Ryan Lutz leaves Team Durango

US front runner, Ryan Lutz has announced that he is to leave chassis sponsor Team Durango, despite famously announcing a 10-year contract with the brand back in 2011. In the four years since, while being very competitive, Team Durango had changed ownership which also led to a change in Ryan’s contract. While evaluation his package for the next part of his racing career, Ryan came to the conclusion that he had to move on in order to have the best possible support package on his side. Ryan didn’t give any details about where he is headed next.

In recent months I have been contemplating my career trajectory and what I want to accomplish by the end of my racing career. I have looked at what pieces of the puzzle I feel are some of the missing links, and a big one for me is the consistent support system at races (mechanic/engineer/pit man/ext.). As a primary catalyst, this has resulted in my decision to leave Team Durango. This was not a decision that I took lightly. As many are aware, 4 years ago I agreed to a ’10 year deal’ with Team Durango. Of course over those 4 years Durango ownership has changed to Hobbico. In that change, was a change to my contract as evidence by the “Ryan Lutz resigns with Durango for another year” press release early this year. Obviously we are not quite at that year but Durango has been gracious in their understanding, and is allowing me to begin with my new company sooner to prepare for the upcoming season.

It was an extremely hard decision as i’m very happy with the performance of the new DNX8 buggy. I’ve had some great results with the buggy including 3rd at the ROAR Nationals, starting 4th on the grid for the IFMAR Worlds A-main, and most recently a win at the Byron Challenge. I’ve seen the project through almost to its entirety, and I was very excited to see it coming to fruition. But I feel like the next step for me and my career involves having the support package that I witness with the likes of Tessman, Cavalieri, and others who are constantly at the top. That opportunity has presented itself to me and I’ve decided to take it.

I must give Durango and those I’ve worked with a huge thank you for the 4 years of support and camaraderie. I want to wish them the absolute best of luck with the new platforms as I’m sure they will be very successful with them.

Source: Ryan Lutz [lutzinator.com]