After coming up just one lap shy of taking their first victory of the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season at Road America earlier this month, Mario Farnbacher and Matt McMurry are once again aiming for the top step of the podium at VIRginia International Raceway for the Michelin GT Challenge on Saturday.
The 3.27-mile circuit has treated Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) well in GT competition, scoring podium finishes the previous two years. Meyer Shank Racing also has a third VIR podium finish in 2009 with the team’s Ford-Riley Prototype.
Farnbacher was at the wheel of the MSR Acura NSX GT3 for both MSR podiums in 2018 and 2019. In addition to his most recent podium finishes with MSR, Farnbacher also drove to a third place finish in 2015.
“VIR is one of the cooler and more technical tracks in North America,” said Farnbacher. “It’s definitely one of my favorite tracks, especially the Esses, that’s the most exciting part of the track. I have good memories there, but I have unfortunately never had the luck to win it. I’m hoping we will have another good result, we’re really focused on finishing and scoring points towards the championship. We have had a really good car there in the past so I’m hopeful that we can have another strong weekend.”
McMurry has had a strong opening season with Meyer Shank Racing onboard the No. 86 Acura NSX GT3. VIR is familiar territory for McMurry, although it has been five years since his last outing at VIR.
His Prototype Challenge record on the 3.27-mile circuit stands strong, with multiple Prototype Lites podium finishes between 2014 and 2015. VIR also marks a special track for McMurry as it was his first race onboard a GT car in 2014.
“After a third at Daytona and a second at Road America, I’m sure we’ll get a win at VIR,” said McMurry. “With how close we were at Road America, I know the whole team is dying to get on the top step. I’m pretty sure VIR was one of my first GT races ever in a Super Trofeo car years ago. I had a couple podiums there in prototype lites too.”
Source. Sunday Group
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