Wikipedia

Alan Metni

Alan Metni (born April 15, 1967) is an American racing driver who competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship and Porsche Carrera Cup North America.[1] He is a former skydiver and CEO of IFly Holdings.[2]

Alan Metni
Born (1967-04-15) April 15, 1967 (age 57)
Austin, Texas, United States
IMSA SportsCar Championship career
Debut season2021
Current teamKelly-Moss with Riley
Racing licence FIA Bronze
Car number99
Former teamsNTE Sport
Starts10
Wins1
Podiums1
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Championship titles
2022Porsche Carrera Cup North America – Pro-Am
Last updated on: November 3, 2023.

Motorsports

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Early career

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Metni's Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in 2018.

Metni began his professional racing career in 2017, taking part in the Gold class of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge for Kelly-Moss Road and Race. Prior to the start of the season, Metni had only participated in track days, and "came to [motorsports] really, really late." He was invited to a track day by a friend, which eventually led to him searching for a full-time drive with Kelly-Moss for 2017.[3] Through 16 races, he claimed a sole class podium finish en route to a sixth-place finish in the championship. At the end of the year, Metni also took part in the 24 Hours of COTA with Brookspeed International Motorsport, taking the SP3 class victory.[4]

He returned to the series in 2018, graduating to the Platinum class designated for current-spec Porsche Cup cars.[5] Metni competed in the Platinum Masters subclass, composed of drivers over the age of 45. With three class victories in the final four races, Metni claimed the Platinum Masters title following the final race of the season at Road Atlanta.[6] Metni also completed a one-off weekend in the Pirelli World Challenge at COTA,[7] claiming a podium finish in the second race of the weekend. Metni claimed his second consecutive Platinum Masters title in 2019, scoring eight class victories over the course of 16 races.[8] During the 2019 season, Metni stated that his goal was to be competing at the front end of the overall field by the end of the year.[3]

2020 saw Metni continue in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge for its final season, once again with Kelly-Moss. At VIR in August, he claimed his maiden overall victory in the series, claiming that his race win was "one for the old guys."[9] This victory was one of ten Platinum Masters victories that Metni collected in 2020 as he scored his third consecutive class title.[10] He once again added a single weekend in the Am class of the GT World Challenge America, driving for Park Place Motorsports.[11]

Porsche Carrera Cup North America

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Metni's Porsche 911 GT3 Cup at Watkins Glen in 2022.

Metni remained with Kelly-Moss through the transition from IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge to Porsche Carrera Cup North America, lining up in the Pro-Am class for 2021.[12] Metni also engaged in a full-time effort in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, taking part in the Am class for Change Racing. Prior to the start of each of these campaigns, however, Metni made his debut in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, taking on a drive in the 2021 24 Hours of Daytona with NTE Sport.[13] The entry finished 15th in GTD with Metni, Don Yount, Andrew Davis, and J. R. Hildebrand at the wheel following gearbox problems. Metni's Porsche Cup campaign began successfully, as he claimed the series' first Pro-Am class victory at Sebring.[14] He became engaged in a season-long battle for the Pro-Am championship with Efrin Castro, with Metni taking an early lead thanks to a sweep of the first two race weekends. However, Castro's sweep of the triple-header finale at Road Atlanta, combined with two poor finishes for Metni, meant that Castro scored the Pro-Am title for 2021.[15] Metni also saw early success in his Super Trofeo campaign, leading to a difficult double-header weekend between the two series in September. The Porsche Cup event at Indianapolis fell on the same weekend as the Super Trofeo round at Laguna Seca, and with Metni still in contention for both championships he elected to attempt both. He began the weekend in California before flying overnight to Indiana to take on the second and third Porsche Cup races, scoring last-place points in both championships for the races he missed.[16]

Metni consolidated his efforts in 2022, running only in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America. Once again, himself and Castro were embroiled in the Pro-Am championship battle throughout the season, entering the final weekend separated by just 14 points. Despite Castro's seven victories far outnumbering Metni's three, Metni entered the Road Atlanta round with the championship lead.[17] Although Castro swept the weekend, a second and third-place finish for Metni in the last two races meant he claimed the championship by one point.[18]

IMSA SportsCar Championship

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Metni's Porsche 911 GT3 R in 2023.

