DSC’s Daily Notebook (26/04/2023)
963s delivered to JDC Miller and JOTA
JDC Miller Motorsports and HERTZ Team JOTA have taken delivery of their customer Porsche 963 chassis for use in IMSA and the FIA WEC respectively.
The first of the two to race will be JOTA’s example, which is set to compete in the FIA WEC Hypercar class at the 6 Hours of Spa Francorchamps this weekend, and the remaining races on the schedule.
JDC Miller meanwhile, is believed to be debuting its 963 in the IMSA race at Laguna Seca in May.
#WEC / #IMSA – Customer teams @JDCMotorSports and @JotaSport received their #Porsche963 last Friday. The cars were built by #Porsche Motorsport and the customer squads together at Weissach. Works driver @mattcampbell22_ conducted a shakedown on our proving ground on Thursday pic.twitter.com/UfCbv5E0gG
— Porsche Motorsport (@PorscheRaces) April 24, 2023
The next Porsche customer team set to take delivery of a 963 will be Proton Competition. The German team is due to join the FIA WEC Hypercar field after Le Mans, at Monza. Proton is also targeting Road America in August for the debut of its IMSA GTP effort, also with a 963.
Elsewhere, a Porsche 963 show car was present at the Bicester Scramble last weekend, in HERTZ Team JOTA colours.
Sunday's Scramble attracted an ocean of stunning cars, but this one took our breath away. The Hertz Team Jota Porsche 963 was part of Sports Purpose's fifth anniversary display. To spend quality time with it is something few events can offer.
@charlieb_photo pic.twitter.com/MgqLJMIbub
— Scramblers (@WeAreScramblers) April 25, 2023
Adam in for Silverstone
2 Seas Motorsport has confirmed that Jonny Adam will take part in this the Silverstone 500, competing alongside James Cottingham in the #4 Mercedes-AMG GT3. Originally, Adam was set to miss the round in Silverstone, but the cancellation of the ELMS 4 Hours of Imola has freed up his schedule.
This means Phil Keen, who was originally due to sub for Adam, will have to wait until the round at Portimao to join the British GT grid.
ANNOUNCEMENT
We are as delighted as James to confirm Jonny will be racing with us for the next round of @BritishGT at the #Silverstone500, after a change in his racing schedules.
Hopefully more hugs to come at Silverstone, 5-6 May.#britishgt #seasonupdate pic.twitter.com/z4cgj7N8vM
— 2seasmotorsport (@2seasmotorsport) April 24, 2023
Inception joins British GT field for the 500
Another addition to the British GT’s Silverstone 500 grid is Optimum-run oufit Inception Racing, which returns to the championship with a McLaren 720S GT3 EVO for Brendan Iribe and works driver Ben Barnicoat.
The team’s 720S GT3 Evo is the first of several race-by-race entries to be revealed for the race over Coronation weekend when at least 40 cars are scheduled to tackle the three-hour enduro.
“With Inception’s primary focus on the IMSA championship out in America, we’re looking forward to racing on the team’s home turf at Silverstone alongside the sister Optimum McLarens,” said Bas Leinders, Inception Racing Team Manager and Sporting Director. “If Oulton Park is anything to go by, Silverstone looks to be an incredibly competitive race.”
Craft Bamboo confirms Goetz and Stolz for World Challenge Asia
Race winner Jeffrey Lee joins Mercedes-AMG driver Maxi Goetz in the first of Craft-Bamboo Racing’s two Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS entries.
The Hong Kong squad is returning to its regional series in 2023 after racing internationally throughout the pandemic, with 2021 DTM champion Goetz, who joins his factory colleague Luca Stolz.
“I am extremely delighted to finally be back on track in Asia,” said team director Darryl O’Young. “It has been a process to rebuild our team after the region opened up again this season. Things are looking positive and I believe the hardest times are behind us now.
“We are very focused to bring our drivers an organised infrastructure and good car preparation, all key points to delivering consistent performances and race wins. For sure it won’t be easy with a lot of strong teams and drivers, so we will look to our experience and teamwork to bring us results. We look forward to the challenge ahead this season.”
Craft-Bamboo’s second driver line-up will be confirmed prior to the season opener on May 12-14 at Chang International Circuit.
GT Open Cup Fields 17 Cars For Portimao Season Opener
The GT Open supporting GT Open Cup will field a 17-car grid composed of GT4 and one-make cars for the Series’ opening weekend at Portimao from this Friday.
For the first time, Ferrari will be represented in the series, with four 488 Challenge cars which will join no fewer than 11 Porsche GT3 Cup cars with the Portimao grid rounded out by a couple of GT4 spec cars, one apiece from Aston Martin and Porsche.
Images courtesy of Porsche, GT Open and Craft Bamboo
The post DSC’s Daily Notebook (26/04/2023) first appeared on dailysportscar.com.