Official 2020 Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid Ohio Program

GT3 CUP CHALLENGE USA

BY YOKOHAMA

2 0 2 0

SOUVENIR PROGRAM PUBLISHED BY

S:7.375"

G #86 MTD TEAM EYER RACIN SHANK G G MARIO TD DRIVER S F TRENTARNBACHE HINDM R & AN

YES, THE NSX GT3 EVO IS A DEFENDING IMSA CHAMPION. YES, AGAINST THE WORLD’S BEST SPORTS CARS. YES, WITH THE SAME 3.5-LITER TWIN-TURBO V-6 ENGINE AS OUR PRODUCTION NSX. YES, WE SPRAYED CHAMPAGNE. AND YES, VICTORY TASTED GOOD. BUT NO, WE HAVEN’T TAKEN A DAY OFF SINCE. BECAUSE LAST YEAR’S TROPHIES DON’T MAKE OUR CARS BETTER. RACING DOES. SEE YOU ON THE TRACK.

MOTORSPORTS NSX GT3 Evo Race Car shown. ©2020 Acura. Acura, NSX, Precision Crafted Performance, and the stylized “A” logo are registered trademarks of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

S:10.25"

2019

Table of Contents

Welcome Letters 4 Acura 5 IMSA 6 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

Features 10 12 15 17 19 21

Acura Team Penske Seeks “Three-Peat” at Mid-Ohio Trio of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Classes Ready for Mid-Ohio Unique Doubleheader Weekend for IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at Mid-Ohio Penultimate Round of 2020 IMSA Prototype Challenge Season to Take Place at Mid-Ohio Busy Weekend Ahead for Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama Show-Stopping Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires Arrives at Mid-Ohio

26 Driver Profiles Entry Lists 40 40 40 41 41 42 42 43

Daytona Prototype International GT Le Mans GT Daytona IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Touring Car Le Mans Prototype 3 Global Mazda MX-5 Cup GT3 Cup USA Platinum

Essentials 44 Map 46 Schedule

FUN!

e Spot th

1r0ences

Diffe ge 42 pa

Dear Acura Race Fan, Welcome to another action-packed weekend of racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, highlighted by Sunday’s Acura Sports Car Challenge, featuring the cars and drivers of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has made this a challenging year for everyone, and we truly appreciate your continued support for IMSA sports car racing and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

This weekend’s race will feature many of the most talented racers from around the world, and a pair of Acura teams in the Daytona Prototype International and GT Daytona categories.

In DPi, Acura Team Penske will be seeking to repeat last year’s championship-winning season; and a third consecutive Acura Sports Car Challenge victory.

Helio Castroneves and Ricky Taylor started from the pole and claimed the victory in a 1-2 finish for the Acura ARX-05. Teammates Juan Pablo Montoya and Dane Cameron came home second in the inaugural prototype win for Acura in its return to IMSA competition. Last year, it was Cameron and Montoya first to the checkers, as the pair went on to win the Drivers’ Championship, with Acura claiming the Manufacturers’ title and Penske claiming honors in the Teams’ championship.

In the always competitive GTD class, the hometown favorite Meyer Shank Racing organization returns with their pair Acura NSX GT3s for Alvaro Parente and Misha Goikhberg in the #57; with defending series champion Mario Farnbacher joined by Matt McMurry in the #86 MSR Acura.

A third NSX GT3 Evo will be entered by Gradient Racing, which moves with their #22 Acura to the IMSA GTD class this year with drivers Marc Miller and Till Bechtolscheimer, both winners last year in SRO World Challenge competition.

In both classes, Acura will be facing off against strong competition from a wide range of automotive manufacturers. In DPi, Acura will continue to battle works programs from Cadillac and Mazda; and more than a half-dozen rival premium sports-car manufacturers including Ferrari, Porsche, Audi, Mercedes-AMG and Lamborghini in GTD. Our sister company Honda will also be represented this weekend in the MICHELIN Pilot Challenge, with a variety of Honda Civic TCRs taking part in the race.

We hope you enjoy the races at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, one of the most beautiful road racing facilities in North America, where American Honda has had a relationship that dates to 1994. Have a great weekend!

Jon Ikeda Vice President and Acura Brand Officer

4

|

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

Greetings IMSA Race Fans, On behalf of the France family and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), we are honored to return to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for this weekend’s Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio.

T

his weekend’s packed schedule features four IMSA-sanctioned series and seven races over the weekend, headlined by the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, which will be competing in its seventh round of the season.

Sunday’s headliner will feature three WeatherTech Championship classes representing 12 world-class manufacturers. Sleek Daytona Prototype international (DPi) machines will be battling for overall wins, with factory-backed GT Le Mans (GTLM) cars showcasing the leading edge in GT racing. GT Daytona (GTD) features a bumper crop of lightning-fast GT3 machines from world-class manufacturers battling wheelto-wheel throughout the two-hour, 40-minute race.

In addition to the WeatherTech Championship weekend headliner, the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge will have a pair of two-hour races this weekend – one on Saturday and the other Sunday. The production-based Grand Sport and TCR classes will ensure a thrilling race from the green flag all the way to the checkered in both.

The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama will have a trio of 45-minute sprint races spread across Saturday and Sunday. In addition, this weekend marks the penultimate round of the 2020 IMSA Prototype Challenge season with a one-hour, 45-minute race on Saturday afternoon.

IMSA continually sets the bar as the ideal motorsports platform featuring the most advanced machinery, fast drivers and iconic venues, like Mid-Ohio. We intend to push the limits of the sport, now and in the future, and hope you believe the same.

Make sure to obtain our digital Fan Guide, which contains illustrations of each race car in the field to determine who’s who on the racetrack.

You’ll also notice digital displays on all WeatherTech Championship and Michelin Pilot Challenge race cars.

These inform you where each is running in its class throughout a race. Also, be sure to download the IMSA app for live Timing & Scoring, onboard cameras and up-to-the-minute news and information.

Thank you again for joining us this weekend. We invite you to enjoy the Acura Sports Car Challenge at MidOhio and our entire 2020 IMSA season.

Ed Bennett

John Doonan

CEO

President

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

|

5

Welcome to the 2020 Acura Sports Car Challenge!

On behalf of our entire team, it is our pleasure to welcome fans to the 3rd annual Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio. We greatly appreciate Acura’s support of this weekend as title sponsor helping make this event possible.

P

remier, world-class sports car racing is what Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course was founded on in 1962.

We couldn’t be more excited to host a full schedule of 9 races headlined by the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Michelin Pilot Challenge series along with the IMSA Prototype Challenge, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama and Global MX-5 Cup. From the time gates open on Friday morning until the checkered flag waves on Sunday’s Acura Sports Car Challenge, there will be on track entertainment all weekend long. The Michelin Pilot Challenge headlines Saturday’s schedule (with an encore on Sunday!) while the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship highlights our weekend with the green flag waving at approximately 2:05 p.m. on Sunday.

While you’re here at the track, you’ll want to stop by the concessions, souvenir and vendor stands in the infield all weekend long. A schedule is in the back of this program outlining all the activities, so you don’t miss a second of the action.

We’d like to extend an extra special thank you to Acura for its continued support of this event as title sponsor and supporter of our racing facility.

Also, we want to thank you to the Morrow County Health Department for their direction and leadership to help us implement our COVID-19 health and safety protocols this weekend. Please remember to follow the guidelines throughout your time at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course including wearing a facial covering at all times (inside and outside), washing and sanitizing your hands often, don’t touch your face or eyes, and maintain social distancing across our 380 acres of property.

Check out the Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio again when it airs on NBCSN at 11:00pm ET. Be safe and have fun this weekend!

