PATASKALA, Ohio – Heinricher Racing will return to IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition in 2020 with a new-look driver lineup in the GT Daytona class.
The only female-owned team in IMSA competition, Heinricher Racing will again have support from reigning championship team Meyer Shank Racing for the No. 57 Acura NSX GT3, with full-season drivers Misha Goikhberg and Alvaro Parente at the controls.
Trent Hindman will serve as endurance driver for the No. 57 Acura, while AJ Allmendinger will return for the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
In 2019, Jackie Heinricher created and raced the first full season, all-female entry in IMSA history. For 2020, she is focused on raising performance, race pace and consistency, while continuing to pursue her vision of developing young driver talent in the motorsports ranks.
“I was very proud of founding the first all-female driving team to compete for a full season in 2019, proving there is a competitive place for professional women drivers in this sport,” Heinricher said. “Due to unforeseen sponsor circumstances, that team has moved to another manufacturer, but I’m so glad they are able to maintain their driver lineup for a second season. At Heinricher Racing, we’re excited to develop a new team of young drivers, which is a pillar of our commitment to IMSA.”
“It’s great to have Jackie and Heinricher Racing back with us this year,” added Mike Shank. “Jackie put an impressive program together last year and has worked hard to bring this program together for 2020. Jackie is one of the few female leaders in motorsports with a clear, long-term vision of what she wants to accomplish in the sport. This year we are focusing on getting results, podiums and wins for our sponsors Heinricher Racing, and with this lineup we can make that happen.”
Goikhberg will make his GT debut with Heinricher Racing in 2020 after racing in the IMSA Prototype category for the past five seasons.
Goikhberg claimed the 2014 Prototype Lites championship with nine total victories. In 2016, he earned victories at both Daytona Int’l Speedway and Long Beach, closing out the season with a podium finish at the Motul Petit Le Mans and third place overall in the Prototype Challenge championship.
In 2018, he claimed victory at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen. Altogether, Goikhberg has three IMSA victories and seven podium finishes. He also is a two-time winner of the Jim Trueman Award, which is earned by the top Pro-Am driver in the Prototype field and carries an automatic invite to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“I am very happy to join Heinricher Racing with Meyer Shank Racing in the Acura NSX GT3,” said Goikhberg. “I am hoping this is the start of a long-term relationship which will result in wins and championships. 2020’s GTD category is shaping up to be an extremely competitive championship and I am very eager to work with such a talented group of co-drivers. I am grateful to Jackie Heinricher, Michael Shank, Jim Meyer, Acura and HPD for putting together this exciting entry.”
Alvaro Parente will also join Heinricher Racing for the 2020 season after completing a full season in 2018 with MSR in the No. 86 Acura NSX GT3.
That year’s effort saw him claim a victory at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, a podium finish at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and three additional podiums at Mid-Ohio, Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta.
“2018 with MSR was my first experience racing in IMSA and also with the team, and I learned a few tracks that I didn’t know before, so all was quite new,” Parente said. “It was an extremely successful year right from the start, and I really enjoyed working with everyone on the team. They all have a lot of talent and big ambitions. We were second in 2018 in the Rolex 24, so this year I’m looking forward to finishing one step higher.
“The MSR team is coming off a championship title and that really motivates me.”