There’s no let-up for GRT Grasser Racing! It has only been a few weeks since the season in Europe ended but the Austrian racing team will soon be returning to the USA. The outfit led by Gottfried Grasser intends to compete in the IMSA North American Endurance Championship with their factory-supported Lamborghini Huracán GT3.
The team are heading back to the USA, having achieved a notable string of successes. In 2018, GRT Grasser Racing sensationally won the GTD class in the 24 Hours of Daytona. Their delight at having achieved that triumph was only surpassed when they repeated their amazing win again in 2019 and followed it up with victory in the 12 Hours of Sebring.
GRT Grasser Racing are now aiming to extend their run of successes and have secured the services of a first-class crew for the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO. Lamborghini works driver Franck Perera has already proven in the past that he can win at Daytona. He will be joined by American Richard Heistand, who secured a pole position and two wins in the IMSA last season. The third competitor is one of the fastest Silver class drivers from the Netherlands: Steijn Schothorst. Completing the quartet will be Spaniard Albert Costa. The professional race driver pulled off an impressive race win in the 2019 Blancpain GT Series.
The legendary Roar Test will take place to start the New Year before the 24-hour race gets under way at Daytona, 23rd-26th January. The 12 Hours of Sebring, the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen and Petit Le Mans will then follow in March, June and October.
This will be the outfit’s second car racing in America, because, as the team announced a few weeks ago, GRT Grasser Racing has joined forces with GEAR Racing to field the #19 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO with Katherine Legge and two-time IMSA GTD champion Christina Nielsen, who will compete in the GTD class. Pro drivers, Bia Figueiredo and Formula 1 test driver Tatiana Calderon will complete the line-up.
Richard Heistand: “I’m really delighted to be joining Grasser for the 2020 season. The team and the Lamborghini have proven in the past that they can be winners at the highest levels in GT racing. I’m pretty certain that we will be in championship contention, even though this will be Grasser’s first full season in the IMSA Weathertech Sports Car Series. I am very proud that Gottfried Grasser and Lamborghini are putting their trust in me. This is a fitting testament to all those who helped me achieve strong results last season, so a big thank you to everyone who supported me, making it possible for me to get where I am today. I can’t wait to get started with the team at Daytona.”
Steijn Schothorst: “I am very grateful to GRT Grasser Racing and Lamborghini and am excited to think that they have given me the chance to race in the IMSA NAEC. Looking at the successes that GRT have achieved in the past few years in the USA, I’m certain that we’ll have a very strong package and be able to fight for the podium at the very least.”
Franck Perera: “I am very pleased to be able to continue working with Team GRT Grasser Racing as I join them on the IMSA NAEC programme. I’m already looking forward to the 24 Hours of Daytona where I lined up with Lamborghini in 2018 and it all kicked off with the first victory in a 24-hour race. I would like to thank Lamborghini Squadra Corse and Grasser Racing.”
Gottfried Grasser (Team Principal): “After twice being successful at Daytona, we’ve lined up an incredibly strong crew of four drivers for this season. We will do our utmost to achieve more great successes again for Lamborghini in the USA. I am particularly pleased that we will be fielding another car in the IMSA NAEC along with the GEAR Racing by GRT car. We are really looking forward to contesting all the classics like the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, 6 Hours at Watkins Glen and Petit Le Mans. We are extremely proud that Lamborghini Squadra Corse will be giving us their full support in these races!”
Calendar for the 2020 IMSA North American Endurance Championship
03/01/20 – 05/01/20 Roar Test
23/01/20 – 26/01/20 Rolex 24 at Daytona
18/03/20 – 21/03/20 Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring
25/06/20 – 28/06/20 Sahlens 6 Hours of Glen
07/10/20 – 10/10/20 Motul Petit Le Mans
Source. GRT Grasser Racing
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