The Driver Lineup Includes Sebring Winner George Kurtz, Two-Time Champion Matt McMurry, Rolex 24 Winner Ben Hanley and Former F1 Pilot Esteban Gutierrez
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – George Kurtz and CrowdStrike are back in 2023 and planning to move up a level in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship prototype racing.
Kurtz, CEO of global cybersecurity leader CrowdStrike and a WeatherTech Championship driver the past two seasons, submitted an entry for the 2023 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup rounds in the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class featuring an all-star driver lineup. Riding along with Kurtz for all four races in the No. 4 CrowdStrike Racing with Algarve Pro Racing ORECA LMP2 07 would be two-time WeatherTech Championship champion Matt McMurry and 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona winner Ben Hanley. Former Formula 1 driver Esteban Gutierrez would fill out the lineup at next month’s 61st running of the Rolex 24.
In 2021 and 2022, Kurtz teamed with Colin Braun and Jon Bennett in the CORE autosport Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3) entry for the Michelin Endurance Cup events. The trio won the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts in 2021.
“This is a big step forward for the growth of CrowdStrike Racing,” Kurtz said of the move to LMP2. “I really enjoy long-distance endurance racing and the challenges it presents. The team aspect of endurance racing is important to me – for success to be achieved, everyone must do their job. It’s one way the world of business matches the world of racing. I can’t wait to get started with our new team.”
Joining Kurtz on the journey is McMurry, who won six LMP2 races on his way to the 2018 championship. He followed that up with two wins and the title in the GT Daytona (GTD) class in 2019. Most recently, McMurry has served as a development engineer and test driver for Acura’s ARX-06 LMDh program that will enter the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class in 2023.
McMurry and Kurtz recently won the LMP3 class of the 25 Hours of Thunderhill.
“CrowdStrike Racing and George have a championship history in global motorsports, so it’s a massive honor to be invited to join a team with this kind of history and level of expectation. We’re 1-for-1 together with the win at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill recently, and I’ll be giving it everything I’ve got to keep that pace going.”
Hanley won a pair of LMP2 races in 2020 with DragonSpeed USA, at the Rolex 24 and Road America. Gutierrez, with three years of F1 and a single season of IndyCar Series racing under his belt, will be making his WeatherTech Championship debut at the Rolex 24, though the Mexican drove an LMP2 this year in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
“My experience in endurance racing has been great from all aspects and I’m very excited to add another milestone by competing at the emblematic 24 Hours of Daytona,” Gutierrez said. “George and I have been friends for a few years now and it will be a real pleasure racing alongside him. I feel very grateful for him and CrowdStrike for this opportunity.”