WHITTEN TO HIT TRACK IN DAYTONA FOR THE
2018 IMSA RACING ROAR BEFORE THE 24

I'm excited to announce that I will be taking part in this year's IMSA Racing Roar Before the 24 at the Daytona International Speedway, January 5th - 7th. I will be driving an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 for Automatic Racing. I'm ready for a new challenge and am looking forward to taking to the high banks at Daytona! A huge thank you to my long time partner Traction Factory for the continued support in chasing my dream! Details and results can be found at www.imsa.com under the Continental Tire Series, Roar Before the 24.

WHITTEN TAKES 3RD IN RX2 SEASON FINALE
IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Tanner Whitten took his 4th podium of the season at the recent season finale in Cape Town, South Africa at Killarney International Raceway. The 3rd place finish clinched his 4th place overall in the 2017 Championship. For a complete recap of the race weekend visit http://www.supercarlites.com/v1/rx2-raymond-caps-title-winning-campaign-with-cape-town-triumph/.

In the post race interview Whitten said, The weekend started out pretty well, and from there, we worked our way consistently up the timesheets. We set the car up to come on later in the semi-final, and I think that showed as we were particularly strong in the latter stages. That put us in a good position going into the final and I actually thought we had an opportunity to take second until the red flags came out, but ultimately, to finish on the podium is always a great result. I take my hat off to the organizers in Cape Town - they did a fantastic job to build a track that played to the strengths of a variety of different driving styles - and the fans gave us a phenomenal welcome. It was incredible to see so many people in the grandstands and at the autograph sessions - there was a huge turnout for the first edition, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the event grows. Overall for me, it's been a bit of a rollercoaster year, but to come away with four podiums is very positive and I'm looking forward now to taking this momentum into the off-season and hopefully 2018.

TANNER WHITTEN TAKES 3RD IN CANADA IN RX2 LITES

OMSE's Tanner Whitten took his third podium in five races at the recent FIA WRX RX2 Lites race in Trois-Rivieres Canada on August 6th. For a complete recap of the race weekend visit http://www.supercarlites.com/v1/rx2-raymond-reigns-come-rain-or-shine-at-trois-rivieres/

In an interview following the race, Whitten said, It's great to be back on the podium again and important from my point-of-view to prove we have the speed to run consistently up at the front in RX2. This was a really big weekend for me. It's the only race we have in North America, and I kind of consider it my home event – it's the first and perhaps the only one my family and sponsors can make it to. Saturday didn't really go as planned with terrible rain in Q2, but second place in Q4 vaulted us up the order and put us in contention for a strong result. I must say that Cooper Tires have produced incredible tires for us to race on in all conditions, which really showed this weekend. The semi-final was fairly straightforward, but then in the final, I didn't get the best start, which left me playing catch-up from the get-go and we had a good battle with Guillaume and Dan. Now we need a big push to collect as many points as possible before the end of the season.

Whitten was also grateful that his family and his sponsor Scott Bucher from Traction Factory were in attendance at the race.

TANNER WHITTEN TAKES 2ND IN NORWAY IN RX2 LITES

OMSE's Tanner Whitten took his second podium in three races at the recent FIA WRX RX2 Lites race in Hell, Norway on June 11th. Coming off of a 3rd place finish in Mettet, Belgium on May 14th, Whitten and his Traction Factory sponsored car were able to move up one step on the podium taking 2nd behind his OMSE teammate Cyril Raymond in the very heavy 19 car field. Whitten emerged as Raymond's closest rival tallying a series of qualifying race triumphs and surviving a hit in the final to stay in 2nd place and take the runner up spot on the podium as well as securing 3rd place in the Championship point standings. After the four qualifying rounds Whitten moved up to 2nd place overall giving himself the pole in semi final two which he won taking the checkered flag and a P2 starting position in the Final.

In an interview following the race, Whitten said, I'm going into every weekend with no prior racing experience on any of these circuits, relying solely on what I've seen on Codemasters DiRT, but that at least meant I had an idea of which way the lap went at the start of practice. We had pretty good pace from the outset and then progressively worked our way up the order. Hell is an awesome track with so many different types of corner and both cambered and off-camber sections - it really keeps you on your toes! Given how close it is in RX2, getting your head down in clean air can really pay off - and that’s precisely what I did in my semi-final, which worked out perfectly. That gave me a great starting position for the final, and I decided to play it safe into Turn One. The battle was essentially for second behind Cyril [Raymond], and I took a big hit from behind at one stage that almost spun me round. That made it a little bit touch-and-go when I rejoined from the joker, but I was able to hold on to bring home second place, which feels really good.

The RX2 International Series presented by Cooper Tires will continue at Höljes in Sweden on June 30th - July 2nd.

