Team Seattle Looks To Make It Two In A Row At Detroit

Subtitle:Farnbacher, Riberas Set For Victory Effort

Alex Job Racing’s No. 23 Team Seattle/Heart of Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R is on a roll. Mario Farnbacher and Alex Riberas gave the team its first victory of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season in the most recent race by winning the GT Daytona (GTD) class at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, which was also the first triumph for the new Porsche in North American endurance racing.

Now, the team returns to Detroit as defending GTD winners of the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic Presented by Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers, set for Saturday, June 4, at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park.

“The whole team is excited to go back to the street race in Detroit,” Farnbacher said. “Usually, a rear engine car will have an advantage at slower tracks with tight turns. With the improved downforce of the new Porsche GT3 R and overall good balance, that will help as well. I have positive thoughts heading into the race.  Our main focus is long term and getting the maximum number of points per race. However, another win and being on the podium in Detroit for a third time would be cool too.”

Farnbacher teamed with Ian James to win the 2015 event. Riberas, who was the team’s driver in the endurance rounds at Daytona, Sebring and Road Atlanta last year, moved into a fulltime role in 2016. He won the TOTAL Pole Award for his first start at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, quickly took the lead and led throughout his one-hour stint in the two-hour event. Farnbacher gave the team a clean sweep, leading every lap of his stint before taking the checkered flag 3.632 seconds ahead of Alessandro Balzan in the No. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3.

Now, Riberas is confident heading to the temporary Belle Isle layout for the first time.

“Mario, Ian and the team have a lot of data on the Detroit circuit,” Riberas said. “I have driven in the Porsche Cup series in Monaco, so I am familiar with street races. I have also been looking at in-car video of the circuit. We have limited on track running, so I will walk the track a couple of times and be ready to go. The Heart of Racing team won there last year and we are coming off of a win at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, so two in a row would be great!”