FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Team Hardpoint, along with co-drivers Rob Ferriol and Spencer Pumpelly, will be doubling its efforts for the remainder of season by adding a GT Daytona entry in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in company with the team’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season already in progress.
The co-drivers will compete in both championships behind the wheel of the Audi R8, running the Audi R8 LMS GT3 in the WeatherTech Championship and the Audi R8 GT4 in the GS class of Michelin Pilot Challenge.
Ferriol and Pumpelly will pilot the No. 30 Team Hardpoint/GridRival Audi R8 LMS GT3 beginning with round two of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Daytona Int’l Speedway.
Ferriol and Pumpelly have worked together since prior to Ferriol’s professional debut, with Pumpelly beginning as his driver coach before moving into a co-driving role during the 2019 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge GS season. Pumpelly is the 2016 Pilot Challenge Street Tuner (ST) champion and multi-time winner in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition, including two wins at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Pumpelly’s last GTD-class podium came at Sebring International Raceway in 2019.
“I’m pleased to be headed back to the Weathertech Championship full time for the first time since 2016 and even more excited to be doing it with Hardpoint and Audi,” Pumpelly said. “The GTD class features some of the toughest racing anywhere but with the Hardpoint team behind us we will have great cars and all the tools at hand to get Rob acclimated to the series. I’ve watched Rob since he first entered IMSA in the GT3 Cup series and I’ve had the pleasure of watching him grow as a driver and tackle new challenges. Seeing him in the GTD class will be a natural next step in his racing career.”
The team, and Ferriol as a driver, will continue its climb up the IMSA ladder. Ferriol started in IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup before switching to the GT4 version of the Audi R8, and now commanding the ride in the GT3 edition of the same car.