Hindman to Again Sub for Hardwick at Sebring

Photo: Jamey Price/Wright Motorsports

Trent Hindman will again sub for Ryan Hardwick in the No. 16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R in this weekend’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Confirmed on Tuesday, the Silver-rated Hindman will rejoin Patrick Long and Jan Heylen in the GT Daytona class contender.

Sportscar365 understands that Hardwick, who suffered an accident at the Roar Before the Rolex 24 in January, has elected to stand down for Sebring but will be back in the car alongside Long in the next round at Mid-Ohio.

The No. 16 Porsche is coming off a fourth place class finish at Daytona.

“There is nothing that I want more than to get back in the driver’s seat after what was a disappointing early end to my Daytona race weekend,” said Hardwick.

“I’ve been working diligently in physical and cognitive therapy sessions over the past several weeks and making great progress.

“It was a tough decision, but I’ve made the call to sit this next one out at Sebring. I’m glad that Trent is stepping in once again, and I know he gives our team the best shot at becoming back-to-back Twelve Hours of Sebring race winners.

“I am focused on being back in the race car with my Wright Motorsports team at Mid-Ohio, and going after the IMSA Sprint Championship this season.”

Hindman, who won the 2019 IMSA GTD title, is coming off victory in last weekend’s IMSA Prototype Challenge race at Sebring, at the wheel of Volt Racing by Archangel’s Ligier JS P320 Nissan.

“Extraordinary circumstances in Daytona gave me a peek inside this team and I see why they’re the defending Twelve Hours of Sebring winners,” said Hindman.

“Massive thank you goes to John Wright, Ryan Hardwick, and the entire Wright Motorsports team for their faith and trust in me to get the job done.

“Cannot wait to get back to work with these guys!”

Root to Take Hardwick’s Place in Pilot Challenge Entry

Former Wright GT3 driver Max Root, meanwhile, will team up with Heylen in the squad’s Michelin Pilot Challenge entry this week.

It will mark the car’s first race of the season after being withdrawn from the four-hour Daytona season-opener.

“I’m excited to be joining Wright Motorsports and their Michelin Pilot Challenge 1st Phorm GT4 program with Jan Heylen as my co-driver,” said Root, who will pull double duty by also competing in Porsche Carrera Cup North America with the team.

“Sebring is an amazing track for the Porsche. This is going to be a fantastic weekend I believe all the preparation that John and everyone at REI Motorsports has put into this program that’s going to set us up for success.

“We are going to keep our heads down, we’re going to respect the bumps, and I look forward to getting out there in my first GT4 race.”

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