Craig Rust President Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

6

|

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

Cooper RS3G1 Ad 7_875x10_75 B.indd 1

4/10/19 8:52 AM

STAFF LISTINGS GT3 CUP CHALLENGE USA

BY YOKOHAMA

GREEN SAVOREE RACING PROMOTIONS

EVENT STAFF

Angela Hogeveen, Steve Bidlack, Scott Morgan, Jenna Hood Marketing & Communications Mike Raven, Tammi Griffith, Gwen Duffy Ticketing & Box Office

Kim Green Chairman & CEO

Adam Fisher, Stephen Timms, Dave Schwall, Devon Keady, Weston Bell, Kris Boatwright, Nathan Long Operations & Facility

Kevin Savoree President & COO

Bill Whitmore Safety

Michael Morrisey Executive Vice President & CFO Jeff Atkinson Vice President, Sales and Marketing

Craig Rust President

Dr. Alice Frazier, M.D. Medical Mike Pryor, Helga Klein Race Control Nathan Savoree Accounting

Brian Sipes Security Cindy Loomis Catering Services Sonny Gee, Scott McKinley, Max Gee The Mid-Ohio School John Fippin, Rusty Bell, Brian Culbertson, Tom Michaels PA Announcer

Ryan Cash, Kathy Nolan, Nolan Podmore, Giles Dowden Sales & Client Services

115 - 42 Industrial St. Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4G 1Y9

EXECUTIVE

Tim Rutledge Group Publisher & CEO

EDITORIAL

SALES + ADMINISTRATION

Adam Gordon Associate Editor

Richard Robles Director, Client Services

George Webster Motorsport Editor

Jason Redmond Motorsport Marketing Manager

DESIGN + PRODUCTION

ADVERTISING

Anna Rutledge Special Projects Editor

Queue Gonzalez Creative Director

Patrick Dinglasan Production / Senior Art Director Edward Shintani Senior Art Director Patrick Beltijar Senior Art Director

8

|

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

Randi Bentia Audience Development Manager

sales@ppmghq.com Phone: (416) 922-7526 Toll Free: 1-800-667-7223 www.ppmghq.com

Let’s Build It Together

From ground-up to top-down builds and everything in between, we’re here to help you get it done.

With millions of parts in stock nationwide, plus no-hassle special orders from the brands we carry, Summit Racing Equipment is your one-stop shop for the performance parts, accessories, and finishing touches you need— we even have a full line of tools, paint, and painting supplies!

EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR ANYTHING YOU DRIVE ® Call by 10 pm EST: In-Stock Parts Shipped That Day! 1.800.230.3030 • Int’l: 1.330.630.0230 Summit Racing app available for Apple and Android devices.

FIND IT AT

Acura Team Penske Seeks “Three-Peat” at Mid-Ohio

BY BRUCE MARTIN • PHOTOGRAPHY BY IMSA MEDIA

Acura Team Penske is going for a “Three-peat” this weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

T

he famed team is looking to win the Acura Sports Car Challenge for a third consecutive year when the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car teams converge on the magnificent road course September 26-27.

It’s an important weekend for the Acura brand. It serves as the sponsor of the event and showcases its racing technology and heritage with one of the top teams in racing with its lineup of accomplished drivers.

Helio Castroneves and Ricky Taylor gave Acura its first DPi victory in the No. 7 Acura ARX-05 in 2018 at Mid-Ohio. The tandem of Juan Pablo Montoya and Dane Cameron drove the No. 6 Acura to victory at Mid-Ohio in last year’s race. It sets up a great battle between the two teams in this year’s event.

“It’s always important, because Mid-Ohio is a fun track for us,” Montoya said. “It really suits our car. We always try to do well there. Driving the Acura ARX-05 at that place makes it even more special. For Team Penske to get the first win for the program at that track and repeat last year, being an Acura event, was very special.”

Montoya and Castroneves are enjoying a second career in the IMSA WeatherTech Series after finding success in other forms of racing. Montoya competed in both CART and IndyCar, was

10

|

the 1999 CART champion, won the Indianapolis 500 in 2000 and 2015, was a full-time driver in the Formula One World Championship from 2001 to 2006 and competed fulltime in NASCAR from 2007 to 2013.

Castroneves is a three-time Indianapolis 500 champion who drove Indy cars fulltime from 1998 to 2017 and has been a member of Team Penske since 2000.

“Mid-Ohio is a very special place for me because it was my second [Indy car] win right after Detroit in 2000,” Castroneves recalled. “It was a great battle between myself and my teammate, Gil de Ferran. I really like the course. It’s a very challenging place.

“It’s perfect to drive for Acura right now, to be in their backyard and get their first win of the season with me and Ricky in 2018. Last year, with Juan Pablo Montoya and Dane Cameron continuing that, it makes the expectation and pressure to win. We are working extremely hard to continue the success there for the fans and to keep the brand name happy with our accomplishments there.

“I’ve been going there since 1997 in Indy Lights. It’s a place that brings me great memories. Every time we go back to places like that, that brings back memories, you are happy about that.”

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

Castroneves co-driver is one of the most popular and successful drivers in IMSA, Ricky Taylor.

“We are really lucky in the WeatherTech Series to go to some amazing tracks, whether it is a street course like Long Beach, or a high bank like Daytona. One of the most iconic tracks we go to is Mid-Ohio,” Taylor said. “It’s one of the drivers’ favorites. It is really technical and very physical on the drivers. The engineers like it because it poses a lot of different challenges. It has a bit of everything. To race, it’s a lot of fun as well. It has a nice flow and really rewards focus and taking some chances. The drivers like that.”

The combination of the two drivers features fantastic racers with tremendous personalities.

“It’s really cool that we are teammates,” Taylor said of Castroneves. “It’s our third year together.

I never would have dreamed being Helio’s teammate. I’ve been a fan of his growing up.

“As great of a guy as he is on TV, he’s an even greater guy in person. We have a blast.

He’s a super nice guy off the track and on the track, he’s super quick. I have learned a lot from him. We team up well and both like certain things on the car. It’s been a lot of fun both on and off the track.”

Montoya’s teammate is IMSA champion Dane Cameron, who admits he followed Montoya’s tremendous career growing up, but never met

the driver until the first test session in 2017, when they were teamed up at Acura Team Penske.

“We were paired up as teammates and it’s been a lot of fun,” Cameron said. “For me and for Juan, it’s important for us to enjoy what we are doing. It is a job at the end of the day but everybody in this industry is here because you like the environment and driving the car. It’s the passion that drives you. The two of us together can have a bit of fun, give each other a hard time and push each other to be better and supporting each other as well. Things don’t always go your way, but I’ve enjoyed having him as a teammate.

Each driver finds the 2.258-mile, 13-turn MidOhio course quite challenging because of the various classes and different speeds each group runs. Although they love the free-flowing nature of the racing course, with 30 cars on the track at the same time, it’s a combination of a traffic jam and a chess match.

“It’s a nice, flowy track and it’s a lot of fun to drive,” Taylor explains. “But when you stick 30 cars out there, it becomes a real handful. Although it’s a sprint race for us, you have to make it to the end.

It’s easy to bump and have some issues with the car. Last year, we had an issue at the start and put us on the backfoot for the rest of the day.”

Cameron has a cerebral approach to racing at Mid-Ohio. “The track is a little bit slick to start the weekend, then rubbers up and gets faster and faster,” Cameron explained. “A lot of the tracks on the IMSA calendar are really difficult when it comes to traffic. Mid-Ohio is no different. It’s easy to get through Turn 1, through the keyhole and down the back to get by the GT traffic, cleanly. But once you turn off the back straightaway it is really difficult and can be high risk to get through some of the traffic. It’s a huge chess match and a huge part of our racing.”

Although it is one of the shorter races on the IMSA schedule, each team has to make a driver switch throughout the race. Because the contest

“But that is the great thing about a team like Acura Team Penske; they keep finding ways to improve.” is relatively short compared to the longer endurance races on the schedule, driver changes have to be extremely precise or it can keep a team from winning the race.

