Event: Roar Before the 24
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Track Details: 3.56 mile, 10-turn road course with 31° banking
No. 93 Michael Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3
Lawson Aschenbach – Coming off his third Pirelli World Challenge GS Championship, Aschenbach will be preparing for his sixth Rolex 24 At Daytona start. Aschenbach scored a breakthrough IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship victory last season for the Stevenson Motorsports Audi R8 LMS at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park with an additional podium finish in the books for 2017.
Justin Marks – The NASCAR ace is eager to make his full season return to sports car competition in 2018 with Michael Shank Racing. Marks, who has won in NASCAR Xfinity competition and competed at the NASCAR Monster Energy Series level, will look to build on his road racing credits, which include a GT class victory in the 2009 Rolex 24 At Daytona. Marks will be teamed with Aschenbach for a full season GTD class effort.
Mario Farnbacher – After scoring the GTD Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup Team and Driver titles last season, 2-time Sebring 12 Hour winner Farnbacher brings a lot of recent success to his 2018 role as an endurance driver for the No. 93 Michael Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 entry.
Come Ledogar – The young Frenchman is making his American sports car racing debut at Daytona International Speedway. Ledogar earned much success as a factory McLaren driver in Europe and most recently made a run to the podium in the 2017 Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hours. Ledogar also has a Blancpain Endurance Championship under his belt.
No. 86 Michael Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3
Katherine Legge – Legge will be making her return to Michael Shank Racing as she will contest her second season competing in the Acura NSX GT3. Legge brought MSR to victory lane in 2017, scoring a breakthrough victory with co-driver Andy Lally for Acura at Detroit and Watkins Glen as well as two additional podium finishes.
Alvaro Parente – 2016 Pirelli World Challenge champion Alvaro Parente enters the No. 86 Acura NSX GT3 machine with his sights set on the 2018 Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup. The 2016 12 Hours of Bathurst winner is making his IMSA debut this season.
Trent Hindman – Although the youngest member of the team, up and coming young American Hindman brings plenty of talent to the table. Hindman scored the 2017 Lamborghini Super Trofeo (LST) North American Championship before taking victory at the LST World Finals at Imola. Hindman made his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut last year competing in the GTD class and earned himself a podium finish at VIRginia International Raceway.
AJ Allmendinger – Longtime Michael Shank Racing Rolex 24 driver Allmendinger will be making his return after a one year hiatus from the big race in 2017. Allmendinger has 11 Rolex 24 starts with Michael Shank Racing which include a 2012 run to victory lane as well as two podium finishes. Allmendinger has led every Rolex 24 that he has ever competed in. This year will be the first year for Allmendinger to race in the GTD class.
Mike Shank Quote:
“There is always so much work that goes into being ready for the 24, and being ready to go for the Roar weekend is a big part of it. Looking back to this time last year, we have made so much progress with the Acura NSX GT3 so I’m optimistic about keeping that learning curve going the right way this weekend. We’ve got some old faces back with us and some guys we’ve only just met. So this weekend we will work to get everyone comfortable and focused on what we need to do when we get back here at the end of the month.”
Schedule
Friday, January 5th
11:00 AM ET – 12:15 PM ET Session #1
3:30 PM ET – 5:30 PM ET Session #2
Saturday, January 6th
10:50 AM ET – 12:20 PM ET Session #3
3:30 PM ET – 4:15 PM ET Session #4
6:30 PM ET – 8:00 PM ET Session #5
Sunday, January 7th
10:45 AM ET – 11:15 AM ET Session #6
11:25 AM ET – 11:40 AM ET Qualifying
2:45 PM ET – 3:45 PM ET Session #7
Source. Sunday Group
Comments
