IDEC reveals ELMS driver crew
Job van Uitert and Reshad de Gerus are set to compete with IDEC Sport in the ELMS next year alongside Paul Lagargue in the #48 ORECA.
Last year the team’s driver line-up featured Paul Loup Chatin and Larents Hörr. Chatin is set to graduate to the FIA WEC Hypercar class with Alpine, while Hörr is working on an ELMS return.
Van Uitert and de Gerus meanwhile, join IDEC after competing with Panis Racing and COOL Racing respectively during the 2023 season.
Verstappen goes GT3 testing
Reigning Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen has been out testing a Ferrari 296 GT3 with his VerstappenCOM Racing team at Estoril with his father Jos.
No further information has been given on any race plans for the team, or Max’s ambitions for its future. Just what is he up to?
Great to be out on track again, testing with @VerstappenCOM Racing 💪 Good times ☝️ pic.twitter.com/VyXcVx3zfd
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) December 19, 2023
Goodsmile announces Super GT plans
Goodsmile Racing & Team UKYO has announced another SUPER GT campaign headed by three-time GT300 Champion drivers, Nobuteru Taniguchi and Tatsuya Kataoka.
2024 will be their 13th season together, driving once again for Team Owner Takanori Aki, Team Director Ukyo Katayama and Chief Engineer Takao Kohno.
GOODSMILE RACING ＆ TeamUKYOは、2024年もSUPER GT GT300クラスに参戦します！
そして、
初音ミク GTプロジェクト 公式キャラクター
『レーシングミク 2024Ver.』のイラストを担当するのは、
モグモ （@m_o_g_m_o_g_555）さんです！#fightgsr #レーシングミク #初音ミク #SUPERGT pic.twitter.com/dsmZJog0oA— GSR公式アカウント (@goodsmileracing) December 16, 2023
Artist ‘Mogumo’ has been selected as the designer of the Hatsune Miku character that will adorn the team’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.
発表会の時にもお見せしましたが、2024年を戦うMercedes-AMG GT3は先週日本に届きました！
今回、飛行機で運んだのですが、HWAでバンパーやリアウイングは外されこちらの木箱に入れられました。
そのままの状態と、こちらの状態では輸送費がかなり違うそうです。(え)#fightgsr #SUPERGT pic.twitter.com/QInzKWgyL6
— GSR公式アカウント (@goodsmileracing) December 21, 2023
A new chassis was recently shipped from HWA and is now in Goodsmile Racing’s shop. Yokohama Rubber continues as the team’s tyre supplier.
SKI acquires new Audi for 2024 GT America season
SKI Autosports has acquired a 2022 Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II – the latest iteration of the classic and race-winning Audi R8, for its 2024 GT America effort with Johnny O’Connell.
“With an older car, we were able to post five podium finishes this season at such iconic tracks as Sebring, VIRginia International Raceway, Road America, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway and captured our first SRO GT America win of the season in August on the streets of Nashville at the Music City Grand Prix,” said SKI Autosport owner Kent Hussey.
“The team was coming off a couple of great seasons, with International GT winning the Maranello Cup Championship in 2021 after running a limited season in 2020. The decision was then made to step up to SRO GT America on a very limited season in 2022, garnering multiple podiums and our first SRO race win at Road America.
“We only participated in 7 of the 9 races this year, starting out our season with a Ferrari 458 at NOLA Motorsports Park and had great success at Circuit of The Americas, winning the pole. Changing to the Audi R8 LMS at VIRginia International Raceway, we continued our string of podium finishes.
“For 2024 we are taking our commitment further with the Audi R8 EVO and we have re-signed Johnny for another full season. The team will be testing the new car extensively during the off-season with Johnny and Matthew Bell (UK) in advance of our first race in Sonoma.”
Czabok-Simpson Motorsport signs Lee
Czabok-Simpson Motorsport has signed “Road to Indy” veteran Jackson Lee for the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge season which kicks off at The Roar Before The Rolex 24 in Daytona, January 19th to 21st.
For Lee, who was a 2020 Team USA Scholarship winner and spent most of three seasons in USF 2000 and USF Pro 2000, this will be his debut outing in IMSA sportscar racing after being a multiple race winner in single-seater formula cars and a one-off appearance in TC America in 2023.
“I’m super excited to make the move into the IMSA series with Czabok-Simpson Motorsport and looking forward to the opportunity they have given me,” said Lee. “I want to drive as many different types of cars as I can and I know the IMSA platform offers a great experience for me as a driver and commercially for our partners. It’s a great time to be taking this step in my career, while still pursuing opportunities in the IndyCar ladder system. I’ve known of Stephen from his success in IMSA as a driver and also as a coach and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the new Porsche.”
Czabok-Simpson Motorsport partner Matthias Czabok said that the team are due to shake down the first of its two brand new Porsche Cayman RS GT4 Clubsports prior to Daytona. The first car is already in preparation at its shop in Brownsburg, Indiana, and it plans to take delivery of the second car before year end.
The driver line-ups for the team’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge program will be announced soon.
