LMP2-championship leader Gar Robinson is eyeing out the 2024 IMSA Trueman Award after formerly passing off a Le Mans 24 Hours invitation from his Riley LMP3 title in 2021.
The #74 Riley Oreca 07 driver leads the LMP2 standings with co-driver Felipe Nasr ahead of the Sportscar Weekend at Road America on 4 August.
IMSA offers the Jim Trueman Award to the highest scoring FIA Bronze-graded driver in the LMP2 category of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the Bob Akin award to the equivalent in GTD, both of which invites the recipients to the following Le Mans 24 Hours.
After narrowly missing out on their first win of the season at the Chevrolet Grand Prix, the #74 Riley team are keen to win not only the championship but also the Jim Trueman Award for Robinson.
Speaking to selected media ahead of the eighth IMSA round, Robinson said: “I think it’s one of those things that we’re looking at.
“It’s one of those things like you don’t put too much faith in … It’s too early to get too excited about it right now.
“… It’s a really big bonus to us if we were to get it … It would definitely be a really spectacular thing for us, the entry to Le Mans.
“[It’s] something I really have kicked myself for not taking in 2021 when I had it.
“And I don’t think I’ll pass up on it if I get it again this year.”
After winning the 2021 IMSA SportsCar LMP3 championship for Riley, Robinson received an invitation to the following 2022 edition of the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours.
Riley was preparing to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s GTE Pro category with a Ferrari 488 GTE EVO, owing to their partnership from running in Ferrari Challenge North America.
Whilst the decision was eventually cancelled, Robinson’s Bronze status would have effortlessly suited either the LMP2 or GTE-Am category.
Since this year, the FIA WEC has replaced the GTE formula with the LMGT3 class, utilising GT3 machinery and Pro-Am driver lineups which competed in their first Le Mans earlier this summer.
After the #52 Inter Europol by PR1 Mathisen Oreca 07 sought victory at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, their Bronze driver – Nick Boulle – is only 20 points behind Robinson’s lead on 1200.
The Sportscar Weekend will be the final sprint for LMP2 – and GTP – machinery, before a six-hour event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course and the annual 10-hour Petit Le Mans concludes the season and ultimately, the fight for the coveted Jim Trueman Award.
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