Wright Motorsports has confirmed the expansion of its GTD program for the sprint portion of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. Beginning with next week’s event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, the group will field a second Porsche 911 GT3 R entry for Wright Motorsports regular Michael Schein and German Porsche ace Wolf Henzler.

“I know I’m speaking for my entire team when I say that we’re all very pleased to see Mike make his transition into the IMSA WeatherTech Championship. He’s worked very hard to get to this point and we’re all excited to see him race in this environment,” said Wright Motorsports principal John Wright.

“I’m looking forward to bringing on a second car, which will enhance our engineering efforts during race weekends. I’m also looking forward to working with Wolf for the first time. He will be a great asset to the team and a good mentor for Mike with all of his endurance experience.”

The No. 16 Porsche 911 GT3 R will run alongside the full-season No. 58 Porsche 911 GT3 R entry of Patrick Long and Christina Nielsen for the remaining events – excluding the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup rounds at Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta.

“It’s great to be back in the IMSA paddock,” said Henzler. “Wright Motorsports has been known as a very successful Porsche team for many years and I am already familiar with many of the team members, as well as my Porsche colleague Pat Long and his co-driver Christina Nielsen. I know Mike Schein from the paddock and am really looking forward to teaming up with him this year in the GTD class. I think we will fit together very well in terms of seat position and car balance. I’m excited to get out there and score some good results.”

No stranger to Wright Motorsports, Schein will be entering his sixth consecutive season with the Batavia Ohio-based group. Though new to endurance racing, the New York native has spent the last two years getting to know the Porsche 911 GT3 R, having taken two runner-up championships in the Pirelli World Challenge. This marks his return to the IMSA paddock after a three-year run [2013, 2014, 2015] in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge USA in a Wright Motorsports-prepared Porsche.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back in our Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R,” said Schein. “It’s been a long offseason for me having missed the first few events. Racing in a premier series like the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is a real privilege. I’m happy to be kicking off our IMSA campaign at Mid Ohio, a track that I know very well. Endurance and multi class racing is new for me so I will have to learn quick! Teaming up with a driver like Wolf Henzler is fantastic. He’s got all the speed with the added experience that I can lean on, I’m looking forward to working together.

“It’s also great to have another season ahead with Wright Motorsports. Having familiar faces in a new environment is important. We have a fast sister car with Christina and Pat onboard the 58, so having a two car team will provide the team with additional data and create some healthy competition. Can’t wait to get going in May!”