Gradient Racing Confirms Its Line Up for the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup
Today, Gradient Racing confirmed its entry for the 2022 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup. The Austin, Texas team will compete with its updated Acura NSX GT3 Evo22. Honda Performance Development (HPD) regular, Mario Farnbacher will be joined by Till Bechtolsheimer and the 2021 Formula Regional Americas Champion and HPD Academy graduate, Kyffin Simpson. Gradient Racing stalwart Marc Miller will round out the roster for the 60th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway later this month
“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,” explained Gradient Team Manager, Andris Laivins.
He went on to outline the significance of this year’s entry. “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.”
“This program represents a coming together of many members of the HPD family, said John Whiteman, Commercial Motorsports Manager at HPD. Pairing Kyffin Simpson as the FRA Champion and an HPD Academy graduate with two-time GTD Champion Mario Farnbacher authentically demonstrates opportunities for HPD powered drivers. Additionally, Gradient is a longtime partner, who has won races with the NSX GT3 but also assembles all of the championship winning HPD Civic Type R race cars. We are all very appreciative of the opportunity to bring honor to Acura Motorsports in such an organic way.”
Laivins is hoping that a strong showing at Daytona will help the team from Texas launch its first full-season assault on the IMSA GTD Championship. “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. We would really love to turn this into a full season entry and represent Acura properly in the Championship.”
Kyffin Simpson, Driver #66 Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo22
I’m extremely excited to be racing in the Rolex 24 next month, and I’m honored to represent Acura at such a huge event! Considering this will be my first endurance race, you could say I have been thrown in the deep end but thanks to Acura, Jon Mirachi and the HPD Academy team, I feel very prepared for racing the NSX GT3 Evo22 with my new teammates. This Christmas break has been my busiest ever with testing, watching old races and training. I can't wait for the first session at the Roar in a few weeks’ time.
Kyffin Simpson dominated the 2021 FRA Championship.
Mario Farnbacher, Driver #66 Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo22
2013 was my first Rolex 24 and I have raced here every year since. I’m looking forward to racing the updated Acura NSX GT3 Evo 22 . I can’t wait to get out on track and work with all of my new teammates, it is a big challenge, one which I fully accept and embrace.
Mario Farnbacher returns to Gradient Racing having replaced the injured Marc Miller at VIR in September 2021.
Marc Miller, Driver #66 Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo22
It seems like an eternity ago that I met Andris for the first time to test one of the two CJ Wilson Mazda MX5's at a pre-season test at Barber. That was 2010 and I have been racing in cars he has built, prepped and engineered every year since. The Rolex 24 Hour has long been an event we have wanted to do together and I can't be more thankful that we will be able to make this a reality in 2022.
Driver Marc Miller and Team Manager, Andris Laivins, have worked together for more than a decade but this will be their first Rolex 24 together.
Till Bechtolsheimer, Driver #66 Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo22
I’ve been wanting to do the Michelin Endurance Cup, and the Rolex 24hrs of Daytona in particular, since I first started competing in IMSA in 2015. Needless to say I’m beyond excited to be given that opportunity this year and especially to be doing it with my friends at Gradient Racing. Adding to the excitement is the incredible line-up we have this year. Mario obviously brings buckets of raw pace and a wealth of experience in the NSX and it will be fun for me to team up with Kyffin Simpson, a true rising star in the sport. Most of all though, I’m happy to be back in the car with Marc Miller after he had to miss our last race with an injury.
Although an accomplished historic racer, British-born, Bechtolsheimer will make his Rolex 24 debut this month at Daytona International Speedway.
The 60th running of the endurance classic begins with ‘The Roar Before the 24’ test and qualifying weekend on January 21st with the race itself starting on Saturday, January 29th at 1:40pm ET.
Coverage of the event is available in the USA via NBC, Peacock, USA Network , IMSA Trackpass, IMSA Radio and via Satellite Radio on Sirius 216 and XM 210. For full event coverage please follow Gradient Racing on Twitter at @GradientRacing, on Instagram at @gradientracing and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GradientRacing.