History seems to have repeated itself with McAleer and
Robillard Racing. But maybe that’s not a bad thing.
After last year’s Daytona DNF, McAleer went out and won
two of the final five events on the calendar – at Sebring and
later VIRginia International Raceway – claiming a tie for
second place in the driver’s championship.
“I’m very optimistic,” said the 35-year-old Scotsman. “I really
think we can go out and climb our way back. Our goal
is to win races.”
Of course, Robillard Racing isn’t the only team with a recent
successful past at the historic airfield-turned-raceway. In
fact, it’ll have to look out for the team that finished runner-up
to them last year, which is none other than 2019 IMSA Prototype
Championship-winning team - Forty7 Motorsports.
Forty7 is fresh off a win at Daytona International Speedway
with drivers Joel Janco and JJ Jorge, and looks to continue
gathering momentum from its 2019 championship.
They’re hoping to go back-to-back in the No. 47 Norma
M30 LMP3, a car its full-time drivers only recently began
piloting in late 2019.
“We’d been driving a different car until (last year’s) Encore,”
said Janco, a 70-year-old Oklahoma native, after his
Daytona win. “It just seems to suit me as a gentleman driver.
It’s difficult to be as close to the pros as I am in this car.”
“Those guys are going to be strong,” said McAleer when
asked about Forty7 Motorsports. “Joel has definitely
stepped up his game.”
While a victory at Sebring would be back-to-back, one
could technically add another “back” in that phrase.
Forty7 was also Sebring’s most recent winner, after its victory
in the Michelin IMSA SportsCar Encore late last year.
Janco and Jorge, the two Forty7 full-time pilots that scored
the Bronze Drivers’ Cup last year, were a part of the trio
that claimed the win in the invitational event, along with
WeatherTech Championship regular, Tristan Nunez.
“Bring on Sebring!” said Janco in a post-Daytona interview.
Bring it on indeed.
The battle in Sebring between Robillard Racing, Forty7
Motorsports and the rest of the IMSA Prototype Challenge
field will take place on Thursday, March 19. The race starts
at 11:55 a.m. ET and can be streamed live exclusively on
TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold. NBCSN will televise the
race on Thursday, March 28, at 2:00 p.m. ET. IMSA Radio
will have coverage available at IMSARadio.com and Radio
LeMans.com.
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