Gounon, Juncadella Set for Full Season GTD Pro Effort

Photo: Jules Gounon Instagram

Mercedes-AMG factory drivers Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella are set for a GTD Pro class championship run in WeatherTech Racing’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo next year, as Cooper MacNeil steps away from full-time driving.

Announced on Tuesday, Gounon and Juncadella will pilot the Proton Competition-run No. 79 entry for the entire IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season and will be joined by fellow works pilot Maro Engel for the Michelin Endurance Cup races.

MacNeil, meanwhile, is currently only confirmed for the Rolex 24 as a fourth driver, with the 30-year-old set to focus on a “management role with the team” throughout the season.

“We are happy to announce that Jules and Dani will be running with us for the full IMSA WeatherTech Championship in 2023,” MacNeil said.

“I consider them to be among the best Mercedes-AMG GT drivers in the world. Last year we had a parade of drivers through the car and couldn’t really compete for the championship.

“Maro will join us for the longer races and adds a wealth of knowledge to the team.

“With our strong support from Mercedes-AMG, those three guys driving the car, and WeatherTech/Proton Racing spearheading the operation, I like our chances every weekend in the GTD Pro class.”

MacNeil said winning the Rolex 24 remains one of his “last events” to achieve in his racing career.

The son of WeatherTech founder David MacNeil has yet to disclose if he will contest any additional races this year.

“I have won Petit Le Mans three times, Sebring twice, finished on the podium at the 24 hours of Le Mans three times, and a few championships along the way,” he said.

“In 2015 we finished second at Daytona, so the Rolex 24 is one of the last events to win on my racing to-do list.

“I will forever love the sport of racing but after 15 years it is time for me to turn the page and focus on the more important things in life like family and work at our company.”

It will mark both Gounon and Juncadella’s first full-season WeatherTech Championship campaigns.

“I’m amazed and thankful to Cooper and David MacNeil to trust Dani and myself to take over the No. 79 WeatherTech Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the IMSA GTD Pro class for 2023,” Gounon said.

“We will give it our all to get the WeatherTech Mercedes-AMG GT3 to the front and get a big trophy at the end of the year.”

Juncadella, meanwhile, is coming off winning the Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli championship following last weekend’s Gulf 12 Hours.

“Next year is shaping up to be one of the most exciting chapters of my career,” he said.

“It was a last-minute call for Daytona last year and then it turned into a couple more races with Cooper in the WeatherTech Mercedes-AMG GT3 which was fun.

“It was surprising to me, I discovered IMSA is one of the most exciting championships happening around the globe right now.

“It is great that we have managed to get our deal together to run the whole season with Jules for 2023 and WeatherTech Racing.”

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