Gary Ferrera and Kris Wilson will be looking to improve on last year’s runner-up finish when they return to Daytona International Speedway for the 2020 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season opener on Friday, January 24. Ferrera and Wilson will co-drive the Automatic Racing No. 99 Invisible Glass Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in the four-hour BMW Endurance Challenge to launch their 2020 IMSA campaign. The Aston Martin Vantage GT4 platform is an updated version of the car they raced in 2019. Running fourth with two laps remaining in last year’s race, Wilson improved a position on each of the following laps, coming up six seconds shy of victory at the checkered flag.
“We’re looking to one-up last year,” Wilson said. “Gary and I are looking forward to getting back in action at Daytona, where we enjoyed our best success last season. We’re hoping that the new Invisible Glass Aston will be even better, and Gary and I plan to deliver a strong start for the new year. We’re excited to be back with Stoner Car Care/Invisible Glass and Automatic Racing, and hope to be at the top of the podium a few times.”
The two drivers went on to compete in five events in 2019, finishing 11th at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in the Stoner Car Care-liveried Aston Martin. Automatic Racing first debuted the all-new Aston Martin GT4 with the Stoner Car Care-liveried No. 97 entry of Rob Ecklin Jr. and Ramin Abdolvahabi at Sebring and will head into 2020 with a duo of the latest-specification Aston Martin GT4 machines.
“The combination of Kris and Gary is a great one and I’m thrilled to have them back in the Invisible Glass Aston Martin this year,” said Automatic Racing team principal David Russell. “They had a big day at Daytona last year and hopefully we can get the “99” off to another strong start to the year. We are finalizing our plans for the Stoner Car Car Aston Martin as well and will get that announced as soon as everything is finalized. After we started the season on the podium at Daytona and then closing out the year with the pole at Road Atlanta, the entire team is energized and excited to have some experience with this new Aston Martin to build on this year.”
The two-car squad will continue to represent Stoner Car Care as the Florida-based organization anticipates a variety of driver line ups through the 2020 IMSA season.
“We’re hoping to run at least seven of the 10 races this year, but it all depends on Gary’s schedule,” Wilson said. “He’s very busy helping run a large international company with operations on four continents so he does not have a lot of free time but somehow seems to manage it all.”
Ferrera and Wilson will have their first weekend in the new No. 99 Invisible Glass Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in the Roar Before the Rolex 24, a three-day test at Daytona International Speedway on January 3-5.
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