Spirit of Daytona has announced its third driver for the Rolex 24 At Daytona, which is to be held at the Daytona International Speedway in January 2011. Sascha Maassen of Germany, the three time champion of the American Le Mans Series, is all set to join Paul Edwards of USA and Spanish racer Antonio Garcia in the Number 90 Chevrolet powered Coyote Daytona Prototype for one of the most prestigious racing events of the world. The Rolex 24 At Daytona is regarded as one of the most esteemed events that checks the skills and endurance of its participating drivers.

Sascha Maassen is a highly qualified driver and has tasted success in several events. He has been the winner of the ALMS GT championship in 2002-2003 and the ALMS LMP2 series in 2006. Under his belt, he has two 24 hours of Le Mans wins in the year 2003 and 2004, five 12 hours of Sebring wins and five Petite Le Mans wins. Sascha Maassen has tasted success in the Rolex Sports Car Series earlier in the year 2003, at Mont-Tremblant, when he drove the Porsche Fabcar for his team ex-team Brumos Racing. So far his best show in the Rolex 24 At Daytona has been the fourth spot, which he has achieved twice.

Sascha Maassen is very excited about his participation in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and in his interview stated that he is looking forward to race in one of the most prestigious racing events in the world and maybe make it to the podium this year. Sascha Maassen’s other team members are highly qualified drivers as well and make for distinct chances of winning for the Spirit of Daytona team. Paul Edwards is a former Rolex Sports Car Series GT winner, while Antonio Garcia has already won a race in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. At the moment, the lineup from Spirit of Daytona Racing looks good and shows bright chances considering the quality and experience of the drivers.

The Spirit of Daytona team owner and manager, Troy Flis is excited about his team’s great line up. Talking about his drivers, he stated that Antonio Garcia and Paul Edwards were skilled with speed and Sascha Maassen was asked to join the team as he was someone who would be comfortable under any circumstances and situations. He was certain that all three drivers would not be affected by any situation, whether it was day or night, and could run the laps quickly. He felt that the line up of the team would present a tough challenge for most of the other participants.

Troy Flis, while speaking about Sascha Maassen, stated that the biggest challenge for his new addition would be seat time. He was certain that with the experience and quality that Sascha Maassen possessed, it would make him comfortable within the first few laps of racing. He told the media that Sascha Maassen knew what the team expected of him and what he could expect from the track.

Secret Men’s Business has excelled to win the overall standings on handicap in the 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.  Secret Men’s Business 3.5, skippered by owner Geoff Boettcher, took 22 attempts to finally claim the honors. The 64 year old Australian, Geoff Boettcher received the overall race prize today and has already sent the trophy to Adelaide for the second time in a row. In 2009, Andrew Saies’ Two True got the opportunity to cherish the honor. This is the fifth instance of a South Australian win in the 65 year old history of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

The 51 foot long Secret Men’s Business 3.5 crossed the finish line at Hobart on Wednesday night. The time taken by them was noted to be four days, one hour, twenty nine minutes and forty seconds. However, they had to wait before they could get their hands on the Tattersalls Cup. Geoff Boettcher’s Secret Men’s Business 3.5 faced stiff competition from Sydney’s Local Hero. The local entrant asked for a time allowance for halting to stand by when the mast of the boat was broken in Bass Strait on Monday, 27th of December. At the end, the lead of Secret Men’s Business 3.5 was too much to cover for the Local Hero. Local Hero, owned by Peter Mosely was always seen as a good competitor for both offshore and inshore races.

Geoff Boettcher is the proud owner of three boats with the name Secret Men’s Business. While addressing the media, Geoff Boettcher said that the current Reichel/Pugh underwent a massive rework to get it ready and fit for the race, as it was sure to witness some extreme weather conditions. Talking about the preparations, Geoff Boettcher stated that the team had to cut the hull of the boat and was forced to put a new hull, which was a metre longer. This is why the boat was not number four, but became 3.5.

