GRT Grasser Racing have now confirmed their second IMSA effort for 2020 with a run at the four-race Michelin Endurance Cup with Lamborghini works driver and reigning Rolex 24 Champion Franck Perera, 2019 AIM Vasser Sullivan Lexus GTD standout Richard Heistand and Steijn Schothorst. 2019 Blancpain GT Series race winner Albert Costa will complete the quartet for the Rolex 24 Hours.
GRT are looking to complete a hat-trick of GTD wins at the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, and to defend their 2019 Sebring class win too with Watkins Glen and Petit Le Mans completing the four-race programme for the car.
The cr confirmed today joins the GEAR Racing effort with their #19 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO under the GRT awning with Katherine Legge and two-time IMSA GTD champion Christina Nielsen, who will compete in the GTD class. Pro drivers, Bia Figueiredo and Formula 1 test driver Tatiana Calderon will complete the line-up in the enduros.
There’s yet to be official confirmation of the expected third car to be run by GRT, the ex Magnus Racing Lamborghini now located at the Miami workshop of GRT with car owner John Potter understood to have moved his 2020 programme to GRT – the car seen in a recent Instagram post story here.
Richard Heistand: “I’m really delighted to be joining Grasser for the 2020 season. The team and the Lamborghini have proven in the past that they can be winners at the highest levels in GT racing. I’m pretty certain that we will be in championship contention, even though this will be Grasser’s first full season in the IMSA Weathertech Sports Car Series. I am very proud that Gottfried Grasser and Lamborghini are putting their trust in me. This is a fitting testament to all those who helped me achieve strong results last season, so a big thank you to everyone who supported me, making it possible for me to get where I am today. I can’t wait to get started with the team at Daytona.”
Steijn Schothorst: “I am very grateful to GRT Grasser Racing and Lamborghini and am excited to think that they have given me the chance to race in the IMSA NAEC. Looking at the successes that GRT have achieved in the past few years in the USA, I’m certain that we’ll have a very strong package and be able to fight for the podium at the very least.”
Franck Perera: “I am very pleased to be able to continue working with Team GRT Grasser Racing as I join them on the IMSA NAEC programme. I’m already looking forward to the 24 Hours of Daytona where I lined up with Lamborghini in 2018 and it all kicked off with the first victory in a 24-hour race. I would like to thank Lamborghini Squadra Corse and Grasser Racing.”
Gottfried Grasser (Team Principal): “After twice being successful at Daytona, we’ve lined up an incredibly strong crew of four drivers for this season. We will do our utmost to achieve more great successes again for Lamborghini in the USA. I am particularly pleased that we will be fielding another car in the IMSA NAEC along with the GEAR Racing by GRT car. We are really looking forward to contesting all the classics like the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, 6 Hours at Watkins Glen and Petit Le Mans. We are extremely proud that Lamborghini Squadra Corse will be giving us their full support in these races!”
