the Founders Group please email Max at m.hyatt@att.net

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Venture Capital Private Equity Roundtable

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:26:24 -0800

I will be presenting my career and new Founders Group to the Venture Capital and Private Equity Roundtable in Palo Alto on Friday. There will be 75 members in attendance for my presentation. I would like to thank Stewart Guenther for the opportunity to speak at this event and hope the meeting will produce more positive conversations around the Founders Group.

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Coaching Tom Klauer this weekend at Infineon Raceway

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:10:20 -0700

I will be coaching Tom Klauer in several of his historic Stock Cars this weekend at Infineon Raceway. Tom who has recently completed his first professional race in the K&N Series at Portland International Raceway will be keeping his skills in tune by joining other Historic Stock Car drivers. This weekend many of the Historic Stock Car drivers will be giving rides to guests who have purchased a Ride Of Your Life which all proceeds go towards charity. I am excited to work with Tom directly this weekend and know he will accomplish everything we set out to do.

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Private Coaching Client Finishes in Top-Ten in Debut Races

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:24:00 -0700

John Burks finished well inside the Top-10 in his first Stock Car Race Series event last weekend at Portland International Raceway. Improving his time in each outing John went from a 1:42 all the way down to a fast time of 1:26.3. John drove the #27 Kodiak historic stock car and had a great fan base cheering him on in the grandstands. It was great working with John the entire weekend and look forward to working with him in the future.

Permalink | Leave a comment »

NBC 11 Special on Club Auto Sport and Max Hyatt

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:57:20 -0700

http://www.laurencescott.com/2010/07/dream-machine-home-in-san-jose.html

Permalink | Leave a comment »

New Fastest Lap

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 10:34:52 -0700

Courtesy of Cyrus Shargh

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Utah Grand Prix Podium Finish for PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 22:23:04 -0700

Utah Grand Prix Podium Finish for PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports

Team celebrates a third place result in only their third American Le Mans Series Presented by Tequila Patrón race.

July 11, 2010

Tooele, UT -

PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports achieved a team milestone today with their first podium finish in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón LMPC class. In only the Fresno, CA, based team's third start in the series, drivers Alex Figge, of Boulder, CO, and Max Hyatt, of San Jose, CA, finished P3 in class and P7 overall.

Starting from third position, Hyatt took the green flag for the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix. Driving the #52 Corsa Car Care Oreca FLM09, Hyatt rocketed his way past the #55 and #99 cars with an impressive inside pass in the first turn on the first lap. Hyatt would follow his impressive race start by leading the first few laps while also setting the early race fastest laps. Hyatt would continue to race for the lead for 28 laps until handing the #52 over to Figge, who re-joined the race in 2nd.

Mid-race, Figge would go on to set the #52's fastest time while trying to overhaul the #55's LMPC class lead. On lap 66, Figge would lap Miller Motorsports Park's 23-turn outer course in 1:44.742 before pitting one last time for fuel on lap 68 in second place. With services complete, the #52 suffered a disastrous engine starter failure, causing the PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports crew to take emergency action to get the car restarted. The #52's V8 roared to life, but the nearly 30 second delay had cost the team one position with Figge rejoining the race in third.

With less than 20 minutes to go, Gunnar Jeannette in the #99 LMPC entry went off of the track allowing Figge to once again challenge for second place honors. Despite an exciting battle for position, race traffic and a filthy offline racing surface would keep the #52 in P3 all the way to the checkered flag.

Despite the troubles on and off the track, Figge was elated to capture the team's first American Le Mans Series podium finish.

"Everyone on the team is pretty happy with today's results," Figge exclaimed. "The starter issue in the pits, and some traffic kept us from getting to the top step today. After Gunnar went off, we had a great chance to get back around him. But the track was so dirty offline, that every time I passed a GT or a GTC car, the tires would get too much pickup on them to attack. Our goal was to finish strong and we're now looking to grow the program into something even better in the near future. It's great to be on the podium for PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports and Corsa Car Care today!"

Hyatt had studied the support series races to learn where he could find the grip needed to make the stunning lap one, turn one overtaking maneuver for the lead.

"I knew I needed to get past the #55 and the #99 as soon as possible," Hyatt explained. "So when I saw the opening on the inside, I went for it. I knew there was grip down there from watching the IMSA Lights and GT3 races. We studied those guys to see how the track worked for them, as we knew we had to get up front and build a gap early on. It was great to lead and if it wasn't for some pickup on the tires after the yellow, the #95 may not have gotten by us in turn six after the restart."

