CarBahn with Peregrine Racing is entering the IMSA WeatherTech Sprint Cup finale with its targets locked on the top step of the podium.
The team is headed to VIRginia International Raceway for a GT-Only weekend featuring the No. 39 Audi R8 GT3 LMS in IMSA WeatherTech Sprint Cup and the No. 93 Audi R8 GT4 LMS in IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge. While the No. 93 partakes in its penultimate battle of 2021, the No. 39 is preparing to wave goodbye to its maiden Sprint Cup season at the 3.27-mile, 17 turn course.
The season-long pairing of Richard Heistand and Jeff Westphal looks to end 2021 on a high note by having their most successful weekend to date. In sportscar racing a harmonious driver pairing is half the battle but it’s safe to say CarBahn with Peregrine Racing mastered this one; the drivers have meshed since day one making an impressive debut together and excelling since then. While the R8 platform does not afford the pair the fastest car in a straight line, its superior downforce and aerodynamic features should set Heistand and Westphal up for a strong weekend to cap off the year at VIR.
The No. 93 will enter its penultimate event with another shakeup in drivers. The seat will now be shared by Mark Siegel and Tyler McQuarrie, long-time teammates that only began co-driving together this year. With a GS championship in the Audi R8 GT4 LMS under McQuarrie’s belt, the pair looks to extrapolate as much past knowledge as they can from him and his data in order to have a record-best finish for Siegel and the No. 93.
QUOTE BOARD
Richard Heistand, Driver of the No. 39 Audi R8 GT3 LMS
“From my perspective, I’ve enjoyed getting to know a very talented and intelligent group of people that make up this team,” Heistand said. “They’re good people. They’re in this sport because they love it and they’ve worked hard all season. We’ve had many moments that taught and reaffirmed us that we are capable of winning while other moments showed we had more work to do to get there. All those moments were valuable, some of them were painful. Regardless of how competitive our package is this weekend; my hope is that we make them feel us. Every member of this team showing who they are. And we’ll fight for it until someone tells us to stop.”
Source. CarBahn Motorsports with Peregrine Racing
Jeff Westphal, Driver of the No. 39 Audi R8 GT3 LMS
“The one thing we’ve learned over the course of this year is that these races can be won and lost in pitlane,” Westphal said. “The level of competition is so high, and the grids are so tight that one second in the pits is at least one or two positions on track. I think the level of detail all teams go to here in WeatherTech is a new and welcomed level of perfection that is forcing us to look into areas that were otherwise acceptable in the past.”
Mark Siegel, Driver of the No. 93 Audi R8 GT4 LMS
“The No. 93 has been the most consistent it has ever been on the grid, but actually the least consistent it has ever been with its driver lineup,” Siegel said. “We have had Tom and Tyler as the pro’s and me, Nolan, and Sameer as alternating amateur drivers. For me personally, it has been the most consistent race season because of the time I’ve been able to devote to it. It shows in lap times, race craft, and my general confidence in the car with my own abilities. Although our crew is all guys from CarBahn that we worked with last year, they have had to become much more independent this year because we are running the GTD effort in parallel on the same weekends. So, this has been a good year of development and growth for the entire team, and our car continues to improve and be one of the most capable in the field. I’m very proud of that even if we are not contending for a championship this season.”
Tyler McQuarrie, Driver of the No. 93 Audi R8 GT4 LMS
“It has been great to see the No. 93 running every race this year,” McQuarrie said. “This has truly helped the drivers, crew and engineers’ gel as a group resulting in the best finishes for the No. 93 to date. Although I’ve only run a few races this year, I’ve been working with the team behind the scenes to make sure we have a competitive program for 2022. Going into VIR, I’m excited for a lot of the things we tend to take for granted, like just working with the crew and engineers on the setup, strapping the helmet on, getting buckled in the car and going on track to win. I simply love racing and I can’t wait to get back after it.”
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