Alex Job Racing Heart of Racing COTA Pre-Race Report

The Heart of Racing drivers Mario Farnbacher and Ian James are ready for the penultimate TUDOR United SportsCar Championship weekend at the Lone Star Grand Prix to run at the Circuit of the America's (COTA) this weekend, September 17-19.

The duo of Farnbacher (Ansbach, Germany) and James (Phoenix, Ariz.) are looking forward to returning to COTA. The 3.2-mile, 20-turn circuit located east of Austin has quickly become a driver favorite. The Heart of Racing drivers still have the GTD Championship as a goal. Coming into the second to last event, with Petit Le Mans paying premium points, they sit fifth in the standings, with 213 points, just 19 out of the top spot.  

"The COTA circuit is great. It's actually not like a typical American track," Farnbacher said. "Every corner is exciting. We are still in the game for the championship. That is our goal!"

James has strong goals for the last two races.

"I believe COTA is a good track for the Porsche," James said. "COTA is wide and has a great variety of corners and the Porsche is very versatile. The uphill braking area into Turn 1 is very cool. You can brake so late into the hill followed by the superfast downhill turns 2 and 3. Our goal is simply to try and win the last two races. The Heart of Racing Porsche has consistently been in the mix at the front and I hope that continues at COTA and into Petit Le Mans."

Team owner, Alex Job, knows time is running out.

"Just two races to go and our goals haven't changed," Job said. "Mario and Ian have shown that they can put the Heart of Racing Porsche into contention at the end of races. COTA is track that rewards high downforce, something that we don't quite have yet. If you can get to Petit Le Mans in the hunt, anything can happen."

The TUDOR United SportsCar Series race from the Circuit of the America's will be televised on FOX Sports 2 starting at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 19. Live streaming of qualifying can be viewed on IMSA.com or the IMSA App.

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