With the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season coming down to the final three races of the 2020 season, it’s a straight fight to the finish for Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) which aims to extend its championship lead following the 10 hour Motul Petit Le Mans on Saturday.
Mario Farnbacher and Matt McMurry will once again welcome back Shinya Michimi in the No. 86 Acura NSX GT3 for the third endurance race of the IMSA season. Although leading the overall championship, the trio sit fourth in the Michelin Endurance Cup standings and are hoping to gain ground on that championship this weekend.
Rewind just one month, and Farnbacher, McMurry and Michimi were standing on top of the Road Atlanta podium after leading 71 laps and winning the six hour Michelin Endurance Challenge.
Farnbacher will be making his eighth race start at Road Atlanta this weekend and hopes to once again be victorious and extend his championship lead.
“We won at Road Atlanta during the six hour so we are taking a lot of what we learned during that weekend to Petit Le Mans,” said Farnbacher. “It will be a little bit different weather this time around plus we will be running at night. It’s a long race and we know that the track is pretty hard on the cars. I’m not too worried because we have a really good car with the Acura NSX GT3. We have Shinya onboard with us again which will be great.”
Michimi has made the most of his two race starts at Road Atlanta. In 2019 he qualified third at his first time at the track and posted the fastest race lap record during the 2019 Motul Petit Le Mans. After winning last month at Road Atlanta with MSR, Michimi is hoping to bring Farnbacher and McMurry up the championship ladder.
“I’m really excited to be returning to Meyer Shank Racing this weekend for Petit Le Mans,” said Michimi. “After Matt and Mario had a frustrating last two races where they’ve been taken out, we’re going back to a track where we had success just a month ago. We’ll be getting back on track for the championship hunt this weekend for the Motul Petit Le Mans. Racing at night is always special, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
The win at Road Atlanta last month also marked McMurry’s 150th sports car race start and the young talent is looking to continue to show his growth and confidence behind the wheel of the Acura NSX.
The 2019 IMSA LMP2 champion has had a break-out season in 2020. With remarkable qualifying performances and impressive race day pace, the young American driver has continued his rapid development in his return to the MSR squad.
“I’m happy to be going back to Road Atlanta which is where we got our first win last month,” said McMurry. “The last two races were pretty disappointing finishes considering the pace that we had during the race. As long as we keep it clean and consistent throughout the race, then I know we have a good shot at another win this weekend.”
Source. Sunday Group
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