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Gradient Racing

{{short description|American sports car racing team}}

{{use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}

{{Infobox motor racing team

| name = {{flagicon|USA}} Gradient Racing

| logo =GradientRacingLogo.png

| founded = 2018

| base = Austin, Texas, United States

| principal = Andris Laivins

| chassis =

| current series = IMSA SportsCar Championship

| former series =GT World Challenge America

| current drivers = IMSA SportsCar Championship:
66.
{{flagicon|GBR}} Till Bechtolsheimer
{{flagicon|COL}} Tatiana Calderón
{{flagicon|USA}} Joey Hand
{{flagicon|GBR}} Harry Tincknell

| driver titles =

|founders=Andris Laivins (owner)|website=https://www.gradientracing.com/|drivers={{flagicon|USA}} Sheena Monk
{{flagicon|GBR}} Stevan McAleer
{{flagicon|GER}} Mario Farnbacher
{{flagicon|USA}} Marc Miller}}

Gradient Racing is an American sports car racing team that currently competes in the GTD class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship. The team was founded in 2018 by Andris Laivins.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-12 |title=The Glorious Highs And Painful Lows Of Motorsport, As Told By Gradient Racing's Andris Laivins |url=https://jalopnik.com/the-glorious-highs-and-painful-lows-of-motorsport-as-t-1851090404 |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=Jalopnik |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2018-10-18 |title=Gradient Racing Launches in Austin |url=https://www.gradientracing.com/news/2018/10/18/gradient-racing-launches-in-austin |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Gradient Racing |language=en-US}}

History

Gradient Racing was founded at the end of 2018 by former CJ Wilson Racing team manager Andris Laivins. The team formed an alliance with Acura and acquired an Acura NSX GT3 chassis. They would make their competitive debut in the 2019 Blancpain GT World Challenge America.{{Cite web |date=2019-02-22 |title=Gradient Racing Announces its Racing Program for 2019. |url=https://www.gradientracing.com/news/2019/2/22/rifcoptsac36iaxks8l1tkzkzpjp4v |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Gradient Racing |language=en-US}}

= GT World Challenge America =

== 2019 ==

Gradient Racing made their racing debut in the 2019 Blancpain GT World Challenge America fielding an Acura NSX GT3. The team signed Till Bechtolsheimer full-time along with Ryan Eversley. Eversley would be replaced by Marc Miller after the second round.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=2019-05-13 |title=GT World Challenge Entry Sees Further Decline for CTMP – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/sro/blancpain-gt-america/gt3-entry-sees-further-drop-for-ctmp/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}} Trent Hindman replaced Miller for the sixth round at Road America.{{Cite web |date=2019-09-13 |title=Bentley, Ferrari Set to Face Off Again as Blancpain GT World Challenge America Heads to Road America |url=https://www.gt-world-challenge-america.com/news/100/bentley-ferrari-set-to-face-off-again-as-blancpain-gt-world-challenge-america-heads-to-road-america |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS |language=en-US}} The team finished 4th in the Pro-Am Cup at seasons end.

= IMSA SportsCar Championship =

== 2020 ==

For 2020, the team moved from GT World Challenge America to the IMSA SportsCar Championship fielding an Acura NSX GT3 in the GTD class.{{Cite web |date=2020-03-04 |title=Gradient Racing enters IMSA WeatherTech Sprint Championship in GTD |url=https://www.gradientracing.com/news/2020/3/4/gradient-racing-enters-imsa-weathertech-sprint-championship-in-gtd |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Gradient Racing |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=2020-03-04 |title=Gradient Switches to IMSA; Confirms Sprint Cup Program – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/gradient-switches-to-imsa-confirms-sprint-cup-program/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}} They would only compete in the WeatherTech Sprint Cup rounds with drivers Till Bechtolsheimer and Marc Miller. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team would in fact race at the Daytona International Raceway in the 2 hour 40 minute sprint race.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-03 |title=Daytona International Speedway: Event Preview |url=https://www.gradientracing.com/news/2020/7/3/daytona-international-speedway-event-preview |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Gradient Racing |language=en-US}} They would have a best result of 7th at Sebring and finished 14th in the GTD standings.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-22 |title=Progress Made at Sebring International Raceway |url=https://www.gradientracing.com/news/2020/7/23/sebring-international-raceway-race-wrap |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Gradient Racing |language=en-US}}

