Team Hardpoint Expands to WeatherTech Sprint Cup
Team Hardpoint has announced a 2020 WeatherTech Sprint Cup campaign with single Audi R8 LMS GT3 in the GT Daytona (GTD) class, alongside its IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge entry in the Grand Sport (GS) class (with the GT4 version of the Audi R8).
Rob Ferriol and Spencer Pumpelly will share driving duties in both the #30 Audi R8 LMS GT3 during the seven-round WeatherTech Sprint Cup and the #31 Audi R8 GT4 in Pilot Challenge, which resumes at Sebring International Raceway on July 16-18.
“The WeatherTech Championship has been a stretch goal of ours since we started Team Hardpoint late last year,” Ferriol said. “We initially eyed 2021 to make the jump into GTD, but as with most things in racing, timing is everything. The temporary pause in the 2020 season, while difficult, has allowed us to continue refining our team, but also put us in a position to react when the door opened to expanding our partnership with Audi.
“We have a lot to learn, but I’m excited to be able to move into yet another car with Spencer as co-driver, continue growing our relationship with Audi, and see our team rise to the challenge. It’s a challenge that we’ve thought a lot about and are all looking forward to.”
It’s the latest move up the IMSA ladder for Ferriol, who made his debut in the 2018 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama, finishing runner-up in the Gold class standings, with Pumpelly as his driver coach. The duo scored a pair of fourth-place results in the three Pilot Challenge races they contested at the end of 2019 and finished ninth in the series’ 2020 season opener in January.
“What better team to partner with, than Audi Sport customer racing and their family of IMSA-ready cars across TCR, GT4, and GT3?” said Ferriol. “From the Hardpoint Paddock Foundation that we started to assist crew workers during the COVID-19 economic downturn, to campaigning a brand-new car in GTD, we really have set a goal to lean in and help bring some resiliency to this sport. We plan to be involved for a long time, and we’re thankful we’re in a position to enter the WeatherTech Championship even sooner than we had originally planned.”
Wright Stick With Single Car For Season
Wright Motorsports has confirmed that their proposed #91 Henry Repeating Arms Porsche GTD entry in the 2020 IMSA Sprint Cup will no go ahead after the principal sponsor reported difficulties with their proposed backing of the effort as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
Wright Motorsports will concentrate solely on their #16 1st Phorm Porsche full season effort in the full IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship
“First and foremost we at Henry Repeating Arms send our condolences to all those who lost a loved one during this pandemic,” said Anthony Imperato Sr., President of Henry Repeating Arms. “We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the frontline workers. We are truly disappointed to have to sideline our #91 Porsche for the balance of the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech series. Our New Jersey factory was shuttered for the past two and a half months and has only recently partially reopened. Our Wisconsin factory, while fully operational has been hampered by parts and materials shortages because of the virus.”
“The personal and economic impact we’ve seen nationwide from COVID-19 has been sad to see,” said Wright Motorsports owner John Wright. “The Imperatos have been a part of our team for many years, and it’s unfortunate Anthony Imperato and Jeroen Bleekemolen won’t be able to drive the No. 91 this season. We’ll continue to support our family at Henry Repeating Arms, and we look forward to their return to our on-track efforts.”
“When our business normalizes, and this pandemic is behind us, we will return to race alongside the Wright Motorsports team as our love for the sport will never waiver,” concluded Imperato Sr. “Our best to the series, our friends and competitors for a great run for the rest of the season.”
The #16 1st Phorm Porsche will continue its full season efforts with Ryan Hardwick and Patrick Long driving in the Sprint Cup events, with the endurance lineup to be confirmed at a later date.
The team’s one-car effort in the GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS with Max Root and Fred Poordad will also continue as planned, picking up again July 9-12 at VIRginia International Raceway. The team’s Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge program will also continue, resuming July 31/August 2.
Glickenhaus Unimpressed With IMSA Rejection of Le Mans Hypercar
There have been further shots fired by Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus in a continuing spat over the apparent rejection of any prospect of entries for the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship races from Le Mans Hypercar entrants.
US-based Glickenhaus tweeted in reply to a listener question submitted for this week’s #TWISC Week in Sportscars Podcast that “IMSA has banned our LMH as we are not a “mainstream manufacturer” this is in clear violation of US and European anti-trust/anti competition law.
“The ACO has been totally supportive and we will be racing our two LMH’s in the WEC and at Le Mans.”
