Here to greet those arriving for this year’s Battle On The Bricks at Indy is AO Racing’s 2024 title-winning Porsche 911 GT3 R.
Rexy is stationed in the Indianapolis International Airport concourse (pre-security), as driven by Laurin Heinrich, Julien Andlauer, and Michael Christensen in last year’s Motul Petit Le Mans. It comes complete with all the grime and detritus accumulated from ten hours of racing, and the signatures of every fan who signed the car before the race.
Downtown Street Fest tonight!
If you’re in the area, don’t forget that the annual IMSA Street Festival takes place tonight from 6:00–8:00 PM EDT (local time).
Featured in this year’s Street Fest will be 20 IMSA race cars from various classes, autograph sessions with over 70 drivers, live pit stop demonstrations, a driver Q&A session, music, face paintings, caricatures – and the best part is that admission is completely free!
“The IMSA Street Festival celebrates the IMSA Tirerack.com Battle on the Bricks and allows fans an opportunity to get an up-close look at the cars, drivers and teams who will be competing during the six-hour endurance race to capture a win and kiss the bricks at IMS,” said Indianapolis Motor Speedway President, J. Douglas Boles. “Speedway’s Main Street is the perfect place to kick off a full weekend of on-track sports car action at IMS.”
IMSA Resilient Racers riding with every team!
This month, IMSA is teaming with charity partners Camp Boggy Creek and the Austin Hatcher Foundation to launch the IMSA Resilient Racers programme, which was created to raise funds and maintain awareness for children and families battling pediatric cancer and other serious illnesses.
Every IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship team in the field this weekend is paired with a child from one of the two charity partners. And that child’s first name and last initial will be placed alongside the names of the drivers of each car, above both doors on the cars themselves, and in the official spotters’ guide.
The teams themselves have embraced the initiative by hosting their Resilient Racer at the track, incorporating them into their hero cards, and sharing video messages during the event.
“The Resilient Racers program is a powerful example of how we merge the world of motorsports with our mission to empower families facing childhood cancer,” said Amy Jo Osborn, CEO and co-founder of the Austin Hatcher Foundation whose son, Austin “Hatch” Osborn, will be among those honoured.
“At the Austin Hatcher Foundation, we use racing as a platform to teach resilience, teamwork, and perseverance – qualities that our children and families live out every day. Our partnership with IMSA, which has spanned over a decade, allows us to bring this to life on an incredible stage, connecting the racing community with a cause that truly changes lives. Together, we’re not only building champions on the track but also building strength and hope for families across the country.”
“Our long-time partnership with IMSA has always been rooted in their dedication to giving back,” said Jacqueline Boykin, chief development officer at Camp Boggy Creek.
“This latest effort of Resilient Racers is just another example of how IMSA, and this community of racing, continues to stand alongside Camp Boggy Creek in bringing joy and empowerment to children living with serious illnesses.”
Donations are being accepted through the end of September at the following link: hatcherfoundation.org/resilient-racers >>>
GTD Driver Changes
The publication of the final entry list yesterday reveals some last-minute driver changes and announcements within the GTD class.
Starting in numerical order, Triarsi Competizione has brought back AJ Muss to drive the #021 Ferrari 296 GT3. Muss made his WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut at Watkins Glen after starting the year in the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge.
At his side are two new co-drivers: Former Speedsource/Mazda Motorsports driver Joel Miller, who won the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Pro-Am title last year with Muss, will make his first WeatherTech Championship start since the 2022 Rolex 24 At Daytona.
Niccolò Schirò, who drives for Kessel Racing in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, will make his IMSA debut.
Forte Racing has announced Eric Filgueiras as its third driver for Indy earlier this week. Filgueiras started the season at Lone Star Racing before being replaced by Wyatt Brichacek at Watkins Glen.
The 2023 GT World Challenge America Pro champion and two-time Pirelli GT4 America champion has since focused on his efforts in the inaugural McLaren Trophy America series, driving for Riley Motorsport.
“I’m excited for this opportunity to compete with Forte,” Filgueiras said earlier this week. “I’ve observed their professionalism and performance on track for some time now and I can’t wait to get to work and contribute to a strong result for the organization.”
Speaking of Lone Star Racing, Dan Knox has given up his seat in the #80 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, and Lin Hodenius will make his IMSA debut this weekend.
The 19-year-old Dutchman has starred for Iron Lynx in the WEC LMGT3 class with strong qualifying performances at Le Mans and São Paulo already on his CV.
Winward to honour Camp Mystic flood victims
Parallel to the IMSA Resilent Racing programme mentioned earlier, Winward Racing is also honouring the memory of 27 young girls who were killed in the Camp Mystic floods on 4 July.
Their names will be on the #57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO which will benefit the Heaven’s 27 fund, created by the parents and siblings of those lost.
This fund will receive any collectively-raised funds and also serve as an easy landing place for those wanting to donate to every family without having to search and contribute to each individual fund.
Funds from the Heaven’s 27 Fund will be distributed periodically and equally to each girl’s fund. The individual families will then use their portion for things such as providing scholarships, funding youth programs, supporting vulnerable groups, and other outlets to spread joy and hope in their memory.
More information on the Heaven’s 27 fund can be found here >>>
Nothing beats a Japanese holiday…
Several drivers have come to Indy from the Suzuka 1000km last weekend, including third-place finishers Alexander Sims and Nicky Catsburg for Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports.
Other WeatherTech Championship drivers who’ve made the trip back across the Pacific were: Kakunoshin Ohta, Neil Verhagen, Ben Barnicoat, Max Hesse, Dan Harper, Kenny Habul, Mikaël Grenier, Laurin Heinrich, Klaus Bachler, Anthony McIntosh, Lorenzo Patrese, Philip Ellis, and from the Michelin Pilot Challenge, Daan Arrow.
Barnicoat (the Pro-Am class winner at Suzuka) and McIntosh (who finished second in class) will then be heading back to Japan for the WEC 6 Hours of Fuji next week.
41 cars entered for Pilot Challenge 120
Michelin Pilot Challenge has attracted its second-biggest entry list of the season for Saturday’s Indianapolis Motor Speedway 120: 41 cars, including 26 GT4s in the GS class and 15 TCR touring cars.
Of note, KOHR Motorsports will have Ford Racing Junior Team drivers Robert Noaker and Cameron McLeod in the #60 Ford Mustang GT4, while Motorsports In Action returns with its #21 McLaren Artura GT4, driven by Jesse Lazare and Alexandra Hainer.
Jake Walker will also make his Pilot Challenge debut in the #96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 EVO.
Rockwell Automation Development has changed manufacturers mid-season in TCR, replacing its Audi RS 3 LMS with a Hyundai Elantra N TCR, driven by Eric Rockwell and IMSA D3 Scholarship finalist Christina Lam. The #33 RVA Graphics by Speed Syndicate Audi that won at VIR will sit out the Indy round.
With a 240-point lead going into the weekend, GS Championship leaders Luca Mars and Jan Heylen can effectively put the title out of reach before the final round in Road Atlanta. In contrast, three crews are separated by just 30 points in the race for the TCR Championship: BHA’s Preston Brown/Denis Dupont, teammate Harry Gottsacker (-20), and MMG’s Louis-Philippe Montour/Karl Wittmer (-30).
Michelin Pilot Challenge ENTRY LIST >>>
Images © Jack Webster / dailysportscar.com, except where otherwise listed