WHITTEN CHASING HISTORY AS HE GRADUATES TO RX2 WITH OMSE

• Illinois ace becomes first American to bid for RX2 crown
• 24-year-old has proven credentials on home turf
• Congerville native returning 'home' as he rejoins OMSE

Tanner Whitten has returned 'home' to Olsbergs MSE as he prepares to make his bow in the rebranded RX2 International Series presented by Cooper Tires in 2017 - and the young American has history-making success firmly in his sights.

Whitten served as a test-driver for OMSE back in 2012-13 as he helped to develop the prototype RX2 Lites car. Since then, the 24-year-old Illinois native has progressed through the ranks, contesting GRC Lites for the past two seasons and tallying two final victories, 12 heat wins, six podiums and four pole positions. He subsequently made his Supercar debut in Las Vegas last year, taking the chequered flag in sixth place.

Now, Whitten is eager to prove his prowess on the international stage in RX2 - and confident that he is ready to take the next step in his burgeoning career.

Ever since I had the opportunity in 2012 to test the prototype RX2 car for Andreas [Eriksson - OMSE CEO and Team Principal], I have been dreaming about racing against the sport's best in the FIA World Rallycross Championship, revealed the 2010 NASCAR All-American Series Rookie of the Year.

OMSE gave me my first break in the sport of rallycross, so for me it feels like I'm coming home. I am extremely excited about making the jump to a new series with a new team and new team-mates! The RX2 category has grown every year since its inception, and I couldn't be more ready to join the 2017 class.

I am going into the season as prepared as ever to compete for heat and final wins, and although I have only driven the RX tracks that are available on the Codemasters Dirt Rally simulator, I believe I can be a threat for the title this year.

As the first American to contest a full season at RX2 level, I feel I have the opportunity to make history in the sport of rallycross. My team is dedicated to the continued development of its drivers and I am honoured to be a part of the programme.

My long-term ambitions are to make a home within rallycross. I love every aspect of the sport from the cars to the competition and the extremely dedicated fans! I have never felt more at home within a community before and I would love nothing more than to race for a factory Supercar team in the future.

We are very pleased to support Tanner in the #11 OMSE car as he runs for the RX2 championship title this season, added Scott Bucher, President of Whitten's primary sponsor, award-winning marketing communications and business development firm Traction Factory. He has shown us what he is capable of over the last two seasons, and we look forward to realising what is possible on the world stage with Tanner and the OMSE team.

Whitten joins reigning RX Lites Champion Cyril Raymond and Swedish young gun William Nilsson in having confirmed his place on the 2017 RX2 grid. Further driver announcements will be made over the coming days and weeks.

The 2017 RX2 International Series presented by Cooper Tires will take in seven rounds across three continents in support of the FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy, visiting Mettet in Belgium, Lydden Hill in Great Britain, Hell in Norway, Höljes in Sweden, Trois-Rivières in Canada, Lohéac in France and Cape Town in South Africa.

TANNER WHITTEN EARNS THE PRESTIGIOUS "RISING STAR AWARD"

Tanner Whitten earns the prestigious "Rising Star Award" on October 10th at the 2016 RedBull Global Rallycross awards banquet held at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, CA. In 2016 Tanner raced the Dreyer & Reinbold Lites car in Dallas, Daytona and Seattle earning three podiums (3rd in Dallas, 2nd at Daytona I and winning at Daytona II), along with 7 heat wins and 3 pole positions. He was then given the opportunity to pilot the SH Racing Rallycross Supercar at the double header season finale this past weekend in Los Angeles. Tanner was able to make the Supercar Final both days taking 6th place on Sunday. Many thanks to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and SH Racing Rallycross for the fantastic opportunity and also our awesome partners - WIX Filters, MET RX, Traction Factory, IVI Vision and Sparco.

WHITTEN GRADUATES FROM GRC LITES TO SUPERCARS
IN LOS ANGELES

October 8, 2016

It's been producing some of the most exciting action in Red Bull Global Rallycross for years now, and 2016 has been no exception. But GRC Lites fans will have another reason to rejoice this weekend at the Port of Los Angeles: not one, but two graduates of the class-both race winners-will be stepping up to a Supercar for the first time in race conditions.

"We want to make sure that we get the best racing car in the final on Saturday and Sunday," said Tanner Whitten, who will be filling in for Nelson Piquet Jr. at SH Rallycross/DRR this weekend. "Everything after that, I think it'll be icing on the cake. The first corner of rallycross is crucial, and there are a lot of opportunities to capitalize going into turn one."

"If we can get into the final and get a clean start and get through turn one clean, I think we will be in a good position to make up for a couple of spots. I am kind of setting myself to finish in the top seven-I think that's a good goal for my first Supercar and I'm looking forward to see what I have with the sport's best."

