Hardpoint Expands Audi GTD Program to Endurance Cup

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

Team Hardpoint has expanded its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship program to include the two remaining Michelin Endurance Cup races in the Motul Petit Le Mans and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

The first-year GT Daytona class entrant, which made its WeatherTech Championship debut in July’s Sebring sprint race, had initially only committed its Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo to the WeatherTech Sprint Cup races.

It will now contest all remaining WeatherTech Championship rounds, although with a revised lineup for the two enduros.

Spencer Pumpelly, who has teamed with Rob Ferriol in the Sprint Cup rounds, will be unavailable due to his previous Endurance Cup commitments with GRT Magnus.

Ferriol will be joined by a yet-to-be-determined Audi Sport factory driver and a third Silver/Bronze-rated driver.

The team will not field its Audi R8 LMS GT4 car in this weekend’s Michelin Pilot Challenge double header at Mid-Ohio, although has not ruled out additional outings with the GS class entry this season.

“We said from the start that our primary goal for the 2020 season was to establish a solid foundation by which we could build a relevant, long-term team in this paddock,” said Ferriol.

“To paraphrase a saying from my former life, ‘no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy.’

“This process doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and 2020 has certainly brought its fair share of surprises.

“I believe the key is to remain agile, evaluate opportunities as they come – not only for the present, but how they may shape the future as well – and make the best move possible.

“We followed that philosophy when we expanded into the WeatherTech Championship after the extended break, and now is the right time to continue building on that program for Team Hardpoint.”

The team’s endurance debut will come in next weekend’s Indianapolis 8 Hour where it will partner with WRT to field Audi’s sole factory-supported GT3 entry in the Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli round.

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