BATAVIA, Ohio, (June 27, 2022) – The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competes this week at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for the eighth round of the 2022 season. However, Porsche customer racing team Wright Motorsports will not compete in the event, due to current Canadian vaccine policies. Canada requires international travelers to receive at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine for entry into the country. 1st Phorm-sponsored Driver Ryan Hardwick and other key members of the Ohio-based team are unvaccinated, and therefore unable to cross the border for the sprint race on July 3.
“Unfortunately, our team will not be competing in Canada at the upcoming sprint race at CTMP,” said Hardwick. “Several of our team members, including myself, are unvaccinated, which means we are unable to travel to Canada due to their current Covid vaccine policies. At the beginning of the season, I was hopeful that Canada would drop their vaccine requirements prior to our race there, but unfortunately, that has not happened. While I am disappointed that we won’t be competing at this event, I stand by my own personal health decisions, and those of my teammates.”
Heading into last weekend’s Six Hours of the Glen (Results and points still pending), Wright Motorsports stood second in the full season point standings, which will be unaffected by the team missing the sprint round at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Round nine of the 2022 GTD class championship will take place at Lime Rock Park, for the two-hour and 40-minute Northeast Grand Prix, on Saturday, July 16.
I was concerned many teams cannot field a driver, or track support. Question - Is the CTMP race now "no points" or was your comment more toward your 2nd is in a good spot and cannot be surpassed during this race?
I applaud you and your team for standing by your convictions!! It’s the Canadians loss you won’t be there to complete. I enjoy following your team and keep up the great racing you do !!