Austin-based driver Marc Austin will pilot the No. 22 Lone Star Racing/Mad Joker Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge doubleheader happening this Saturday at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. This marks Lone Star Racing’s second consecutive appearance at this iconic Texas racing venue for the IMSA series, as the VP Racing Challenge returns with an exciting format that now spotlights the GT4 category alongside the swift LMP3 prototype vehicles.
Marc Austin Reflects on Debut and Race Strategy for This Weekend
In his IMSA debut at COTA last year, Austin earned a notable second-place finish in the Bronze Class of the first 45-minute sprint race while competing in the GT3 class. Returning to the same track this year with Lone Star Racing, Austin expressed enthusiasm about competing just 10 minutes from his home in Buda, Texas. Originally planning to compete with a Mercedes-AMG GT3 as in the previous season, the team switched to the GT4 version due to the absence of other GT3 competitors.
It seems silly to not run a race that’s only 10 minutes from home,
said Austin.
So, we are all in. Originally, we were going to run the Mercedes-AMG GT3 like last year, but with no other competitors we decided to break out the AMG GT4, which we have had great success with. Plus, it doesn’t really matter. When AJ Petersen and the Lone Star Racing team put a car together, it’s dialed in, so we are going to have a lot of fun. We have a lot of people attending, a lot of sponsors coming in to join us for a great time and just hang out for the weekend and be a part of an Austin event here at COTA so close to home.
Building on Past Experience at COTA
Austin’s familiarity with COTA comes from more than just last year’s IMSA outing. He co-drove the same No. 22 Mercedes-AMG GT4 alongside Jason Golan in last April’s three-hour Lone Star Enduro, finishing fourth in their class. That endurance race added valuable experience for both the driver and team as they prepared for the 2026 challenge ahead.
Team Perspective: Lone Star Racing’s Ambitions and Preparation
Team Manager and Technical Director AJ Petersen highlighted the importance of racing at COTA, not only as a significant event on their calendar but also for the local connection Marc Austin brings.
Racing at COTA is always a highlight on our calendar, but running with a local driver like Marc always makes it an even bigger Lone Star happening,
Petersen explained.
We had solid outings in both the VP races and the Lone Star Enduro last year but feel we have a bit of unfinished business on the GT4 front after coming up just short of a podium in the three-hour race. It is also exciting to roll out our GT4 program this early in the year, particularly following our great sixth-place finish in the No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 just last month at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Our team owner, Dan Knox, also plans to return to the wheel driving his Mercedes-AMG GT2 later this year, and Lone Star Racing is proud to be the only Mercedes-AMG Motorsport team actively campaigning Mercedes-AMG GT3, GT4 and GT2 cars nationally in North America.
Scheduling and Format of the Weekend’s Events
The IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge weekend features two 45-minute sprint races on Saturday, held on COTA’s 2.3-mile, 20-turn National course. Friday will include two 40-minute practice sessions and a qualifying session. The doubleheader serves as a supporting series to Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race, marking another major racing event week at COTA since the venue was revived for NASCAR competition last year after more than a decade.
Technical Insights: The Mercedes-AMG GT4 on the NASCAR National Circuit
Austin spoke about the handling and performance of the Mercedes-AMG GT4 on COTA’s shorter NASCAR National course, emphasizing familiarity and optimism about the car’s capabilities despite the track modifications this season.
The Mercedes-AMG GT4 should be a lot of fun on the shorter NASCAR National circuit,
he said.
The Mercedes-AMG GT4 handles great, and we are well familiar with most of the track after last year. The turn 6A and 6B sections are different. It feels like for a few seconds of the ride you are on a street course. We should be fine getting through there. I think the car is going to be great. Every Mercedes-AMG we have just handles amazing, and we’re always pretty excited about it.
Supporting Partners and Broadcast Information for Fans
The Lone Star Racing team receives backing from several sponsors, including JG Roofing Company, Snap-On, Impact Health Labs, Vyper Industrial, FORTNA, and ACS Manufacturing. Race fans can follow the action live as both Saturday races stream on NBC’s Peacock network and the official IMSA YouTube channel, starting at 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. EST (11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. CST).
About Lone Star Racing and its Competitive Edge
Based at Motorsport Ranch near Dallas-Fort Worth in Cresson, Texas, Lone Star Racing competes regularly, including the No. 80 Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup’s GTD class. With multiple wins across North America’s sprint and endurance racing scenes, the team’s deep experience with varied cars and tight camaraderie continues to yield strong results. Owner and driver Dan Knox leads the program, which fields Mercedes-AMG GT3, GT4, and GT2 vehicles across national competitions, making Lone Star Racing unique in its comprehensive engagement with Mercedes-AMG Motorsport.
