# Mario Farnbacher

Mario Farnbacher (born 14 May 1992) is a German racecar driver. He won the IMSA SportsCar Championship in the GTD class in 2019 and 2020, and also won the GT World Challenge America Pro-Am title in 2022. He has class victories at the Petit Le Mans, 12 Hours of Sebring, and 24 Hours of Nürburgring endurance races.

## Career

Farnbacher began competing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2014 with Team Seattle, driving a Porsche 911 GT America. He scored his first class victory the following season, winning the GTD class at the 2015 12 Hours of Sebring.
In 2019, Farnbacher won the IMSA SportsCar Championship GTD class championship with co-driver Trent Hindman. The duo claimed one race win during the season, taking class victory at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen. The following season, Farnbacher scored his second consecutive GTD class championship, this time with co-driver Matt McMurry.
With MSR's move to the DPi class for 2021, Farnbacher found himself initially without a ride. In January, however, it was announced that he would compete with Magnus Racing in their new Acura NSX GT3 at the 24 Hours of Daytona. For most of the WeatherTech Sprint Cup races, beginning at Mid-Ohio, he joined Compass Racing, driving alongside Jeff Kingsley. Farnbacher also competed with Gradient Racing at the VIR round as a substitute for injured Marc Miller.
For the 2022 IMSA SportsCar Championship season, Farnbacher embarked upon a Michelin Endurance Cup-only campaign with Gradient Racing, alongside a full-season effort in the GT World Challenge America with HPD Academy graduate Ashton Harrison. Driving alongside Kyffin Simpson and Till Bechtolsheimer, he led Gradient Racing to victory in the 25th running of the Petit Le Mans endurance race, where the team were the overall winner among all the GT entries. In GTWC America, Farnbacher and Harrison took four class wins and three further podiums to enter the final race 15 points behind the leaders. Following a second-place finish at the Indianapolis 8 Hour, the duo claimed the Pro-Am class title by five points.
Farnbacher began 2023 by taking part in the Michelin Pilot Challenge event at Daytona, driving for HART. It was his first time piloting a TCR touring car. The remainder of Farnbacher's season involved a second season in the GT World Challenge America alongside Harrison, this time in the Pro class. The pair were involved in the title fight all season long, claiming a class victory early in the season at Sonoma before adding an overall victory at COTA. Ultimately, they would settle for second in the championship, 44 points behind champions Eric Filgueiras and Stevan McAleer.
For 2024, Farnbacher left his role as a factory driver for Honda Performance Development to join Aston Martin team The Heart of Racing for the IMSA Endurance Cup rounds.

## Racing record
### Career summary

| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
| 2010 | ADAC Formel Masters | ma-con Motorsport | 21 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 231 | 3rd |
| 2011 | ADAC Formel Masters | ma-con Motorsport | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 173 | 6th |
| 2011 | ADAC Formel Masters | Motopark Academy | 20 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 173 | 6th |
| 2011 | Toyota Racing Series | ETEC Motorsport | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 397 | 12th |
| 2011 | ADAC GT Masters | Farnbacher ESET Racing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 26th |
| 2012 | ADAC GT Masters | Farnbacher ESET Racing | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 54 | 14th |
| 2012 | American Le Mans Series - GTC | NGT Motorsport | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 18th |
| 2013 | ADAC GT Masters | Farnbacher Racing | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 84 | 12th |
| 2013 | Rolex Sports Car Series - GT | Burtin Racing / Goldcrest Motorsports | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 57th |
| 2013 | American Le Mans Series - GTC | NGT Motorsport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 2013 | Nürburgring Endurance Series - SP9 | Haribo Racing Team | 1 | 0 | ? | ? | 0 | ? | ? |
| 2013 | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP7 | Haribo Racing Team | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | ? |
| 2013 | Porsche Carrera Cup Asia | Team BetterLife | 1 | 0 | ? | ? | 0 | ? | ? |
| 2014 | United SportsCar Championship - GTD | Team Seattle / Alex Job Racing | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 259 | 10th |
| 2014 | ADAC GT Masters | Farnbacher Racing | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 40th |
| 2015 | United SportsCar Championship - GTD | Team Seattle / Alex Job Racing | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 267 | 4th |
| 2016 | IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD | Team Seattle / Alex Job Racing | 10 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 285 | 5th |
| 2016 | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP7 | Black Falcon Team TMD Friction | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | N/A | 1st |
| 2017 | International GT Open - GT3 Pro | Farnbacher Racing | 11 | 2 | ? | ? | 5 | 69 | 8th |
| 2017 | IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD | Riley Motorsports | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 115 | 24th |
| 2017 | Nürburgring Endurance Series - SP9 | Haribo Racing Team | 1 | 0 | 1 | ? | 1 | ? | ? |
| 2018 | IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD | Michael Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 182 | 13th |
| 2018 | IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD | 3GT Racing | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 182 | 13th |
| 2018 | Pirelli World Challenge - GT | HART | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 14th |
| 2018 | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP8 | Ring Racing with Novel | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | N/A | 2nd |
| 2019 | IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD | Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian | 10 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 283 | 1st |
| 2019 | Intercontinental GT Challenge | Honda Team Motul | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 25th |
| 2019 | Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup | Honda Team Motul | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 20th |
| 2019 | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP6 | SetupWizzard Racing | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | N/A | 2nd |
| 2020 | IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD | Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 286 | 1st |
| 2020 | Intercontinental GT Challenge | Team Honda Racing | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 5th |
| 2020 | GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup | Team Honda Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 26th |
| 2021 | IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD | Compass Racing | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1575 | 15th |
| 2021 | IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD | Magnus Racing with Archangel Motorsports | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1575 | 15th |
| 2021 | IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD | Gradient Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1575 | 15th |
| 2021 | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP7 | Krohn Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | Ret |
| 2022 | GT World Challenge America - Pro-Am | Racers Edge Motorsports | 13 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 212 | 1st |
| 2022 | IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD | Gradient Racing | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1003 | 26th |
| 2022 | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - Cup2 | Krohn Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | Ret |
| 2023 | GT World Challenge America - Pro | Racers Edge Motorsports | 13 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 192 | 2nd |
| 2023 | Michelin Pilot Challenge - TCR | HART | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 190 | 33rd |
| 2023 | IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD | Gradient Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 579 | 40th |
| 2023 | IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD | Racers Edge Motorsports with WTR Andretti | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 579 | 40th |
| 2024 | IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro | Heart of Racing Team | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 592* | 6th* |

