The racing season traditionally starts in Florida. The iconic Daytona International Speedway racetrack hosts the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The pandemic that currently rules the world cannot change this tradition. So the weekend of January 30- 31, the complete race-world will focus on the oval race-track in the heart of Florida. Unfortunately, Porsche pulled the plug on the GTLM racing program in IMSA, so there will be no official factory team. But Porsche customer racing teams will make up for that, with quite some Porsche factory drivers joinging forces.
Porsche in the GTLM Class at the 2021 Daytona 24H.
Cooper MacNeil , son of WeatherTech Racing team-owner David MacNeil, showed previously he knows how to handle a race-cars. The last few years WeatherTech Racing raced in Ferrari’s. David and Cooper MacNeil however have a passion for Porsche. They even showed up at the last Porsche Rennsport Reunion with some of their cars and participated in the amazing Porsche Tractor race. Recently, WeatherTech Racing announcend, they will move up to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTLM Class with Porsche and Proton Competition for the 2021 season. Cooper MacNeil will be joined by Porsche factory drivers Richard Lietz (Austria), Kevin Estre (France) and Gianmaria Bruni (Italy) for the Rolex 24 At Daytona in the #79 Porsche 911 RSR in the GTLM Class.
Porsche in the GTD Class at the 2021 Daytona 24H.
Pfaff Motorsports announced a new endurance and full-season driver lineup that sees Porsche factory driver Laurens Vanthoor (BEL) join Zach Robichon (CAN) for the full IMSA calendar in the no. 9 plaid-livery Motul-sponsored Porsche 911 GT3 R. Furthermore, both Porsche development driver Lars Kern and Porsche factory driver Matt Campbell (AUS) complete Pfaff Motorsports for the 2021 Daytona 24 Hours.
Porsche customer racing team Wright Motorsports enters #16 Porsche 911 GT3 R in the endurance race. Ryan Hardwick (USA) and Patrick Long (USA) will reprise their roles as the full season drivers. Jan Heylen (BEL) and Klaus Bachler (DE) complete the Wright Motorsports Team in the 2021 Daytona 24H.
Team Hardpoint EBM makes its 2021 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship debut. Team co-owners Rob Ferriol and Earl Bamber get the company of 2 women in their team. Twice IMSA champion Christina Nielsen and Katherine Legge complete the 4-driver lineup. They will share the wheel of the #88 Porsche 911 GT3 R.
Black Swan Racing withdraws entry
Black Swan Racing had a busy endurance program with participations at both the Dubai 24H and the Daytona 24H. Team owner Tim Pappas completed his team ex- Porsche factory driver Patrick Pilet, 2020 Porsche Supercup Champion Larry ten Voorde and Patrick Lindsey to share the wheel of the #540 Porsche 911 GT3 R for the 2021 Daytona 24H. However, the entry has been withdrawn after team principal and driver Tim Pappas contracted COVID-19. Bad luck of the team that hoped to set a good result at the Daytona 24H. All the drivers looked forward to the event. We wish Tim Pappas a speedy recovery.
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Pictures courtesy of WeatherTech Racing, Pfaff Motorsports, Wright Motorsports, Hardpoint EBM.
