Denver, Co. (Sep. 13, 2023)
The CarBahn with Peregrine Racing No. 39 will have a different look and sound when it takes to the track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend, as the team is proud to announce that they will be campaigning a BMW M4 GT4 for the remainder of the 2023 season.
Although this will be the first time that Peregrine Racing has displayed the world-famous BMW roundel on the hood, the high-performance Bavarian marque is well known to CarBahn owner Steve Dinan. CarBahn is the United States’ largest high-performance BMW parts distributor, and Dinan has been working with the brand for over 45 years, helping BMW win 121 racing championships and two prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona victories.
“We’re excited to be adding the BMW M4 GT4 to our lineup this season,” said Dinan. “Jeff and Sean have been doing a tremendous job, and we’re confident that we’ll be able to get back to winning ways working with the great people over at BMW for the balance of the season and in the years to come.”
Team Principal Mark Siegel echoed Dinan’s sentiments, expressing excitement on the possibilities for the rest of the year and into the future.
“We’re very excited about our new partnership with BMW from Indianapolis onward,” Siegel said. “The new M4 GT4 model has already proven itself to be a strong contender in IMPC, which, paired with Steve’s wealth of experience with BMW, gives us a great opportunity at championship success next season. That’s our main priority, and I think this partnership is another step towards achieving that.”
Westphal and McAlister will be rejoined by Nolan Siegel in Indy, who served as the third driver in the team’s strong showing in Daytona. Siegel, coming off of a third place finish that earned him Rookie of the Year honors in the Indy NXT championship—the last step on the ladder to IndyCar—is sure to bring strong pace to the team at a track he’s already visited twice this season.
As previously mentioned, the CarBahn with Peregrine Racing team will continue to field the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport at Indianapolis, with young up-and-comers Brady Golan and Cameron Shields joining the fray in the No. 93 machine. Golan, who is just 16 years old, will be making his sportscar debut after his rookie season in USF Juniors, which also included 3 starts in USF2000. Shields, a 22-year-old Australian, is looking to continue his sportscar education as he steps into a GT4 machine for the first time. Shields’ single IMSA appearance this season resulted in a third place finish in LMP3, so he will be looking to continue that spotless record of podiums this weekend at Indy.
Siegel and Dinan both expressed how happy they were to have them in the No. 93 this weekend, with Dinan calling them, “two great young drivers.”
The CarBahn with Peregrine Racing team will be back in action on Friday, as IMSA returns to Indianapolis for the first time in almost a decade. Tune into Peacock on September 16 at 4:30 PM ET to catch the 4-hour IMSA Battle On The Bricks, and follow us on social media to stay up to date with all things Peregrine Racing.
INSIGHT FROM THE IMPC COCKPIT
“I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the BMW M4 GT4 this weekend at Indianapolis. The team has been working hard to get the car ready and in fighting shape for this weekend, and I hope we’re able to reward them for their hard work. This new M4 has shown that it’s capable of winning races this season, and even though it’s new, Steve’s experience with the brand will surely flatten the learning curve for us as we transition into the car. I’m excited for this new challenge and I know Sean, Nolan, and I will give it our best shot to get our first win of the season this weekend.”
“I’m excited to be transitioning to the BMW M4 GT4 for the rest of the IMSA Pilot Challenge Season. I’ve been driving Porsche race cars for a long time now, and while it’s a bummer to be switching out of the Cayman, it seems to be the best decision for the current circumstances. I haven’t gotten too much seat time in the BMW so far, but I can already tell it is going to be a very competitive car. There’s a lot for me to learn and get used to, such as the weight being distributed more to the front end of the car compared to the rear. Also, the pedal system based on how I drove it last required a left foot braking technique that I’ve never done in a race car. That will be a bit of a learning curve, but it’s exciting to have to learn these new techniques and driving styles in order to commit them to muscle memory. I can’t wait to get in the car at Indianapolis!”
“I’m very excited to be racing with Peregrine and CarBahn and making my IMSA debut this weekend in the Michelin Pilot Challenge. Porsche and Peregrine have always brought incredible and competitive cars to the track, and I’m honored to drive one this weekend!”
“I have followed the formation of Peregrine Racing right from the beginning and have witnessed the success that CarBahn has brought to the team. I’m more than excited to make my IMPC debut, but even more so to do it at a 4-hour race with such a powerhouse team at Indianapolis Motor Speedway!”