In 2023, Metni graduated to a full-time drive in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, driving for the new Kelly-Moss with Riley operation alongside Kay van Berlo.[19] Metni additionally continued part-time in the Porsche Carrera Cup, pulling double duty on several weekends between both series in order to gain more track experience.[20] At Laguna Seca in May, Metni claimed his first IMSA SportsCar Championship victory.[21] However, the rest of the season saw Metni and van Berlo finish no higher than seventh in any given race, and a non-racing injury for Metni forced the team to miss the season-ending Petit Le Mans.[22]

Skydiving

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Career

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Metni's skydiving career began at the age of 21 after reading a newspaper advertisement for a local skydiving establishment, Skydive San Marcos.[23] Following his first flight, he developed a passion for the sport, joining the Texas Skydivers Club in association with the University of Texas at Austin, where he was studying at the time.[23] After successes in regional and national championships, Metni quit his job as a lawyer, electing to pursue a spot on the national skydiving team and moving to Arizona.[24]

IFly Indoor Skydiving

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IFly location in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

In 1999, Metni paid a visit to SkyVenture, an indoor skydiving facility located in Orlando, Florida.[24] Impressed with the facility, Metni proposed a business venture between himself and SkyVenture's owner Bill Kitchen, leading to the creation of IFly in 2002.[24] The company's wind tunnels featured a unique wall-to-wall or open-flow wind tunnel design, which pulled air upwards through the enclosed chamber. Such a design improved airflow, but drastically increased noise and removed the ability for interior climate control.[25]

As of 2023, the company has opened over 80 locations in more than nine countries.[26] Locations also engage in STEM events to teach the public about the science behind the company's wind tunnels.[27]

Racing record

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Career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2017 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge – Gold Kelly-Moss Road and Race 16 0 0 0 1 154 6th
24H Series – SP3-GT4 Brookspeed International Motorsport 1 1 ? ? 1 ? ?
2018 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge – Platinum AM Motorsports/Kelly-Moss 16 0 0 0 0 345 7th
Pirelli World Challenge SprintX – GTC AM Motorsports 2 0 1 1 1 43 2nd
24H Series – 991 JDX Racing 1 1 ? ? 1 ? ?
2019 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge – Platinum Kelly-Moss/AM Motorsports 16 0 0 0 3 388 5th
IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge Canada – Platinum ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
GT World Challenge America – Am Autometrics Motorsports 2 0 1 0 0 26 11th
24H Series – 991 Kelly-Moss Road and Race 1 0 0 0 0 ? ?
2020 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge – Platinum Kelly-Moss/AM Motorsports 16 1 0 1 6 433 4th
GT World Challenge America – Am Park Place Motorsports 2 0 2 0 2 36 3rd
2021 Porsche Carrera Cup North America – Pro-Am iFLY Racing/Kelly-Moss 15 8 7 8 12 316 2nd
Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America – Am Change Racing 12 0 0 1 8 120 3rd
IMSA SportsCar Championship – GTD NTE Sport 1 0 0 0 0 176 73rd
24H Series – GT4 RENNtech Motorsports 1 0 0 0 0 ? ?
2022 Porsche Carrera Cup North America – Pro-Am Kelly-Moss Road and Race 16 3 ? ? 13 289 1st
2023 IMSA SportsCar Championship – GTD Kelly-Moss with Riley 10 1 0 0 1 2289 13th
Porsche Carrera Cup North America Kelly-Moss Road and Race 7 0 0 0 0 5 34th
Porsche Carrera Cup North America – Pro-Am 7 2 1 1 4 124 7th
2024 Porsche Carrera Cup North America Kellymoss 16 0 0 0 0 21 18th
GT World Challenge America – Pro-Am Mercedes-AMG Austin with Esses Racing 2 0 0 0 0 3 23rd
GT World Challenge America – Am 2 1 1 1 2 43 2nd

* Season still in progress.

Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
2021 NTE Sport GTD Audi R8 LMS Evo Audi 5.2 L V10 DAY
15 		SEB
 MDO
 DET
 WGL
 WGL
 LIM
 ELK
 LGA
 LBH
 VIR
 PET
 73rd 175
2023 Kelly-Moss with Riley GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Porsche 4.2 L Flat-6 DAY
16 		SEB
7 		LBH
12 		LGA
1 		WGL
17 		MOS
9 		LIM
14 		ELK
9 		VIR
8 		IMS
11 		PET
 13th 2289

* Season still in progress.

