Moorespeed and Starworks Motorsport, who both run an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo in the GTD class of the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship, have announced that they will be pulling out of upcoming rounds of the championship.
Moorespeed will not be taking part at the upcoming Mobil 1 Sportscar Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park following a crash by Will Hardeman in practice at Watkins Glen. Hardeman had to be cut out of the car and was diagnosed with a concussion in a New York hospital. The team had the option to borrow a spare chassis, but has decided against competing in Canada.
Fellow Audi runners Starworks will also not be contesting at the upcoming Sprint Cup round as well as the following round at Lime Rock Park. Team owner Peter Baron says that the team hasn't been able to achieve podiums and victories because of the class BoP.
“It has been our goal all along to run the full season, but common sense tells us that we have an issue that is beyond our control here,” said Baron. Our sponsors expect us to deliver results. We need to be in the fight for the podium. We simply don’t have the speed in the car to do that at this point. Further, these events are back-to-back and are not key markets for our sponsors.”
“The top speed of the #8 Audi R8 LMS clocked in well below the competitive average of the field and distant from the GTD class leaders. By running an alternative field strategy, the #8 Audi R8 LMS was able to lead 30 minutes of the race but was quickly chased down by the eventual race winners.”
The team anticipates to return to IMSA competition when the championship heads to Road America in August.
“But it simply doesn’t make sense for us to burn budget money racing when we are not competitive," Baron continued. "Our sponsors are committed to winning and the package that we are showing up with cannot deliver that. We will sit the next two races out and work on things within our control to deliver the best possible package for the next event."
“We have work to do for the next few weeks. Our drivers are doing an amazing job. It’s the responsibility of the team and the manufacturer to provide them with a competitive car, so that will be our focus. Assuming we get this sorted, we will back in action at Road America. I never like these types of decisions."
“We just want to race and win. But 2020 is around the corner and we need to work hard now to ensure that we have the right package for the remainder of the year and into the 2020 season.”
