Mario Farnbacher’s 2018 season got off to a frustrating start at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Making his debut in the #93 Acura NSX GT3 for the Michael Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian team, the 25-year-old German showed strong pace throughout the first round of the North American Endurance Cup. However, a ten-lap delay due to a gearbox repair in the middle of the night put paid to the team’s chances of a podium finish.
“It was a really tough race,” Farnbacher said, “and the lack of full-course yellow periods didn’t give us that little bit of luck we needed.” Nevertheless, the young German was satisfied with his debut in the Acura NSX GT3 and is firmly focused on the next round in Sebring: “The car is full of promise and I can’t wait to get back in the driving seat at Sebring. If we get through the race without much trouble, we could be in with a chance of a podium.”
The 2018 24 Hours of Daytona was run at a relentless pace, with 21 cars battling for the lead in the GTD class. The #93 car made a solid start to the race, running as high as second at the end of hour seven. However, the Acura NSX GT3 suffered gearbox problems in the evening hours and was forced to pit for repairs. With full-course yellow periods unusually few and far between, the team were unable to make up the lost time and ultimately finished in 11th position.
The next round of the North American Endurance Cup as part of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is the 12 Hours of Sebring, where Farnbacher has clinched two GTD victories in the past three years, is on the weekend of 14-17 March.
