Wright Confirms Single-Car GTD Effort for Sprint Cup Races

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

Wright Motorsports will scale back to a single-car GTD class effort for the IMSA WeatherTech Sprint Cup races according to team principal John Wright, who confirmed they will not fill Ryan Hardwick’s No. 16 Porsche 911 GT3 R with alternate drivers.

The Ohio-based team, which initially placed two full season WeatherTech SportsCar Championship entries, has altered its plans amid Hardwick’s decision to focus only on the Michelin Endurance Cup rounds amid his upcoming debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

While filling the car with a different driver lineup was initially explored, Wright confirmed they ultimately have opted against that option.

“Ryan owns the car and I’m really particular about protecting that asset,” Wright told Sportscar365. “I could have used the car but I just don’t feel comfortable with that.

“There was some talk about that but really we pulled back once we looked at the whole project.

“When Ryan uses it, I want the car to be in the condition he left it in. I don’t really need to and I don’t want to [sell seats].”

It will leave the team’s No. 77 VOLT-sponsored Porsche of Trent Hindman and Alan Brynjolfsson as the team’s sole entry for next weekend’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach and remaining Sprint Cup rounds.

The No. 16 Porsche, meanwhile, is currently confirmed to contest both the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen and Motul Petit Le Mans with Hardwick, Jan Heylen and Zach Robichon.

“In 2024, I think we’re going to be back to our full-time IMSA schedule,” Wright said.

“Optically, with the BoP [situation at Daytona] and some things like… but Ryan was a little bit on the fence regardless before Daytona. We had contingency plans because a lot of things were up in the air anyway.

“Alan fills that full-time spot for us so it’s perfectly fine for us.

“I think it’s great for Ryan. You build this racing chapter as a gentleman driver. [Le Mans] is the ultimate situation and he had the Bob Akin Award and a lot of things in place to do it, so it was perfect.”

Wright said he’s been in full support of Hardwick’s European program with a Proton Competition-run Porsche 911 RSR-19 that will include a full season of the European Le Mans Series and FIA World Endurance Championship rounds at Portimao and Spa as preparation for Le Mans.

“It’s something new in his racing chapter and he needs to fulfill it while he can,” he said. “It’s the last year for the RSR and 100th anniversary at Le Mans. It’s exciting.”

Wright Plotting 2024 Le Mans Bid in LMGT3

While Hardwick’s entry will be run by Proton at Le Mans, Wright confirmed that several of his crew members will be on-site to support their Bronze-rated driver, and also in an exploratory capacity ahead of a prospective Wright Motorsports entry in the new LMGT3 class next year.

GTE-Am will be replaced by an all-GT3 Pro-Am enforced category in 2024 that has gained significant interest from GT3 customer teams worldwide.

“We’re going to end up going to Le Mans to help some,” Wright said. “I’m trying to get the scope of that anyway because with the GT3 platform for 2024, it’s something we want to do.

“We have to see what kind of talent it takes to drive over there as well, to be competitive. We think Ryan is going to do really well.”

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