Marc Miller and Michael Di Meo to pilot #78 Mercedes
Michigan based Thaze Competition today confirmed its entry into the 2023 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge with an entry filed for Round 4 of the Championship on the streets of Detroit.
The AMG GT4 squad from Birmingham will make its debut on a track just 25 minutes from its home base with local pro Marc Miller and the Canadian Michael Di Meo on driving duties for the 100 minute race on June 3rd. The team opting to delay their season’s programme to ensure the required personnel and structures were all in place.
For Marc Miller, the opportunity to race and win in his home race was one he could not refuse. “I couldn’t be more excited to make a return to the Detroit Grand Prix and the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge in the Thaze Competition AMG GT4. The fact that it’s a Michigan based team making its debut at what is considered my home race, the Detroit GP, makes this really special. Historically I have been the only or one of very few Michigan-based competitors at the Grand Prix.”
Miller is a multiple winner in the Series and was Runner Up in the GS Class in 2016. He is well aware of the effort and resources that it takes to win in this incredibly competitive category.
“A win in this series on our debut is a tough ask, but Thaze has assembled a strong team, has opted for great equipment and I know Michael and I can compete for the podium and anything can happen from there. We are hoping to give Michiganders a team to cheer for and celebrate with.”
Toronto native, Michael Di Meo is no less enthusiastic about his return to IMSA competition next Month.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be back in the driver’s seat and competing with Thaze Competition. The opportunity to drive the Mercedes-AMG GT4 at the team’s debut race is a dream come true. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Faisal and Brian for entrusting me with this incredible opportunity, and to my sponsors for their unwavering support throughout my career. I am fully committed to bringing the best of myself to this race and am excited to see what we can achieve together as a team.”
“We’re excited to make our IMSA debut at the Detroit Grand Prix and it’s our hometown race,” declared Team Principal, Faisal Ahmad. The Detroit based businessman is well aware that he and his team are flying the flag for Detroit. “Our team is made up of some seriously amazing folks who embody the never-give-up, determined spirit of the Motor City. After months of hard work and dedication, we’re finally living the dream. Our drivers and crew are amped up and ready to unleash our Mercedes-AMG GT4 on the streets of Detroit. None of this would’ve been possible without the support of our awesome partners – some of the most respected companies in Metro Detroit. They believe in us, our city, and the pursuit of victory.”
The location of the event provided additional impetus for the team to launch its program but the decision to green light the 2023 campaign was only taken when all of the constituent parts were in place.
Ahmad’s partner at Thaze Competition, Brian Makse, was a strong advocate for launching when the team was fully ready and not before. “To us, it became clear that rushing a debut at Daytona and even Sebring would compromise our chances of success. We made the tough decision to wait until we were 100% ready. As a result, we’re more prepared than ever to make our debut at our home race in Detroit. We’re eager to hit the track and make our mark in the world of motorsport.”
Makse was quick to recognise the part AMG has played in this process. “We cannot express enough gratitude to our partner Mercedes-AMG for their unwavering support and they have gone above and beyond to provide us with the last two new AMG GT4s for North America.”
In the end the chance to race on the streets of Detroit was a strong enough incentive for Ahmad and Maske to pull all of the pieces together. Now, they just want to go racing. It is very safe to say that the afternoon of June 2nd will be a very special one for Faisal Ahmad when he sees his car race on the streets of his own City.
“When that green flag drops, we’re going all in for the checkered flag. This one’s for you, Detroit!”
Excerpted from Dailysportscar.com.
Car looks beautiful.