### Complete American Le Mans Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | Class | Make | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Rank | Points | Ref |
| 2012 | NGT Motorsport | GTC | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | SEB | LBH | LGA | LIM | MOS | MDO | ELK | BAL | VIR | PET 1 | 18th | 24 | |
| 2013 | NGT Motorsport | GTC | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | SEB 10 | LBH | LGA | LIM | MOS | ELK | BAL | COT | VIR | PET | NC | 0 | |

### Complete Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | Class | Make | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Rank | Points | Ref |
| 2013 | Burtin Racing / Goldcrest Motorsports | GT | Porsche 911 GT3 | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | DAY 10 | COT | BAR | ATL | DET | MDO | WGL | IMS | ELK | KAN | LGA | LIM | 92nd | | |

### Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | Class | Make | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Rank | Points | Ref |
| 2014 | Team Seattle | GTD | Porsche 911 GT America | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | DAY 15 | SEB 3 | LGA 8 | DET 2 | WGL 16 | MOS 6 | IMS 6 | ELK 6 | VIR 15 | COA 18 | PET 5 | | 10th | 291 | |
| 2015 | Team Seattle | GTD | Porsche 911 GT America | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | DAY 18 | SEB 1 | LGA 3 | DET 1 | WGL 7 | LIM 4 | ELK 8 | VIR 3 | COA 4 | PET 7 | | | 4th | 267 | |
| 2016 | Team Seattle | GTD | Porsche 911 GT3 R | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | DAY 8 | SEB 4 | LGA 1 | BEL 4 | WGL 3 | MOS 12 | LIM 14 | ELK 12 | VIR 4 | AUS 7 | PET 8 | | 5th | 285 | |
| 2017 | Riley Motorsports - Team AMG | GTD | Mercedes-AMG GT3 | Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8 | DAY 3 | SEB 1 | LBH | AUS | DET | WGL 10 | MOS | LIM | ELK | VIR | LGA | PET 4 | 24th | 115 | |
| 2018 | Michael Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian | GTD | Acura NSX GT3 | Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6 | DAY 11 | SEB 7 | MOH | BEL 1 | | MOS | | ELK | VIR 3 | LGA | PET 12 | | 13th | 182 | |
| 2018 | 3GT Racing | GTD | Lexus RCF GT3 | Lexus 5.0 L V8 | | | | | WGL 4 | | LIM 5 | | | | | | | | | 13th | 182 |
| 2019 | Michael Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian | GTD | Acura NSX GT3 Evo | Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6 | DAY 4 | SEB 7 | MDO 2 | DET 11 | WGL 1 | MOS 2 | LIM 2 | ELK 5 | VIR 2 | LGA 8 | PET 12 | | 1st | 283 | |
| 2020 | Michael Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian | GTD | Acura NSX GT3 Evo | Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6 | DAY 10 | DAY 3 | SEB | ELK 2 | VIR 2 | ATL 1 | MDO 5 | CLT 7 | PET 10 | LGA 1 | SEB 3 | | 1st | 288 | |
| 2021 | Magnus Racing with Archangel Motorsports | GTD | Acura NSX GT3 Evo | Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6 | DAY 11 | SEB | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | 1575 | |
| 2021 | Richard Mille - Compass Racing | GTD | Acura NSX GT3 Evo | Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6 | | | MDO 5 | DET 9 | WGL1 | WGL2 9 | LIM 9 | ELK 12 | LGA 13 | LBH 11 | | | | 15th | 1575 |
| 2021 | Gradient Racing | GTD | Acura NSX GT3 Evo | Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6 | | | | | | | | | | | VIR 15 | PET | 15th | 1575 | |
| 2022 | Gradient Racing | GTD | Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 | Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6 | DAY 13 | SEB 11 | LBH 2 | LGA | MDO | DET | WGL 9 | MOS | LIM | ELK | VIR | PET 1 | 26th | 1003 | |
| 2023 | Gradient Racing | GTD | Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 | Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6 | DAY 4 | SEB | | | | | | | | | | | 40th | 579 | |
| 2023 | Racers Edge Motorsports with WTR | GTD | Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 | Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6 | | | LBH DNS | MON | WGL | MOS | LIM | ELK 8 | VIR | IMS | PET | | 40th | 579 | |
| 2024 | Heart of Racing Team | GTD Pro | Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo | Aston Martin M177 4.0 L Turbo V8 | DAY 4 | SEB 5 | LGA 6 | DET | WGL | MOS 5 | ELK | VIR | IMS 6 | ATL 4 | | | 13th | 1729 | |
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### Complete Bathurst 12 Hours results

| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
| 2020 | Honda Racing Team JAS | Dane Cameron Renger van der Zande | Honda NSX GT3 Evo | GT3 Pro | 184 | 27th | 14th |