AWA withdraws one of its two Corvettes entered in GTD

AWA Racing was already having a difficult start to the season – with two retirements at Daytona then at Sebring – and now it becomes even more difficult. The Canadian team announced this Tuesday that it was forced to withdraw the No. 06 Corvette Z3 GT17.R from the GTD category, in IMSA. The reason ? Anthony Mantella, one of the two drivers of the No. 17 alongside Nico Varrone and patron of the team, decided to leave the ship a few days after the 12 hours from Sebring.

The Canadian, frustrated by the two retirements in two races at the start of the season, both for mechanical problems, posted a rather cynical message on his social networks on Monday. “IMSA GTD Corvette race car for sale. Very rarely used. Did not complete a race. Perfect for the collector who wants the latest Pratt & Miller/Corvette Racing iron. It's not a perfect race car, but it's unobtainable for the public. » It's hard to be more contemptuous...

 

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A few hours after this message, AWA Racing published a small press release on its social networks, confirming that “Anthony Mantella has decided to withdraw from the GTD program at this time” and specifying that “The #13 car will continue its campaign as planned and will be present at the next round in Long Beach. » The Canadian team, however, has not confirmed whether the No. 17 will return later in the year or not, but with the departure of Anthony Mantella, this seems more than compromised.

Anthony Mantella has elected to step away from the GTD program at this moment in time. The #13 car will continue to proceed as planned and will be present at the upcoming round in Long Beach.

— AWA (@AWARacing) March 26, 2024

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