Photo: BMW

BMW M Team WRT will field two cars in next month’s Repco Bathurst 12 Hour, with new signing Raffaele Marciello joining for his first appearance as a BMW factory driver.

Marciello will share the No. 46 BMW M4 GT3 with Valentino Rossi and Maxime Martin for the Intercontinental GT Challenge opener, while the sister No. 32 car is set to be piloted by Charles Weerts, Sheldon van der Linde and Dries Vanthoor.

As reported by Sportscar365 on Thursday, the Swiss driver was originally set to make his first race start with BMW in the Hankook 24H Dubai, until WRT pulled its entry in the wake of the event’s postponement.

Marciello has yet to win the Australian enduro, coming closest in 2018 when he finished second overall behind WRT, which won the race with an Audi R8 LMS GT3 piloted by Vanthoor, Robin Frijns and Stuart Leonard.

He also took third place on several occasions, most recently last year.

“Bathurst is a very special place for me – the perfect first race with BMW M Motorsport,” Marciello said.

“I love the circuit and have come very close to winning on a few occasions. Unfortunately, it has never quite worked out so far.

“However, I believe I have a good chance to change all that this year with BMW M Team WRT.

“WRT is one of the best teams in the world, and my teammates Maxime and Valentino are extremely quick. Sharing the car with Vale is very special for me. I watched him in MotoGP when I was a kid.”

WRT finished fourth and sixth at Bathurst last year, marking the only time across the entire IGTC campaign that BMW did not secure a podium finish with at least one of its cars.

“The Bathurst 12 Hour is a spectacular event to start the year with, and we are delighted to field another strong line-up in Australia in 2024,” said Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport.

“Together with BMW M Team WRT, we enjoyed many fantastic successes in our first season. Unfortunately, we were denied a Bathurst podium. We obviously want to make amends for that this time.

“With our driver line-up, I believe we are in an excellent position to enjoy a strong race. I am particularly looking forward to seeing Raffaele Marciello in a BMW M4 GT3 for the first time.”

Photo: JEP/SRO

Longtime Porsche entrant Grove Racing has made the switch to Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo machinery, which will kick off with next weekend’s 24H Series Hankook 6H Abu Dhabi followed by the postponed Hankook 24H Dubai later this month.

The Australian squad, run by Earl Bamber Motorsport, will field a Mercedes-AMG for the father-and-son pairing of Stephen and Brenton Grove, plus Mercedes-AMG junior driver Jordan Love.

Grove’s Australian Supercars driver Matthew Payne, meanwhile, will take part in the 24H Dubai alongside the Groves and Phil Keen.

“To head into another season with a new brand is incredibly refreshing,” said Brendon Grove. “Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing have been a pleasure to deal with and we’re excited to see what we can do together.

“There’s no need to explain the pedigree the brand has within motorsport, and we can’t wait to be a part of that. It really is the world’s fastest family.”

The team ended its tenure with Porsche in last month’s Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli season-ending Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi, the site of what will be its first outing with Mercedes-AMG.

It’s likely the team will return to IGTC competition again this year, which begins with its home race at Bathurst next month.

“To head back to Abu Dhabi after the issues the team had to deal with last time is going to be a blessing,” Brenton added. “We can’t wait to get a big year of racing started.”

Photo: SUPER GT

Subaru has announced it will continue to participate in SUPER GT’s GT300 class this year with its R&D Sport-run BRZ.

The Japanese manufacturer revealed its plans for the 2024 season on Friday at the Tokyo Auto Salon, headlined by its long-running program in SUPER GT’s lower division.

Takuto Iguchi and Hideki Yamauchi will continue as teammates for the 10th consecutive season aboard the Dunlop-shod No. 61 car as they seek to reclaim the title they won in 2021. Masahiro Ozawa stays in his role as general manager.

Iguchi and Yamauchi finished eighth in last year’s GT300 standings amid a difficult season plagued by technical issues, claiming a sole podium finish at Suzuka.

Both Subaru drivers were also part of the marque’s Nürburgring 24 effort last year, but a calendar clash with SUPER GT means this isn’t possible this year.

Instead, veteran Kota Sasaki returns to the Subaru N24 lineup for the first time since 2022 alongside regulars Carlo van Dam and Tim Schrick and a newcomer to the team, ex-GT300 driver Rintaro Kubo.

The 2024 version of the WRX that will tackle the German endurance classic features several updates from the 2023 car, including modifications to the front stabilizer bracket, exhaust manifold and aerodynamics.

Iguchi and Yamauchi will combine their SUPER GT program with a presence in Super Taikyu, where Subaru will continue to enter a BRZ powered by carbon-neutral fuel running under the ‘SDA Engineering’ banner.

Subaru also revealed it plans to introduce a new car “incorporating future technologies” mid-season, without providing further details.