"With the starter issues in pit lane, it makes today's finish somewhat bittersweet," Hyatt continued. "We could have easily gotten P2. Still, for my first American Le Mans Series race, it's absolutely fantastic to be standing on the podium with this caliber of competition. Thanks again to my family, Club Auto Sport, Borelli Motor Sports, Corsa Car Care and PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports for giving me this opportunity."

Bobby Oergel, PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Team Principal, is proud of how his drivers and team performed under pressure this weekend.

"So far this year, our race weekends in the LMPC class have been about our dedication to overcome what we can't control," Oergel said. "From our electrical issues on Friday, to our starter problems today, this team has had to dig deep and push themselves to the limit. Both Alex and Max showed tremendous speed and race craft today, and the whole crew displayed outstanding professionalism by successfully overcoming adversity. Our first podium result is theirs to enjoy, and I'm sure that it will be the first of many."

LMPC qualifying for next round of the 2010 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón, the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park, begins on Friday, July 23, 2010 at 1:40pm PT. The two hour and forty-five minute main event starts on Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 11:05am PT with live coverage on SPEED.

Drivers and potential partners interested in the PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón LMPC program can contact the team directly at pr1motorsports@aol.com or at (559) 277-1300.

Corsa Car Care manufactures professional grade automotive detailing products including cleaners, polishes and protective sealants for exterior finishes, interior leathers & textiles, glass, vinyl and rubber applications. As a division of Miracle Sealants Company, Corsa Car Care draws on over 25 years of knowledge and experience in advanced polymer chemistry. For more details, visit corsacarcare.com.

In paddocks packed with excellent teams and quality drivers, PR1 Motorsports has established itself as one of the top driver development programs. Based in Fresno, CA, PR1 Motorsports occupies an expansive facility housing a stable of F2000 Zetec, GRAND-AM Rolex Series, and American Le Mans Series race cars. Team drivers enjoy the benefits of a completely professional program including engineering support, state-of-the art data acquisition, and a race winning experienced crew. PR1 Motorsports drivers, and partners, enjoy first-class trackside hospitality and comprehensive marketing support.

PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports team information can be found at:
www.PR1Motorsports.com
www.MathiasenMotorsports.com

www.CorsaCarCare.com

www.MaxHyattRacing.com

For more information please contact PR1 Motorsports at (559) 277-1300 or pr1motorsports@aol.com

Permalink | Leave a comment »

PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Qualifies Third at Miller Motorsports Park

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:36:49 -0700

PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Qualifies Third at Miller Motorsports Park

July 10, 2010

Tooele, UT -

PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports rebounded from Friday's electrical issues today to qualify the #52 Corsa Car Care Oreca FLM09 in P3 for the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix. Lapping the 3.048 mile track in 1:43.115, Alex Figge, of Boulder, CO, qualified only five tenths off of the class pole setting time and will line up ninth overall out of 33 cars tomorrow.

Co-driver Max Hyatt, of San Jose, CA, laments the lost track time on Friday, but is confident in his team's abilities to challenge for the podium in tomorrow's two hour and forty-five minute main event.

"Unfortunately, the car had some problems which ailed the team throughout Friday's entire session," Hyatt said. "It was not what we wanted at all out of our first practice, but looking over the data and working with our engineers we are very confident in the car."

Bobby Oergel, PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Team Principal, expects the #52 to be able to capture a podium finish tomorrow.

"We had some electrical issues early on, which disrupted our program," Oergel explained. "But the car is working perfectly now. Alex set the car's fastest time all weekend in qualifying, and Max has always performed for us in the past. Friday's issues will only make the results I believe we can achieve tomorrow feel that much better."

Round four of the 2010 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón, the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix, begins at 1:35pm PT on July 11, 2010 with live coverage on SPEED.

In paddocks packed with excellent teams and quality drivers, PR1 Motorsports has established itself as one of the top driver development programs. Based in Fresno, CA, PR1 Motorsports occupies an expansive facility housing a stable of F2000 Zetec, GRAND-AM Rolex Series, and American Le Mans Series race cars. Team drivers enjoy the benefits of a completely professional program including engineering support, state-of-the art data acquisition, and a race winning experienced crew. PR1 Motorsports drivers, and partners, enjoy first-class trackside hospitality and comprehensive marketing support.

PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports team information can be found at:
www.PR1Motorsports.com
www.MathiasenMotorsports.com

www.CorsaCarCare.com

www.MaxHyattRacing.com

For more information please contact PR1 Motorsports at (559) 277-1300 orpr1motorsports@aol.com

Permalink | Leave a comment »

ALMS-Miller Motorsports Park Friday Practice

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:08:10 -0700

The promoters test day did not go exactly as the PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports team would have like today. Alex Figge and I were both ready to go for today’s one and only 1.5 hour practice session. We thought we would be very competitive straight out of the box which was proven correct as Alex posted a fast time on his fourth lap which then stood as the time to beat for the next 40 minutes of the session. Unfortunately, the car had a misfire engine problem which ailed the team throughout the entire session. We were not able to have consistent power during the lap and had a sputter at a certain RPM range which was unsettling to both of us. All in all, Alex was able to complete ten laps and I was able to put in seven in total. Alex was able to put in a flying lap at the very end of the session to put us in 5^th place .3 seconds behind the next LMPC car. It was not what we wanted at all out of our first session but looking over data and working with our engineers we are very confident in the car moving into tomorrow.

Tomorrow we will have two 1 hour practice sessions before the 20 minute qualifying session later in the day. The team, Alex and I all believe we will be competing for pole tomorrow afternoon once we have put the engine problem behind us.

Permalink | Leave a comment »

SPEED Feature Article

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:57:26 -0700

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-hyatt-figge-complete-pr1s-lineup-for-miller/

Check it out!

Permalink | Leave a comment »

Hyatt and Figge to Compete for PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports at Miller - Preview

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:54:33 -0700

Hyatt and Figge to Compete for PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports at Miller

Alex Figge returns to the ALMS, Max Hyatt makes series debut.

July 7, 2010. Fresno, CA -

Coming off a pole position winning performance at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in May, PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports heads to the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix with an all new driver lineup. Piloting the team’s LMPC entry will be team newcomer Alex Figge, and longtime PR1 Motorsports team driver, Max Hyatt. Figge a veteran of several racing series and disciplines will be celebrating his return to the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón, having previously competed in the GT1 class earning several top-five finishes and a podium result. Hyatt will be adding the LMPC class to his ever expanding resume as he makes his ALMS series debut in the #52 Corsa Car Care Oreca FLM09.

Competing on Miller Motorsports Park’s 3.048-mile counter-clockwise outer course, featuring a engine stressing 3500 foot front straight, Sunday’s main event will mark the first of five two hours and forty-five minute summer races on the 2010 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón schedule.

A veteran of several forms of racing, Figge, of Boulder, CO, will be returning to competition in unfamiliar machinery having never competed in an ALMS prototype. Figge ran a comprehensive test session in the LMPC to prepare for the event

“I loved it,” Figge said. “I thought it was a blast. The build quality is perfect and the brakes, handling and downforce are so good that you just crave more seat time. Maybe it’s just from my background or it has something to do with my driving style, but I’ve just always been more comfortable in a high downforce car whether it’s an open wheel or a sports car. With that in mind, the LMPC is really, really nice.”

“Miller is a great track,” Figge continued. “I think the LMPC car is going to be awesome there. The car has such great balance and speed, and I know how well prepared everyone at PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports is for this event. I couldn’t thank Bobby Oergel and Corsa Car Car enough. They’ve made this happen for me and I am really looking forward to it.”

No stranger to GT and Open Wheel race cars, Sunday’s event will mark Hyatt’s prototype debut. Like his co-driver, Hyatt also tested the LMPC car to fully acclimate himself to the prototype before Sunday’s race.

“My first impression was how quiet the LMPC car is, Hyatt explained. “You would expect a lot of engine noise, but it’s actually really quiet – what you hear most is the wind. That was kind of shocking. The lasting impression is really all about the transmission and the handling. I really enjoy the paddle shifter and the car’s overall balance is great.”

Hyatt, of San Jose, CA, is also excited to compete with longtime racing luminaries in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón.

“I am really excited about becoming an ALMS driver,” Hyatt exclaimed. “It’s pretty amazing to be racing against guys I’ve watched my entire life. I have a lot of experience at Miller in other cars and I’ve done everything I can to prepare for the race. I’d like to thank my family for supporting me, Club Auto Sport, Borelli Motor Sports, Corsa Car Care, and of course PR1/ Mathiasen Motorsports for all of their help. I look forward to doing everything I can to get us on the podium this week.”

