Goetz Enjoying Challenge, Close Competition

Subtitle:Platinum Masters Driver Improving Rapidly In First IMSA Season

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 7, 2015) – Racing a Porsche is nothing out of the ordinary for John Goetz.

But competition in the iconic German marque took a new, exciting look this season for Goetz as he stepped up to his first full season in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama with Wright Motorsports.

Goetz, a rookie to the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA)-sanctioned Single-Make Series, spent 10 years behind the wheel of a Porsche as a club racer. This year he decided to take his love for Porsche automobiles and racing to the next level.

“You have to be very intentional about things you don’t do quite right on the track in this series,” Goetz said. “I’m not a rookie driver but I’ve been driving around without instruction for years. Changing some of those ingrained behaviors is really the challenge. That’s the fun part of it – that extra degree of focus that I’m trying to apply.

“It’s important I pay attention to the people who are helping me and take their suggestions seriously. It’s about realizing where you fall short and changing your habits.”

Goetz, from Weston, Connecticut, drives the No. 18 Wright Motorsports entry in the Platinum Masters division. He previously drove in a few Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama races in the Gold Class in 2013.

“I decided I wanted to race in IMSA full time because I needed to push myself a bit,” Goetz said. “I usually just showed up at the track to race and have had very little professional instruction over the years. I think the single-make aspect of the series means you are confronting yourself more clearly because there aren’t any excuses. It isn’t about the slower car that got in your way.

“It allows you to say, ‘It’s really me and my competitiveness against the other drivers.’ There’s also a high level of professionalism in IMSA and expectation that you’re surrounded by, which makes you want to do better and be better.”

Goetz has shown steady improvement behind the wheel through the first three rounds of the season, two in March at Sebring International Raceway and one in April at NOLA Motorsports Park. He placed second in the Platinum Masters division at NOLA and is tied for ninth in overall driver championship points.

Much of the credit for his increasing skill is due to his team, Wright Motorsports, Goetz said.

“When I asked myself how I was going to push myself to be a better driver, I wanted to look for a team that met two conditions,” Goetz said. “One is that they seem to be really high-qualified both on dimensions of preparation of the car as well as a team who gets the best out of its drivers. Wright’s experience in doing that seemed to be exemplary.

“There’s also a second factor, which is I really wanted to join a team where I had some familiarity with the team and the people. It turns out Kasey Kuhlman and I have a mutual friend, and I also knew Kasey from club racing. He was a factor in me choosing Wright Motorsports.

“The team is even better than I had hoped, so that’s a really big positive. The camaraderie, team orientation and the proficiency are outstanding.”

Six tracks and 13 races remain on the 2015 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama schedule. While Goetz looks to improve his racecraft each weekend, his goal is to finish in the top three in the Platinum Masters championship.

“I don’t think I’m driving as well as I want to yet, so there’s a disappointment within myself so far,” Goetz said. “I have an outside hope that I can catch Kasey (Kuhlman). I would love to finish on his tail by the end of the season!”