DSC’s Daily Notebook (16/08/2023)

Dienst in, Engehart out at Toksport

Porsche DTM team Toksport WRT has announced that Marvin Dienst will take over from Christian Engelhart for the remaining rounds of the current season.

Dienst, who has previous FIA WEC GTE experience with Proton Competition, continues his multi-year association with the team with this DTM drive.

“I’m super excited that Toksport WRT is giving me the opportunity to drive in the DTM with them. We have a three-year relationship with the team, which has yielded many good results,” Dienst said. “I hope this positive trend continues, and I will give my utmost effort to achieve the best possible results.

“The DTM is a prestigious platform and championship that every racing driver dreams of participating in. However, joining the DTM mid-season won’t be an easy task, considering that most of the field has already completed numerous races and tests using different setups and tire configurations.

“Nevertheless, the high level of trust that Toksport WRT has placed in me is inspiring, and I’m confident that we will carry our successful history into the DTM in the future.”

Engelhart’s departure from the team was revealed in a short statement earlier this week which simply read: “Toksport WRT and Christian Engelhart have mutually decided to not to continue their cooperation in the 2023 DTM season.”

Prior to the announcement Engelhart had experienced mixed fortunes in DTM this year with the team. His season started well on the opening weekend at Oschersleben, where he won Race 2. However, he suffered a drop in form in the past two months, with two retirements, a 17th-place finish and a DNS at the Norisring and Nürburgring.

Paddock now set up in Okayama

The weather has cleared and the World Challenge Asia cars have now been unloaded from their containers in Okayama! The paddock set-up process was delayed due to adverse weather at the circuit caused by Typhoon Lan.

#GTWorldChAsia | #JapanCup pic.twitter.com/XylkF3Gixi

— Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS (@GTWorldChAsia) August 16, 2023

Caygill and Patterson team up in Aragon

Josh Caygill and Garnet Patterson are teaming up at United Autosports for a one-off in for the fourth round of the Michelin Le Mans Cup season at Aragon.

United’s regular duo of Gerry Kraut and Scott Andrews are unable to compete in Aragon due to business and a clashing racing commitment respectively, leaving two seats free in the #22 Ligier JS P320for Caygill and Patterson to fill.

Yorkshireman Caygill, a former Supersport biker and Bronze-graded driver, celebrated two
LMP3 podium finishes with United Autosports in the 2022 European Le Mans Series, taking
second place at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet and third place at the season finale in Portimão

Co-driver Patterson is in the middle of a strong season down under, with two wins
and four podiums from six races so far in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Pro/Am
class. Earlier this year, he celebrated on the Abu Dhabi podium in the 2023 Asian Le Mans
Series with United Autosports, and in 2022 he scooped a Le Mans Cup podium
with the team, clinching third place at the Imola Round.

“It’s a shame that Gerry and Scott aren’t able to make the Aragon Round” says Le Mans Cup
Team Manager Charlie Kemp. “Gerry has business engagements that he has been unable to
move and Scott has a race in the US, so when the Imola Round was cancelled and
rescheduled to Aragon, the regular #22 car line-up was off the grid.”

“Thankfully, we have a competitive line-up in Josh and Garnet who are able to step in”,
Kemp continues. “Both drivers have a proven track record in the United Autosports Ligier JS
P320 … it’s a great combination, and an amazing opportunity to continue showing what our
Le Mans Cup LMP3 car can do.”

Doonan answers calendar questions

The IMSA YouTube channel has uploaded an audio Q&A with President John Doonan, who discusses the 2024 schedule and the process behind putting it together.

Images courtesy of Toksport WRT, ADAC and United Autosports