WeatherTech Racing ditches Porsche for the remainder of the IMSA season

It has all the makings of a lousy break up. WeatherTech Racing and partner staff Proton Levels of competition are abandoning the Porsche brand for the remainder of their 2022 IMSA GTD Pro campaign, and designed it a extremely general public split with a official push release on Tuesday afternoon.

At the very least some of the beef seems to be in the simple fact that Porsche didn’t lend WeatherTech higher-profile ample factory racers for its attempts at Daytona and Sebring therefore much this yr. The press release states that WeatherTech heir Cooper MacNeil will be joined by “a host of Mercedes-Benz Factory Drivers” for the remaining eight races of the 2022 season.

The WeatherTech workforce took the considerably unorthodox alternative to subject both a 911 GT3 R and a pair of Mercedes-AMG GT3s during the opening 24 Hours of Daytona in January. Porsche scored a double podium at that race with Pfaff and KCMG, whilst the ideal of the WeatherTech-entered Mercedes concluded fifth, and the other endured an engine failure right after 487 laps.

At Sebring the group all over again break up their approach, operating one 911 and one AMG. The #97 Mercedes grabbed a podium one particular lap down from the GTD Pro course winners, though the team’s #79 Porsche finished a few places again on the very same lap.

“Our effectiveness in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 at Daytona and Sebring was the motivating component at the rear of continuing with it for the relaxation of the year,” MacNeil reported. “We led the race at the Rolex 24 before our drivetrain issue, and then we had a strong podium finish at Sebring.

“We also have a winning record at Very long Seashore acquiring received there in the Mercedes-AMG in 2017. We are going out west to see if we can repeat that earn.”

Cooper himself raced in both of those the WeatherTech Porsche and the WeatherTech Mercedes, turning laps in both of those equipment across each the Daytona 24 and the Sebring 12.

Again in 2021 the WeatherTech 911 RSR was Porsche’s lone entrant in the now-defunct GTLM category, and acquired hefty factory-backing in the variety of Matt Campbell and Mathieu Jaminet as driving partners for MacNeil. In 2022, on the other hand, there are numerous Porsche groups managing in GTD Pro who need support, and the sources are distribute a small thinner.

It’s apparent that Porsche has poured more guidance driving the GTD Pro teams that truly operate a whole-professional lineup rather than a billionaire’s passion. Pfaff, for instance, is having the Professional class as significantly as it must be. Go determine.

It stands to be found as to no matter whether the gamble on Mercedes-AMG will go WeatherTech’s way. Then again, when the collection title sponsor is your father’s enterprise, and policies are written especially for you, then perhaps it’s in IMSA’s best interest to enjoy to WeatherTech Racing’s superior aspect. Porsche, it seems, didn’t really feel like taking part in ball with the MacNeils.