“It feels like we have done thousands of driver changes and you feel like it can’t get any more refined and you can’t find a tenth of a second on the driver change,” Taylor said. “But that is the great thing about a team like Acura Team Penske; they keep finding ways to improve.

Whether it’s changing the order of the belt or how this person puts their leg in this way. We really do practice every single weekend, every chance we get.

Castroneves loves the “sprint race” aspect of the shorter races. It creates a sense of urgency, gives the fans plenty of action and tests driver skill and patience. “The race is about 2 hours and 40 minutes, so it’s one of the shorter races on the schedule,” Castroneves said. “But you have all the different cars in the middle. It’s not a huge track so when you have that situation and get on the slow section, different cars, you can lose five seconds on the track just like that. It’s fun, but it’s very challenging.”

There is another very important aspect for the Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio.

It is in very close proximity to an American Honda Motor Company production facility in Marysville, Ohio. That facility produces many

of the Acura and Honda cars that are sold in North America.

“One thing related to Acura is they embrace the racing program,” Castroneves said. “People think about the name on the car, but they help develop the cars with Acura Motorsports and they also promote the team through their employees and manufacturers. It’s becoming ‘everybody’s team’ in the Acura world. We have a great group of people together pushing to achieve success. It’s huge representing a brand that embraces racing and the racing team. I enjoy that a lot.”

“Other sports – hockey, football or basketball – have that ‘homefield advantage’, it’s hard to find that in racing because you don’t get to interact with the fans,” Taylor said. “But when you go to the backyard of one of the biggest manufacturers of the sport and do the shop tours and get to know the people, that really gives you a lot of motivation and a good push for the weekend.

It’s a great way to start it off. That momentum is important for the weekend.”

Add it all up, and it’s a fun weekend of racing for Acura, the fans at Mid-Ohio and the members of Acura Team Penske. In fact, Montoya admits driving for this team has been one of the most fun experiences of his legendary racing career.

“The car is a lot of fun to drive and that is a big plus,” Montoya said. “The schedule is really good for me. It’s a really nice balance. We do a bit of testing and we go to great race tracks.

What else can you ask for?

“IMSA does a really good job with the atmosphere. If you are a fan and you want a really cool weekend, you couldn’t go to a better event.

I’ve raced everything. There is no better place.”

There is plenty of competition between these two teams to keep the streak alive for Acura at Mid-Ohio.

“It would be pretty cool [to win again],” Cameron said. “Mid-Ohio suits our package pretty well.

Our Acura seems pretty happy there. We did a couple days of testing before we went there for the first time in 2018. We seemed to hit the ground running with a really good baseline. It’s been a great place and happy hunting grounds for the last two years. We had a little slip the first year. It will be fair game between our two cars.

“We are here to represent Acura and Team Penske and the first rule is to play nicely, but both groups are very hungry on both sides. We had a strong year last year on the 6 car so the 7 is looking to rebound. Juan and I have momentum and confidence remaining from the year before how well we are working together. The harmony there is very strong.

“Both sides [the No. 6 and No 7 teams] feel anything is possible. In IMSA, it can be anybody’s game.”

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

|

11

Trio of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Classes Ready for Mid-Ohio Three of the four IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship classes will take to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for this weekend’s headlining event, the Acura Sports Car Challenge.

Although typically held in May, a recasting of the season’s schedule due to the pandemic has resulted in the two hour, 40-minute race being the seventh of 11 rounds in 2020.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY IMSA IMAGES

12

|

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

T

he DPi, GTLM and GTD classes will race around the 2.258 mile-circuit on Sunday, with the green flag scheduled for 2:05 p.m. ET. This is the third consecutive year that the WeatherTech Championship has visited Mid-Ohio after a fouryear hiatus from 2013 through 2017.

In the DPi class, Ryan Briscoe and Renger van der Zande lead the way in the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R. The pair opened the season with a victory at the Rolex 24 At Daytona – with endurance co-drivers Scott Dixon and Kamui Kobayashi – and have since collected two additional podiums. They hold a four-point lead, 150-146, over the No. 5 Mustang Sampling with JDC-Miller Motorsports Cadillac of Joao Barbosa and Sebastien Bourdais. While this duo has yet to score a win so far in 2020, consistent top-five finishes throughout the season keep them in the championship hunt.

Also in the DPi class is a driver fresh off a victory at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans this past weekend. Harry Tincknell, who codrives the No. 55 Mazda Motorsports Mazda DPi with Jonathan Bomarito, took home the checkered flag in the GTE-Pro category. Tincknell shared the No. 97 Aston Martin Vantage GTE with Alex Lynn and Maxime Martin, two other drivers who also have WeatherTech Championship experience.

In the GTLM class, Corvette Racing has nearly run the table throughout the season. Between its two entries, the Nos. 3 and 4 Chevrolet Corvette C8.Rs, the team has won four of six races so far in 2020. Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor own three of those wins, which has landed them solidly atop the championship standings in the No. 3 Corvette. They have a 14-point lead, 191-177, over their teammates, Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner in the No. 4 Corvette.

Sitting third, however, and building momentum over the last two races is Bruno Spengler and Connor De Phillippi in the No. 35 BMW

Team RLL BMW M8 GTE. The pair won most recently during the six-hour TireRack.com Grand Prix at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta and are only three points in arrears of second place in the standings. Spengler was another driver who competed at Le Mans this past weekend.

Another Le Mans competitor, Matt McMurry, leads the GTD class standings with No. 86 Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 co-driver Mario Farnbacher. Similar to the BMW pairing, McMurry and Farnbacher won at Michelin Raceway with endurance driver Shinya Michimi.

McMurry and Farnbacher’s lead in the standings is somewhat unexpected following a run of dominant performances throughout the summer

by AIM Vasser Sullivan’s two Lexus RC F GT3s, which has seen both the Nos. 12 and 14 in victory lane this year, in addition to winning multiple Motul Pole Awards. However, consistency again has proven key as the Shank team seeks backto-back GTD championships.

To follow along throughout the weekend on social media, keep up with the hashtag #IMSAatMO.

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

|

13

PERFORMANCE THAT DELIVERS

FloorLiner

™

Ready-to-Wash™ Bucket System

Nothing outperforms WeatherTech. From laser measured FloorLiners that are precision fit for the ultimate protection, to the Ready-to-Wash Bucket System for a sparkling clean exterior, WeatherTech is industry-leading in products that keep your vehicle pristine.

Made in USA © 2020 MacNeil IP LLC

IMSA_PGA-04 Program Ad - Mid-Ohio.indd 1

Auto. Home. Pet. Find Your Fit. 1-800-441-6287 or 1-630-769-1500

9/17/20 10:40 AM

Unique Doubleheader Weekend for IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at Mid-Ohio The 2020 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season is coming down to crunch time and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is one of four racetracks remaining to determine the final results.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY IMSA MEDIA

A

lthough typically a race weekend only features one Pilot Challenge race, Mid-Ohio is set for two.

Rounds 6 and 7 of the 10-race season are on deck this weekend and follows after Michelin Raceway hosted the fifth round earlier this month. Fans will see the return of both the GS class – featuring GT4 machinery – and the TCR class on track this weekend.

Pilot Challenge kicked off its season at Daytona International Speedway in January with the BMW Endurance Challenge before the global pandemic halted all racing. The season resumed at Sebring International Raceway in July, followed by rounds at Road America and VIRginia International Raceway in August.

After Mid-Ohio, the series returns to Michelin Raceway for Round 8 and will conclude with races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in October and again at Sebring in November.

This will be the 16th and 17th Pilot Challenge races at Mid-Ohio, where the series returned in 2018 after a four-year hiatus. Pilot Challenge made its debut in Lexington in 2001.

As a quick refresher, strategy was the name of the game during the last round at Michelin Raceway in what was a four-hour race. Rebel Rock Racing’s No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R prevailed overall, with Robin Liddell, team

owner Frank DePew and endurance driver and Atlanta native Andrew Davis taking home the checkered flag.

