The opening event of the 2020 Pirelli GT4 America championship kicks off in less than a month, and Marco Polo Motorsports has big plans in store for the upcoming season. The KTM X-BOW team, managed by Muellerized, has just announced the expansion to the SprintX championship of GT4 America, running the two-driver format with MPM veteran Nicolai Elghanayan and Reiter Engineering Works Driver Mads Siljehaug in 2020.
“Marco Polo Motorsports is thrilled to get this season started,” said Team Owner Jeff Elghanayan. “We’re proud to welcome Mads Siljehaug to the program to co-drive with Nicolai in our newly updated 2020 spec KTM XBOW GT4 EVO. With all of our partners returning for the upcoming season, the combination of our supporting sponsors, drivers, cars and crew will bring a competitive package to the series.” The team previously ran in the GT4 America Sprint series, with Nicolai Elghanayan as the sole driver of the No. 71 KTM X-BOW racing car. An unfortunate shoulder injury off track forced Elghanayan and the team to sideline the racing efforts halfway through the 2019 season. In his two partial seasons, the young racer has earned two wins and eight top-five finishes in GT4 America.
“I’m happy we’re able to announce that Mads Siljehaug and I will be teaming up to compete in GT4 America SprintX for 2020,” said Nicolai Elghanayan. “Mads and I drove together at the Zandvoort GT4 European Series race and we really hit it off landing the first podium for the team that year. Mads is a phenomenal driver who won the ADAC GT4 championship last year. I think our similar driving styles and familiarity with the KTM will bring about great success in the new 2020 KTM X-BOW GT4 in hopes of securing a championship.”
Reiter Engineering Works Driver Mads Siljehaug joined the ranks of GT racing in 2016, where he still races today. Last season, Siljehaug raced in the GT4 European series, earning one podium and two pole positions. He also participated in the ADAC GT4 Germany championship, where he clinched the championship title with two victories and four podiums. “This opportunity is a milestone for my carrier,” said Siljehaug. “I am honored to get this chance and trust from Marco Polo Motorsports, and I’m highly motivated to give my best on and off track with the goal of bringing the championship to the team.”
Muellerized will return to support the effort, run by third generation champion racer John Mueller, who’s serving the sixth consecutive season as the chief engineer and race strategist for Marco Polo Motorsports. "With the improvements made to the 2020 KTM X-BOW GT4 EVO by our teammates at Reiter Engineering, we look forward to seeing how this season plays out, but I’m sure we’re having the best possible car”, said Mueller.