GRT Planning Full-Season Return Despite Expected Magnus Split

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Grasser Racing Team is planning a two-car Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo program in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next year despite an expected split with Magnus Racing.

The Austrian squad, which had plotted two full-season entries this year alongside a third for Michelin Endurance Cup races, ended up campaigning only a single car — under the GRT Magnus banner — for the majority of the 2020 season due to the fallout from the all-female GEAR Racing program.

Team principal Gottfried Grasser indicated that one Lamborghini is close to being secured for the full 2021 season with the second car doing the Endurance Cup races at a minimum.

“They’re not at the moment committed for the full season but I think one car full season, one car endurance,” Grasser told Sportscar365.

“Hopefully we can two cars full season because I really like this championship and it’s nice to be here.”

Grasser said that neither of the cars are for Magnus but indicated that they haven’t completely ruled out a third Lamborghini for the John Potter-owned operation.

Sportscar365, however, understands that the two parties will likely go their separate ways for 2021.

Potter declined comment after repeated attempts by Sportscar365 over last weekend’s season-ending Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Grasser said he has “huge interest” from both new and existing drivers for his own two-car program next year.

Drivers have yet to be announced although he said to expect Lamborghini factory drivers Franck Perera and Albert Costa back as well as Silver-rated Dutchman Steijn Schothorst.

“Everything is already nearly committed,” he said. “It’s in the final stages. We’re looking forward and are very positive.”

Grasser: IMSA is “Real Motorsport”

The Austrian, whose team is a two-time Rolex 24 at Daytona class winner and winner of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in 2018, said he feels the WeatherTech Championship provides “proper” racing.

“It’s an awesome place to be because it’s real motorsport,” Grasser said. “The races are really fancy and all of the different cars makes it so nice.

“In Europe you’re used to always running the same category. I think it’s beautiful to see the prototypes together with the GT cars. It’s a wonderful combination.

“IMSA is a must for us so we’re really happy to come back here next year.”

Between the WeatherTech Championship races, a four-car program in ADAC GT Masters and a return to GT World Challenge powered by AWS Endurance Cup, Grasser said his team has 23 events on the calendar next year.

Currently, there are no clashes between the three championships.

Ryan Myrehn contributed to this report

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