Currently in the GS class, defending champions Tyler McQuarrie and Jeff Westphal lead the point standings in their No. 39 CarBahn with Peregrine Racing Audi R8 GT4 by one point, 140-139, over Nate Stacy and Kyle Marcelli, co-drivers of the No. 60 KohR Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage GT4.

In the TCR class at Michelin Raceway, Gabby Chaves and Ryan Norman were declared the victors for the second time this season in the No. 33 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Veloster N TCR. The pair previously won at Road America, which was the first career victory in the series for both drivers. Following their success, Chaves and Norman lead the TCR point standings by two marks, 146-144, over their Herta teammates Harry Gottsacker and Mark Wilkins in the No. 21 Hyundai.

Both Pilot Challenge races this weekend at Mid-Ohio will be two hours in length. The first race is set for Saturday, Sept. 26 at 1:05 p.m. ET, with the second race on Sunday at 10:35 a.m.

For fans keeping up with the Acura Sports Car Challenge weekend from home, the race can be streamed live, flag-to-flag on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold. Follow along on social media as well using the hashtag #IMPC.

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

|

15

THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE CALL As proud sponsor of the AMR INDYCAR Safety Team, Global Medical Response (GMR) knows that when driver, crew or fan lives are on the line, we have to be ready to respond at a moment’s notice. The Safety Team answers the call, just like our first responders do every day in communities across the country.

This was especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic, when EMTs, paramedics, nurses and pilots stepped up to do their part in serving communities at a time of unparalleled uncertainty and peril. To those brave and dedicated women and men of GMR and all first responders in our great nation, we say thank you for what you do every day of every week of every year.

As your favorite drivers and crews race for the checkered flag today, we ask you to also cheer for all the first responders who answer the call and work to make their communities healthier and safer.

To learn more about Global Medical Response and its family of companies, visit www.globalmedicalresponse.com

GMR SOLUTIONS

Penultimate Round of 2020 IMSA Prototype Challenge Season to Take Place at Mid-Ohio

PHOTOGRAPHY BY IMSA MEDIA

The IMSA Prototype Challenge is one of four IMSA-sanctioned series competing this weekend in the Acura Sports Car Challenge. The race on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 4:45 p.m. ET will feature 14 prototypes – either Ligier JS P3s or Norma M30s – racing around the Mid-Ohio circuit in what will be its fifth of six rounds in 2020.

T

he 2020 season for Prototype Challenge began during the first weekend of the year during the Roar Before the Rolex 24. As schedules were recast and months went on, the series resumed at Sebring International Raceway in July followed by trips to Road America and VIRginia International Raceway in August.

The season finale will take place in October at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

While champions will be celebrated at Michelin Raceway, it will be the end of an era of sorts.

In 2021, fans will see the series split into two classes – one with new specification LMP3 cars and updated Evo machines, and one for 2020 IMSA-specification models that will be seen on track this weekend. Currently, Prototype Challenge is a single-class series with an additional Bronze Cup category that recognizes the highest finishing Bronze-rated driver lineup.

Prototype Challenge is a series to keep an eye on for up-and-coming talent. Considered a ladder series, many drivers use the platform to springboard and achieve their dreams of racing

prototypes in the IMSA’s top-tier WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. In 2021, that dream could be realized for some drivers that will be competing at Mid-Ohio after IMSA announced LMP3 machines will be eligible to run in its own WeatherTech Championship class.

Also, while this weekend’s race will be one hour, 45 minutes in duration, the last race of the season at Michelin Raceway will be the final three-hour event for Prototype Challenge as

teams will have the opportunity to run endurance races in the WeatherTech Championship next year. In 2021, all Prototype Challenge races will be the race length run at Mid-Ohio.

For fans enjoying the Acura Sports Car Challenge weekend from home, the Prototype Challenge race can be streamed live on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold beginning at 4:45 p.m. Follow along on social media as well using the hashtag #IMSAPC.

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

|

17

For people who love corners INSURANCE

DRIVERS CLUB

CAR CULTURE

MARKETPLACE

+1-888-406-8484 | Local agent | Hagerty.com Hagerty Track Day program is underwritten by RLI. Hagerty determines final risk acceptance. Membership by Hagerty Drivers Club (HDC), a non-insurance subsidiary of The Hagerty Group, LLC. Only the HDC Program Guide contains a complete description of benefits. Purchase of insurance not required for membership in HDC. All third party makes, models, and vehicle names are property of their respective owners. Their use is meant to reflect the authenticity of the vehicle and do not imply sponsorship nor endorsement of Hagerty nor any of these products or services. Hagerty is a registered trademark of the Hagerty Group LLC, Š2020 The Hagerty Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Busy Weekend Ahead for Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama Earlier this month, fans witnessed a pair of races for the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. This weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, they’ll be treated to three more PHOTOGRAPHY BY IMSA MEDIA

W

hen the final checkered flag flies on Sunday of the Acura Sports Car Challenge weekend, the 2.258-mile circuit will have hosted Rounds 7, 8 and 9 of 16 races comprising the 2020 GT3 Cup Challenge USA season.

There’s no reason to expect that fans won’t be on the edge of their seat this weekend based off what was just seen in Rounds 5 and 6. The action was down to the wire, tighter than ever and unpredictable at every turn.

Young guns Jeff Kingsley and Riley Dickinson split the Platinum Cup class victories – for current generation Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race cars – in their respective No. 16 Kelly-Moss Road and Race and No. 53 Moorespeed Porsches. The two drivers have slowly been

pulling away in the championship standings with Kingsley having a nine-point advantage, 201-192, and they will surely duke it out in the remaining 10 races.

In the Platinum Masters class for drivers 45 years and older, Alan Metni continued his dominance, scoring both category wins in the No. 99 Kelly-Moss/AM Motorsports Porsche. Metni’s performance came off an even more impressive drive two weeks prior at VIRginia International Raceway when he captured his first overall victory in the second race of the weekend.

Meanwhile in the Gold Cup class for Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race cars built between 2014 and 2016, Efrin Castro avoided on-track incidents to escape with two victories in the No. 65 TPC Racing Porsche. The success allowed him to

pull closer in the championship standings to fellow competitor Curt Swearingin in the No. 17 Porsche for ACI Motorsports, who leads Castro by two points, 197-195.

The racing action for Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama gets underway with two races on Saturday, Sept. 26. Race 1 is set for 9:50 a.m. ET and Race 2 follows that afternoon at 3:35 p.m. Race 3 is scheduled for Sunday morning at 9:20 a.m. All races are 45 minutes in length.

For fans watching the Acura Sports Car Challenge weekend from home, all three races will stream live, flag-to-flag on IMSA.com with IMSA Radio commentary. Follow along on social media as well using the hashtag #GT3USA.

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

|

19

YOUR RACE SEASON SEATS Purchase today for a winning tomorrow

RECARO Sportster GT

Designed for safety and comfort for the right on track road feel.

Trusted by drivers for over 113 years. www.recaro-automotive.com

Show-Stopping Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented

by BFGoodrich® Tires Arrives at Mid-Ohio Intense, close racing is the hallmark of the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented

by BFGoodrich® Tires. The secret to this level of competition starts with a field of hungry racers, a focus on parity and consistent rules to deliver low-cost racing.

S

ix races into the 2020 season, the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup has accumulated 625 passes for position and five different winners.

The series is fresh off a doubleheader at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, September 11 – 12, with the NTT Data IndyCar Series, so you can expect these racers to have a bag of tricks ready to become the next race winner.

The Competition Two first-time Global Mazda MX-5 Cup winners were crowned at Mid-Ohio two weeks ago; Gresham Wagner (No. 5 Spark Performance) dominated the first race, but Michael Carter (No. 08 Carter Racing Enterprises), wowed the crowd with a last-lap pass to take the race two win.

