The Trans Am Sequence introduced by Pirelli is saddened by the lack of Bob Riley, a legendary engineer and automotive designer whose autos nonetheless compete and win in Trans Am right this moment. Riley has been designing progressive and aggressive racecars over the course of 5 many years, successful occasions such because the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indy 500, 12 Hours of Sebring and Rolex 24 at Daytona, and his autos have gained championships in IMSA, INDYCAR and Grand-Am. Trans Am drivers resembling Scott Pruett, Scott Sharp, Jack Baldwin and Wally Dallenbach Jr. have gained 14 Trans Am titles behind the wheel of Riley-built automobiles.
Tom Gloy gained the 1984 Trans Am championship in a Lincoln-Mercury Capri designed by Riley at Roush Racing. In 1990, Riley and Mark Scott teamed as much as type Riley & Scott. The primary automotive the corporate developed was the Mk I Trans Am chassis, which was piloted to many wins within the collection. In 2001, the Mk VIII debuted in Trans Am.
His most up-to-date contribution to Trans Am, TA’s Ave-Riley AR3, made its on-track debut in 2022, with drivers resembling Chris Dyson, Tomy Drissi, Justin Marks, David Pintaric and Gar Robinson discovering success within the automotive since.
“Racing is an engineering sport and there may be at all times one thing new to be taught and apply to the long run technology of automobiles,” Bob Riley mentioned on the time of its launch. “We applied into this automotive all of the ideas and concepts we now have developed over the previous 20-plus years since we designed and constructed their earlier technology of automobiles which can be persevering with to be raced right this moment.”
Longtime Trans Am competitor David Pintaric took supply of the very first AR3.
“I used to be lucky to be concerned with Mr. Riley’s final design challenge; my present automotive is chassis No. 1,” mentioned Pintaric. “It was an honor to work with him. He was an excellent engineer, however a good larger man. He shall be missed.”
Three-time TA champion Chris Dyson has been using the AR3 for the final three seasons at his staff, CD Racing, together with his title-winning years in 2022 and 2023. He has earned two victories within the automotive this season.
“Twenty-four years in the past, I started my skilled racing profession in a Riley & Scott Mk III, and this 12 months, I’m nonetheless successful races in a automotive that Bob designed,” mentioned Dyson. “That Bob remained a considerate and artistic drive in racecar design by means of his 80s and into his early 90s is a testomony to how his work continues to affect the game. It was my honor to work with him and luxuriate in a lot success collectively.”
2009 TA champion Tomy Drissi has pushed many Riley automobiles through the years, and presently owns a secure of them at his staff, Drissi Motorsports.
“We misplaced a racing legend in Bob Riley, and he won’t ever be forgotten,” mentioned Drissi. “I’m proud to have pushed his automobiles to poles and wins, and I hope to have many extra with him driving together with me.”
A two-time CUBE 3 Structure TA2 Sequence champion, Gar Robinson made his TA class debut final 12 months within the season finale at Circuit of The Americas behind the wheel of a Riley automotive, successful the occasion. He mentioned on the time, “That was most likely my favourite begin ever in all my all my begins in motorsports. These are essentially the most enjoyable automobiles to drive. Having the ability to drive towards all the blokes that my dad used to drive towards, all of the legends, and to be part of it and to share it with all my family and friends is wonderful. Extending the connection between my household and Riley Motorsports and being again right here in Trans Am has made this the perfect day ever.”
TA Technical Director Aaron Coalwell mirrored on his conferences with Riley.
“I’m comparatively new to motorsports in comparison with Bob Riley, and despite the fact that I’ve heard the title of Bob Riley for a few years, I solely met Bob after the discharge of the Riley AR3 automotive for Trans Am in 2023,” mentioned Coalwell. “Every of the few occasions I met with Bob, he was so gracious together with his time, and keen to share his huge motorsports expertise; it made me really feel like I had recognized him for much longer than I had. The motorsports world was a greater place for Bob Riley being in it, and he shall be sorely missed. My deepest condolences exit to Invoice Riley and all the Riley Applied sciences group.”
The Trans Am Sequence expresses condolences to Riley’s household, pals and staff.
