Mario Farnbacher has reached the midway point of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, with five races completed and five remaining in the 2020 season. The next stop for the Franconian and his teammate Matt McMurry is Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. After four podiums in as many races, the championship-leaders from Meyer Shank Racing will be looking to once again finish in the top three in Lexington.

“Things are going really well for us at the moment,” Farnbacher says. “After a number of podium finishes we were finally able to climb to the top step in Road Atlanta. But there’s no time to rest on our laurels, we need to keep our focus and score well in Ohio.”

At the halfway point of the season the Acura pairing have 150 points, a lead of 12. Farnbacher’s aim is to extend this advantage from 25 to 27 September.

Farnbacher and his team know what it takes to be successful at the Lexington circuit. The Ansbach native finished second in Meyer Shank Racing’s home race in 2019, missing out on the win by just a handful of seconds.

“Last year we only just fell short of the win, that was difficult to take,” Farnbacher continues. “It gives us more motivation to cross the finishing line in first. Another factor is that this is my team’s home race, so we will be giving it everything we can.”

The sixth round of the season, the Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio, is scheduled to begin at 2:05 pm local time (8:05 pm CEST) on Sunday 27 September. Fans can follow the race live on the official IMSA live stream.

After three consecutive podium finishes, Mario Farnbacher can celebrate the first victory of the season. Together with Matt McMurry and Shinya Michimi, the 28-year-old stood on the top step of the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta rostrum. Meyer Shank Racing drivers Farnbacher and McMurry have extended their championship lead to twelve points.

“I’m just so incredibly happy”, the beaming Acura driver commented. “We finally clinched the victory! A real relief! My teammates delivered a powerful performance and the crew’s stops were unbeatable. And the Acura winning in the DPi category makes the achievement even more fantastic.”

The trio in the Acura NSX GT3 #86 was in business straight away, starting from a grid fourth and fighting for top positions from the word go. Farnbacher was final driver and 90 minutes before the finish, he took over from the meanwhile second-placed McMurry. A perfect pit stop saw the Franconian assuming the lead and with an immaculate performance he raced away from his competitors and crossed the line to win with a 2.451 seconds lead.

“I have to say a huge thank you to the whole team. They’ve worked unbelievably hard, chosen the perfect strategy and laid the foundations for this success”, said the reigning GTD champion. “This is how we have to continue in the following races, we’re on a good path, but this doesn’t mean we have time to relax!”

Next stop on the calendar is from 25 to 27 September in Lexington. The Meyer Shank Racing team’s home game takes place on the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

The fifth round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta is the next stop on Mario Farnbacher’s calendar. Extending their points lead is declared aim of the Franconian and teammate Matt McMurry. After three consecutive podiums, the Meyer Shank Racing duo are three points clear of second place.

“I’m incredibly excited about the Road Atlanta weekend and have many positive memories of the track where I also celebrated lots of successes. Previous races went well for us and we’re top of the standings. So it’s vital we make a good haul again.”

The 28-year-old clinched one of his biggest triumphs on the Road Atlanta in 2019, when he and Meyer Shank Racing pocketed the GTD title with the Acura NSX GT3. Before the event in Georgia, Farnbacher and McMurry head the championship with 115 points.

Because of the many postponements in 2020, there will be two races on the traditional circuit and the first is the 6-hour race on 5 September. The Acura duo will be supported by Shinya Michimi who was part of the team at the Rolex 24 at Daytona earlier this year.

Green light for the race is on Saturday at 11:35 local time (17:35 CEST). The official live stream is available on the IMSA website.

The latest round of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship was packed full of excitement and intrigue. Once again Virginia International Raceway delivered wheel-to-wheel racing and race-long battles for the podium, with Mario Farnbacher in the midst of the action. Thanks to an outstanding overtaking manoeuvre in the closing stages, the 28-year-old finished second and assumed the championship lead.

Continue reading “Mario Farnbacher takes championship lead”

The next stop on the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship calendar is Virginia International Raceway. Together with teammate Matt McMurry and Meyer Shank Racing, Mario Farnbacher is hoping to build on his successful results so far this season.

Continue reading “On the hunt for points in Virginia”

Mario Farnbacher and Meyer Shank Racing can’t complain about a lack of race action at the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s fourth round. Chaotic weather conditions forced the Franconian and Matt McMurry to demonstrate all their skills on the Road America, in order to secure their second place.

Wisconsin offered everything from bright sunshine to heavy rain and the Acura duo had to deal with it all. Powerful performances, flawless pit stops, and a good strategy finally rewarded them with the season’s second podium finish.

“What a crazy race”, Farnbacher commented, after the event at Road America. “Conditions weren’t always easy and in addition, we had to fight with deteriorating tyres. I’m particularly pleased we got to climb the podium again under those circumstances. Thanks go to the whole team, who’ve done a fantastic job!”