MX-5 Cup drivers seem to have an affinity for last-lap passes at Mid-Ohio. In 2018 and 2019, both races at Mid-Ohio were won with a pass after the white flag.

Current championship leader Robert Noaker (No. 13 Copeland Motorsports) won at MidOhio in 2018 and 2019, but didn’t make it to the top step two weeks ago. He was able to finish on the podium in both races though, making him the only driver to finish on the podium in every 2020 race thus far.

Mid-Ohio is a special place for Noaker. His 2018 victory set the Guinness World Record for youngest person (14 years, 178 days) to win an IndyCar-sanctioned race.

Trailing Noaker by 14 championship points is Carter, the 2019 Global Mazda MX-5 Cup Rookie of the Year. Now that he’s finally captured his

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

|

21

r lie

Off i

al Supp ci

l

em

Lig

st

ic

• Law Enforcement • Amber Products • Fire & EMS • Apparel

s

Ve h

Products & Services

e

y h ti n g S

• Window Tint • Graphics/Decals • Pickup/Delivery • Mobile Installation

Everything You Need for Vehicle Lighting and Equipment!

Shop Online at www.parrpse.com Parr Public Safety Equipment Inc. 6106 Bausch Rd. Galloway, Ohio 43119

Local Number - 614-873-7200 Toll Free Number - 866-320-7277 info@parrpse.com

“Mid-Ohio is a special place for Noaker. His 2018 victory set the Guinness World Record for youngest person (14 years, 178 days) to win an IndyCarsanctioned race” first race win in the series, he believes the flood gates are open for more.

His teammate, Jared Thomas (No. 96 Carter Racing Enterprises), leads the 2020 Rookie of the Year standings and is the current recipient of the Mazda Road to 24 Scholarship. In December, Thomas faced off against five other drivers for a $100K scholarship to race in the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup. Thomas scored a runner-up finish in his MX-5 Cup debut at Road America, but has struggled to find the similar results since.

Thomas and the rest of the rookie field are fighting for a generous $75,000 Rookie of the Year prize.

The Car The Global Mazda MX-5 Cup car has come with a classic H-pattern gearbox since its inception, just like the Mazda Miata MX-5 on showroom floors. The 2020 season, however, sees the debut of the SADEV sequential gearbox, now a requirement for Global Mazda MX-5 Cup cars.

The move came from competitors voicing their desire for a longer-lasting, purpose-built racing transmission.

Not only will this technical upgrade add long-term value to the package, but it should also generate a whole new set of track records this year.

Global Mazda MX-5 Cup utilizes the ND2 version of the Mazda MX-5 Miata. It is equipped with the same 7,500 RPM SKYACTIV®-G 2.0-liter engine available in the road car, which debuted at the beginning of the 2019 season. Several competitors choose to still use the ND1 version and are scored separately from ND2 entries.

The Championship Prize The 2020 series champion will receive a $200,000 career-advancement scholarship from Mazda to use toward the Mazda Road to 24 ladder. The ND1 class champion will receive a $35,000 scholarship that can be applied to the 2021 Global Mazda MX-5 Cup championship.

Partners

Connect with MX-5 Cup:

The Global Mazda MX-5 Cup series is owned

by Mazda North American Operations with support from presenting sponsor BFGoodrich Tires®. Flis Performance is the exclusive builder of the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup car and is at every race to provide support to teams. Andersen Promotions continues with its fourth season as promoter of the series.

Updates will be available via Twitter @globalmx5cup, with results to be posted with news and updated photos at www.mx-5cup.com.

Instagram @globalmx5cup Facebook @mazdamx5cup

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

|

23

Trim: 7.875" W x 10.75" H • Live: .125" • Bleed: .125"

WE ENGINEERED THE QUIT OUT OF IT At OPTIMA® we build and test every battery in the world’s most advanced facility.

Everything that goes in guarantees you get the most out — on the track, the trail, the water … anywhere ultimate power, performance and reliability is needed.

LEARN MORE AT OPTIMABATTERIES.COM

WATCH HOW QUALITY IS MADE

A CLARIOS BRAND © 2020, CLARIOS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

16676_Optima_Quality_Print_Anthem_7.875x10.75_v2.indd 1

9/17/20 4:01 PM

MEET THE IMSA WEATHERTECH DRIVERS

DAYTONA PROTOTYPE iNTERNATIONAL 5

6

7

10

31

Mustang Sampling Racing/JDC-Miller Motorsports

Cadillac DPi-V.R

Black base color

Acura Team Penske

João Barbosa

Sebastien Bourdais

Dane Cameron

Juan Pablo Montoya

Helio Castroneves

Ricky Taylor

Ryan Briscoe

Renger Van Der Zande

Felipe Nasr

Luis Felipe ‘Pipo’ Derani

Acura ARX-05 DPi

White fin. Red/black windshield strip

Acura Team Penske

Acura ARX-05 DPi

Black fin, windsheld strip

Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R

Whelen Engineering Racing

Cadillac DPi-V.R

Cadillac DPi-V.R

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

|

25

MEET THE IMSA WEATHERTECH DRIVERS

DAYTONA PROTOTYPE iNTERNATIONAL

55

77

85

Mazda Motorsports

Mazda RT24-P DPi

Soul Red base color

Mazda Motorsports

Jonathan Bomarito

Harry Tincknell

Oliver Jarvis

Tristan Nunez

Gabriel Aubry

Tristan Vautier

Antonio García

Jordan Taylor

Oliver Gavin

Tommy Milner

Mazda RT24-P DPi

White Pearl base color

JDC-Miller Motorsports

Cadillac DPi-V.R

Yellow base color

GT LE MANS 3

4

26

|

Corvette Racing

Chevrolet Corvette C8.R

Yellow body color

Corvette Racing

Chevrolet Corvette C8.R

Silver body color

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

MY

K

MEET THE IMSA WEATHERTECH DRIVERS BMW M8 GTE

Black base color

GT LE MANS

24

BMW Team RLL

25

BMW Team RLL

Jesse Krohn

John Edwards

Bruno Spengler

Connor De Phillippi

Frankie Montecalvo

Townsend Bell

BMW M8 GTE

Red base color

GT DAYTONA 12

14

AIM Vasser Sullivan

Lexus RC-F GT3

Black windshield strip

AIM Vasser Sullivan

Lexus RC-F GT3

White windshield strip

Jack Hawksworth

16

Wright Motorsports

Porsche 911 GT3R

Ryan Hardwick

28

|

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

Aaron Telitz

Patrick Long

MORE THAN 500 HORSES. LIMITLESS PASSION FOR THE TRACK.

OFFICIAL AUTOMOTIVE PARTNER

The roar of the RC F GT3’s naturally aspirated V8.

The adrenaline of going side by side through hairpin turns.

And the up-against-the-belts G-forces of braking hard at the end of a lightning-fast straight. Harnessing the power of over 500 horses commands all your senses.

Be part of the experience. Try to keep up with Lexus Racing all season long. lexus.com/motorsports | @LexusRacingUSA

Racecars are not available to public. RC F GT3 racecar shown. Trademarks shown are those of their respective owners. ©2020 Lexus

40301L02_4798B_More than 500 horses_7.375x10.25_r2.indd 1

9/2/20 5:28 PM

MEET THE IMSA WEATHERTECH DRIVERS

GT DAYTONA

22

Acura NSX GT3

Gradient Racing

23

30

44

57

63

30

|

Heart Of Racing Team

Marc Miller

Roman De Angelis

Ian James

Rob Ferriol

Spencer Pumpelly

John Potter

Andy Lally

Alvaro Parente

Misha Goikhberg

Cooper MacNeil

Toni Vilander

Aston Martin Vantage GT3

Audi R8 LMS GT3

Team Hardpoint

GRT Magnus

Till Bechtolsheimer

Lamborghini Huracรกn GT3 Evo

Heinricher Racing w/Meyer Shank Curb-Agajanian

Acura NSX GT3 Evo

Black and blue livery

Scuderia Corsa

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo

Lawson Aschenbach

76

86

96

GT DAYTONA

74

Merecedes-AMG GT3

Riley Motorsports

Gar Robinson

McLaren 720S GT3

Compass Racing

Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian

Corey Fergus

Paul Holton

Mario Farnbacher

Matt McMurry

Bill Auberlen

Robby Foley

Acura NSX-GT3 Evo

Pink and black liveryw

Turner Motorsport

BMW M6 GT3

Visit

program.midohio.com for the latest updates and information.

