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Mario Farnbacher

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Mario Farnbacher
Nationality German
Born (1992-05-14) 14 May 1992 (age 32)
Ansbach, Germany
Related toDominik Farnbacher (brother)
IMSA SportsCar Championship career
Debut season2014
Current teamHeart of Racing Team
Racing licence FIA Gold
Car number23
Former teamsNGT Motorsport
Burtin Racing / Goldcrest Motorsports
Alex Job Racing
Riley Motorsports
3GT Racing
Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian
Magnus Racing with Archangel Motorsports
Compass Racing
Gradient Racing
Previous series
American Le Mans Series
Rolex Sports Car Series
Championship titles
2019, 2020
2022
IMSA SportsCar Championship – GTD class
GT World Challenge America – Pro-Am

Mario Farnbacher (born 14 May 1992) is a German racecar driver.[1] He won the IMSA SportsCar Championship in the GTD class in 2019 and 2020, and also won the GT World Challenge America Pro-Am title in 2022. He has class victories at the Petit Le Mans, 12 Hours of Sebring, and 24 Hours of Nürburgring endurance races.

Career

[edit]
The Acura NSX GT3 Evo in which Farnbacher won his second IMSA title in 2020

Farnbacher began competing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2014 with Team Seattle, driving a Porsche 911 GT America. He scored his first class victory the following season, winning the GTD class at the 2015 12 Hours of Sebring.[2]

In 2019, Farnbacher won the IMSA SportsCar Championship GTD class championship with co-driver Trent Hindman.[3] The duo claimed one race win during the season, taking class victory at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen.[4] The following season, Farnbacher scored his second consecutive GTD class championship, this time with co-driver Matt McMurry.[5]

With MSR's move to the DPi class for 2021, Farnbacher found himself initially without a ride. In January, however, it was announced that he would compete with Magnus Racing in their new Acura NSX GT3 at the 24 Hours of Daytona.[6] For most of the WeatherTech Sprint Cup races, beginning at Mid-Ohio, he joined Compass Racing, driving alongside Jeff Kingsley.[7] Farnbacher also competed with Gradient Racing at the VIR round as a substitute for injured Marc Miller.[8]

For the 2022 IMSA SportsCar Championship season, Farnbacher embarked upon a Michelin Endurance Cup-only campaign with Gradient Racing,[9] alongside a full-season effort in the GT World Challenge America with HPD Academy graduate Ashton Harrison.[10] Driving alongside Kyffin Simpson and Till Bechtolsheimer, he led Gradient Racing to victory in the 25th running of the Petit Le Mans endurance race, where the team were the overall winner among all the GT entries.[11] In GTWC America, Farnbacher and Harrison took four class wins and three further podiums to enter the final race 15 points behind the leaders.[12] Following a second-place finish at the Indianapolis 8 Hour, the duo claimed the Pro-Am class title by five points.[13][14]

Farnbacher began 2023 by taking part in the Michelin Pilot Challenge event at Daytona, driving for HART. It was his first time piloting a TCR touring car.[15] The remainder of Farnbacher's season involved a second season in the GT World Challenge America alongside Harrison, this time in the Pro class.[16] The pair were involved in the title fight all season long, claiming a class victory early in the season at Sonoma before adding an overall victory at COTA.[17] Ultimately, they would settle for second in the championship, 44 points behind champions Eric Filgueiras and Stevan McAleer.

For 2024, Farnbacher left his role as a factory driver for Honda Performance Development to join Aston Martin team The Heart of Racing for the IMSA Endurance Cup rounds.[18]

Racing record

[edit]

