Coronary heart of Racing’s Ross Gunn says it’s “enterprise as normal” following the shock departure of IMSA SportsCar Championship GTD Professional title rival Seb Priaulx from the points-leading AO Racing Porsche squad.
AO revealed final week that 23-year-old Priaulx is stepping down from partnering Laurens Heinrich “to concentrate on his rising commitments with Multimatic”.
A press release from the staff, which has recruited Porsche-contracted Julien Andlauer to switch him at Highway America this weekend, added: “Rising obligations and schedule conflicts have necessitated the transition earlier than anticipated.”
Priaulx and Henrich scored back-to-back GTD Professional victories at Laguna Seca and Detroit, and maintain a 98-point lead over Gunn, who’s additionally had a number of team-mates in Mario Farnbacher and Alex Riberas this yr within the #23 HoR Aston Martin Vantage.
When requested by Motorsport.com for his ideas on Priaulx’s exit from the automobile he’s chasing for the title, Gunn replied: “For us, I feel it would not actually change something. The AO guys have been actually robust all yr already, and I am fairly positive Andlauer did some IMSA races final yr, so I do not assume there will be any form of time for him getting in control.
“Clearly, he is a really skilled Porsche man and really fast. So, to be sincere, I do not assume there’s any change on that entrance for us. It is nearly specializing in our job and ensuring that we execute in the very best approach.
“These guys have been phenomenally fast this yr and have additionally completed an excellent job in getting podiums constantly and, yeah, I feel they’re nonetheless gonna be those to beat going ahead for positive.”
#23 Coronary heart of Racing Staff Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo: Ross Gunn, Alex Riberas
Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Photos
Though Gunn stated it will be “enterprise as normal” from his aspect, he did recommend that mid-season driver swaps with non-regular IMSA drivers might danger some pitfalls.
He added: “After all, there are some issues {that a} driver should get used to, and there’s solely two apply classes to get used to speaking with the staff, get used to the type of racing and likewise the pitstops and guidelines set. That’s an enormous change from Europe and the WEC.
“I’ve raced (Andlauer) fairly a couple of instances, and Heinrich is clearly a really fast driver as nicely, so I’m positive they’re going to the blokes to beat. They nonetheless have a fairly large hole, and been fast in the previous couple of races, so it’s as much as us to do the very best job that we will and that may open some doorways.”
#23 Coronary heart of Racing Staff Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo: Ross Gunn, Alex Riberas, Ian James
Photograph by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Photos
Gunn pointed to current successes for Coronary heart of Racing in IMSA and WEC competitors, in addition to Aston Martin’s Spa 24 Hours victory with Comtoyou Racing, a race he completed in fourth place with Walkenhorst Motorsport.
He feels that momentum may also help in his quest to overtake AO in IMSA GTD Professional.
“The previous few months have been very, superb for Coronary heart of Racing and likewise Aston Martin,” stated Gunn. “We have had a number of wins within the WeatherTech Championship, we had a podium in WEC and Aston gained the Spa 24 Hours, so it’s been an superior interval.
“I feel the vitality is de facto constructive proper now and everyone seems to be feeling it. For us, we’re in an excellent place within the championship, not fairly the place we need to be however we have regularly been progressing all year long. We have been fourth at the beginning of the yr, then third and now second.
“There is a hole to the Porsche in entrance, however we’re gonna give it every part we will. We have got some actually constructive momentum proper now.”
