Mario Farnbacher only just missed out on a podium at his fourth start in the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. However, fourth position was still a pleasing result for the 3GT Racing Team Lexus RC F GT3 of Farnbacher, Jack Hawksworth and David Heinemeier Hansson after a number of technical difficulties.
“All in all, it was a good performance in Watkins Glen,” the German driver said. “We set the fastest lap but just couldn’t maintain our pace over the full six hours to get on the podium. We had a number of technical problems to contend with during the race, and so I think we can be happy with fourth position, even though a spot on the podium would have been better.”
Qualifying showed that the #15 car had the potential to challenge for the win. Farnbacher’s teammate Jack Hawksworth put the Lexus RC F GT3 on pole after a blistering lap and gave the team the best possible starting position for Sunday’s race. The conditions for the race, however, were anything but easy. The Watkins Glen weather offered bright sunshine and scorching temperatures, which took its toll on the cars and the tyres alike.
The 3GT Racing trio was on course for a podium finish for much of the race, however trouble in the pits saw the #15 car fall from second to eighth position. Farnbacher and his teammates put in an excellent recovery drive, with Hawksworth crossing the line in fourth position.
“We had good pace during the race,” the 26-year-old said. “My teammates were brilliant, but we kept having problems with the rear axle. It’s a really hard place to overtake, and so fourth was the best we could achieve.”