Although it was dry when the race started, two hours later it was red-flagged and came to a halt due to lightning. The remaining eight minutes were to be decisive: Farnbacher resumed the race in fifth position and quickly pushed the Acura NSX GT3 Evo #86 forward to tail the leader, finally securing the lead with just one lap to go.

But luck wasn’t on the reigning GTD Champion’s side. Hydroplaning sent the 28-year-old off the track, but he still crossed the finish line in second place.

“Obviously, we wanted to win. But all things considered, we can be satisfied with a second”, the Acura driver sums up. “The car ran unbelievably well in the rain, I kept the pace and we made a good point haul for the team. At the end of the day, that’s what counts.”

Things continue in three weeks, when Farnbacher travels with Meyer Shank Racing to the next race at the Virginia International Raceway on 21 to 23 August.

Four weeks after the resumption of the season in Daytona, Mario Farnbacher is ready to tackle the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s third round. After two stops in Florida, Meyer Shank Racing will continue to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin on 31 July to 2 August.

The Franconian and his teammate Matt McMurry are heading to Road America with a big portion of confidence. Despite the compulsive, six-month break, the duo immediately secured their first podium with the Acura NSX GT3 Evo #86 in the previous race on the Daytona International Speedway. And the Acura squad aim to continue the trend!

“Our debut after the long interruption has proved we’re on top of things, so we must definitely take it from here and collect more points for the team. In the past, Road America often didn’t run as I’d wanted, but this time we hope it will be different”, Farnbacher says.

The 28-year-old had already driven on the Wisconsin circuit with Acura and Meyer Shank Racing in 2019. After an exhausting race, the reigning GTD champion and his team finished fifth and continued to lead the standings.

As usual, the race weekend begins on Friday, 31 July, with Practice 1 and the race is scheduled for Sunday, 2 August, at 18:05 (CEST). It can be followed per livestream on the official IMSA website.

 

The first race in six months and first podium of the season for Mario Farnbacher: It couldn’t have run better for the Franconian’s resumption of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. Together with Matt McMurry, and thanks to a powerful performance, the 28-year-old secured a third place at the Daytona 240 in the Meyer Shank Racing team’s Acura NSX GT3 Evo.

“I think we can definitely be satisfied with the weekend”, Farnbacher commented after the race on the Daytona International Raceway. “We were aiming for the podium and that’s what we achieved. As the start of the season didn’t go so well, it was particularly important for the team to grab lots of points. And we did!”

Free Practice top 5 results demonstrated right from the outset that the #86 Acura duo had their sights set on the podium. Teammate McMurry started from sixth on the grid and delivered a fine performance under tough conditions, passing the wheel on to Farnbacher as one of the front-runners. The Meyer Shank Racing driver put up a long, fierce fight with the Ohio crew’s sister car and finally won it, securing a third place.

“Matt certainly did a really good job under all the difficult circumstances”, said the Acura driver. “After that I had a few tough but fair duels with our sister car. Which I enjoyed, and I’m pleased I could take a third place home.”

Next stop for Farnbacher and the Meyer Shank Racing squad is Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, where the fourth round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – Road America – is scheduled for the 31 July to 2 August.

Mario Farnbacher is set to tackle his first race in five months on 3 and 4 July. Following the two curtain-raisers for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the Intercontinental GT Challenge at the start of the year, the world of motorsport has been at a complete standstill. Now it is time for the IMSA series to recommence at Daytona International Speedway.

“Starting back up again after such a long break is completely new ground for me and everyone else involved, of course,” Farnbacher said ahead of the 240 at Daytona race. “The interruption to the motor racing season wasn’t easy, so I think our biggest achievement is to be here on the grid and ready to take on this race. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Farnbacher will be driving the #86 Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo in Florida. Together with this teammate Matt McMurry, the reigning GTD champion intends to show that he’s ready to defend his title in this unusual 2020 season.

This isn’t the 28-year-old’s first time at the Daytona International Speedway in 2020. The first race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship took place at the same circuit back in January. Farnbacher could only finish tenth after the car suffered technical issues.

The race weekend begins on Friday evening with the first free practice session. The race starts at 18:10 local time (12:10 CEST) on Saturday, 4 July. As usual, fans can tune into the action on the official live stream.

The second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship was originally scheduled to take place from 18 to 21 March in Sebring. However, due to the travel restrictions for EU citizens, the 12-hour race in Florida has been postponed to the end of the year (11 to 14 November).

Mario Farnbacher and his team Meyer Shank Racing have no other choice but to take an enforced break. There’s no way of saying when IMSA will restart its season. The next event on the calendar, the Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio, will also not take place as previously scheduled from 1 to 3 May.

“Of course, all of these cancellations and postponements are not easy for everyone working in motorsport. But health has to be our priority right now”, says Farnbacher. “I hope the situation improves in the near future and that all of my fans and partners get through this difficult time.”