Hindman Banking on “Known Quantity” of Porsche in Return

Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO

Trent Hindman said he’s relying on the “known quantity” of the Porsche 911 GT3 R for his return to Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS, as part of a new program with Jake Pedersen and RS1.

The former Fanatec GT America class champion is teaming up with Spencer Pumpelly for this weekend’s pair of races at Sebring International Raceway, with Silver-rated Pedersen away on Porsche Carrera Cup North America duty in Miami.

For Hindman, who achieved success with the Type-992 Porsche in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition last year with two GTD podium finishes, combining his knowledge with defending Fanatec GT America Pro class champions RS1, which also campaigned a Porsche last year, comes at a significant benefit.

“A whole year of being with Wright [Motorsports] and being part of the initial stages of running the 992 GT3 R all year last year was a pretty extensive program with Alan [Brynjolfsson] and the VOLT effort,” Hindman told Sportscar365.

“I’d like to think there’s no shortage of seat time in this car, from my point of view.

“Between that and between the existing connection I already had with Justin [Bellinzoni, RS1 team owner] from running Pilot Challenge, all of that really came together.

“Fortunately enough for Jake and for Justin, and even for me being available, it all made sense that I was a decent candidate go get in the car.

“I think what also helps is looking at most of my experience over the last four, five years, even [longer], have been in sort of Pro-Am-based lineups.

“I think Jake is on his way.

“He’s developing but I think having been mentored plenty in the past and now having taken on that mentorship role with Alan and with VOLT Racing all those years, it’s helped me be that guide and lead us to where we want to go in the sport.”

Hindman said there’s high hopes for the program’s first Fanatec GT America weekend of the season, especially considering Pumpelly’s vast experience as a Silver-rated ‘fill-in’ driver.

“Everything is running as it should in terms of team function and in terms of car performance,” Hindman said.

“There’s always very little doubt with a Porsche, whether it’s a Cayman, Cup car, GT3 R, it doesn’t matter. You know what you’re going to get and it’s a known quantity.

“It’s pretty well plug-and-play, no matter where you are, what you’re doing, so that makes our lives a lot easier.

“The expectation, at least this weekend with Spencer and I driving together and the pre-existing history of RS1 in this championship, we expect to be up front.

“We expect to be fighting for the win but obviously the immediate future being practice sessions [on Friday], we know there’s still a little bit of learning curve and education that needs to be done on our side.

“But I think we’re in a pretty good spot. Come qualifying Saturday morning, we’ll be racy.”

RS1 Likely to Remain in Pro Class for Rest of Season

Hindman indicated that the team will likely remain in the Pro class once 19-year-old Pedersen joins Hindman at the wheel of the No. 85 Porsche at COTA and for the rest of the season.

“With the amount of experience he’s got and even just judging by his speed relative to what he has been driving before he came to RS1, I think it would be tough to fight for that downgrade to Bronze,” he said.

“It’s so hard for me to say, though. Either way. I think his desire is to be in the Pro category.

“Obviously for me, whether we’re running Pro or Pro-Am, what means the most is being up front overall.

“The class success is always a good feeling but at the end of the day you want to be the lead car overall, no matter what category you’re in.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John