DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Wright Motorsports, whose No. 16 Porsche 911 GT3R finished within a whisper of winning the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Daytona (GTD) title in 2020, will take another crack at the crown in 2021 with essentially the same driver lineup.
Ryan Hardwick and Patrick Long return as the season-long drivers in the No. 16 entry sponsored by 1st Phorm, Mountain Motorsports and Una Vida Tequila. Jan Heylen, who joined the team for the final three endurance races this year, including a victorious effort in the season-ending Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts, will be back for all four IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup events in 2021. And Klaus Bachler rejoins as the fourth driver for the Rolex 24 At Daytona that opens the season Jan. 30-31.
“We’re thrilled to be back for another year with the same group we had for 2020,” said John Wright, the team owner. “Consistency was a big part of our success last year, and we’re starting off 2021 on the right foot by continuing with our proven formula. From the drivers, to the crew and sponsors, we really created a great organization, and I’m proud to have Wright Motorsports back for another year with all these people and partners.”
The No. 16 Porsche came on strong in the second half of the 2020 season, notching three consecutive podium finishes before closing with the monumental GTD win at Daytona, the first endurance race victory in the team’s 20-year history. The spirited effort left Hardwick and Long just two points out of first place in the final GTD driver standings. The No. 16 finished the same distance behind the No. 86 Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian Acura NSX GT3 in the team standings.
Hardwick earned IMSA’s Bob Akin Award as the top Bronze or Silver driver in GTD this year, which could open the door to a ride in the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans. The focus, though, remains on the WeatherTech Championship season.
“I’m really excited to be back with the same program that had a lot of success in the first year, and I’m looking to building on that success,” Hardwick, 40, said. “For me personally, I’m really focused on continuing to improve as a driver and as a teammate. We expect to continue our 2020 success. The 2021 season will be even more competitive, with even more cars, great drivers and strong teams to compete against. We feel we’re the best-prepared team going into the new season, and we’re going to capitalize on our momentum from our Sebring victory to battle for that top step at Daytona.”
A long-time Porsche factory driver, Long has amassed 28 IMSA wins and two championships in a career dating to 2004. The 39-year-old Californian believes the team will be stronger in 2021 because of the familiarity of those involved.
“I revel in the aspect of continuity,” Long said. “Having the band back together helps a lot with a view of keeping the momentum of where we left off in 2020. I expect the competition to only ramp up, so the work starts now and through the green dropping for the Rolex 24 in just over a month from now. Grateful to have our sponsors and partners back on board. I am looking forward to this!”
WeatherTech Championship action for 2021 begins with the Roar Before the Rolex 24, a three-day test session Jan. 22-24 at Daytona International Speedway that includes for the first time the Motul Pole Award 100, a qualifying race to determine the starting grid for the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Race week action runs from Jan. 27-31.