Alegra Linked to PWC Switch

Photo: Peter Burke/IMSA

Following a breakout season in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition, Alegra Motorsports is poised to make the switch to Pirelli World Challenge for 2018, in a reshuffling of Porsche’s top customer GT3 outfits.

Multiple sources have indicated to Sportscar365 that the Carlos de Quesada-led team, which claimed class honors in last year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, is preparing for a PWC program with at least one Porsche 911 GT3 R.

It comes just one month after Wright Motorsports announced a switch to the WeatherTech Championship, fielding a Porsche for 2017 PWC champion Patrick Long and two-time GTD winner Christina Nielsen.

Alegra campaigned a single Porsche in GTD last year for Daniel Morad and a host of co-drivers, including Long, Michael Christensen, Mathieu Jaminet and Michael de Quesada.

Morad, who contested both the WeatherTech Championship and PWC full-time last year, finished 8th in the 2017 GTD standings, and could now be faced with having to choose which team to drive for in 2018.

The Florida-based Alegra outfit was present at last month’s IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona with Joerg Bergmeister and de Quesada, at the request of IMSA to validate Porsche’s Evo kit, but has since been quiet on its 2018 plans.

It will not be present at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, having missed weekend’s Roar Before the 24, which is mandatory for participation in the race.

While Alegra’s PWC program has yet to be confirmed, the move would strengthen the German manufacturer’s involvement in the sprint race championship.

GMG Racing is expected to return with at least one Porsche in the GT class, joined by the recently announced Pfaff Motorsports effort with Scott Hargrove.

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