Mario Farnbacher started from 16 to 19 March at the Sebring 12-hour race. Together with team mates Kyffin Simpson and Till Bechtolsheimer, the Acura works driver from Ansbach competed for Gradient Racing in Florida. It was the second race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and eleventh place due to an accident was the best possible result under the circumstances. 

„After Daytona, we were definitely hoping for more and we were generally fast enough to attack the podium. But sadly, things don’t always go as planned,” says the double GTD champion. „We lost a total of 17 laps to repairs because of the accident. We couldn’t really make progress after that.” 

Qualifying saw the Acura on the grid in tenth position. It should have been the big chase after that as the NSX GT3 had a good solid pace, however several spins and a touch with the track barrier meant simply crossing the line and cutting losses.

Mario Farnbacher expressed particular praise for his team. „I’m so grateful the team gave its all to get the car straightened up after the accident. And normally that would have been enough for a very good result. But sometimes plans just don’t work out and I’m sure we’ll get to fight in the next race and find the breakthrough.”

In April, Mario Farnbacher moves on to the next race. He’ll be driving with Ashton Harrison from 14 to 17 April in Sonoma at the Fanatec GT World Challenge America kickoff.

Mario Farnbacher and Gradient Racing began the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season’s first race on 29 January. Instead of achieving the hoped-for top result in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the team had to make do with a 13th place in the GTD category. Technical defects dashed the Franconian and his teammates’ chances of a better result in the #66 Acura NSX GT3 Evo22.

“The season kick-off was far from straightforward. Last weekend’s accident during the Roar before the 24 cost us valuable dry kilometres”, the twofold GTD champion said. “Due to the rain during the race weekend itself, conditions weren’t easy, making preparation also a problem. Nevertheless, I must say a huge thanks to the entire crew. They were incredibly committed throughout both weeks and despite all setbacks, gave their all to present us with the best possible car. I’m very proud of that!”

Having started the race from 16th on the grid, Mario Farnbacher, Till Bechtolsheimer, Marc Miller and Kyffin Simpson were set back initially by a penalty. However, the quartet stayed calm and worked their way steadily forwards. Bechtolsheimer delivered lap times on line with the GTD frontrunners in his double stint and underlined the Texas racing squad’s ambitions right from the beginning. Farnbacher took over and continued where his teammate had left off. The race saw the Acura #66 within striking distance of top-class positions and at times on the leader’s tail.

“We did a good job after the initial difficulties, but problems appeared during the night”, the 29-year-old explained. “First our lifting unit packed up, which meant losing a great deal of pitting time. Then another technical defect appeared and that finally finished all hopes of a top 6.”

Farnbacher and Gradient Racing’s next opportunity for a top result comes in March, when the 12 Hours of Sebring is scheduled for 18 and 19 March.

Mario Farnbacher starts the 60th running of the 24-hour race in Daytona in the Acura NSX GT3 of Gradient Racing. The two-time GTD champion competes alongside Till Bechtolsheimer, Kyffin Simpson and Marc Miller in the legendary endurance classic as part of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, which takes place from 28th to 30th January 2022.

“Finally, we’re getting back in the car – I cannot wait,” says Farnbacher as he looks forward to his first race of 2022. “It will be the first time that I drive the new EVO model. Having jumped in to substitute last year, I am even more excited to be part of the team again.”

The HPD driver and instructor of the HPD Driver Academy is joined by one of his students. “Kyffin Simpson did a fantastic job last year and has made tremendous progress. It’s nice to see his development continue. It’s so cool that we worked together before and now get to share a car,” the 29-year-old added.

In addition to Daytona, further races this season are planned. Farnbacher will race with Racers Edge Motorsports in the GT World Challenge America, teaming up again with Ashton Harrison whom he mentored last year at the HPD Driver Academy. He will drive the Acura NSX GT3 together with the female racer. “Ashton and I drove together in the Indianapolis 8 Hour race in 2021, so we know each other well,” explains the Bavarian. “We want to pick up where we left off last year and now really go on the attack.”

For now, however, the focus is on Daytona. The lights for the race go green on Saturday, 29th January, at 13:40 local time (19:40 CET). Track action already starts a week earlier with the Roar Before The Rolex 24, the traditional pre-season test, taking place at the Daytona International Speedway.

Back on the podium: At the Indianapolis 8 Hour, the second round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge, Mario Farnbacher celebrated a podium result. Together with Matt McMurry and young driver Ashton Harrison, he finished the race in the Compass Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo in sixth place and won the Silver Cup.

“That was a positive end to my season. We struggled with the car, but our work paid off in the end,” the Ansbacher said.

Farnbacher fought his way to class victory despite a training deficit. During practice he suffered a clutch defect which caused the 29-year-old to only drive his first dry laps in qualifying. In the race, however, the trio was not held back and converted hard work into a strong result with sixth overall and the podium in the Silver Cup.

“The race was not easy because of the initial difficulties. In the sessions we couldn’t really work on the set-up,” said the Acura driver. “It was great to see that the GT3 Academy of HPD is doing a really good job. The young drivers left their mark – they were quick and made few mistakes. This shows that the work of the Academy is bearing fruit.”

With the Silver Cup win, Farnbacher ended an at times difficult 2021 season on the podium. The past has already shown the driver to be fast in the Intercontinental GT Challenge. In 2020 he was also on the podium at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a third place.

It’s finally time for Mario Farnbacher to compete again in the Intercontinental GT Challenge, almost one year since his last appearance in the series. On 17 October, Farnbacher will be making his first appearance in the series in 2021 at the Indianapolis 8 Hour event.

“I’m really looking forward to the race,” said Farnbacher. “I raced in this series a few times in 2019 and 2020 and have good memories of it. I am confident for Indy and think we have a good chance to finish well.”

The 29-year-old can count on the assistance of two rapid teammates for the endurance race at the historic circuit. HPD Academy driver Aston Harrison as well as Matt McMurry will be sharing driving duties alongside Farnbacher behind the wheel of the Compass Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo. Farnbacher won the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the GTD class together with McMurry in 2020.

“I am really keen to put my current run of bad luck behind me at Indianapolis,” said Farnbacher. “The VIR weekend was a real disappointment – a defective brake disk caused an accident and my race was over. Fortunately, Acura cars are incredibly robust so I walked away from the incident.”

The race takes place around the Grand Prix circuit at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which has hosted Formula 1 and MotoGP races in the past. The eight-hour endurance race will begin at 10:00 am on Sunday 17 October (16:00 German time). Fans can follow all the action on the series’ official website.

Anticipation was high, but so was the disappointment after the race weekend. For the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship round in Long Beach, Mario Farnbacher once again took the start with Matt McMurry at his side. The duo, who secured the GTD class title in 2020, finished eleventh after a difficult race.

“I was really looking forward to this race weekend. Long Beach is something very special and of course I have great memories with Matt from last year. But it definitely didn’t go the way we had hoped. We were struggling with set up and pace the whole time.”

In the Acura NSX GT3 Evo, the duo took the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach from 13th on the grid. After a rather unremarkable race, Farnbacher narrowly missed out on the top 10. An eleventh place at the end formed the maximum for him and his American teammate.

“It was just a difficult race for us. Let’s keep looking to the future and work towards getting better! Sometimes there are just phases when things don’t want to go right.”

The next IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race weekend will be held at VIRginia International Raceway from 8 until 10 October. The special feature of this round is that only GT cars will be on the grid. It is also the season finale of the WeatherTech Sprint Cup.