Ian James Joins Starworks Motorsports at Homestead

Feb. 26, 2010

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - British driver Ian James will drive the Starworks Motorsports No. 7 Dinan-BMW Riley with Bill Lester, beginning with next weekend's Grand Prix of Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

James has competed in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 in both the Daytona Prototype and GT classes since 2001 and is one of the few drivers to have won in all four of the current GRAND-AM categories, including the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Grand Sport and Street Tuner classes.

James debuted in the Daytona prototype class in 2006 and scored multiple podium finishes, including his first victory in the 2008 SunrichGourmet.com 1000 with Michael Shank Racing at Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City, Utah. "I feel great to be back working with Peter Baron," James said. "I last drove for Peter in 2006 and in my first race with him we scored a podium finish. This year I look forward to more of the same. I am pleased to co-drive with Bill Lester and join Starworks Motorsport. With the engineering department headed by Bill Riley and the talented group of individuals the team has, we should be contenders at every race."

Starworks Motorsports will field two cars for the remainder of the season. Debuting the new No. 8 at Homestead will be Rolex 24 At Daytona winner Ryan Dalziel and Mike Forest. "With Ryan, Mike, Bill and myself, Peter has drivers who will push each other and with a common goal, make the cars as fast as possible and get Starworks Motorsport into the winners' circle," James said. "It's exciting to head to Homestead for the first sprint race in the 2010 Rolex Series, there really is nothing like the rough and tumble of Daytona Prototype racing."

Team owner Peter Baron is happy to have James back in his lineup. "I am excited to have Ian returning in one of my cars," Baron said. "He had a few podium runs with us in a Porsche GT car and had a nice run in a Riley-built Daytona Prototype for me in 2006, but signed with another team for 2007. When we were looking for a driver to pair with Bill Lester, Ian was a natural. He has already worked and gets along with our engineers and with his teammates. He has a great understated personality and people tend to forget how fast he is. He should have been in a car last year, but was left without a seat when the season started. He is extremely motivated for his return, and should deliver some fantastic results."