Career summary

[edit]
Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2010 ADAC Formel Masters ma-con Motorsport 21 3 1 2 12 231 3rd
2011 ADAC Formel Masters ma-con Motorsport 3 0 0 1 0 173 6th
Motopark Academy 20 1 0 2 4
Toyota Racing Series ETEC Motorsport 12 0 0 0 1 397 12th
ADAC GT Masters Farnbacher ESET Racing 2 0 0 0 1 26 26th
2012 ADAC GT Masters Farnbacher ESET Racing 14 1 1 0 2 54 14th
American Le Mans Series - GTC NGT Motorsport 1 1 0 0 1 24 18th
2013 ADAC GT Masters Farnbacher Racing 16 0 1 0 3 84 12th
Rolex Sports Car Series - GT Burtin Racing / Goldcrest Motorsports 1 0 0 0 0 21 57th
American Le Mans Series - GTC NGT Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Nürburgring Endurance Series - SP9 Haribo Racing Team 1 0 ? ? 0 ? ?
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP7 1 0 0 0 0 N/A ?
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Team BetterLife 1 0 ? ? 0 ? ?
2014 United SportsCar Championship - GTD Team Seattle / Alex Job Racing 11 0 0 0 2 259 10th
ADAC GT Masters Farnbacher Racing 10 0 0 0 0 3 40th
2015 United SportsCar Championship - GTD Team Seattle / Alex Job Racing 10 2 0 1 4 267 4th
2016 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Team Seattle / Alex Job Racing 10 1 5 2 2 285 5th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP7 Black Falcon Team TMD Friction 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st
2017 International GT Open - GT3 Pro Farnbacher Racing 11 2 ? ? 5 69 8th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Riley Motorsports 4 1 0 0 2 115 24th
Nürburgring Endurance Series - SP9 Haribo Racing Team 1 0 1 ? 1 ? ?
2018 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Michael Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian 5 1 0 0 2 182 13th
3GT Racing 2 0 1 0 0
Pirelli World Challenge - GT HART 2 0 0 0 0 26 14th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP8 Ring Racing with Novel 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 2nd
2019 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian 10 1 2 2 5 283 1st
Intercontinental GT Challenge Honda Team Motul 2 0 1 0 0 10 25th
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup 1 0 0 0 0 11 20th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP6 SetupWizzard Racing 1 0 1 1 1 N/A 2nd
2020 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian 10 2 2 1 6 286 1st
Intercontinental GT Challenge Team Honda Racing 4 0 1 0 1 31 5th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup 1 0 0 0 0 5 26th
2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Compass Racing 7 0 0 1 0 1575 15th
Magnus Racing with Archangel Motorsports 1 0 0 0 0
Gradient Racing 1 0 0 0 0
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP7 Krohn Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A Ret
2022 GT World Challenge America - Pro-Am Racers Edge Motorsports 13 4 4 2 8 212 1st
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Gradient Racing 5 1 0 0 2 1003 26th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - Cup2 Krohn Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A Ret
2023 GT World Challenge America - Pro Racers Edge Motorsports 13 2 3 2 6 192 2nd
Michelin Pilot Challenge - TCR HART 1 0 0 0 0 190 33rd
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Gradient Racing 1 0 0 0 0 579 40th
Racers Edge Motorsports with WTR Andretti 1 0 0 0 0
2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro Heart of Racing Team 2 0 0 0 0 592* 6th*

Complete American Le Mans Series results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rank Points Ref
2012 NGT Motorsport GTC Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 SEB LBH LGA LIM MOS MDO ELK BAL VIR PET
1
18th 24 [19]
2013 NGT Motorsport GTC Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 SEB
10
LBH LGA LIM MOS ELK BAL COT VIR PET NC 0 [20]

Complete Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points Ref
2013 Burtin Racing / Goldcrest Motorsports GT Porsche 911 GT3 Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
10
COT BAR ATL DET MDO WGL IMS ELK KAN LGA LIM 92nd [21]

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points Ref
2014 Team Seattle GTD Porsche 911 GT America Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
15
SEB
3
LGA
8
DET
2
WGL
16
MOS
6
IMS
6
ELK
6
VIR
15
COA
18
PET
5
10th 291 [22]
2015 Team Seattle GTD Porsche 911 GT America Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
18
SEB
1
LGA
3
DET
1
WGL
7
LIM
4
ELK
8
VIR
3
COA
4
PET
7
4th 267 [23]
2016 Team Seattle GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
8
SEB
4
LGA
1
BEL
4
WGL
3
MOS
12
LIM
14
ELK
12
VIR
4
AUS
7
PET
8
5th 285 [24]
2017 Riley Motorsports - Team AMG GTD Mercedes-AMG GT3 Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8 DAY
3
SEB
1
LBH AUS DET WGL
10
MOS LIM ELK VIR LGA PET
4
24th 115 [25]
2018 Michael Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian GTD Acura NSX GT3 Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6 DAY
11
SEB
7
MOH BEL
1
MOS ELK VIR
3
LGA PET
12
13th 182 [26]
3GT Racing Lexus RCF GT3 Lexus 5.0 L V8 WGL
4
LIM
5
2019 Michael Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian GTD Acura NSX GT3 Evo Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6 DAY
4
SEB
7
MDO
2
DET
11
WGL
1
MOS
2
LIM
2
ELK
5
VIR
2
LGA
8
PET
12
1st 283 [27]
2020 Michael Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian GTD Acura NSX GT3 Evo Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6 DAY
10
DAY
3
SEB ELK
2
VIR
2
ATL
1
MDO
5
CLT
7
PET
10
LGA
1
SEB
3
1st 288 [28]
2021 Magnus Racing with Archangel Motorsports GTD Acura NSX GT3 Evo Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6 DAY
11
SEB 15th 1575 [29]
Richard Mille - Compass Racing MDO
5
DET
9
WGL1 WGL2
9
LIM
9
ELK
12
LGA
13
LBH
11
Gradient Racing VIR
15
PET
2022 Gradient Racing GTD Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6 DAY
13
SEB
11
LBH
2
LGA MDO DET
WGL
9
MOS
LIM
ELK
VIR
PET
1
26th 1003 [30]
2023 Gradient Racing GTD Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6 DAY
4
SEB
40th 579 [31]
Racers Edge Motorsports with WTR LBH
DNS
MON
WGL
MOS
LIM
ELK
8
VIR
IMS
PET
2024 Heart of Racing Team GTD Pro Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo Aston Martin M177 4.0 L Turbo V8 DAY
4
SEB
5
LGA DET WGL MOS ELK VIR IMS ATL 6th* 592* [32]
Source:[33]

