22 September saw Mario Farnbacher facing the six-hour challenge of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race action at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Together with Heart Of Racing teammate Roman De Angelis, the Aston Martin pilot ranked sixth in a race that was characterised by freak weather.
“We certainly experienced a very interesting race, weather conditions, especially the downpour in the middle, really shook up the field,” Farnbacher explained after the race. “But we held our own in the chaos and got the most out of the situation.”
The event was in fact a special one on the American sportscar championship calendar, with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship having held a six-hour race on the venerable Indianapolis circuit for the first time. For teammate Roman de Angelis it was also his first race in the highly competitive GTD Pro class. The young Canadian’s qualifying seventh ensured him a promising spot on the grid. And he and Farnbacher in the #027 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo were a strong combo on the track.
“Roman delivered a good starting stint, kept himself out of any trouble and handed the car over in a solid position,” said the Franconian. “I took the wheel and then first had to check out the conditions. It was my first time in the race on a wet track – that was far from easy. However, all in all we can be content with the outcome. It wasn’t quite enough for a top spot, but a sixth place is a fine result.”
Farnbacher’s next opportunity to clinch points and podiums is from 9 to 12 October, when the “Petit Le Mans” at the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta is on the agenda. The 32-year-old has fond memories of the race: 2022 he secured the win in Braselton, Georgia.