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

|

31

MEET THE IMSA MICHELIN PILOT CHALLENGE DRIVERS

GRAND SPORT 3

4

7

8

22

32

|

Motorsports In Action

Winward Racing

Archangel Motorsports

eEuroparts.com ROWE Racing

Multimatic Motorsports Inc.

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

McLaren 570S GT4

Corey Lewis

Sheena Monk

Russell Ward

Indy Dontje

Alan Brynjolfsson

Trent Hindman

Britt Casey Jr.

Michael McCann

Seb Priaulx

Scott Maxwell

Mercedes-AMG GT GT4

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS

Audi R8 GT4

Ford Mustang GT4

35

38

39

40

56

Riley Motorsports

BGB Motorsports

Carbahn Motorsports w/Peregrine Racing

PF Racing

Murillo Racing

BMW M4 GT4

Toby Grahovec

Chandler Hull

Jim Cox

Dylan Murry

Thomas Collingwood

Jan Heylen

Tyler McQuarrie

Jeff Westphal

James Pesek

Chad McCumbee

Jeff Mosing

Eric Foss

GRAND SPORT

26

Fast Track Racing

Mercedes-AMG GT GT4

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4

Audi R8 GT4 Evo

Ford Mustang GT4

Mercedes-AMG GT GT4

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

|

33

MEET THE IMSA MICHELIN PILOT CHALLENGE DRIVERS

GRAND SPORT

57

60

65

71

80

82

34

|

Winward Racing

KOHR Motorsports

Murillo Racing

Rebel Rock Racing

BimmerWorld Racing

BimmerWorld Racing

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

Mercedes-AMG GT GT4

Bryce Ward

Alec Udell

Nate Stacy

Kyle Marcelli

Brent Mosing

Tim Probert

Robin Liddell

Frank DePew

Dillon Machavern

Nick Galante

James Clay

Greg Liefooghe

Aston Martin Vantage GT4

Mercedes-AMG GT GT4

Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R

BMW M4 GT4

BMW M4 GT4

95

96

Turner Motorsport

Turner Motorsport

Audi R8 GT4

Mark Siegel

Tom Dyer

Bill Auberlen

Robby Foley

Robby Foley

Vincent Barletta

Roy Block

Tim Lewis Jr.

Mark Wilkins

Harry Gottsacker

GRAND SPORT

93

CarBahn Motorsports

BMW M4 GT4

BMW M4 GT4

TOURING CAR 5

21

KMW M’sports with TMR Eng’

Bryan Herta Autosport W Curb-Agajanian

Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR

Hyundai Veloster N TCR

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

|

35

MEET THE IMSA MICHELIN PILOT CHALLENGE DRIVERS

TOURING CAR GRAND SPORT

23

29

33

37

47

54

36

|

Fast MD Racing w/Speed Syndicate

Bryan Herta Autosport W Curb-Agajanian

Bryan Herta Autosport W Curb-Agajanian

LA Honda World Racing

Forty7 Motorsports

JDC-Miller Motorsports

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

Audi RS3 LMS TCR

Max Faulkner

James Vance

Parker Chase

Spencer Brockman

Gabby Chaves

Ryan Norman

Chris Miller

Shelby Blackstock

Alex Papadopulos

Jason Rabe

Michael Johnson

Stephen Simpson

Hyundai Veloster N TCR

Hyundai Veloster N TCR

Honda Civic TCR

Hyundai Veloster N TCR

Audi RS3 LMS TCR

77

98

LA Honda World Racing

Bryan Herta Autosport w Curb-Agajanian

Audi RS3 LMS TCR

Gavin Ernstone

Jon Morley

Ryan Eversley

Taylor Hagler

Mason Filippi

Michael Lewis

Honda Civic TCR

Hyundai Veloster N TCR

Reach grassroots enthusiasts 365 days a year with strategic content, social marketing and more!

| TV

DIGITAL |

| VIDEO

SOCIAL |

| EVENTS

MAGAZINE |

CONTENT TUNERS

The ultimate platform to engage real enthusiasts through events, social media and traditional print and digital properties across North America.

Learn more at www.tuneraccess.com

TOURING CAR

61

Road Shagger Racing

DAYTONA PROTOTYPE iNTERNATIONAL ENTRY LIST #

Drivers / Nationality

5

(G) Joao Barbosa (P) Sebastien Bourdais (P) Juan Pablo Montoya (G) Dane Cameron (P) Helio Castroneves (P) Ricky Taylor (G) Renger van der Zande (P) Ryan Briscoe (P) Felipe Nasr (P) Pipo Derani (G) Jonathan Bomarito (P) Harry Tincknell (P) Oliver Jarvis (G) Tristan Nunez (G) Tristan Vautier (G) Gabriel Aubry

6 7 10 31 55 77 85

PRT FRA COL USA USA USA NLD AUS BRA BRA USA GBR GBR USA FRA FRA

Team

Car Type

Sponsor

Mustang Sampling Racing / JDC-Miller MotorSports

Cadillac DPi

Mustang Sampling Racing

Acura Team Penske

Acura DPi

Acura

Acura Team Penske

Acura DPi

Acura

Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R.

Cadillac DPi

Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R

Whelen Engineering Racing

Cadillac DPi

Mazda Motorsports

Mazda DPi

Mazda

Mazda Motorsports

Mazda DPi

Mazda

JDC-Miller MotorSports

Cadillac DPi

Team

Car Type

Corvette Racing

Corvette C8.R

Corvette Racing

Corvette C8.R

BMW Team RLL

BMW M8 GTE

BMW of North America

BMW Team RLL

BMW M8 GTE

BMW of North America

GT LE MANS ENTRY LIST #

Drivers / Nationality

3

(P) Antonio Garcia (P) Jordan Taylor (P) Oliver Gavin (P) Tommy Milner (G) Jesse Krohn (P) John Edwards (P) Bruno Spengler (G) Connor De Phillippi (P) Nick Tandy (P) Fred Makowiecki (P) Earl Bamber (P) Laurens Vanthoor

4 24 25 911 912

ESP USA GBR USA FIN USA CAN USA GBR FRA NZL BEL

Porsche GT Team Porsche GT Team

Sponsor

Porsche 911 RSR - 19 Porsche 911 RSR - 19

GT DAYTONA ENTRY LIST #

Drivers / Nationality

12

(S) Frankie Montecalvo (G) Townsend Bell (G) Jack Hawksworth (S) Aaron Telitz (B) Ryan Hardwick (P) Patrick Long (B) Till Bechtolsheimer (S) Marc Miller (S) Ian James (S) Roman De Angelis (B) Rob Ferriol (S) Spencer Pumpelly (G) Andy Lally (B) John Potter (P) Alvaro Parente (S) Misha Goikhberg (S) Cooper MacNeil (P) Toni Vilander (S) Gar Robinson (G) Lawson Aschenbach (S) Corey Fergus (G) Paul Holton (G) Mario Farnbacher (S) Matt McMurry (G) Bill Auberlen (S) Robby Foley

