NTE Audi Returns for 6H Watkins Glen

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

NTe Sport will return to IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition this month for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, with Don Yount set to be joined by Markus Palttala and Jaden Conwright.

The Texas-based team, which made its series debut in January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona with the target of completing the Michelin Endurance Cup races, although was not present at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

“We’ve been working hard to assemble a program to get us back on track for WeatherTech events,” said team owner Paul Mata.

“We had a gearbox issue at Daytona in the final hours and have been working hard to make sure we get back out there to continue to race and grow at top levels like WeatherTech.”

Yount is the only of the three drivers who contested the season-opener that will be back at the wheel of the team’s No. 42 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo.

“It’s good to be reunited with Marcus Palttala,” said Yount. “We won together at Watkins Glen in 2018 and will look to repeat the success this year. Jayden will be quick and great addition to the team for the race.”

Yount and Palttala’s win at Watkins Glen was one of the most recent races in North America for Palttala. The Finnish driver has been keeping busy, racing in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup and the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, where he earned a third-place finish in 2020.

“I’m looking forward to reuniting with Don, getting to know the team and Jaden, and to discover the Audi R8 LMS GT3,” said Palttala.

“We’ve got some catching up to do, as this will be our first time working together as a group, but I’m confident we’ve got a package to fight for a good result.”

Twenty-two-year-old Conwright will make his WeatherTech Championship debut.

After climbing the motorsports ladder, the Californian racer was slated to run in the 2020 Porsche Supercup season but was forced to withdraw due to international travel restrictions.

The setback allowed Conwright to join NTe Sport in the Sebring International Raceway season finale of the Michelin Pilot Challenge, where he qualified fourth and near the front for the majority of his stint.

“I can’t thank Don, Paul, and everyone from NTe Sport for giving me an opportunity to make my IMSA Weathertech GTD debut,” said Conwright.

“It was a pleasure running Sebring last year in the Michelin Pilot Challenge with the team and I’m honored to be able to run with everyone again. Watkins Glen looks like an unbelievable circuit, and I can’t wait to hop into the car for free practice one!”

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