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

Lone Star Racing will embark on an IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup campaign with its Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, which will feature Scott Andrews, Salih Yoluc, Rui Andrade and Adam Christodoulou as drivers.

The Texas-based squad announced its GTD class program on Thursday, one day after the finalized entry list for the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona was distributed by IMSA.

Andrews, Yoluc and Andrade are set to take part in all five Endurance Cup races, with Mercedes-AMG driver Christodoulou serving as the fourth for the Rolex 24.

“Our first Rolex 24 At Daytona campaign marks another milestone for Lone Star Racing and we are ready for the challenge,” said team manager and technical director AJ Petersen.

“Our best result of the 2023 season was a close runner-up showing in our Mercedes-AMG GT4 in the four-hour endurance race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“That same weekend, we returned to IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition with Scott Andrews co-driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 and we are ready for more.

“We have had some success with our Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars in a support role with international teams in recent years, including a victory in the 2022 Intercontinental GT Challenge 8 Hours of Indianapolis and a second-place finish in the same race at the Brickyard last year.

“We have been fortunate to assemble a top group of drivers that know how to win on the worldwide international sports car endurance racing stage and we know we will give them a competitive Mercedes-AMG GT3 that will keep them in the hunt in Daytona.”

Andrews and Anton Dias Perera, who is taking a year off from racing in 2024, drove Lone Star’s Mercedes-AMG in its only WeatherTech Championship appearance at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last year.

The team had been eying an expanded effort in the series for 2024 although faced a curveball during the off-season.

“I can’t thank [team owner] Dan Knox and AJ Petersen enough for all of their hard work and not giving up on this program,” Andrews said.

“For sure, in November and December it looked like we probably weren’t going to be on the grid in any sort of shape or form in 2024. Plans can fall through, but to literally start entirely from scratch in November is hard.

“We all put our heads together, and I suppose I tried to take on a bit more of a role as not just a driver on the team but being there for AJ and doing everything I can to possibly help him.

“It’s really exciting to finally make Lone Star Racing’s debut at the Rolex 24.

“I have been fortunate to stand on the podium at this race twice, and one of those times in a Mercedes-AMG GT3. I am really excited to get back to this famous race. It is such an amazing atmosphere. It really is the biggest race of the year.”

Photo: World Speed

Courtney Crone will make the move from LMP3 competition to Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America this year, with the IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship winner joining World Speed in the single-make series.

Crone, who took part in the inaugural season of VP Racing SportsCar Challenge last year, finished fourth in the LMP3 standings with six podium finishes to her credit.

“I am beyond excited to join World Speed Motorsports and Graham Prewett Inc for the 2024 Lamborghini Super Trofeo season,” she said.

“This jump to Lamborghini Super Trofeo will mark a significant move in my career, and I am excited to see where this journey with sports cars takes me.

“I believe we will have a very strong lineup and the confidence that we will deliver good results this year.”

Crone’s scholarship, won in 2023, extends into the 2024 season for an IMSA-sanction series, which includes Super Trofeo.

Her co-driver in the series, which kicks off at Sebring International Raceway in March, will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We plan to sign two dynamic drivers who will be fully prepared to deliver for the team and we expect to see positive results at the beginning of the season,” said World Speed team manager Jan Trojan.

“We spent 2023 getting the team ready for this, and we’re excited to get the ‘24 season started.”

Photo: McCumbee McAleer Racing

McCumbee McAleer Racing has confirmed plans to campaign a new Ford Mustang GT4 in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, with Chad McCumbee and Jenson Altzman returning for their second season as co-drivers.

The No. 13 Mustang GT4 will be part of the competition debut for the latest-gen Mustang GT4 in this month’s BMW Endurance Challenge at Daytona International Speedway.

“Continuing our presence in the IMPC paddock is yet another reason I really am looking forward to the 2024 season,” said McCumbee. “MMR’s rookie season in GS was certainly a success and I expect more continued growth and performance this coming year.

“Jenson, along with our entire team, did an amazing job in getting acclimated to the GT4 platform.

“We all have a lot of excitement about the new Mustang that Multimatic and Ford Performance has for 2024.

“A massive thank you to AEROSPORT, Vervantis and everyone that made this program a reality one year ago.”

Altzman added: “I am extremely proud of what this team was able to accomplish this season given our short window to prepare for a new series.”

Photo: Random Vandals Racing

Random Vandals Racing will expand into a three-car IMSA operation this year following a new partnership with Team ACP-Tangerine.

Kenton Koch and team owner Paul Sparta will return to the wheel of the No. 92 BMW M4 GT4 for the full Michelin Pilot Challenge season and will be joined by the No. 94 BMW of Ken Goldberg, Catesby Jones and Terry Borcheller that will run under the Team ACP by Random Vandals banner.

Additionally, Nathan Martin will make his VP Racing SportsCar Challenge debut in a GSX class BMW fielded under the Team ACP by Random Vandals banner, beginning with next weekend’s season-opener at Daytona.