== 2021 ==

The team would return to the series for the 2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship once again fielding an Acura NSX GT3 in the WeatherTech Sprint Cup rounds.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=2021-05-05 |title=Expanded GTD Field for Sprint Cup Season Opener at Mid-Ohio – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/expanded-gtd-entry-for-sprint-cup-season-opener-at-mid-ohio/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}} The team resigned Till Bechtolsheimer and Marc Miller. At the 2021 Detroit Sports Car Classic, the team got their first podium in the championship finishing third.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-14 |title=Podium for Gradient Racing on the Streets of Detroit. |url=https://www.gradientracing.com/news/2021/6/14/podium-for-gradient-racing-on-the-streets-of-detroit |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Gradient Racing |language=en-US}} Mario Farnbacher replaced an injured Marc Miller at the Virginia International Raceway.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-28 |title=Farnbacher replaces injured Miller for Virginia International Raceway |url=https://www.gradientracing.com/news/2021/9/28/farnbacher-replaces-injured-miller-for-virginia-international-raceway |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Gradient Racing |language=en-US}} The team finished 13th in the GTD standings.

== 2022 ==

Gradient Racing competed in the championship for a third consecutive season in 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-04 |title=Gradient Racing Confirms Its Line Up for the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup |url=https://www.gradientracing.com/news/2022/1/3/gradient-racing-confirms-its-line-up-for-the-imsa-michelin-endurance-cup |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=Gradient Racing |language=en-US}} This season they would compete in the Michelin Endurance Cup rounds.{{Cite web |title=Updated Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 For Michelin Endurance Cup With Gradient Racing |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2022/01/04/updated-acura-nsx-gt3-evo22-for-michelin-endurance-cup-with-gradient-racing.html |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=www.dailysportscar.com}} The team resigned Till Bechtolsheimer alongside Mario Farnbacher and Kyffin Simpson. Marc Miller would join the team in the rounds 1 and 3 at Daytona and Long Beach respectively. The team would get their first podium of the season finishing second at round 3 in Long Beach.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-29 |title=Long Beach Rewind: Reflections on Another Podium for Gradient Racing |url=https://www.gradientracing.com/news/2022/4/29/long-beach-rewind |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=Gradient Racing |language=en-US}} In the season ending Petit Le Mans, the team had their qualifying times disallowed, resulting in them starting last on the GTD grid. In the race, the team made their way up the field and eventually overtook race leader Jordan Pepper in the No. 70 Inception Racing McLaren in the closing minutes of the race. Moments later a full course caution was displayed and the Farnbacher would maintain the lead. The race would end under caution and the team would get their first win as an organization.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=2022-10-01 |title=Gradient Scores Breakthrough Win; De Angelis Claims GTD Title – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/gradient-risi-win-de-angelis-claims-gtd-title/ |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-11 |title=Petit Le Mans Race Rewind: Last to First at Road Atlanta |url=https://www.gradientracing.com/news/2022/10/11/race-rewind-petit-le-mans |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=Gradient Racing |language=en-US}}

Racing record

= Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results =

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center"

!Year

!Entrant

!Class

!No

!Chassis

!Engine

!Drivers

!1

!2

!3

!4

!5

!6

!7

!8

!9

!10

!11

!12

!{{Tooltip|Pos.|Championship position}}

!Pts

2020

|{{Flagicon|USA}} Gradient Racing

|GTD

|22

|Acura NSX GT3 Evo

|Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6

| align="left" | {{flagicon|GBR}} Till Bechtolsheimer
{{flagicon|USA}} Marc Miller

| style="background:#;" | DAY
1
{{small

}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | DAY
2
{{small|10}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | SEB
1
{{small|7}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |ELK
{{small|11}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |VIR
{{small|10}}

| style="background:#;" | ATL
1
{{small|}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |MOH
{{small|9}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;" |CLT
{{small|12}}

| style="background:#;" |ATL
2
{{small|}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |LGA
{{small|12}}

| style="background:#;" |SEB
2
{{small|}}

!

