3GT Planning GTD Return

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

While having parted ways with Lexus, 3GT Racing is planning a return to the GT Daytona class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next year, according to team owner Paul Gentilozzi.

The Michigan-based squad, which spent two years campaigning Lexus RC F GT3 cars, delivered two class wins and multiple pole positions, has revealed intentions of remaining in the highly competitive production-based class but with a different manufacturer.

Gentilozzi said that its amicable split with the Japanese manufacturer had been decided last month, with his family-run team now in the stages of finalizing a new two-car GTD program for 2019.

Sportscar365 understands that an announcement could be made by as early as the SEMA show next month.

“We’ve got a program working,” Gentilozzi told Sportscar365. “It’s our intention to stay in IMSA. We’ve been exploring an opportunity with another manufacturer for more than a month.”

With 3GT believed to be in talks with an existing GT3 manufacturer, Gentilozzi said he’s hopeful of building on the team’s performance from the past season, which saw wins at Mid-Ohio and Virginia International Raceway.

“In 2017, there were some hurdles and [this year] we proved that the car could be competitive,” he said. “We won two races, and probably should have won at least one more, where we were in a position to win and had a little bad luck. I think we proved as a team to be competitive.”

Among the questions that remain, meanwhile, are driver lineups, with several of 3GT’s drivers, including Jack Hawksworth, believed to have multiple options on the table for next year.

When asked about the Englishman’s status, Gentilozzi said he was contracted by his team this year.

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