Complete Bathurst 12 Hours results

[edit]
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2020 Japan Honda Racing Team JAS United States Dane Cameron
Netherlands Renger van der Zande
Honda NSX GT3 Evo GT3 Pro 184 27th 14th

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Mario Farnbacher - IMSA". imsa.com. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  2. ^ Sportscar365 Staff (24 March 2015). "Continental Tire IMSA Driver Spotlight: Mario Farnbacher". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 10 June 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Mario Farnbacher, Trent Hindman secure GTD title in Atlanta as Bill Auberlein ties IMSA record with last-lap miracle win". autoweek.com. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  4. ^ Bosch, Miguel (26 August 2019). "Mario Farnbacher: "Watkins Glen win didn't change our approach"". GT Report. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  5. ^ "MSR Closes Out Four-Year Run With Acura NSX GT3". sportscar365.com. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Pumpelly, Farnbacher Complete Magnus Acura Lineup". sportscar365.com. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Farnbacher, Kingsley Confirmed in Compass Acura for Sprint Cup". sportscar365.com. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  8. ^ Glendenning, Mark (28 September 2021). "Farnbacher to stand in for injured Miller at VIR". racer.com. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  9. ^ Dagys, John (4 January 2022). "Gradient Set for Endurance Cup Program With Acura". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  10. ^ Goodwin, Graham (4 January 2022). "Racers Edge Acura For Ashton Harrison & Mario Farnbacher In GT World Challenge America". dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  11. ^ Dagys, John (2022-10-01). "Gradient Scores Breakthrough Win; De Angelis Claims GTD Title – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  12. ^ Dagys, John (2022-10-06). "Farnbacher Taking Petit Le Mans Momentum to Indy Title Decider – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  13. ^ "Racers Edge Motorsports Claims SRO Pro/Am Title With Podium Finish at Indianapolis 8 Hour". Acura Newsroom. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  14. ^ Dagys, John (2022-10-08). "Craft-Bamboo Wins Indy 8H; Mercedes Clinches IGTC Title – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  15. ^ Dagys, John (13 January 2023). "Farnbacher to Make Honda TCR Debut With HART". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  16. ^ Dagys, John (20 February 2023). "Harrison, Farnbacher Step Up to Pro Class in Racers Edge Acura". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  17. ^ Dagys, John (21 May 2023). "Racers Edge Acura Claims Sunday Victory at COTA". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  18. ^ Euwema, Davey (2023-11-13). "Farnbacher Joins Heart of Racing for Endurance Rounds – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  19. ^ "Mario Farnbacher – 2012 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Mario Farnbacher – 2013 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  21. ^ "Mario Farnbacher – 2013 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Mario Farnbacher – 2014 Tudor United SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Mario Farnbacher – 2015 Tudor United SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  24. ^ "Mario Farnbacher – 2016 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  25. ^ "Mario Farnbacher – 2017 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR DIgital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  26. ^ "Mario Farnbacher – 2018 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  27. ^ "Mario Farnbacher – 2019 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Mario Farnbacher – 2020 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  29. ^ "Mario Farnbacher – 2021 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  30. ^ "Mario Farnbacher – 2022 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  31. ^ "Mario Farnbacher – 2023 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  32. ^ "Mario Farnbacher – 2024 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  33. ^ "Mario Farnbacher Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
[edit]
Sporting positions
Preceded by IMSA SportsCar Championship
GTD Champion

2019
With: Trent Hindman
Succeeded by
Mario Farnbacher
Matt McMurry
Preceded by
Mario Farnbacher
Trent Hindman
IMSA SportsCar Championship
GTD Champion

2020
With: Matt McMurry
Succeeded by
Zach Robichon
Laurens Vanthoor
Preceded by
Jan Heylen
Fred Poordad
GT World Challenge America
Pro-Am Champion

2022
With: Ashton Harrison
Succeeded by