! 14th

! 122

|-

!2021

|{{Flagicon|USA}} Gradient Racing

|GTD

|66

|Acura NSX GT3 EVo

|Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6

| align="left" | {{flagicon|GBR}} Till Bechtolsheimer
{{flagicon|GER}} Mario Farnbacher
{{flagicon|USA}} Marc Miller

| style="background:#;" | DAY
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | SEB
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | MOH
{{small|}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | BEL
{{small|8}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;" | WGL
1
{{small|3}}

| style="background:#;" | WGL
2
{{small|}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |LIM
{{small|6}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |ELK
{{small|11}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |LGA
{{small|9}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |LBH
{{small|11}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |VIR
{{small|8}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;" |ATL
{{small|15}}

! 13th

! 1365

|-

!2022

|{{Flagicon|USA}} Gradient Racing

|GTD

|66

|Acura NSX GT3 Evo22

|Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6

| align="left" | {{flagicon|GBR}} Till Bechtolsheimer
{{flagicon|GER}} Mario Farnbacher
{{flagicon|USA}} Marc Miller
{{flagicon|BAR}} Kyffin Simpson

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | DAY
{{small|16}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | SEB
{{small|11}}

| style="background:#DFDFDF;" | LBH
{{small|2}}

| style="background:#;" | LGA
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | MOH
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | BEL
{{small|}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;" |WGL
{{small|9}}

| style="background:#;" |MOS
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" |LIM
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" |ELK
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" |VIR
{{small|}}

| style="background:#FFFFBF;" |ATL
{{small|1}}

! 16th

! 1003

|-

!2023

|{{Flagicon|USA}} Gradient Racing

|GTD

|66

|Acura NSX GT3 Evo22

|Acura JNC1 3.5L Turbo V6

| align="left" | {{flagicon|GER}} Mario Farnbacher
{{flagicon|GBR}} Katherine Legge
{{flagicon|USA}} Marc Miller
{{flagicon|USA}} Sheena Monk

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | DAY
{{small|4}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | SEB
{{small|12}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | LBH
{{small|9}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | LGA
{{small|13}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |WGL
{{small|5}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |MOS
{{small|11}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |LIM
{{small|6}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |ELK
{{small|10}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |VIR
{{small|10}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |IMS
{{small|13}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;" |ATL
{{small|15}}

!

! style="background:#;" | 11th

! style="background:#;" | 2552

|-

!2024

|{{Flagicon|USA}} Gradient Racing

|GTD

|66

|Acura NSX GT3 Evo22

|Acura JNC1 3.5L Turbo V6

| align="left" | {{flagicon|COL}} Tatiana Calderón
{{flagicon|GBR}} Katherine Legge
{{flagicon|GBR}} Stevan McAleer
{{flagicon|USA}} Sheena Monk

| style="background:#EFCFFF;" | DAY
{{small|19}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;" | SEB
{{small|17}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | LBH
{{small|4}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | LGA
{{small|12}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | WGL
{{small|13}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | MOS
{{small|7}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;" | ELK
{{small|3}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | VIR
{{small|12}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | IMS
{{small|16}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | ATL
{{small|12}}

!

!

! 11th

! 2175

|-

!2025

|{{Flagicon|USA}} Gradient Racing

|GTD

|66

|Ford Mustang GT3

|Ford Coyote 5.4 L V8

| align="left" | {{flagicon|GBR}} Till Bechtolsheimer
{{flagicon|COL}} Tatiana Calderón
{{flagicon|USA}} Joey Hand
{{flagicon|GBR}} Harry Tincknell

| style="background:#;" | DAY
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | SEB
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | LBH
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | LGA
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | WGL
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | MOS
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | ELK
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | VIR
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | IMS
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | ATL
{{small|}}

!

!

!-*

!-*

|}

* Season still in progress.

References

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • {{Official website|https://www.gradientracing.com/|Official Gradient Racing website}}

{{Gradient Racing}}

{{IMSA GTD teams}}

Category:American auto racing teams

Category:Auto racing teams established in 2018

Category:WeatherTech SportsCar Championship teams