LAS VEGAS – WIN Autosport, a race team formed by driver Steven Thomas, will enter a car driven by Thomas in the full IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship in the LMP2 class beginning with the Rolex 24 in January.
The team will also compete in the IMSA Prototype Challenge series, with Thomas driving an LMP3 car during the six sprint races. In 2020, Thomas won the Bronze Cup while competing in four races solo and two races with Thomas Merrill.
Joining Thomas in the LMP2 entry will be Tristan Nunez, a former Mazda factory driver who spent the last two years driving Mazda’s DPi car in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Merrill will be back to drive with Thomas in the endurance races at Daytona Int’l Speedway, Sebring Int’l Raceway, Watkins Glen Int’l and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Matt Bell, the reigning Prototype Challenge champion, will join the trio at Daytona for the Rolex 24.
Bobby Golasinski, who was recruited by Thomas to assist him with this venture and who will have an interest in the new team, likes the driver lineup.
“Tristan is one of the best prototype drivers in the business and Bell and Merrill are top pros,” said Golasinski. “Steven Thomas has only been driving racecars for two years, but with Ross Bentley of Speed Secrets as his coach he has progressed quickly, turning the fastest lap among bronze drivers at the final Prototype Challenge race last year and winning the Bronze Cup. Bobby Orgel at PR1 graciously helped us test Steve in the P2 car and we both think he can be successful.”
Thomas said convincing Nunez to join the program was a major piece of the puzzle.
“When Tristan believed we had built a good team and wanted to race with us, that was a big boost,” Thomas said. “Tristan is young but already brings so much top-level experience. He helps the team in every way. And of course, he’s quick. Bell is a champion and has great experience and watch out for Thomas Merrill. He will be as quick as anyone.”
Nunez is looking forward to the challenge of driving for a new team.
“I believe I can bring WeatherTech racing experience and hopefully make everyone better,” Nunez said.
Michael Harvey, who formerly ran Porsche’s factory GT Le Mans team, is running the program. Jim Malicki is the engineer and Cyril Ma, who engineered Thomas’ P3 car, is the assistant engineer, with Lauren Elkins serving as the data engineer.