A total of 34 cars are set for next weekend’s Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio, in IMSA’s return to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
It includes 14 Prototypes, eight GT Le Mans cars and 12 GT Daytona entries, the latter which features multiple new driver lineups.
ENTRY LIST: Mid-Ohio
Bill Auberlen is set for his GTD debut at the wheel of Turner Motorsport’s BMW M6 GT3 alongside Dillon Machavern.
As reported by Sportscar365 last week, the veteran BMW driver tested with the Will Turner-led team with an eye towards completing the remaining sprint rounds with the team.
It will mark Auberlen’s first WeatherTech Championship start with the team, although he boasts previous Grand-Am experience with the longtime BMW entrant.
Other changes to the GTD entry list includes Mercedes-AMG factory driver Thomas Jaeger paired up with Kenny Habul in the No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3, as well as the addition of the No. 16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R for Wolf Henzler and Michael Schein.
Also, as previously announced, Meyer Shank Racing’s second Acura NSX GT3 will race with Katherine Legge and Alvaro Parente.
Notable absences from the class include Montaplast by Land Motorsport, which had originally committed to a season-long effort with its Audi R8 LMS, the No. 73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche and HART’s Acura, which was unable to put funding together for a one-off outing in its home race.
Spirit of Daytona Still Absent
While already on-track with its freshly rebuilt Cadillac DPi-V.R, Spirit of Daytona Racing is expected to skip the Mid-Ohio round, with the team currently not on the entry list.
Tristan Vautier and Matt McMurry are taking part in a two-day test at Watkins Glen this week with the car, which is expected to return to action by the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen.
The Prototype entry therefore remains identical to Long Beach, along with no changes to GTLM, either.
Track action gets underway Friday May 4, with the two-hour and 40-minute race scheduled for Sun. May 6.