Gradient Racing
 | |
| Founded | 2018 |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Andris Laivins (owner) |
| Base | Austin, Texas, United States |
| Team principal(s) | Andris Laivins |
| Current series | IMSA SportsCar Championship |
| Former series | GT World Challenge America |
| Current drivers | IMSA SportsCar Championship: 66.  Sheena Monk  Stevan McAleer  Tatiana Calderón Katherine Legge |
| Noted drivers | Till Bechtolsheimer  Mario Farnbacher Marc Miller |
| Website | https://www.gradientracing.com/ |
Gradient Racing is an American sports car racing team that currently competes in the GTD class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship. The team was founded in 2018 by Andris Laivins.[1][2]
History
[edit]Gradient Racing was founded at the end of 2018 by former CJ Wilson Racing team manager Andris Laivins.[2] The team formed an alliance with Acura and acquired an Acura NSX GT3 chassis. They would make their competitive debut in the 2019 Blancpain GT World Challenge America.[3]
GT World Challenge America
[edit]2019
[edit]Gradient Racing made their racing debut in the 2019 Blancpain GT World Challenge America fielding an Acura NSX GT3.[3] The team signed Till Bechtolsheimer full-time along with Ryan Eversley. Eversley would be replaced by Marc Miller after the second round.[4] Trent Hindman replaced Miller for the sixth round at Road America.[5] The team finished 4th in the Pro-Am Cup at seasons end.
IMSA SportsCar Championship
[edit]2020
[edit]For 2020, the team moved from GT World Challenge America to the IMSA SportsCar Championship fielding an Acura NSX GT3 in the GTD class.[6][7] They would only compete in the WeatherTech Sprint Cup rounds with drivers Till Bechtolsheimer and Marc Miller. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team would in fact race at the Daytona International Raceway in the 2 hour 40 minute sprint race.[8] They would have a best result of 7th at Sebring and finished 14th in the GTD standings.[9]
2021
[edit]The team would return to the series for the 2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship once again fielding an Acura NSX GT3 in the WeatherTech Sprint Cup rounds.[10] The team resigned Till Bechtolsheimer and Marc Miller. At the 2021 Detroit Sports Car Classic, the team got their first podium in the championship finishing third.[11] Mario Farnbacher replaced an injured Marc Miller at the Virginia International Raceway.[12] The team finished 13th in the GTD standings.
2022
[edit]Gradient Racing competed in the championship for a third consecutive season in 2022.[13] This season they would compete in the Michelin Endurance Cup rounds.[14] The team resigned Till Bechtolsheimer alongside Mario Farnbacher and Kyffin Simpson. Marc Miller would join the team in the rounds 1 and 3 at Daytona and Long Beach respectively. The team would get their first podium of the season finishing second at round 3 in Long Beach.[15] In the season ending Petit Le Mans, the team had their qualifying times disallowed, resulting in them starting last on the GTD grid. In the race, the team made their way up the field and eventually overtook race leader Jordan Pepper in the No. 70 Inception Racing McLaren in the closing minutes of the race. Moments later a full course caution was displayed and the Farnbacher would maintain the lead. The race would end under caution and the team would get their first win as an organization.[16][17]
Racing record
[edit]Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
* Season still in progress.
References
[edit]- ^ "The Glorious Highs And Painful Lows Of Motorsport, As Told By Gradient Racing's Andris Laivins". Jalopnik. December 12, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- ^ a b "Gradient Racing Launches in Austin". Gradient Racing. October 18, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ a b "Gradient Racing Announces its Racing Program for 2019". Gradient Racing. February 22, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Dagys, John (May 13, 2019). "GT World Challenge Entry Sees Further Decline for CTMP – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ "Bentley, Ferrari Set to Face Off Again as Blancpain GT World Challenge America Heads to Road America". Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS. September 13, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ "Gradient Racing enters IMSA WeatherTech Sprint Championship in GTD". Gradient Racing. March 4, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ Dagys, John (March 4, 2020). "Gradient Switches to IMSA; Confirms Sprint Cup Program – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ "Daytona International Speedway: Event Preview". Gradient Racing. July 3, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ "Progress Made at Sebring International Raceway". Gradient Racing. July 22, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ Dagys, John (May 5, 2021). "Expanded GTD Field for Sprint Cup Season Opener at Mid-Ohio – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ "Podium for Gradient Racing on the Streets of Detroit". Gradient Racing. June 14, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ "Farnbacher replaces injured Miller for Virginia International Raceway". Gradient Racing. September 28, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ "Gradient Racing Confirms Its Line Up for the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup". Gradient Racing. January 4, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
- ^ "Updated Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 For Michelin Endurance Cup With Gradient Racing". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
- ^ "Long Beach Rewind: Reflections on Another Podium for Gradient Racing". Gradient Racing. April 29, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
- ^ Dagys, John (October 1, 2022). "Gradient Scores Breakthrough Win; De Angelis Claims GTD Title – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
- ^ "Petit Le Mans Race Rewind: Last to First at Road Atlanta". Gradient Racing. October 11, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
External links
[edit]
| Personnel | Andris Laivins (owner) |
|---|---|
| IMSA SportsCar Championship |
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| Vehicles |
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