References

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  1. ^ "Alan Metni | IMSA". IMSA. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "Alan Metni, iFLY Holdings LLC: Profile and Biography – Bloomberg". Bloomberg. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Metni "Flying" on the Racetrack in Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama". IMSA. June 21, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  4. ^ Goodwin, Graham (November 15, 2017). "Herberth Porsche Takes Inaugural 24H COTA". Dailysportscar. Retrieved May 28, 2023. The Brookspeed International Motorsport Porsche Cayman GT4 MR (#41, David Pattison / Freddie Hunt / Alan Metni / Joseph Toussaint) took the win in the SP3 class...
  5. ^ News Release (March 15, 2018). "Kelly-Moss Set for 30th Year of Racing; Seven GT3 Cup Entries". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  6. ^ IMSA Wire Service (October 12, 2018). "Robichon Sweeps Road Atlanta Weekend; Estep Claims Title". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved May 28, 2023. [Metni's] win Thursday evening moved him into the Platinum Masters points lead, and his victory Friday morning cliched him the title.
  7. ^ Alley (March 21, 2018). "104 PWC entries set for COTA". Racer. Racer Media & Marketing. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  8. ^ IMSA Wire Service (October 11, 2019). "De Angelis Closes Out Season with Victory in Race 2". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved May 28, 2023. In the Platinum Masters class for drivers 45 years of age and older, Alan Metni secured his second consecutive championship with his eighth victory of the season...
  9. ^ Staff Report (August 23, 2020). "Metni Gets 'One For The Old Guys' At VIR – SPEED SPORT". Speed Sport. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  10. ^ IMSA Wire Service (November 13, 2020). "Kingsley Wraps Up Title With Win in Series Finale at Sebring". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved May 28, 2023. It capped Metni's third straight Masters championship with his 10th class win in 16 races.
  11. ^ James, Richard S. (March 5, 2020). "GT World Challenge America season preview". Racer. Racer Media & Marketing. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  12. ^ Dagys, John (March 5, 2021). "Kelly-Moss Confirms Seven-Car Effort; Five New-Gen Porsches". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  13. ^ Allaway, Phil (January 15, 2021). "NTe Sport Announces Rolex 24 Effort With Audi". Frontstretch. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  14. ^ Myrehn, Ryan (March 18, 2021). "Priaulx Wins Opening Race of Weekend". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved May 28, 2023. Alan Metni picked up the win in the 992 Pro-Am class with a last lap pass of Efrin Castro.
  15. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (November 12, 2021). "Champion Priaulx Wins Season Finale Ahead of Van Berlo". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved May 28, 2023. The Pro-Am title battle between Alan Metni and Efrin Castro went down to the final race of the year, and concluded with Castro overcoming his deficit to Metni by winning for the third time this weekend.
  16. ^ Dagys, John (September 7, 2021). "Metni Set for Unique Laguna, Indy Weekend Double". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  17. ^ Sportscar365 Staff (September 27, 2022). "Championship Showdown Set for All Three Classes at Road Atlanta". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved May 29, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Grace, Jonathan (September 30, 2022). "Heinrich Wins Race 2; Thompson Crowned Champion". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved May 29, 2023. In the final few minutes of the race, the Texan held off pressure from the No. 17 ACI Motorsports car of Curt Swearingin to secure the Pro-Am class championship by a single point.
  19. ^ Goodwin, Graham (January 7, 2023). "Kellymoss With Riley Confirm #91 Porsche GTD Crew". Dailysportscar. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  20. ^ Grace, Jonathan (April 16, 2023). "Metni on Double Duty: "It's All About Trying to Get Better"". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  21. ^ James, Richard S. (May 14, 2023). "Kellymoss/Riley take first IMSA GTD victory at Laguna". Racer. Racer Media & Marketing. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  22. ^ Dagys, John (October 2, 2023). "No. 91 Kellymoss with Riley Porsche Withdrawn from Petit". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  23. ^ a b "Skyleague". National Skydiving League. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  24. ^ a b c Winter, Caroline (April 26, 2017). "IFly and the Rise of Indoor Sky Diving". Bloomberg News. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  25. ^ "A Complete History of the Vertical Wind Tunnel". Indoor Skydiving Source. January 2, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  26. ^ "The Heritage of IFly | IFly". IFly. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  27. ^ Pressler, Alyssa (July 1, 2019). "iFLY helps the adventurous find their wings". Business North Carolina. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
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Sporting positions
Preceded by Porsche Carrera Cup North America
Pro-Am Champion
2022 		Succeeded by
Efrin Castro
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