2015 IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge champions Stevenson Motorsports announced today that the team will return to the top level of IMSA competition with a two-car GTD Class campaign. The 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD category will follow a new set of technical specifications, and the team will utilize the new Audi R8 LMS platform.

Stevenson Motorsports earned 17 GT Class victories in GRAND-AM before moving to concentrate exclusively on the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge following the merging of the United SportsCar Championship. That focus was well-rewarded as the team capped off the 2015 season not only with the championship title, but also netting the 30th race victory for the organization.

Team owner Johnny Stevenson first raced in the GT class ranks in 2003, earning a podium at Watkins Glen. Since moving to the other side of the pit wall, his team has thrived on the continuity that Stevenson has built with a strong group of talented staff.

“This is very exciting news for us as a team, and I think that there will be a very high level of competition in the WeatherTech GTD class next year,” said Stevenson. “It was very gratifying to clinch the Continental Tire championship with the Camaro last year and now we will look for those kinds of results in GTD. We’ve got some outstanding drivers, and Mike Hoffman (team manager) and Mike Johnson (strategy) do a fabulous job for us so I am happy to have everything in place so we can focus on coming out of the gate strongly at Daytona.”

With support from Audi Sport customer racing, Stevenson Motorsports will make its first official outing with the Audi R8 at the Roar Before the 24 test at Daytona International Speedway in January.