The GT World Challenge America season opener from 15 to17 April was next on Mario Farnbacher’s event programme. Together with Racers Edge Motorsports and Ashton Harrison, the Acura works driver started in Sonoma and immediately secured the season’s first podium in the #93 Acura NSX GT3.

Sonoma Raceway was new race territory for the 29-year-old and his team mate. The duo had to explore the track under difficult rain conditions, but with seventh and second places in the Pro/Am qualifying runs, both pilots displayed their own potential as well as that of the car.

“All things considered, we can be satisfied with the outcome. It was Ashton’s first rain experience and in addition, neither of us had been on the track before. We were very content after qualifying – the wet circuit seemed to suit us and the car a little better this weekend”, Farnbacher explained.

Start driver Harrison had to begin from the back of the field due to a penalty, however she was able to move the Acura forward in an impressive attack. After Farnbacher had taken the wheel, he achieved a sixth place in class. Sunday’s race went much better for the duo and thanks to a strong fighting performance, Harrison and Farnbacher earned a second place on the podium.

Although the Ansbach-born native sees room for improvement, he was visibly happy with the first race weekend: “Of course, the final results were good. We’re pleased to have been fighting up front but are very aware of the work lying ahead. We have a new tyre this year, so we need to understand better how it works in the coming races. I am confident that we will improve over the weekends!”

Second round of the GT World Challenge America is from 20to 22May, when season races three and four will take place on the Ozarks International Raceway.

Mario Farnbacher started from 8 to 10 April 2022 at the 100-minute Long Beach race, the third round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Together with Marc Miller, the 29-year-old drove the #66 Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3. Thanks to a strong performance, the duo was able to celebrate second place.

A lot of bad luck recently prevented the aspired top results, but things fell into place on the street circuit in California. “Right from the start, we felt we could make a decisive attack at the weekend. It was often small accidents or defects that blocked the final jump onto the rostrum, but this time everything fitted perfectly”, Farnbacher explained. “Although Marc experienced a small incident during qualifying that prevented a better starting position, we all knew we had a very good chance in the race.”

The duo launched into the season’s third endurance race from fifth on the grid. A tough fight in the initial phase saw Miller battling fiercely and passing the wheel in a promising position to the two-time GTD champion. Farnbacher went from there to second place and secured the season’s first podium result for the team. Another reason to be pleased – the Long Beach weekend was dedicated to “Chiaki’s Journey” and the #66 Acura was carrying the eye-catching design of the Japanese manufacturer’s anime series.

“Sometimes everything simply runs smoothly”, said the Ansbach-native. “The team did a fantastic job and I’m really proud of that. We’ve worked on this for a long time and finally the hard work has paid off. And claiming a podium in front of partners and sponsors makes it all the better.”

Farnbacher continues with the GT World Challenge America. The season kicks off from 15to 17 April in Sonoma, where he’ll be driving with Ashton Harrison in the Racers Edge Motorsports Acura.

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.

Compass Racing’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Laguna Seca came to an end after just two corners. A collision involving Mario Farnbacher’s new teammate, Jacob Abel, cost him and the team the chance of a good result.

“I think we did a good job over the weekend getting with a competitive set-up. But we were taken out of the race as early as turn two and as a result, we pretty much didn’t get to drive at all,” said the two-time GTD class champion.

Honda Performance Development GT3 Academy driver Abel initially qualified eleventh on the grid in the GTD class in Compass Racing’s Acura NSX GT3 Evo. But the driver duo was eliminated before the race had really taken off. In the starting fray, the car was hit by an opponent at the exit of the second corner and spun out into the run-off zone. Farnbacher, who had been concentrating on the set-up for the race in the practice sessions, did not come into action.

“Jacob did a good job for his first IMSA weekend. I more or less worked on setting the car up for the race, while he focused more on qualifying. Unfortunately, things didn’t go quite as smoothly in qualifying, but I think we would have had a good car for the run,” the 29-year-old continued.

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship continues 24 and 25 September on the famous street circuit in Long Beach. For the Franconian, it is the first start at the former Grand Prix circuit in southern California.

Lightning forced the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship to end prematurely, dashing Mario Farnbacher and his teammate Jeff Kingsley’s hopes of a top result.

“What can I say? I personally think calling the race was an incorrect decision by the IMSA. I feel very frustrated, because I was expecting a much better result for this race”, said Farnbacher.

Kingsley started in the Acura NSX GT3 Evo from tenth on the grid and maintained a top 10 position in the tight field of the GTD class. Farnbacher took the wheel of the Compass Racing-Acura for the second stint and delivered an impressive performance with consistently fast laps. The 29-year-old had pushed forward to ninth position, before the red flag waved due to the thunderstorm and the event was then halted.

“I’m really disappointed. Firstly, for the fans and secondly for us too. I think we’d put an effective package together for the race, but there’s nothing we can do about it now. The race call means it’s just a ninth-place finish”, the two-time GTD champion stated.

The journey continues from the shortest track on the IMSA Championship schedule to the season’s longest – the 6,5-kilometre-long Road America, which enjoys cult status amongst the fans. The next race event, the “IMSA Sportscar Weekend”, takes place from 5to 8 August.