Gradient Racing will be contesting the Michelin Endurance Cup in GTD, entering a single Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 while also eyeing plans for a potential full-season effort.
The Austin, Texas-based squad will be entering the #22 car for Till Bechtolsheimer, Mario Farnbacher, Marc Miller and Honda Performance Development Academy graduate Kyffin Simpson. Bechtolsheimer, Farnbacher and Simpson will contest all four enduros, while Miller only joins the team at Daytona.
The team, led by Andris Laivins, had only contested the shorter WeatherTech Sprint Cup rounds over the past two years, while also operating the SunEnergy1 Racing squad.
“It’s awesome to be able to combine our regulars Till and Marc, with Mario’s extraordinary knowledge of the NSX, and our newest Gradient driver, Kyffin Simpson. He has already had a bunch of success in the open-wheel world, and we’re eager to have him bring everything he learned in the HPD Academy to our program,” said Laivins.
“This will be my 20th season racing professionally, and though I’ve run this race a handful of times, and we made it on the podium last year with one of our clients, this is the first time we’re doing it fully in-house.
“It’s a big deal for our team. With our hardworking group of women and men, an updated NSX GT3 Evo22, and great technical support from HPD, we are going to Florida with a good package. Daytona is a big race, it feels special every time you get to do it.”
While Gradient Racing has so far only confirmed its outings in the four endurance races at Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Petit Le Mans, Laivins remains hopeful to able to expand its presence on the 2022 grid to a full WeatherTech Sportscar Championship entry.
“Right now we are committed to the IMSA MEC, but we are still working on finding the right partner and driver combination to add the Sprint races to our schedule; some of the guys in the car have conflicts for the shorter races,” he said.
“We would really love to turn this into a full season entry and represent Acura properly in the Championship.”
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