Yahoo Autos KPM retains 2023 drivers, adds new GTD Mercedes
Korthoff Preston Motorsports (KPM) will keep the driver lineup that brought the team the Michelin Endurance Cup in 2023 as it pursues next season’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD title. Mikael Grenier and Mike Skeen will be the full-season drivers in the new No. 32 Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo, with Kenton Koch again joining for the five endurance races. Maximilian Gotz will bolster the squad for the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
Skeen has been with the team through the last two seasons. In its first full season, KPM finished third in the GTD championship with Skeen and Stevan McAleer through podium finishes at Daytona and Sebring. Skeen has wide-ranging experience in many forms of racing, including NASCAR, Trans Am Series and GT World Challenge, even extending to a class win in the Baja 1000.
“Last year we led the most laps; this year, we’ll lead the last lap,” the American driver declared, noting the team’s strong run in last year’s Rolex 24.
Mercedes AMG driver Grenier, who hails from Canada, has competed in DTM, GT World Challenge Europe and the Asian Le Mans Series.
“Looking forward to Daytona, and going there with the same team and people as last year will help,” Grenier said.
Koch joined KPM for the endurance rounds and was instrumental in the team’s strong run at Daytona that included leading 227 laps but ended with a bad wheel bearing. The American has a Rolex 24 victory in the Prototype Challenge class, but is looking for more.
“I had a lot of fun this year as one of the endurance drivers. Those rounds are grueling for the team and to have gotten the championship says a lot about KPM,” Koch said.
KPM will run its new Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo for the first time at the December IMSA test at Daytona International Speedway.
