18 Entries for Michelin Encore

Photo: Michelin

A total of 18 cars between three classes are set for this weekend’s Michelin IMSA SportsCar Encore at Sebring International Raceway.

The second running of the four-hour enduro features a majority of LMP3 machinery, although down from the 20 total entries that took part in last year’s inaugural race.

Neither Roman de Angelis or Kyle Kirkwood are slated to defend their overall win, although ASNA Motorsports has returned with a Ligier JS P3 Nissan for Jon Brownson, Tim George and Neil Alberico.

Other Ligier entries include two-car efforts from Performance Tech Motorsports, K2R Motorsports and Sean Creech Motorsport, with Forty7 Motorsports entering a Norma M30 Nissan alongside Robillard Racing and Conquest Racing.

Four GT3 cars are due to take part for the first time in the event, including the return of Madison Snow to Paul Miller Racing.

Tim Pappas will make his first start behind the wheel of his Black Swan Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R since sustaining multiple injuries in an accident at Bathurst in February, with the team owner/driver being joined by Marc Miller and Spencer Pumpelly.

Gar Robinson and Lawson Aschenbach are set for the first start with Riley Motorsports ahead of a full-season 2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship campaign in the team’s Mercedes-AMG GT3, while Wright Motorsports has entered a single Porsche for Ryan Hardwick, Max Root and Jan Heylen.

As is the case with Robinson and Aschenbach, Hardwick is getting a jump start on next year, having already been confirmed with the Ohio-based squad as part of an anticipated two-car GTD effort.

The GT4 class, meanwhile, will also see a four-car entry with Riley Motorsports (Mercedes-AMG GT4), PF Racing (Ford Mustang GT4), Turner Motorsport (BMW M4 GT4) and newly crowned Michelin Pilot Challenge champions CarBahn with Peregrine Racing, which features a revised lineup in its Audi R8 LMS GT4 car.

Despite being eligible, and initial interest shown from Bryan Herta Autosport, there are no TCR cars due to take part in the race.

The compact two-day event kicks off on Saturday with a series of practice sessions, followed by final practice and qualifying on Sunday morning, prior to the 12 p.m. ET race start, which will be carried live on IMSA.tv.

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