IMSA – After Consecutive Podium Finishes, SRT Motorsports In Search Of Long Beach Win
RT Motorsports opened competition in the new TUDOR United SportsCar Championship by taking two giant steps on the Victory Lane podium. After opening the season with a third-place finish in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the team took second in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida. Now, the team looks to take the next step, to the top of podium when it returns to the streets of Long Beach, Calif. for the Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase on Saturday, April 12, at 6 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1, Live). Dominik Farnbacher and Marc Goossens will pilot the No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R, with Jonathan Bomarito and Kuno Wittmer in the team’s No. 93.
SRT Motorsports has made huge strides since returning to North American sports car racing midway through the 2012 season. The team scored five podiums last year (in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón), climaxed by the team’s first victory at Road America with Goossens and Farnbacher in the No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R.
“We’re pleased with what has been the best start to a road racing season for SRT Motorsports,” said Beth Paretta, director of marketing and operations, SRT Brand and Motorsports. “We are proud to have a Viper GTS-R on the podium at each of the year’s first two races and the team continues to work extremely hard, which can be seen in improved pit stops and outstanding vehicle durability.
“I am confident this progress will all add up to a GTLM class victory very soon. The new unified series has been great for SRT and with our renewed focus on our North American racing programs, we remain committed to supporting and working with IMSA to make the product even better.”
This will be the team’s second race at Long Beach. Last year, Farnbacher captured the team’s first pole position and joined Goossens in finishing third in GT, giving SRT Motorsports its first podium finish.
“I remember when I got out of the car everyone jumped on me,” Farnbacher recalled about his pole. “It was a great experience. It was the first pole for SRT and it was important for the team and for that race.
“At circuits like Long Beach, which is a 100-minute race, they are more or less sprint races for us. It’s very important to be in the top spot because it’s hard to overtake.”
The No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R finished third in the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona with drivers Farnbacher and Goossens joined by Ryan-Hunter Reay. In qualifying, Goossens gave SRT Motorsports its fourth pole position. In addition to the podium finish, all six SRT drivers led laps during the event.
At Sebring, it was the No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R’s turn to shine, with Bomarito and Wittmer joined by Rob Bell. In addition to all three drivers leading the race in the No. 93, Farnbacher also led laps in the No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R.
“The Viper is solid and our results are strong in a very competitive class,” Farnbacher said. “Long Beach was a good one for us last year and we feel encouraged heading back to the street circuit. We definitely know how to set up a car at Long Beach.”
The two podiums also put SRT Motorsports in the hunt for the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup. With the classic races at Watkins Glen (Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen on June 29) and Road Atlanta (Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda on Oct. 4) remaining, the No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R is fourth with 20 points and the No. 93 fifth with 19 points – with both cars within striking distance of the leading No. 911 Porsche North America entry’s 23 points.
– Fonte: http://www.imsa.com/
