Gradient Racing’s 2023 IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship program is set, with the signing of Sheena Monk and Katherine Legge.
The duo will compete in the full IMSA schedule in the GTD class aboard the JG Wentworth backed Acura NSX GT3 Evo22.
2023 will be Gradient’s first full season of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition. The team from Austin, Texas finished 2022 on a high with victory at the Petit Le Mans season finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
The pair will be joined at Daytona by HPD Factory ace Mario Farnbacher, and long-time Gradient Racing driver, Marc Miller.
“My plans for 2023 were rather uncertain, which makes this feel like even more of a whirlwind,” Monk said. “I randomly reached out to Katherine to discuss something unrelated – ideas started floating around and things began falling into place. 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.”
The driver from Newtown, Pa., is ready to make the jump to the elite level of sportscar racing.
“Since I have limited experience in GT3 machinery, the goal is to build my comfort level both with the car and multi-class traffic during the ROAR,” Monk said. “The pace will follow and I believe working with Katherine, Marc, Mario, and the folks at Gradient will ease the early butterflies. Heading into the Rolex 24, I understand what my responsibilities are and I am prepared to do whatever the team needs of me. I’m excited to begin this next chapter and grateful that Katherine and I will be contesting the full season.”
For Legge, the deal represents a return to a familiar environment even if the team is new.
“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,” Legge said. “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.
“I’m really looking forward to jumping back in the car at Daytona in the most competitive field ever. Sheena is one of the most promising young talents coming into IMSA and with Mario Farnbacher and Marc Miller we have a lot of experience and fight to win. I couldn’t be more enthusiastic to get this season started.”