As Wright Motorsports sweeps into the second half of the Fanatec GT World Challenge America season, the squad’s driver lineup for the No. 45 Porsche 911 GT3 R will see a shift for the remainder of the year. Following a recent injury to his left kidney earlier this month, longtime Wright veteran Charlie Luck has been sidelined to recover, unable to finish the 2023 season with co-driver and son-in-law Jan Heylen. Former Wright driver and two-time IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar champion Madison Snow will join Heylen for the remaining five rounds. The new driver lineup moves the team from the Pro/Am class to the Pro class, the top group in the GT World Challenge series.

Luck has been an integral part of Wright Motorsports, joining the team for four years in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama before advancing the GT America powered by AWS series. He dominated the inaugural season of the GT America series with thirteen pole positions, nine wins, and an additional four podium finishes. After winning the Masters class and overall titles in 2021 he advanced to the primary SRO series in 2022, finishing second in the Pro/Am championship with Heylen. His family ties to Wright Motorsports strengthened when his daughter married Heylen, also a longtime driver for the Ohio-based team.

“There are no words to describe what Charlie means to all of us as a team and as a family,” said Team Owner John Wright. “We’re devastated that he won’t be able to finish out the season with us and look forward to having him back in the car next year. We greatly appreciate his continued support, cheering us on as we continue with Jan and Madison. Madison raced with us for many years, and it’s great to have he and Jan back as co-drivers. We’ll see what kind of fun we can have in the Pro/Pro class!”

Snow first raced with the team in 2012, finishing second in the IMSA GT3 Challenge by Yokohama championship as a teenager. He went on to win the title the following season, while also making history with Wright and his mother, Melanie Snow, in becoming the first mother and son pairing to race together in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. In 2014, Heylen and Snow made their debut as co-drivers in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, finishing third with Wright in the 52nd Annual Rolex 24 at Daytona.

“The circumstances with Charlie are obviously unfortunate and I wish him the very best. I deeply appreciate him bringing me into to support the team. This is Charlie’s car and I can’t pretend to fill the important role he has but I am here to try and bring him another championship,” said Snow. “I’m thrilled to get the opportunity to drive with Wright Motorsports again. John and Kara Wright took a hand in raising me at the track when I was a baby, then again running me in Porsche GT3 Cup. A few years after that, I got the chance to race with Jan Heylen, still under the Wright banner, so I love that I’m back with them. Wright has proven really strong in SRO America this year, and after winning the championship titles in recent years, they are certainly the team to be with.”

Almost ten years have passed, and Wright, Luck, Heylen, and Snow have all added various professional sports car racing championships to their records, and this season brings it all full circle.

Following recuperation and a full recovery, Luck will return to race next season and in the meantime will attend the remaining events in support of his racing family.

The fight for the overall win in GT World Challenge America will begin August 18-20 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.