After missing the Long Beach Grand Prix due to a tire blowout in the team’s race transporter, NTE/SSR returns to the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next week at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
The #42 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo will contest the team’s third race of the year with a third different line-up for the season, Jaden Conwright joined by Marco Holzer.
“Missing Long Beach was really hard for us,” said NTE Sport team owner Paul Mata. “That race is one of my favourites and it was a dream to have NTE/SSR compete there, and with such a strong lineup. However, after that setback, we were able to focus on WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and put together a strong lineup. I’m excited to have someone of Marco’s calibre join the team and I’m looking forward to what we hope will be a great race weekend!”
In transit from the team’s Dallas-based shop to Long Beach, California, the NTE/SSR transporter suffered a tire blowout 280 miles into the 1,500-mile drive.
Jaden Conwright: “I’m really looking forward to running at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca as it’s one of my home tracks that I began my car racing career at,” said Conwright. “We have some catching up to do after the misfortune at Long Beach, but I have no doubt that we’ll be competitive with Marco and myself. We’ll head in with the same approach as always and aim to make the best result we can as a team.”
Thirty-three-year-old Marco Holzer will make his return to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for the first time since 2015 when he raced for Flying Lizards in a one-off at Sebring in an Audi R8 LMS GT3. The German started racing in karts, eventually moving up to Porsche Carrera Cup Germany. He became a Porsche driver in 2010, racing for Manthey, Flying Lizard Motorsports, Prospeed, and Paul Miller Racing. He holds two podiums at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing third in 2010 and 2014.
“I’m super happy to be back racing in IMSA,” said Holzer. “It has been too long. I have so many great races and memories of racing in the United States. I’m looking forward to the new challenge, new team, new car, and altogether at Laguna Seca. It couldn’t be better!”
This event will be the fifth IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship start for both Conwright and Holzer, though the German has completed 28 in the series predecessor, the American Le Mans Series. Holzer last raced at Laguna Seca in 2013 with Paul Miller Racing, where he earned a sixth-place finish, his best at the circuit.