Geoff Boettcher has most of his crew members hailing from South Australia. He was happy with the efforts of his team and was proud for being some serious competition to other entrants from Victoria and NSW. He, in his excitement said that the Secret Men’s Business 3.5 played with the big boys of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and has learnt a lot.  Geoff Boettcher was sure that the experience of the Rolex Sydney Hobart will help them stay ahead in other regattas as well.

Owner of Secret Men’s Business 3.5, Geoff Boettcher said that the win of Two True from Andrew Saies’ stable pumped the team to perform even better this year. He accepted that he was a good competitor and that they have a love-hate relationship. This year, Two True could not continue its winning streak and was forced to withdraw. This year, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race saw the retirement of 18 boats because of the extreme wind conditions at the southern NSW coast. The last boat that sailed from Sydney is expected to arrive at Hobart on January 1, 2011.

Oliver Gavin will be racing at the Rolex 24 At Daytona endurance race with Banner Racing and will continue the association for the entire season by competing in the rolex Sports Car Series as well. The British native later has plans to be driving for GM’s Corvette Racing team in the ALMS racing event of 2011. However, the racer is prioritizing the Rolex 24 At Daytona, as it is one of the most prestigious car racing events that is known to test not only the skills, but also the endurance of the drivers and their cars.

The 38 year old, Oliver Gavin, hailing from Northamptonshire will be an entry for the Number 07 The Cool TV Chevrolet Camaro in the Rolex 24 At Daytona event. He is scheduled to team up with Gunter Schaldach, who will be with him for the next seven rounds of the Rolex Sports Car Series season in the year 2011. The Rolex Sports Car Series presents the perfect platform for racers from around the world to display their skills to the entire world and the Northamptonshire resident is no different.

While addressing the media, Oliver Gavin stated that he was very excited to be a part of the Rolex 24 At Daytona. He missed the previous season of the Rolex 24 At Daytona endurance race due to some undisclosed reasons, but was looking confident for and forward to the motorsports competition this year. He appreciated Banner Racing for the unmatched experience they possess at this level and for their performance in the GT class events. He also stated that driving Pratt & Miller’s car will be a great experience, as the job they do as engineers is amazing and matchless.

Commenting upon the prospects of the race, Oliver Gavin was sure for some high end action as he would be competing with regular Corvette team mate, Jan Magnussen. He was very sure of a spicy racing event and added that he was looking forward to the challenge. Gunter Schaldach, accompanying him behind the wheel, had a full season run with Stevenson Motorsports and joined the Rolex Series in 2010. He finished the championship on the eighth spot with a back to back second position in Miller Motorsports Park with Jan Magnussen and in Montreal with Ronnie Bremer. His capabilities as a driver have never seen with doubt.

Oliver Gavin has won the Rolex Series competition twice so far. He claimed overall victories at Phoenix and Mid Ohio and has five podium finishes in Intersport Racing, a Sports Racing Prototype. He finished second in the 2000 finale of Intersport Racing and his neck to neck battle with Dyson Racing’s Butch Leitzinger is still remembered as a breathtaking sight. Under his belt, he has the honor of leading the British Racing Drivers Club contingent in the London Marathon that was held in April 2010. His personal best in the event was two hours, fifty-four minutes and twenty seconds.

The 49th Rolex 24 At Daytona is set to test the skills of many distinct drivers at the Daytona International Speedway. The Rolex 24 At Daytona will open on January29-30, 2011.

Matthew Hayden may be well known for being an aggressive opening batsman; however, the Rolex Sydney Hobart race brought out the deep-thinking philosopher in him, glimpses of whom have sometimes appeared in his final test cricket years. Matthew Hayden may have been furthest from a cricket arena, but the left handed batsman proved that he still had his sportsman spirit intact. Racing aboard the Investec Loyal, Matthew Hayden was part of a star-studded crew that included Olympians, swimming champions and of course, experienced and talented sailors. The Rolex Sydney Hobart race has been known to be a surreal experience not only for sailors, but is also anxiously awaited each year by audiences in Australia and fans around the world. This year the race has been witness to its toughest challenge yet, due to gale force winds and confused seas taking a toll on boats and sailors, alike.

