Alan Brynjolfsson will take a “temporary leave” from sports car racing following next weekend’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans, it has been announced.
The Bronze-rated driver, who teamed with Trent Hindman to win the 2022 Michelin Pilot Challenge GS championship before going on to compete in the WeatherTech Championship GTD class this year, also with Wright Motorsports, is set to shift his focus to other activities outside of motorsports for the time being.
It’s known Brynjolfsson had been among the backers behind a push for a Bronze driver mandate in GTD, which has yet to materialize in the category that has been dominated by Silver-rated drivers in recent years.
“I have raced in IMSA for seven years,” said Brynjolfsson. “I love racing. I love the challenge, pushing myself beyond my comfort zone, as anything worthwhile in life is hard.
“Racing forces me to better myself through discipline, exercise, focus, and being goal-oriented. I enjoy the team, the camaraderie, and the racing family.
“I am proud to have raced the majority of those seasons with Trent Hindman as my co-driver and slowly improved each year culminating with the GS championship last year.”
Brynjolfsson’s decision to step aside comes amid a challenging first season in the WeatherTech Championship, highlighted by a single class podium finish at Lime Rock Park.
It also came in the first season of the Type-992 Porsche 911 GT3 R, which struggled within IMSA’s Balance of Performance parameters for a large part of the season.
“I am ready to take a break from racing to resume some of my off-track pursuits for a year,” said Brynjolfsson.
“Hopefully I will miss it and come back for another championship run. Until then I want to thank Wright Motorsports, Trent, Porsche, IMSA, and everyone in the paddock for seven years of awesomeness.
“Most importantly, today on my 29th wedding anniversary, I want to thank my wife Trish for being by my side at every race, every practice session, every test day, and supporting me 100 percent on and off the track.”
This move opens up multiple-time champion Hindman to other opportunities in the future.
“Wright Motorsports would like to express its heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the incredible journey we’ve shared with Alan and Trish Brynjolfsson and VOLT Racing,” said Wright Motorsports team owner John Wright.
“Alan’s time with Wright Motorsports has been marked by numerous achievements and memorable moments. His dedication, passion, and commitment to the sport have made him a cherished member of our racing family.
“Alan’s journey with us reached new heights when he, Trent, and the team clinched the GS championship last year, a monumental achievement that we are incredibly proud of.”