Motorsport Mike: Fall Update 2022

by “Motorsport Mike” O’Hare photo credit IMSA

Another exciting year of North American Motorsports has come to a close, and once again Porsche continued to earn its way onto the podium. In IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Series, Porsche had representation in the newly formed GT Pro (PRO) and the GT Daytona (GTD) classes. In the GT Pro class, there were nine manufacturers contesting for the 2022 championship: Porsche, Chevy (Corvette), Lexus, BMW, Ferrari, Acura, Mercedes-AMG, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin. Team Pfaff MotorSports of Canada, with the distinguishable red-plaid-liveried 911 GT3R, repeated where they left off in 2021 by claiming this year’s manufacturer, team, and driver’s class championships, with Ausie driver Matt Campbell and French driver Mathieu Jaminet. In the GT Daytona class, Porsche finished 4th as a manufacturer behind BMW, Mercedes, and Aston Martin. However, drivers Ryan Hardwick and Jan Heylen of team Wright Motorsports finished second amongst drivers in their Porsche 911 GT3R.

Within the Michelin Endurance Cup’s four races at Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta, Porsche finished atop the GT Pro class manufactures spot just three points ahead of Ferrari. I’m also very excited to report that local Maverick Region pro racer Don Yount (Inaugural “Meet The Driver” – see Slipstream Online Oct. 2021) finished the season’s GTD class edging into the top quarter of all drivers (14th/53) in his team NTE/SSR Lamborghini.

The 2023 season promises to be exciting for Porsche. The new LMDh/GTP Porsche 963 will make its debut competing in both IMSA and WEC (World Endurance Championship) races. Team Penske will take the reins of the factory machine, with several other customer teams racing the new 963. Additionally for 2023, Porsche will be running a new GT3R in IMSA races with plans to compete for class wins at Le Mans and the WEC Championship in 2024. So stay tuned and buckle up for some exciting racing with the greatest brand in motorsports.

2022 IMSA Weathertech GT Pro Champion - Team Pfaff IMSA racer and fellow Maverick - Don Yount