14 16 22 23 30 44 57 63 74 76 86 96 38

|

USA USA GBR USA USA USA GBR USA USA CAN USA USA USA USA PRT RUS USA FIN USA USA USA USA DEU USA USA USA

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

Team

Car Type

AIM Vasser Sullivan

Lexus RC F GT3

AIM Vasser Sullivan

Lexus RC F GT3

Wright Motorsports

Porsche 911 GT3R

1st Phorm

Gradient Racing

Acura NSX GT3

Unit Nutrition

Heart Of Racing Team

Aston Martin Vantage GT3

The Heart of Racing

Team Hardpoint

Audi R8 LMS GT3

GridRival.com

GRT Magnus

Lamborghini Huracan GT3

Flex Box

Heinricher Racing w/MSR CurbAgajanian

Acura NSX GT3

Mobil 1 / TodaQ

Scuderia Corsa

Ferrari 488 GT3

WeatherTech

Riley Motorsports Compass Racing

Mercedes-AMG GT3 McLaren 720S GT3

Sponsor

74 Ranch Resort Richard Mille / McLaren Automotive / AERO Paint / Race Day Foundation

Meyer Shank Racing w/CurbAgajanian

Acura NSX GT3

AutoNation / SiriusXM

Turner Motorsport

BMW M6 GT3

Liqui-Moly / Turner Motorsport

IMSA MICHELIN PILOT CHALLENGE GRAND SPORT #

Drivers / Hometown/Nationality

Team

Car Type

Sponsor

3

Sheena Monk / Newtown, Corey Lewis / Nazareth,

Motorsports In Action

McLaren 570S GT4

J.G. Wentworth

4

Russell Ward / Seabrook, TX Indy Dontje / Amsterdam Netherlands

Winward Racing

Mobil 1 / Techemet

Mercedes-AMG GT GT4

7

Alan Brynjolfsson / Tampa, Trent Hindman / Wayside,

FL NJ

Archangel Motorsports

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport

VOLT Lighting

8

Britt Casey Jr. / Barrington, Michael McCann / Canton,

IL OH

McCann Racing

Audi R8 GT4

McCann Plastics / Yeti Coolers

22

Scott Maxwell / Toronto, Seb Priaulx / Guernsey,

ON UK

Multimatic Motorsports Inc.

Ford Mustang GT4

Multimatic Motorsports

26

Toby Grahovec / Celina, Chandler Hull / Dallas,

TX TX

Fast Track Racing

BMW M4 GT4

Classic BMW / TAC Energy / Alpinestar / BMF / EG Steak / PMST

35

Jim Cox / Nokomis, Dylan Murry / Cumming,

FL GA

Riley Motorsports

Mercedes-AMG GT GT4

Wynns

38

Thomas Collingwood / St. John's, Jan Heylen / Dunedin,

NL FL

BGB Motorsports

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport

Loop Tackle Design

39

Tyler McQuarrie / Danville, Jeff Westphal / San Mateo,

CA CA

CarBahn with Peregrine Racing

Audi R8 GT4

Uber / Menlo / Accel

40

James Pesek / Harrisonville, MO Chad McCumbee / Ocean Isle Beach, NC

PF Racing

Ford Mustang GT4

PF Racing

56

Jeff Mosing / Austin, Eric Foss / Fort Worth,

TX TX

Murillo Racing

Mercedes-AMG GT GT4

Mosing Motorcars

57

Bryce Ward / Seabrook, Alec Udell / The Woodlands,

TX TX

Winward Racing

Mercedes-AMG GT GT4

First Horizon Bank / Techemet

60

Nate Stacy / Owasso, Kyle Marcelli / Toronto,

OK ON

KOHR MOTORSPORTS

Aston Martin Vantage GT4

RACE FOR RP

65

Brent Mosing / Lafayette, Tim Probert / Houston,

LA TX

Murillo Racing

Mercedes-AMG GT GT4

Mosing Motorcars

71

Frank DePew / Richmond, Robin Liddell / Edinburgh,

VA Scotland

Urban Grid

PA PA

Rebel Rock Racing

Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R

80

Nick Galante / Greenfield, Dillon Machavern / Charlotte,

MA VT

BimmerWorld

BMW M4 GT4

Racing to End Alzheimer's

82

James Clay / Blacksburg, VA Gregory Liefooghe / San Francisco, CA

BimmerWorld

BMW M4 GT4

OPTIMA Batteries / Veristor

93

Mark Siegel / Palo Alto, Tom Dyer / Novato,

CA CA

CarBahn Motorsports

Audi R8 GT4

95

Bill Auberlen / Lake Havasu City, Robby Foley / Randolph,

AZ NJ

Turner Motorsport

Hengst Filter BMW M4 GT4

Turner Motorsport

96

Robby Foley / Randolph, Vincent Barletta / Canton,

NJ MA

Turner Motorsport

BMW M4 GT4

Turner Motorsport / Barletta Engineering / RDM

IMSA MICHELIN PILOT CHALLENGE TOURING CAR #

Drivers / Hometown/Nationality

Team

Car Type

Sponsor

5

Tim Lewis Jr / Boca Raton, Roy Block / Corrientes,

KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering

Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR

KMW Motorsports / TMR Engineering / Alfa9Supply / Romeo Ferraris Srl. / Alfa Romeo of Daytona

