IMSA: Henzler to lead TRG GTD effort in 2017

Porsche factory driver Wolf Henzler will lead The Racers Group's GT Daytona entry for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, which includes the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup, the team announced Tuesday. Henzler is joined by drivers Jan Heylen, Derek DeBoer, Santiago Creel and Pablo Sánchez, who will race with the Porsche 911 GT3 R for the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

TRG, which gave Porsche its last outright victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona back in 2003, is returning to the Porsche fold after switching from Aston Martin, with which it finished second in the class points in 2015. TRG has more consecutive appearances than any other team in its class, earning 13 podiums and four wins with Porsche – including once overall.

"This just tops-off our awesome 'full-circle' return with Porsche starting at Daytona," team CEO Kevin Buckler said. "Having Wolf back is fantastic after his solid three year run with us from 2010, 2011, and 2012 that resulted in two podiums and a victory for the team. He is the absolute perfect soldier with all of the necessary ingredients for winning a championship, and we are proud to have him on board for the entire season as our lead driver. His experience with Porsche, TRG, IMSA, the tracks, and even with the other competitors will benefit us immensely with solid communication and strategy all year long.

Henzler's résumé includes five Daytona appearances – including a pole position and a win – and 10 showings at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He raced both the 911 RSR and the 911 GT3 R in 2016.

"I was thrilled when I heard about TRG being back with a Porsche in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship," Henzler said. "I've had a lot of success with the team when I raced for them at Daytona. In 2010 we finished third in GT, in 2011 we finished first in GT, and second in GT the following year by only nine seconds. ... TRG knows very well what it needs to have a winning car on the track."

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Heylen's first 24-hour race with TRG will be his sixth overall start at Daytona. He finished third in GTD in 2015 with a Porsche 911 GT America for Dempsey/Wright Motorsports. He's also had success in Renault Eurocup, Formula Ford, Formula Three Euroseries, Formula 3000 and the Champ Car World Series.

DeBoer last competed in this event with TRG CEO Kevin Buckler's team in 2015. He competes for TRG in the Pirelli World Challenge's GTS and SprintX categories, and in Lamborghini Super Trofeo.

Creel returns to race at Daytona with TRG for the second year in a row after taking the wheel of the team's No. 007 Aston Martin V12 Vantage in 2016. The longtime Porsche pilot races in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA, Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, PWC, Santander Panam GP Series and SEAT Leon Super Cup Mexico.

Sanchez has earned wins in the International Formula Masters and the Italian Formula 3 Championship. He has competed in Formula Renault 3.5, GP3, the American Le Mans series and Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. He most recently raced in the 24-hour Hermanos Rodriguez Endurance Challenge in Mexico City.

As for the remaining of the season, Buckler said the team was in "final negotiations with several drivers" to co-drive with Henzler.

"This has got to be the most competitive GT field I have ever seen anywhere," Buckler said. "Great teams, drivers and terrific competition. There will be eight or nine manufacturers and several full factory teams hiding here in GTD. Bring it: We are ready!”