Whitten is the more recent Lites race winner of the two, having taken victories in Detroit last year and Daytona this June. He spent most of 2016 splitting time with Alex Keyes at Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, but when Nelson Piquet Jr. was unavailable for this weekend's action, DRR's Dennis Reinbold (also a part-owner of SH Rallycross) elected to move Whitten up and give Keyes two more races in the Lites car.

"I think the time that I spent in the Lites car has done an incredible job of getting me ready for a Supercar," he continued. "The balance of the car and the way the car moves is extremely similar to the Lites car. They have done a really good job of building a Lites car that is really comparable. Obviously the biggest difference is the horsepower and getting used to that much more horsepower. Once you get past that and get acquainted with it, than you start to figure out how the Supercar works versus the Lites car."

TANNER WHITTEN PROMOTED TO SUPERCARS
WITH SH RALLYCROSS/DRR
FOR RED BULL GLOBAL RALLYCROSS LOS ANGELES

WILL FILL-IN FOR NELSON PIQUET JR. AND BECOME FIRST LITES
DRIVER PROMOTED TO FULL-TIME SUPERCAR TEAM IN SAME SEASON

INDIANAPOLIS (October 4, 2016) - SH Rallycross/DRR announced today that Red Bull Global Rallycross Lites driver Tanner Whitten will be promoted to drive in the RBGRC Supercar division this weekend for both season-ending events at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, CA.

Whitten, 23, will fill-in for Nelson Piquet Jr. and pilot the #07 WIX Filters Ford Fiesta ST for SH Rallycross/DRR on October 8, and the #07 MetRX Ford Fiesta ST on October 9. A native of Illinois, Whitten will become the first GRC Lites driver to be promoted to a full-time Supercar team in the same season that he ran in Lites.

"We are pleased to announce that Tanner will be driving the SH Rallycross/DRR car in Los Angeles," said Dennis Reinbold, co-owner of SH Rallycross/DRR. "The opportunity presented itself with Nelson having a Formula E conflict, and we felt this was the perfect opportunity to promote a young, deserving driver up to Super Cars. We look forward to a successful weekend for both the team and our sponsors, WIX Filters and MET-Rx." One of the inaugural Red Bull Global Rallycross Lites test drivers in 2012, Whitten has had an impressive Lites career. He made his RBGRC Lites debut in 2015 making 12 starts finishing on the podium three times with one win and five heat race victories and a top-five spot in the standings. For 2016, he responded by earning three more podiums including a win, seven heat race victories and three straight poles. During his Lites career, Whitten has made a total of 16 starts with six podium performances including two finals wins and 12 heat victories.

"I want to thank everyone in the SH Rallycross/DRR organization for this opportunity," said Whitten. "It is an honor to be working with the team for the season finale. Los Angeles is an amazing location to make my Supercar debut and I feel humbled to be competing at the highest level of the sport."

Download the Press Release

WHITTEN TAKES FIRST WIN IN 2016 AT DAYTONA
WITH DREYER & REINBOLD RACING

At the iconic Daytona International Speedway and with his new team Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Tanner and his Wix Filters, Traction Factory sponsored car made it to the top of the podium with their first win of the season. Saturday's race ended with a 2nd place finish along with the pole and 2 heat wins. On Sunday Tanner also qualified on the pole, won 2 heat races and led all 10 laps of the final to take the win. "No doubt this win is due to the hard work of my entire team at Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. I am so grateful to Dennis Reinbold for this opportunity and putting me in such an awesome car".

WHITTEN KICKS OFF 2016 WITH A PODIUM FINISH IN DALLAS

Whitten along with his new team, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing began their limited season this past weekend in Dallas, Texas at State Fair Park. The weekend began with a clean sweep with fast times in both practice sessions, a pole in qualifying and taking first in both heat races. Although the car was extremely fast, nothing's ever guaranteed in racing. Whitten's Traction Factory and Wix Filters sponsored car, finished with a 3rd place podium position after leading the pack for 5 laps. Whitten and the team left the track ready for the next race in Daytona June 18th & 19th.

NEW GRC LITES TEAM FOR WHITTEN IN 2016

After years of waiting, original GRC Lites test driver Tanner Whitten finally got his chance to race the car he helped develop in 2015. Whitten grabbed a race win and three podiums, briefly leading the championship standings and ending the year firmly within the top five in points.

2016 will see Whitten take on a new challenge with a new team: linking up with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing out of Indianapolis, IN, he'll be focusing entirely on race wins as he runs half of this year's schedule alongside full-time driver Cabot Bigham. In an exclusive interview, Whitten reflects on the decision to run part-time, working with a teammate, and how the series has grown over the past few years. Read the complete interview at http://redbullglobalrallycross.com/news/interviews/tanner-whitten-2016-going-phenomenal-year/