Additional IMSA Outings Possible for KCMG in GTD Pro

Photo: KCMG

KCMG could enter additional IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races beyond its already committed effort to January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona according to team manager Matt Howson.

The Hong Kong-based team, which confirmed in July plans to enter Daytona with a Porsche 911 GT3 R in GTD Pro, hasn’t ruled out an expanded program in the new-f0r-2022 class.

Both Howson and operations manager Ranald Maclean are on-site at this weekend’s Michelin GT Challenge at Virginia International Raceway as a “fact-finding mission” to prepare for its IMSA debut in just over three months’ time.

“We’re committing to one car at the moment in GTD Pro, which will be with Porsche,” Howson told Sportscar365.

“At the moment that’s as far as we’ve got. In terms of drivers and that kind of thing, we don’t know exactly what’s going to happen.”

While not confirming it, Howson indicated their desire to have a full factory-crewed car for the Rolex 24.

“Even though it will be our first [IMSA] event, we plan to come here being competitive,” he said.

“KCMG is a customer-supported team and we’ve raced at the Nürburgring and Spa with factory drivers so obviously we will definitely look at that because we want to be competitive.

“With the first year of GTD Pro, I think it should be quite a challenge as there will be more cars that can win. We need to have good drivers and experience.”

Howson, a former 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 class winner with the team, said KCMG currently has two major goals within its GT3 program.

“At the moment our real objective is Nürburgring 24,” he said. “That’s where we’ve been with Porsche for two years. We’re going to do a third season next year.

“The [other] goal is Daytona 24 and a possible look at IMSA. It’s been like that since I was racing with the team in LMP2. 

“We’ve always been looking over the water at IMSA. 

“I certainly wouldn’t rule out [additional races] and Daytona is the first step with that. If we as a team and the team owner really enjoy it then I wouldn’t rule it out at all.”

Howson: IMSA Has Been “Very Welcoming”

Howson said that IMSA has welcomed the team with open arms and is hopeful of building on that relationship with their on-site presence this weekend.

“In IMSA, there’s a lot of names I need to put faces to,” Howson said. “With Daytona being the first IMSA event for KCMG, that’s a lot of new things and a lot of new infrastructure we need to consider.

“Even just getting the cars technically ready. We’re very European-centric. We’ve done SRO championships and Nürburgring [24] so this is something different. 

“We have personnel in the team that actually do run in IMSA so they said the best thing anyways is to have a look, see how various teams operate and meet the IMSA management. 

“So far I’d have to say they’ve been very, very welcoming. Clearly there’s a lot of passion and enthusiasm for racing but also to welcome more teams from further away.”

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