The Condor Racing Team will be participating in the 2024 Gridlife Touring Cup with a two car effort, piloted by Carlos Mendez and TJ Lathrop. The team will be running two E90 sedans which were originally run as sister cars in the S/T class for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series, supporting all major IMSA and Grand Am racing events.
The Drivers
Carlos Mendez has been racing BMWs successfully for over 11 years. Carlos has achieved three National NASA Championship titles’ and many regional podiums and victories within NASA, SCCA, WRL, and Champcar. He currently holds multiple Spec E30 & Spec E9X track records at Daytona International Speedway and Sebring International Raceway.His company, Condor Speed Shop was established based on an undying passion for racing and currently manufactures and sells performance BMW parts to road racers, drifters, and street car enthusiasts throughout the world.
Thomas Lathrop has a growing resume in and around the grassroots motorsport world and he has been a leader in the E30 and BMW community for more than a decade. From starting forums and building cars, to competing in time attack and being an integral crew member for the Condor Speed Shop NASA Championship team that helped propel Carlos to two national title wins in Spec E30 and Super Touring 5 in 2021. TJ has achieved NASA Time Trial track records in the TT5 and TT6 classes, at storied tracks including Sebring, Homestead, Roebling Road, and Carolina Motorsports Park. He has spent the past year honing his skills in iRacing sim racing, maintaining a top ~5% driver rating on the platform.
The Crew
Crew Chief Christina Mendez has been a vital part of the Condor racing team since they began racing in 2010. Her organizational skills and strategic intelligence have been a huge part of their success and achievements over the years, both on and off track. In addition to her racing knowledge she is also a vital part of the Condor Speed Shop organization where her leadership and skills have propelled the company into becoming a top tier, well recognized BMW performance parts source and manufacturer. She will be the driving force behind the track action as well as a logistical mastermind, all of which are crucial in order to field a highly competitive racing team.
Crew Member Matt Lopez has been an integral part of the Condor Racing Team’s recent successes and also a great source of knowledge in the ongoing development of the E9X racing platform. His presence in the paddock has been a big part of the team’s progress and he will be a key part of the organization looking forward to 2024.
Crew member Curtis Buxton has also been a longstanding part of Condor’s racing team dating back to their endurance racing days in Champcar and WRL. A professional technician himself, his vast skill set and experience as both a tech and driver are extremely helpful to the team when preparing the cars for track action.
Crew Member Drew Dewar is also a professional automotive technician who’s knowledge has been a key to the team’s progress throughout recent years. Also coming from the endurance racing crew, his talents will be influential to the ongoing development of the current racing platforms and his attention to detail will continue to be critical for race prep.
We are excited about what’s to come in 2024 and we will be sharing updates throughout the season here within the resources section of our website. Stay tuned for more including updates on the developments on the two cars, event recaps,race footage and more as we transition into the 2024 Gridlife GLTC season.