Admitting to the challenge presented by the race, Matthew Hayden stated that only the first two hours of the race were quiet and peaceful. He went ahead to add that thereafter, the next 28 hours were extremely hectic and the chaos only ended with the finish line in sight. He stated that they had not only big seas to deal with, but also a lot of people getting sick aboard the 100-foot supermaxi. He went ahead to state that there were many technical aspects of the race that he did not understand. Especially, the aspect about how the strategy and tactics were crafted by the skilled sailors. When asked whether he regretted being part of one of the toughest sailing races in the world, he stated that he was not sorry at all. He further said that it was one of the most surreal experiences of his life. Narrating his experience he said that he now understood how it felt being part of one of the most remote places on earth. He added that the dolphins illuminating the water with the phosphorus from their nostrils at around 3 am and it was nothing short of fireworks in the water as the moon went out, the sea became steady and there was light breeze.

Matthew Hayden further claimed that it was an experience he would never forget, as his reason for signing up was the fact that there was a lot of trust and reliability involved, as he had every crew member’s back and vice versa. He said that it felt like he was in a boot camp while aboard the 100-foot runner up. Drawing parallels with cricket he stated that a challenge of such proportions is what brings together a team and helps you build on relationships afterwards. He said that sometimes the greatest result in a match is a draw and this time he was glad that he was able to finish the race. While Investec Loyal was in hot pursuit of the leader, Wild Oats XI, throughout the race, it was the sudden drop in winds as they were crossing Derwent River that made them lag far behind with a gap of around three and a half hours from the Line Honors winner.

Wild Oats XI triumphed at the 65th Rolex Sydney Hobart Race and it has been made official. The favorites from the beginning were the first to cross the finish line of this action packed extravaganza. This is the fifth title win for Wild Oats XI. Late into Tuesday the 100 foot supermaxi won by beating the rest of the 86 participants in the race. Wild Oats XI completed their run of a daunting 628 nautical miles in two days and eight hours, approximately.

Soon after the win a protest followed over an alleged radio breach and the crew of Wild Oats XI had to wait till Wednesday to be announced the champions. The jury dismissed the allegations and Wild Oats XI was declared the winner of the 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. In their statement, the jury officials confirmed Wild Oats XI as the Line Honors winner of the event.

The protest was lodged on late Tuesday by the committee against Wild Oats XI and British participant Ran on the grounds that the mandatory guideline on radio reporting was not followed. The rule was laid after the 1998 incident, which saw the death of six sailors. The officials of the race committee of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race alleged that Wild Oats XI failed to report the crossing of the Bass Strait through the operational radio and reported to officials via telephone which was against procedures.

Wild Oats skipper Mark Richards on late Tuesday claimed that the crew had followed all the listed guidelines and reported the position of the boat as required. While addressing the media on Tuesday Mark Richards claimed that they are the winners of the race and was very confident about the dismissal of baseless allegations. He in his address claimed that Wild Oats XI had some of the best available yachtsmen on board and they always made sure that everything from the book was followed.

Mark Richards said that there could be no doubt that Wild Oats XI would have left Green Cape without making sure that they had followed all the legitimate guidelines and sailing instructions.

Officials later confirmed that a dockside presentation will take place in Hobart on Wednesday to honor the winners with the winning trophy of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Race this year was filled with challenges as the weather conditions were stiff. More and more yachts are still making their way into Hobart long after the winners have crossed the finish line. Investec Loyal, skippered by Sean Longman was the second to report to the finish line. Investec Loyal took three and a half hours more than Wild Oats XI due to dropped out winds. On the third place was Lahana. It gave the leaders competition for more than 600 nautical miles, but had to settle by finishing third after its experience with the drop in breeze. So far out of the 87-strong fleet that started the race together 17 have retired facing the challenges of the sea leaving the race open for other 60 contenders.