2003 Riley Mk XI Daytona Prototype

2003 Riley Mk XI Daytona Prototype 2003 Riley Mk XI Daytona Prototype 2003 Riley Mk XI Daytona Prototype 2003 Riley Mk XI Daytona Prototype

IMAGE CREDITS - Riley Technologies LCC

Riley Technologies is the brainchild of designer Bob Riley and his son Bill Riley. The company was originally founded in 1990 as Riley & Scott Inc. Over the years the company has evolved with Reynard buying Riley & Scott Inc. Over the last twenty years the company has built over 100 racecars for IRL, Trans-AM and FIA GT. Their newest car, the Mk XI Daytona Prototype, was accepted to run in the 2003 Grand-Am Sports Car series.

Riley's Dayonta Prototype was built on the company's engineering expertise in constructing steel tube/aluminum reinforced chassis with excellent mechanical grip and an outstanding aerodynamic package. Suitable for installation of any class-eligible motor, the car was equipped with the proven Xtrac gearbox used in the Mk III C and many other top SR1/LMP 900 chassis.

In the recent past Riley have been dominating the top level of Grand-Am motorsport. This is largely due to Chip Ganassi Racing and Sun Trust Racing which both use the Mark XI, but with different engines.

SunTrust Racing & Riley win Daytona 2005

Co-drivers Wayne Taylor, Max Angelelli and Emmanuel Collard brought their No. 10 SunTrust Racing Pontiac Riley home to victory in the twice-around-the-clock race.

As the race approached daybreak, it as the No. 20 Howard-Boss Motorsports Pontiac Crawford of Andy Wallace, Jan Lammers and NASCAR champion Tony Stewart that had the upper hand. The No. 10 machine had made contact with another car just after the 16-hour mark, prompting a lengthy stay on pit road and giving the No. 20 a three-lap lead.

Over the next two hours, the No. 10 and No. 20 cars swapped the lead several times, and it appeared that the stage was set for another thrilling Daytona Prototype battle. However, the race's decisive moment came with slightly more than two hours remaining, when a broken gear on the No. 20 machine, left a large hole in the car's gearbox and removed the car from contention for the victory.

With the No. 20 team's misfortune, Angelelli was able to cruise the rest of the way en route to a victory by 11 laps over the No. 4 The Boss Snowplow Howard-Boss Motorsports Pontiac Crawford of Butch Leitzinger, Elliott Forbes-Robinson and NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson.

Riley Take 2004 Season

In a close season, Chip Ganassi Racing won the 2004 Grand-Am championship with their Lexus-powered Riley Mk XI. They did so just 10 points behind the Sun Trust Racing Riley powered by a Pontiac engine. The Manufacturers championship that year went to Riley, largely due to both of the mentioned teams.

Story by Grand American Road Racing Association, Riley Technologies LCC & Supercars.net