FL Argentia

21

Mark Wilkins / Mulmur, Harry Gottsacker / San Antonio,

ON TX

Bryan Herta Autosport w/ Curb Agajanian

Hyundai Veloster N TCR

Hyundai Veloster N

23

Max Faulkner / Little Silver, James Vance / Toronto,

NJ ON

FASTMD Racing with Speed Syndicate

Audi RS3 LMS TCR

FastMD Healthcare Solutions

29

Parker Chase / New Braunfels, Spencer Brockman / Westport,

TX CT

Bryan Herta Autosport w/ Curb Agajanian

Hyundai Veloster N TCR

Vertical Bridge / Hyundai Veloster N

33

Gabby Chaves / Indianapolis, Ryan Norman / Chagrin Falls,

IN OH

Bryan Herta Autosport w/ Curb Agajanian

Hyundai Veloster N TCR

Hyundai Veloster N

37

Shelby Blackstock / Nashville,

TN

LA Honda World Racing

Honda Civic TCR

L.A. Honda World

47

Alex Papadopulos / Houston, Jason Rabe / Forestburgh,

TX NY

Forty7 Motorsports

Hyundai Veloster N TCR

Stoner Car Care / Whip Design

54

Michael Johnson / Mount Morris, MI Stephen Simpson / Cape Town, S. Africa

JDC-Miller MotorSports

Audi RS3 LMS TCR

Universal Coatings

61

Gavin Ernstone / Las Vegas, Jon Morley / San Francisco,

NV CA

Road Shagger Racing

Audi RS3 LMS TCR

Simply Vegas / Clear Title / Streamline Home Loans

77

Taylor Hagler / San Antonio, Ryan Eversley / Atlanta,

TX GA

LA Honda World Racing

Honda Civic TCR

L.A. Honda World

98

Michael Lewis / Laguna Beach, Mason Filippi / Alamo,

CA CA

Bryan Herta Autosport w/ Curb Agajanian

Hyundai Veloster N TCR

Hyundai Veloster N

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

|

39

LE MANS PROTOTYPE 3 (LMP3) #

Drivers / Nationality

Team

Car Type

Sponsor

3

(B)Greg Palmer / Colgate, (S)Eric Palmer / Colgate,

WI WI

Jr III Racing

Ligier JS P3

Copps Industries

6

(S)Blake Mount / Denver, (B)Jon Branam / Miami,

CO FL

Performance Tech Motorsports

Ligier JS P3

Motel 6

9

(B)Gerry Kraut / North Oaks, (S)Scott Andrews / Miami,

MN FL

JDC MotorSports

Norma M30

Modern Artifact

10

(S)Stevan McAleer / Monticello, (B)Joe Robillard / Short Hills,

NY NJ

Robillard Racing LLC

Norma M30

Med Compass

11

(B)Steven Thomas / Carl Junction, MO

K2R Motorsports

Norma M30

Fear the Tafts / Thomas Racing

33

(B)Lance Willsey / Chestnut Hill,

MA

Sean Creech Motorsport

Ligier JS P3

Storck Cycles / ATA Fit Lab

40

(B)Keith Grant / Germantown, (B)David Grant / Germantown,

TN TN

Forty7 Motorsports

Norma M30

47

(B)Joel Janco / Key Largo, (S)Kyle Kirkwood / Jupiter,

FL FL

Forty7 Motorsports

Norma M30

Death to Lionfish / Naughty Monk Brewery

54

(S)Dakota Dickerson / San Diego, CA (B)Dom Cicero / La Quinta, CA

MLT Motorsports

Ligier JS P3

Michael L. Thompson DDS / Stress Engineering Services

60

(B)Bruce Hamilton III / Monkton, (S)Tonis Kasemets / Mundelein,

MD IL

Wulver Racing

Ligier JS P3

64

(B)Naveen Rao / Whiteburg, (S)Matthew Bell / Newcastle Upon Tyne,

KY

K2R Motorsports

Norma M30

74

(B)Jon Brownson / Breckenridge, CO (S)Wyatt Schwab / Lancaster, PA

Forty7 Motorsports

Norma M30

UK

Forty7 Motorsports / Remedia / Hawk Brakes

GLOBAL MAZDA MX-5 CUP #

3 5 08 9 13 27* 33 48 49 57 63 67* 68* 76* 77 84 87 96* 98 40

|

Drivers/Hometown

Class

Sponsor

Robert Stout / Palm Springs,

CA

ND.2

White Racing

Gresham Wagner / Williamsburg,

VA

ND.2

Spark Performance

Michael Carter / Savannah,

GA

ND.2

Carter Racing Enterprises

Justin Piscitell / Wingdale,

NY

ND.2

Maverick

Robert Noaker / Duncannon,

PA

ND.2

Slipstream Performance Noaker’s Autobody

Liam Snyder / Southlake,

TX

ND.1

Snyder Brothers Racing / Slipstream Performance

Alex Bachoura / Houston,

TX

ND.2

Slipstream Performance Cypress Oral Surgery

Zach Lee / Houston,

TX

ND.2

McCumbee McAleer Racing

Peter Ensor / Finksburg,

MD

ND.2

Atlanta Speedwerks

Stephan Cugliari / New York,

NY

ND.2

Accelerating Performance

Bryan Hixon / San Antonio,

TX

ND.2

Maverick

Kevin Conway / Charlotte,

NC

ND.2

Migliore Motorsports

John Geesbreght / Fort Worth,

TX

ND.2

Migliore Motorsports

Matthew Dirks / Johnstown,

CO

ND.2

White Racing

Luke Oxner / Greely,

CO

ND.2

White Racing Conquest Classic Cars

Todd Lamb / Gainesville,

GA

ND.2

Atlanta Speedwerks

Selin Rollan / Orlando,

FL

ND.2

Spark Performance

Jared Thomas / North Vernon,

IN

ND.2

Carter Racing Enterprises Mazda Road to 24

Jackson Robillard / Millburn,

NJ

ND.2

McCumbee McAleer Racing

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

GT3 CUP CHALLENGE USA

BY YOKOHAMA

GT3 CUP USA PLATINUM (GT3P) #

Drivers / Nationality

Team

Car Type

Sponsor

4

Michael Mennella / Boca Raton,

FL

MCR Racing

Porsche 991 /2019

NSD

11

Sean McAlister / Beverly Hills,

CA

JDX Racing

Porsche 991 /2017

Shell TapUp / Byers Porsche

16

Jeff Kingsley / Ajax,

ON

Kelly-Moss Road and Race

Porsche 991 /2017

MPT/Racing for Children's

27

Sebastian Carazo / Guaynabo,

PR

Kelly-Moss Road and Race

Porsche 991 /2019

Allied

45

Charlie Luck / Richmond,

VA

Wright Motorsports

Porsche 991 /2017

48

David Brule / Channing,

MI

Kelly-Moss Road and Race

Porsche 991 /2017

53

Riley Dickinson / New Braunfels, TX

Moorespeed

Porsche 991 /2019

Hill Country Region Porsche Club/ Toad Hall/ IMSA Hurley Haywood Scholarship / Porsche Motorsport NA / Yokohama /

56

Kenny Murillo / Santa Rosa,

CA

Topp Racing

Porsche 991 /2018

Apex Capital Corporation

57

Frank Raso / Cleburne,

TX

Topp Racing

Porsche 991 /2017

Apex Capital Corporation

92

Joseph Lombardo / Bath,

OH

Wright Motorsports

Porsche 991 /2017

99

Alan Metni / Austin,

TX

Kelly-Moss/AM Motorsports

Porsche 991 /2018

iFly

GT3 CUP USA GOLD (GT3G) #

Drivers / Nationality

Team

Car Type

Sponsor

17

Curt Swearingin / Chattanooga, TN

ACI Motorsports

Porsche 991 /2014

ACI Motorsports / World Racing League / Advanced Collision, Inc / Chattanooga Whiskey

18

Richard Edge / Atlanta,

GA

ACI Motorsports

Porsche 991 /2014

ACI Motorsports / Staffzone

22

Bart Collins / Pembroke Pines,

FL

MCR Racing

Porsche 991 /2016

NSD

65

Efrin Castro / Santiago DeLosCaballeros,

DO

TPC Racing

Porsche 991 /2016

Fine Fare Supermarkets

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

|

41

SPOT THE DIFFERENCES ORIGINAL

42

|

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

CAN YOU SPOT THE 10 DIFFERENCES IN THESE 2 IMAGES?

Send us the 10 CORRECT answers to this puzzle at letters@ignitionmag.ca for a chance to win a Fan Pack!

ALTERED

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

|

43

Track Map

44

|

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

|

45

Event Schedule GT3 CUP CHALLENGE USA

BY YOKOHAMA

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 Time

Type

Series

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Practice 2

MX-5 Cup

8:45 AM - 9:30 AM

Practice 1

Prototype Challenge

9:45 AM - 10:30 AM

Practice 1

Porsche GT3 Cup

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Practice 1

Michelin Pilot Challenge

12:00 PM - 12:20 PM

Qualifying

MX-5 Cup

12:20 PM - 1:20 PM

Lunch Break

1:20 PM - 1:50 PM

Practice 2

Prototype Challenge

2:05 PM - 2:35 PM

Practice 2

Porsche GT3 Cup

2:50 PM - 3:50 PM

Practice 2

Michelin Pilot Challenge

4:05 PM - 4:50 PM

RACE 1

MX-5 Cup

5:05 PM - 5:20 PM

Qualifying

Prototype Challenge

5:35 PM - 5:50 PM

Qualifying

Porsche GT3 Cup

6:10 PM - 7:10 PM

Practice 1

WeatherTech Championship

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 Time

Type

Series

8:00 AM - 8:35 AM

Qualifying 1

Michelin Pilot Challenge

8:50 AM - 9:35 AM

RACE 2

MX-5 Cup

9:50 AM - 10:35 AM

RACE 1

Porsche GT3 Cup

10:55 AM - 12:10 PM

Practice 2

WeatherTech Championship

12:10 PM - 1:05 PM

Lunch Break

1:05 PM - 3:05 PM

RACE 1

Michelin Pilot Challenge

3:35 PM - 4:20 PM

RACE 2

Porsche GT3 Cup

4:45 PM - 6:30 PM

RACE

Prototype Challenge

6:50 PM - 7:25 PM

Qualifying 2

Michelin Pilot Challenge

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 Time

46

Type

Series

8:00 AM

- 9:05 AM

Qualifying

WeatherTech Championship

9:20 AM

- 10:05 AM

RACE 3

Porsche GT3 Cup

10:35 AM

- 12:35 PM

RACE 2

Michelin Pilot Challenge

2:10 PM

- 4:50 PM

RACE

WeatherTech Championship

|

AC U R A S P O R T S C A R C H A L L E N G E AT M I D - O H I O

EVENT SPONSORS