Wright Motorsports Return To Defend GT World Challenge America Titles

Wright Motorsports, winners of two sets of Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships in the last two seasons of GT World Challenge America competition – announced their return for the 2022 season, where they will defend their Pro-Am Cup title with Charlie Luck and Jan Heylen at the wheel of their #45 Porsche 911 GT3-R.

Both of Wright’s drivers won their respective championships last season, with Luck dominating the inaugural GT America series with nine wins, thirteen pole positions, and a total of thirteen podium finishes. In GT World Challenge America, Wright Motorsports followed up their Am Cup championship success in 2020 by moving up to Pro-Am Cup in 2021. Heylen and co-driver Fred Poordad secured the Pro-Am Cup Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships with three wins and eleven podiums.

Though this will be the first time the two drivers will share a car for a full-season program, Luck and Heylen have a longstanding relationship, on and off track: Heylen has been Luck’s driving coach for five years, going back to Luck’s days in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA – and has been instrumental in Luck’s progress through the ranks to race and capture the overall title in the GT America championship. And, as of this past autumn, Heylen is also Luck’s son-in-law, following Heylen’s marriage to Luck’s daughter, Margaret.

Luck, who is graduating from GT America to the longer format races in GT World Challenge America, commented: “I’m really looking forward to my first time doing some driver changes and having everything that’s involved with the strategy of tires and fuel, and race strategy be a part of this upcoming year for me.”

“I’m also very excited about working with Jan who has been coaching me for five years, so I’ll learn a ton under his guidance and direction. I know that Wright Motorsports will provide us with a competitive car. I’m super excited about the season.”

Heylen enters this season not only as the reigning GTWC America Pro-Am Cup champion, but as the reigning champion of the Michelin Pilot Challenge’s GT4 category, and the GTD class winner of the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.

“It’s exciting to start the season as former champions, and it puts some healthy pressure on the team, and everyone involved, going into the same championship again as a favorite contender,” said Heylen. “On top of that, I don’t think there have been that many father and son-in-law driver combinations out there. That will certainly make it an extra special experience. We’re all looking forward to it and having the special time with each other and the family, and hopefully, make some good memories.”

“Charlie is always super-motivated and has been training throughout the winter, to be in the best shape he can be and show up as well prepared as he can for the first race. He always shows up the best he can, and it makes a big difference to have a teammate who puts his heart into it. It’s nice to be a co-driver with someone as motivated as Charlie. It’s very encouraging for the team.”

“I’m looking forward to our first race. It’s been a busy off-season for us. It seems like the last race of SRO America event was forever ago. I’m certainly ready for the first race to come around and hopefully, we can kick off the season with a good result and with the championship in mind.”