Championship victory for Mario Farnbacher with Meyer Shank Racing 13.10.2019: Mario Farnbacher has won the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – under dramatic circumstances! The Franconian was leading the championship when he headed for the finale at the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta but had to retire early from the last race

Mario Farnbacher has won the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – under dramatic circumstances! The Franconian was leading the championship when he headed for the finale at the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta but had to retire early from the last race through no fault of his own. This made the rest of the ten-hour race a real nail-biter for the Meyer Shank Racing team.



A technical problem forced the Acura NSX GT3 Evo driver to head for the pits at half-time. It quickly became clear that this meant a premature end to the race for himself and teammates Trent Hindman and Justin Marks. However, with a total score of 283 points, the 27-year-old finally got to clinch the title.
   
        
     
 
Mario Farnbacher: “It's definitely a really cool feeling to win the championship. I had my first race in America at Road Atlanta and in 2017 I won the Endurance Cup here. That makes this triumph even more special.”     


 
   
This race in Georgia, US ended the 27-year-old’s successful season. Farnbacher and teammate Hindman climbed the rostrum five times. One of the season’s highlights is definitely the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen victory in early July. No other team scored so often and above all as consistently as the MSR squad. Up to the Petit Le Mans, Farnbacher was continually in the Top 8.
   
        
     
 
Mario Farnbacher:

“I am so proud of this team. The trust that Michael Shank, HPD and Acura have put in me is an amazing feeling. I couldn't have asked for better teammates this year and I will remember this championship forever.”     


 
   
STANDINGS

   
1. Mario Farnbacher / Trent Hindman – 283
2. Robby Foley / Bill Auberlen – 262
3. Zacharie Robichon – 262
4. Andy Lally / John Potter –  249
5. Toni Vilander / Cooper MacNeil – 246   


        
     
 
 

   
PETIT LE MANS

   
        
     
 
You win or you lose together:


At the end of the successful season, Mario celebrates with his MSR crew. Who surprise him with a Super Mario shirt!     


 
   
     
 
One of just a few disappointments in 2019:


After five of ten hours, a technical issue forces Mario to pit. He and his mechanics and engineers have to troubleshoot.     
   
     
 
Fans are part of the family:


This was more than obvious on the grid, when the MSR team let every spectator sign Mario Farnbacher’s car before the race. A great idea for the finale.     


 
   
RESULTS

   
Practice 1 – Position 8
Practice 2 – Position 5
Practice 3 – Position 8
Practice 4 - Position 10
Qualifying – Position 4
Race - Position 12
   


 
   
justauthentic  photos Brian Cleary / Meyer Shank Racing