Mario Farnbacher will be competing in the first round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, from 24 to 27 January. The German driver will be taking to the track for the first time in 2019 with Meyer Shank Racing in the Acura NSX GT3 Evo.
“The Rolex 24 at Daytona is one of the highlights of the season”, says Farnbacher. “The race in Florida is steeped in history and attracts so many top teams year after year. It’s always a really tough race, particularly in the GTD class. As the first race of the season, the grid is always full to capacity.”
The 26-year-old competed in the endurance classic for the Ohio-based team in 2018. Despite showing promising pace, a lengthy pit stop for repairs ruined any hopes of a podium finish. Farnbacher would still climb onto the rostrum for Meyer Shank Racing in 2018, securing victory in Detroit and a second place at Virginia International Raceway.
The Ansbach native has also enjoyed success at Daytona in the past. Farnbacher finished third here in 2017 and will be looking to match this performance at Daytona International Speedway in 2019.
“The circuit looks relatively simple at first glance, but it offers lots of challenges. It’s not easy to overtake here, especially in the infield section. You need to set up your car perfectly”, the Acura driver explains.” I am confident that we have put together a solid package and a great driver line-up. At the Roar before the 24 we were able to test the car extensively and sort out a few problems. Our aim is definitely a podium finish – after all, we want to be challenging for the title at the end of the year.”
The race weekend begins with Free Practice 1 on 24 January at 10:20 am (4:20 pm German time). The green flag will fly for the race on Saturday 26 January at 2:35 pm (8:35 pm German time). All sessions and the race itself will be broadcast as a livestream available on the official website.
