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3GT Confirms Endurance Driver Lineup

Cindric, James, Menezes, Farnbacher complete 3GT lineup…

Photo: Rick Dole/IMSA

Photo: Rick Dole/IMSA

3GT Racing has signed four drivers to complete its driver lineup for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup events for newxt year.

Austin Cindric, Dominik Farnbacher, Ian James and Gustavo Menezes will join the Lexus squad for the four rounds, which include the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida, Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen and the Petit LeMans.

James and Menezes will share the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 with Sage Karam and Scott Pruett, while Cindric and Farnbacher will team with Robert Alon and Jack Hawksworth in the No. 15 entry.

Farnbacher said he’s honored to be selected to drive the Lexus RC F GT3 with the 3GT Racing team.

“I did some of the development for this car in Japan and Europe,” he said. “The first race we did with that car was in October and we won the VLN9 race on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

“The car has huge potential to be competitive in Daytona and for the rest of the season. Right now, we are focused on the Rolex 24, that is our main goal.”

3GT made its official IMSA debut at a test session at Daytona last month, after conducting a number of private sessions, including tests at Atlanta Motorsports Park and Road Atlanta in October.

In addition to Farnbacher’s familiarity with the RC F GT3, Menezes has previous experience racing with Gentilozzi.

The California native competed for Gentilozzi’s RSR Racing from 2013 through 2015. Most recently, Menezes captured LMP2 class victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year and became the first American driver to win a FIA-sanctioned World Championship in more than 30 years.

Cindric became the youngest winner in the history of the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge in 2015 at age 16, and has earned podium finishes in IMSA, GRC and Pirelli World Challenge.

The Ohio native’s diverse racing background also includes victories in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and ARCA Series in 2016. Cindric is the son of Team Penske president Tim Cindric.

James, meanwhile, comes to 3GT having previously scored wins in IMSA, Grand-Am and America LeMans Series competition.

In addition to his experience driving the RC F GT3 in Europe, Farnbacher brings considerable GT and endurance racing experience to 3GT Racing.

He has two wins at Daytona – in the GTD class in 2015 and the GTS class in 2005 – and recorded a runner-up finish in the GT2 class at Le Mans in 2006.

Farnbacher drove for the SRT Viper program from 2012 through 2014, and he has wins in IMSA, Grand-Am and the American LeMans Series.

The four endurance drivers will join 3GT for the Roar Before the Rolex 24 test at Daytona International Speedway from Jan. 6-8.

The RC F GT3 then makes its U.S. competition debut in the Rolex 24 at Daytona later that month.

The latest sports car racing news from trusted series, manufacturer and team sources based around the world.

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