On January 3rd, 2023, Gradient Racing announced that Sheena Monk and Katherine Legge will compete full-time in the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. In addition, Mario Farnbacher and Marc Miller will join Monk and Legge in the endurance races starting with the Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 28th.
“My plans for 2023 were rather uncertain, which makes this feel like even more of a whirlwind. I randomly reached out to Katherine to discuss something unrelated – ideas started floating around and things began falling into place,” said Sheena Monk. “JG Wentworth’s continued support, combined with Gradient’s commitment to furthering my development, has allowed me to reach my goal of IMSA WeatherTech competition, where I will proudly drive the HPD Acura NSX GT3 Evo22.”
Gradient Racing is located in Austin, Texas, and will compete in the No.66 Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 sponsored by JG Wentworth in the GTD class. This will be the Gradient’s first full season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition.
“I’m so excited to be back in the Acura family, my transition to GT racing came in the Acura NSX GT3 and I have some of my fondest memories from those years,” said Katherine Legge. “I was involved in the platform’s development and I’m proud of what we achieved with HPD, especially giving the car its first global win at Detroit in 2017.”
Last season, Gradient Racing finished 16th in the IMSA GTD points standings with one win at Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. In addition, they finished 13th in last year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, 11th at Sebring, and ninth at Watkins Glen International.
“This team is coming into 2023 with a great mix of new talent and old friends; we are ready to pick up where we left off in Atlanta. Sheena has been steadily making a name for herself in IMSA, and we are very proud to join her as she steps up to GTD with JG Wentworth,” said Gradient Racing Team Principle Andris Laivins.
“I hope we can reward their commitment to Sheena on the biggest stage in sportscar racing. Katherine and Mario have years of experience in the NSX at the factory level, and Marc has been developing this car at Gradient since day one, so our lineup at Daytona is really something special. The team’s energy is high, we have an incredible pit crew, and the momentum that comes from our big win at Petit Le Mans last October. I can’t wait to get this season going.”
The 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season begins with the Roar Before the Rolex 24 qualifying on Sunday, January 22nd, at 1:20 pm on IMSA.TV. The 2023 Rolex 24 at Daytona starts on Saturday, January 28th, at 1:30 pm on NBC, USA Network, and Peacock.