Bobby Oergel, PR1/ Mathiasen Motorsports Team Principal, knows his team can handle Miller Motorsports Park’s unique challenges.

“The crew and our drivers are very familiar with Miller,” Oergel explained. “Alex and Max have both ran well here in other cars, and everyone over the wall and on the pit box have extensive experience with this circuit. This race has always been about strategy and speed, and we’ve thoroughly prepared for both. We’ll be ready to get the #52 up front on Sunday.”

LMPC qualifying for round four of the 2010 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón, the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix, begins July 10, 2010 at 2:25pm PT. The two hours and forty-five minute main event starts at 1:35pm PT on July 11, 2010 with live coverage on SPEED.

In paddocks packed with excellent teams and quality drivers, PR1 Motorsports has established itself as one of the top driver development programs. Based in Fresno, CA, PR1 Motorsports occupies an expansive facility housing a stable of F2000 Zetec, GRAND-AM Rolex Series, and American Le Mans Series race cars. Team drivers enjoy the benefits of a completely professional program including engineering support, state-of-the art data acquisition, and a race winning experienced crew. PR1 Motorsports drivers, and partners, enjoy first-class trackside hospitality and comprehensive marketing support.

PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports team information can be found at:
www.PR1Motorsports.com
www.MathiasenMotorsports.com

www.CorsaCarCare.com

www.MaxHyattRacing.com

For more information please contact PR1 Motorsports at (559) 277-1300 or pr1motorsports@aol.com

Permalink | Leave a comment »

NASA 3-Hour Enduro at Buttonwillow Raceway

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 17:46:00 -0700

I entered my first NASA sanctioned endurance race yesterday, the 26^th of June, competing in the one of a kind, GTM racecar. The car was built off of a Factory Five GT40 kit car but has evolved into a beast all of its own. Richard Migliori, owner and operator of Prototype Development Group, has built an incredible strong and fast endurance race car. I was eager to get into the car Saturday morning to do some practice laps before hoping in for a qualifying run.

I have only been in the car once before at a Hooked On Driving day at Thunderhill. We were running counterclockwise at Buttonwillow which I have only run on once as well so I had plenty to get used to in the first 20 minute session. Everything went very well in my first practice session and the car worked beautifully thanks to Mike Holland, my co driver, who shook down the car in the early morning practice. My quickest lap was 1.5 seconds faster than the car has ever been able to run before so the team was very happy with my performance. We were all excited about qualifying hoping to score the teams first pole position.

Qualifying did not go as planned, however. While still warming up my tires and brakes to put in a flying lap I missed the brake pedal going into magic mountain and crested the hill going 15 mph faster than was possible. I went off track and collected an enormous amount of dirt and debris. I came into the pits where the team worked furiously to clean out the car to try and put in a better lap. They did a great job but we did not get out quick enough to complete a lap before the checkered flag waved.

Visibly disappointed we all put qualifying behind us and looked forward to the race which was to start at 6:30 and run into the night. We decided I would start the car and then hand it off to Mike Holland to finish off the race. We started 8^th overall and 4^th in class due to the lack luster qualifying but quickly made headway towards the front. It took 5 laps to work our way up to 2^nd overall where I choose to just pressure the pro truck in first place and wait for his tires to start going off. The plan worked perfectly in six or seven laps where the leader made a significant error and I was able to capitalize and take the overall and class lead. I was able to hold the lead until a open cockpit prototype which had started last came up through the field to take the lead after about an hour. This entire process and race was complicated by the fact we had lost radio contact as the race started so the team utilized some makeshift pit boards to communicate with me.

The race proceeded without incident until I had contact with two separate BMW’s resulting in two off track excursions but no damage was done in either incident. Both occasions were due to either the BMW losing control in front of me or a miscommunication between drivers resulting in contact. I was able to pull out a significant class lead and laid down the 2^nd fastest overall race lap at that point and fastest lap in our class. At the two hour mark, I handed off the car to Mike Holland who did a great job driving through the night to finish 2^nd in class and 3^rd overall. We kept the fastest lap in class while falling to 3^rd fastest lap overall.

I had a fantastic time racing with the Prototype Development Group and their one of a kind prototype. Please visit their website at www.pdg4.com

Permalink | Leave a comment »