CTSCC: TGM steps up to GS in new Cayman GT4 Clubsport

After racing BMWs for 25 years, Ted Giovanis is making the move to Porsche for 2016.

TGM recently purchased a pair of new Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsports for 2016 IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge competition in the Grand Sport class.

Team owner Ted Giovanis will return with David Murry in the No. 64 JKTG Foundation Cayman, with no current plans to race the second car. TGM joins CJ Wilson Racing and Bodymotion Racing as teams that have announced plans to race the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport in GS for the upcoming season.

“This is a huge change for our team,” Giovanis said.  “There is still a lot of learn about the car, but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to be competitive. We’re very excited. The new car is a good platform, and it’s something that can be developed.”

TGM recorded its best professional finish in the 2015 season-opening BMW Performance 200 at Daytona, finishing third in the Street Tuner (ST) class in the No. 64 JKTG Foundation BMW 328i. It bettered that finish in Round 2 at Sebring, with Giovanis and Murry finishing second. The team went on to place 17th in the ST team standings.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to move up to GS,” Giovanis said. “We’re putting together a good team – not only the group that goes over the wall at the track, but we also have the team that’s going to advise us and help us develop it. We have a lot of Porsche insight with the people we’re connecting with, and that will help us in the long run. Also, Dave (Murry) has a lot of history with Porsche, as well, and I’ve also driven Porsches in club event.”

“Moving to GS is not that big of a step, certainly not for Dave,” Giovanis added. “I have a Porsche GT3 Cup car, and that’s faster than the GS cars. The front end of the new Clubsport is basically from the 991 Cup car, and we have one, so we’re ahead of the game there. We’ve also seen a few street GT4 Caymans, so we know the similarities and differences there.”

The team was formed in 1991 as T. Giovanis Motorsports, and made its professional debut in 2006 in the Continental Tire Challenge. TGM began racing its BMW 328i in 2010.

With the new cars expected to arrive at any time, TGM will test the Clubsport for the first time publically at the Roar Before the Rolex 24, set for Jan. 8-10 at Daytona International Speedway.