IMSA: CORE exits PC to start 2017 GTD prep

Defending IMSA PC champions CORE autosport confirmed recent speculation surrounding its future by exiting the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship to begin preparation for its return in 2017 within the GT Daytona category.

Team owner/driver Jon Bennett and co-driver Colin Braun will not appear together at this weekend's penultimate round in Texas or the season finale in Georgia as the Morgan Brady-led program begins its shift from the PC class to GTD with a new Porsche 911 GT3 R. The switch from one Pro-Am class to another will complement CORE's existing factory-backed GT Le Mans effort run in partnership with Porsche.

"The move to GTD evolved pretty naturally," Bennett said. "We knew we wanted to compete at a pro-am level. The competition in GTD is incredible and we've had a relationship with Porsche for four years now, so the 911 GT3 R stood out as a smart choice. As a Porsche owner myself, I'm really excited about the opportunity to team up with Colin Braun and race one."

The decision to abandon PC with two rounds left to run was made easier for the five-time class champions after a challenging 2016 season has left the team well outside the title hunt.

"At CORE, we place a high value on preparation, and I don't think we can go into 2017 as prepared as we need to be if we're distracted by the final two PC rounds," Brady added. "The first IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona is only two months away and the 2017 season kicks off with a 24-hour race; we can't be tying up loose ends when the green flag drops."

CORE's return to field a privateer Porsche follows a similar program in 2013 where it entered a 997 GT3-RSR as a precursor to earning the contract from the German marque to run a pair of 911 RSRs in GTLM starting in 2014.