“2024 marks a major expansion for Random Vandals and a huge raccoon family welcome to Team ACP,” said Sparta. “In 2023, we invested across the organization to create a cohesive team with top driving, engineering, and technical talent. We proved we can run consistently at the top of the field in multiple series.

“This year, we intend to compete for a championship and multiple race wins. We couldn’t do it without the tremendous partnership of BMW Motorsport. The farther we go, the harder it gets, but this team loves the challenge and the process.”

Koch added: “Last year’s foray in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge left us with some great experience to build on. We grew so much as a team and Paul was able to take another leap as a driver.

“I’m super excited to partner with him again and make a run at the full season championship with Random Vandals after some success last year. I have a good feeling about 2024 and can’t wait for Daytona to get here.”

“Team ACP is extremely happy to partner with Random Vandals for our IMSA effort,” said Catesby Jones, CEO of Team ACPTangerine.

“We are both dedicated BMW teams, and we’ll be stronger together as we take this step into IMSA. We can’t wait to get to Daytona.”

Photo: IMSA

A trio of Toyota NASCAR stars will be at the wheel of one of Smooge Racing’s Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVOs in this month’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season-opener at Daytona International Speedway.

NASCAR Cup Series drivers Bubba Wallace and John Hunter Nemechek will be joined by NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series ace Corey Heim.

The team’s No. 68 Toyota, meanwhile, will be piloted by sports car regulars Kevin Conway, John Geesbreght and Corey Lewis in the four-hour BMW Endurance Challenge.

“We are very excited to run two GR Supra GT4 EVOs at Daytona this year,” said team principal Conway.

“Having Bubba, John Hunter and Corey in the 23 car is a major honor and testament to Smooge Racing.

“I’m also looking forward to racing with John Geesbreght and Corey Lewis in the PRAX Leadership GR Supra. John and I have had a lot of success together and we are looking forward to building on that at Daytona.”

Smooge plans to enter multiple cars in Pilot Challenge, Pirelli GT4 America and the Toyota GR Cup series this year.

“We had a great season last year as we expanded into GR Cup and continued success with our current entries across other motorsport forms,” said Conway.

“We are building on that foundation as we are fielding multiple GR Supra GT4 EVOs along with GR86s in the GR Cup Series, and look forward on what’s to come in 2024.”

Additional driver lineups for GT4 America and Toyota GR Cup will be announced at a later date.

Photo: Rick Dole/IMSA

Pipo Derani believes that Tom Blomqvist’s arrival as a third driver for Action Express Racing is “only positive” for the team’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship title defense.

Blomqvist joins the lineup in the No. 31 Cadillac V-Series.R alongside Derani and Jack Aitken for Michelin Endurance Cup races, as Aitken steps up from the third driver role to replace Corvette-bound Alexander Sims as one of AXR’s full-timers.

It follows the end of the Meyer Shank Racing Acura program of which Blomqvist was part for the last two seasons, winning the 2022 title alongside Oliver Jarvis.

Blomqvist made his Cadillac bow in last month’s IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona International Speedway.

Looking ahead to the new season, Derani pointed out how uncommon it is for drivers to have sampled more than one LMDh car since the new rules came on stream in 2023 and believes this will only help strengthen AXR further.

“Having Tom as an endurance driver brings us some knowledge of the other side,” Derani told Sportscar365. “He has some references which will be really good for us, as well as the experience and mindset of being a champion. 

“He is the one of the first to have tried multiple cars. The development phase of these cars was quite long, with both the hybrid systems and the integration with the ICE, so you have to ask yourself whether the others were doing the same things.

“In such a competitive field, it will be interesting to have someone who has knowledge that is not common in the paddock, and I am sure it will be interesting for him too.”

However, Derani was keen to highlight that any benefits deriving from Blomqvist’s knowledge of the Acura are unlikely to be felt immediately.

“I don’t want to call it an advantage, because he isn’t just saying exactly what they did before,” stressed Derani. “But he brings new ideas and a fresh perspective that will allow us to get a better understanding of what we can improve. 

“And any benefits will be seen more in the long-term than just at Daytona, because you can’t develop that fast. But it can only be a positive thing for us.”

Derani was also full of praise for his new full-time co-driver in the No. 31 car, Aitken, who helped Action Express to victory in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring as well as the Endurance Cup title last year.

“It’s been an easy transition, plug-and-play,” Derani said of Aitken. “Jack did a great job last year and he knows the team and car well. He is very easy to work with. 

“It was fantastic to race with Alex last year, I’ve known him since our Formula 3 days although I got to know him better last year and we had a great time. I’m sad to see him go but he’s still in the GM family, he visits our truck sometimes and I see him at Corvette. 

“We had a great year together and we won the title, but we couldn’t have done it without Jack. So I’m looking forward to sharing the car with him this season.”