The Alex Job Racing/WeatherTech team has announced that they will be discontinuing their efforts for the remainder of the 2016 IMSA Sports Car Championship that bears the same name. This announcement comes just a few weeks after the team had a very public split with long-time driver, and friend of FLATSIXES.com, Leh Keen.
The team’s decision stems, apparently, from discontent with IMSA’s ability to manage balance of performance issues among GTD contenders. The team feels that their Porsche has been handicapped and they’ve been racing on a less than even playing field. This news comes as a surprise to most of us in the motorsport community, as WeatherTech racing has been a staple on the Porsche grid since before the United Sportscar Championship merger, and particularly strange considering the team fielded a second car for the recent Road America round of the series.
The team’s full press release follows:
TAVARES, Fla. (August 17, 2016) – WeatherTech Racing will not participate in the remainder of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.
“We have decided to withdrawal the No. 22 WeatherTech Racing Porsche for the remainder of the IMSA season,” Alex Job, team owner, said. “The decision to stop racing was rooted purely on performance and the future prospects for the Porsche at the remaining tracks on the 2016 schedule. The conclusion was based upon the performance in direct comparison to the competition over the past eight GTD races and the possible variations of how the BOP (balance of performance) could playout over the next three races with our engineering team and IMSA.”
David MacNeil, founder and CEO of WeatherTech, remains committed to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
“This is a competition decision as it relates to the No. 22 WeatherTech Racing Porsche team in IMSA,” MacNeil said. “We make marketing decisions based upon what is best for our business. We are still the presenting sponsor of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and we are committed to growing the sport now and into the future.”
For more information on WeatherTech Racing, including race recaps, photos and team gear, please visit the newly designed team site at www.WeatherTechRacing.com. The new team site can now be accessed on any device and is quicker, easier to navigate and features extensive photo galleries, videos, team updates and more.
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WeatherTech®
WeatherTech, headquartered in Bolingbrook, Illinois, has long been recognized by the discerning automotive enthusiast as a supplier of accessories of unparalleled quality. Best known for its WeatherTech FloorLiners™ and commitment to all-American manufacturing, the company supplies products to many automobile manufacturers as an original equipment supplier. More information can be viewed at www.weathertech.com.
Alex Job Racing
Alex Job Racing is one of the most successful teams in sports car racing with 70 wins (since 1995); including two Rolex 24 GT Class wins in 1999 and 2013. This record is supported by 48 pole positions and 106 podium finishes. The team has won five championships (GTC 2013, 2012, GT in 2004, 2003 and 2002) complimented by their two GT class wins at Le Mans. The team also boasts ten Sebring 12-hour wins.
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View Comments (2)
BIMSA might as well go to right spec Mazda and focus colors and decals.
The Park Place GTD has withdrawn from the VIR weekend as well citing the same concerns, leaving the #23 Team Seattle/Heart of Racing GTD as the only Porsche running in the class.