IMSA has released the provisional entry list for next week’s Michelin GT Challenge at VIRginia International Raceway, featuring a total of 23 cars.
With the absence of Lime Rock Park from this (and next) year’s IMSA calendar, VIR is the only “GTD exclusive” round this season.
The field features all nine full-time GTD Pro cars, and AO Racing has called upon another “super sub” to support championship leader Laurin Heinrich. This time, it is Austrian Klaus Bachler – the current co-leader in the FIA World Endurance Championship LMGT3 points table.
Bachler co-drove the #86 MDK Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R at Daytona and Sebring. Now he’ll be aboard ‘Roxy’, the #77 AO Racing Porsche, helping Heinrich maintain and grow his 76-point lead over Heart of Racing Team’s Ross Gunn.
Conquest Racing will not bring its #35 Ferrari 296 GT3 which won the last round at Road America.
GTD will feature 14 cars – all full-season entries, plus the #120 Wright Motorsports Porsche (Adam Adelson/Elliott Skeer).
Kenton Koch will be back in the #32 Korthoff Preston Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 for a second time in place of Mike Skeen – and Kyle Marcelli will return to the #45 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2, after missing Road America due to an injury.
Triarsi Competizione’s #023 Ferrari, which fought for class honours at Road America, will not appear in this round but is set to return for the final two Michelin Endurance Cup events at Indianapolis and Road Atlanta.
Winward Racing, Russell Ward and Philip Ellis hold a commanding 268-point lead over Turner Motorsport, Patrick Gallagher, and Robby Foley.
Feature image © IMSA
