As the 2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge America season kicked off, there were many expectations for the pairing of Ashton Harrison and Mario Farnbacher from Racers Edge Motorsports and Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport as the 2022 Pro/Am Champions tackled the 2023 Pro class.  

 

Returning behind the wheel of the No. 93 Acura NSX GT3 Evo22, Harrison and Farnbacher were faced with a new class challenge ahead at the season opener at Sonoma Raceway – a track with a record not favored for the pairing, until it was. In the first qualifying session for the first race, Ashton Harrison was poised for a top starting position until an untimely red flag plagued the session for the No. 93 machine. Harrison then switched places with Farnbacher into the driver’s seat for the second race qualifying session and ran an impressive lap to claim the Pro class pole position in Sunday’s Race 2.

 

The first race of the season went green on Saturday and the No. 93 Rely on Red machine knew there was work to be done. The duo fulfilled the task to make their way from 14th to sixth overall, resulting in a third-place class finish in their Pro debut. As Sunday’s second race rolled around, Farnbacher held onto the class lead as long as possible before being hit by a fellow competitor, dropping the No. 93 back in the field. Once Farnbacher handed over the No. 93 to Ashton Harrison, it was a fight to the finish - literally to the final lap and the final corner. Going for the class win, Harrison dove to the inside of the leading Ferrari in Turn 11 coming to the checkered flag and grabbing the Pro win for the No. 93 Harrison Contracting Company Acura NSX GT3 Evo22. Harrison and Farnbacher leave the season opener as the current Pro class championship leaders.

 

Next on the Fanatec GT World Challenge America schedule is NOLA Motorsports Park on April 28-30, 2023. NOLA Motorsports Park comes with success for the No. 93 pairing as Harrison and Farnbacher captured a Pro/Am class win and podium in both races last season.

 

Ashton Harrison:

“A good way to finish our weekend here in Sonoma and debut in the PRO category. I'm super thankful for everything Racers Edge Motorsports has done to help us get to this point, especially being a graduate of the HPD Academy – it’s been a great day for all the graduates. This is good for us leading into the next couple races. The Acura platform has done us well. I’m so thankful for Harrison Contracting for giving me the opportunity to stay in SRO, to be with Mario, and everybody at Racers Edge Motorsports and Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport has done an amazing job. It is a really good program, and I can’t wait to see everybody again in NOLA. I always think as a driver you try to get better and better every weekend, and I know I have some room to grow as always. Working with Mario has been a huge benefit for me. Everybody at HPD and Racers Edge have been so encouraging in developing as a driver. Honestly, I have to sit and pinch myself that I can’t believe I just did that. Last year, I wouldn’t have done that (made the pass for the win). This year, I am willing to take those risks because I have developed so much over the year. I have an amazing teammate and I can’t wait to get to NOLA.”

 

Mario Farnbacher:

“We knew the track was really hard for our car, so we were going to have to fight a lot this weekend. I think qualifying was really good for us. Ashton was a bit unlucky in her qualifying with the red flag, but mine was really good considering what we had. In Race 1, we maximized everything coming from 14th towards sixth overall, third in class, so those were really important points for us I would say. Starting from the third row in fifth, I was in a comfortable place for a long time until my scrubbed tires – the qualifying tires – started to burn off and I struggled a lot. I had a really hard time towards the middle of my stint to keep the pace. All of sudden a Porsche made an interesting move towards me – I didn’t see it coming, I wasn’t expecting it. I gave the car to Ashton, and she did a fantastic job in her stint. She went from fifth to first. It was so impressive and I’m really, really proud of her. Towards the end of her stint again, you could see the car was eating up the tires and the Ferrari was catching up again. A nail-biting final lap when the Ferrari got around then Ashton made an amazing move in the final corner to get the position back. I really am so proud of her. To have the championship lead now is good considering this is probably our weakest track.  I’m really looking forward to the next races.”

 

 

About Harrison Contracting Harrison Contracting Company, Inc. (HCC) is a commercial painting and facility maintenance contracting company headquartered in Villa Rica, GA with divisional offices in Florida and Texas. HCC provides repainting/reimaging and facility maintenance services nationwide, and new construction painting across the southeastern US. At HCC, red is more than the company color, its culture. RED stands for Reliable, Experienced, and Diligent, and is the cornerstone for all we do. We are more than just your painter; we are your partner.

 

About the HPD Driver Academy Program

The Honda Performance Development (HPD) Driver Academy Program was developed to enable qualified racers to accelerate their racing career via ‘on-track’ and ‘off-track’ training from experienced Acura/Honda professional drivers, HPD-supported teams, and HPD personnel. The program includes sessions in the championship winning Acura NSX GT3 Evo or Honda Civic Type R TCR teaching the special knowledge and various skills required for professional sports car racing. The program is available by application-only and is limited to eight students per year.

 

About Honda Performance Development

Honda Performance Development, Inc., (HPD) has a rich heritage creating, manufacturing, and supporting Honda Racing and Acura Motorsports customers since 1993 from pinnacle racing in INDYCAR and IMSA to commercial racing programs. HPD is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and leads all of Honda and Acura’s high-performance racing programs in North America, specializing in the design and development of race engines, chassis and performance parts, as well as technical and race support.

 

 

Media Contact: Erin Charlton erin@racersedgemotorsports.com | (727) 798-0671