BATAVIA, Ohio — The highly-anticipated 61st Rolex 24 At Daytona will kick off the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next month, and Wright Motorsports has assembled another stout lineup to defend last year’s victory.
Ryan Hardwick, Jan Heylen, and Zacharie Robichon all return to the Wright Motorsports No. 16 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R (type 992) in defense of the win, and will be joined by veteran Wright driver Dennis Olsen.
“I’m very happy to be a part of Wright Motorsport for the Rolex 24 At Daytona,” Olsen said. “I know the team very well from a few years ago, and they have developed a lot since then and are definitely one of the top teams! I think we got a strong line up in GTD with Ryan, Jan and Zach.
“There is a new factor for everyone in the team which is the latest generation Porsche 911 GT3 R – but I have great trust in Porsche’s development of the car, and we have a strong package. I can’t wait to get started with Daytona Roar.”
The full season entry will begin the year with the longest race on the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech calendar and the first of four endurance races. As Olsen returns to the team for January’s Rolex 24 only, the fight for the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup title will be in the hands of Hardwick, Heylen, and Robichon for the three other endurance races of the 2023 season.
The trio, then joined by Porsche factory driver Richard Lietz, were a critical part to the team’s Rolex 24 victory last year, leading 258 of 761 laps. The impressive performance set the tone for another championship-contending season where the team ultimately finished second in the GTD class.
Olsen last raced with Wright in 2019, where he earned four podium finishes in what is now the SRO Fanatec GT World Challenge America championship.