IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship
SRO GT World Challenge America
2021 GT3 Pro/Am Racing Schedule
RYAN HARDWICK
No. 16 Porsche 911 GT3 R
Though new to Porsches race cars, Hardwick has amassed an exceptional amount of experience in his very short sports car racing career. In his first year of competition, he earned the runner-up championship in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final, only to best that with both the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Championship and SRO America Championship in 2018. In 2019, the 1st Phorm athlete campaigned the first five IMSA WeatherTech Championship events, earning a podium at Mid-Ohio SportsCar Course. His 2020 season with Patrick Long resulted in earning four more podiums, including a win at the legendary Twelve Hours of Sebring.
THE DRIVERS: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
PATRICK LONG
No. 16 Porsche 911 GT3 R
Returning to Wright Motorsports for another year of competition, Porsche Factory driver Patrick Long will continue to race with the fan-favorite Porsche team. The three-time ALMS GT champion also holds three Pirelli World Challenge titles, and currently has an impressive 28 wins in IMSA, placing him in the top 25 of over 1,000 drivers to earn at least one victory in the series over the years. Long’s impressive resume, combined with his longstanding relationship with team owner John Wright will give the team a strong upper hand against the rest of the competition in the GTD class in 2021. Together Ryan Hardwick and Patrick Long finished second in the 2020 GTD championship, and will be strong title contenders for the upcoming season.
JAN HEYLEN
No. 16 Porsche 911 GT3 R
Jan Heylen has had a successful run with Wright Motorsports, earning podium finishes at the Rolex 24 At Daytona and Petit Le Mans his last full-season IMSA season with the team in 2014. Most recently, Heylen celebrated victory at the 2020 Twelve Hours of Sebring with Ryan Hardwick and Patrick Long. In addition to racing with the team in IMSA, Heylen has been a part of Wright's 2017 and 2020 efforts in Pirelli World Challenge and SRO America's GT World Challenge, and coaches in the team’s Porsche GT3 Cup USA efforts. In 2021, Heylen will return to the team as the endurance addition for the four North American Endurance Cup races on the schedule.
KLAUS BACHLER
No. 16 Porsche 911 GT3 R
A former Porsche Junior driver, Klaus Bachler will bring with him a strong Porsche racing resume, returning to the team for the first time since his 2013 outing with Melanie and Madison Snow, Marco Seefried and Sascha Maassen. The young Austrian is no stranger to endurance racing, having also competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times, and earned two podiums and eleven top five finishes in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Klaus Bachler will again support Wright Motorsports as an addition for the Rolex 24 only, where the team kicked off the 2020 season with a solid fourth place finish.
MAX ROOT
No. 20 Porsche 911 GT3 R
"I am extremely excited to be back with Wright Motorsports for 2020 in the GT World Challenge America championship. After a positive Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA season, it’s a great opportunity to be staying with John and Porsche and I’m glad it all came together. Co-driving with standout Masters Cup driver Fred Poordad, our chemistry and communication will aid us nicely as we work together through the six rounds."
THE DRIVERS: GT World Challenge
FRED POORDAD
No. 20 Porsche 911 GT3 R
"I am excited to return to Wright Motorsports and sponsor Wealth Management Strategies (WMS) of Equitable, in the SRO GT America World Challenge. I am also thrilled to be running with Max Root as my co-driver. Both of us are coming off of successful seasons in the GT3 Cup Challenge and as newcomers to this series, there will be much to learn in a short period of time. I am looking forward to a successful season as we are willing to put in the hard work required and we have a great team and crew around us."
THE CAR
Porsche 911 GT3 R
TECHNICAL SPECS
ENGINE MOUNTS: Water-cooled flat-six engine in the rear
POWER OUTPUT: Max. 550hp depending on the FIA BoP (restrictor)
TRANSMISSION: Porsche six-speed constant-mesh gearbox (sequential)
BRAKING SYSTEM: Six-piston aluminum monobloc racing brake calipers in front, four piston units in rear
STEERING: McPherson strut in front, multi-link axle in rear, adjustable motorsport vibration dampers, heavy anti-roll bar
SAFETY: Welded roll cage, FT3 safety fuel cell, fire-extinguishing system