TGM’s Pilot Challenge Drivers to Perform Rolex 24 Double-Duty

Team TGM has confirmed that its driver lineup for the Rolex 24 at Daytona will be the same quartet representing the team in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge next year.

Matt Plumb, Hugh Plumb, Owen Trinkler and team owner Ted Giovanis are set to drive TGM’s GT Daytona-class Porsche 911 GT3 R in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-opener on Jan. 30-31.

The same four drivers are also taking part in the four-hour Pilot Challenge race at Daytona on Friday, Jan. 29.

As previously announced, Hugh and Matt Plumb will drive TGM’s No. 46 Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R in IMSA’s primary support series while Giovanis and Trinkler are sharing the No. 64 sister car.

It is set to mark the first time that a team has contested both the Rolex 24 and the Pilot Challenge round at Daytona with the same group of drivers.

“Coming back to the biggest race of the year is a huge challenge but the team is prepared and ready to take on double-duty for this very long event, it’s a four-hour race on Friday followed by 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday,” said Giovanis.

“We’ve taken delivery of the racecar from Porsche Motorsports North America and have been working beside the folks at Wright Motorsports in preparing for the race.

“While not our intent, we think this is a unique situation in that it will be the first time an entire team and all four drivers will race in the Friday event at Daytona and then switch cars and race in the Rolex 24.

“There have been several drivers that have competed in both and there are teams which support entries in both events, however this will be the first time a full team and all of its drivers will do both together.”

Giovanis is set for his Rolex 24 debut while his co-drivers have all participated in the race before.

The Plumb brothers most recently contested Daytona in 2013 with separate GT teams while Trinkler’s last appearance in the event occurred one year before.

Trinkler and Hugh Plumb won the 2018 Pilot Challenge GS title driving a TGM-entered Mercedes-AMG GT4.

“The driver lineup was really a very easy decision to make because I had already done all the due diligence and consideration a couple years ago when I decided on Hugh, Owen and Matt to drive our Michelin Pilot cars,” said Giovanis.

“These guys bring with them such tremendous talent and experience, it was an easy decision then and it’s the same now.

“Together these three drivers have accumulated 21 previous Rolex 24 Hour race starts. I couldn’t be surrounded by a more knowledgeable and experienced group of drivers who I can depend on to take care of our equipment, while constantly pushing to the front.

“We already have a great relationship from the Michelin Pilot series and keeping us together allows us to leverage on that synergy.

“These are the guys who I trust to race our cars in Michelin Pilot and I know I can count on them for the best result in the Rolex 24.”