Kuno Wittmer

Last updated
Kuno Wittmer
SRT Driver - Kuno Wittmer.jpg
Wittmer at the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans
Nationality Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canadian
Born (1982-09-06) 6 September 1982 (age 42)
Hudson, Montreal, Canada
Michelin Pilot Challenge career
Debut season2018
Current teamAWA
Car number13
Former teams Compass Racing
Previous series
  • 2012–2013
  • 2013
  • 2006–2016
  • 2014–2018
Championship titles
2014 United SportsCar Championship  – GTLM class

Kuno Wittmer (born 6 September 1982) is a Canadian former racing driver. He competed in such series as the Michelin Pilot Challenge. [1]

Contents

Career

Early career

Wittmer was born from a racing family, preceded by his grandfather, father, and uncle competing in local rallying events in their home province of Quebec. Wittmer received his first ATV at age three, before competing with both ATVs and in motocross at the age of seven. When Wittmer was 15, he attended a racing school at Circuit Mont-Tremblant, beginning his circuit racing career. [2]

In 1999, he began competing in the Canadian Formula Ford Championship, and claimed the series' Rookie of the Year honors at season's end. [3] A brief stint in the Atlantic Championship followed, before Wittmer returned to Formula Ford competition and karting in Quebec over the next few years. [4] In 2002, Wittmer secured his first career championship title in the Quebec Sedan GT Championship. [5] A year of Formula Renault competition followed, before Wittmer transitioned to touring car competition in 2004 with Canada's Honda Michelin Challenge. He won the championship in 2005, taking five wins and six total podiums nine races. [5]

Touring car competition (2006–2009)

In 2006, Wittmer began competing in the Pirelli World Challenge, continuing his relationship with de Sigi Autosport, the team with whom he'd competed in the Honda Michelin Challenge over the past two seasons. After a quiet first season, Wittmer linked up with RealTime Racing for 2007, competing with the team he had "been looking up to since the age of 15." He scored a TC-class pole position on home soil at Toronto, and scored his sole podium during the final round of the season at Laguna Seca. [6] He finished third in the championship behind Jeff Altenburg and Randy Pobst. [7] Wittmer also supplemented his 2007 campaign with a part-time drive in the then-Koni Sports Car Challenge for Georgian Bay Motorsports.

Wittmer returned to RealTime in 2008, and would claim his first career World Challenge victory during the TC class' second round of the season at VIR. He would claim two further race victories, at Lime Rock and Mid-Ohio, [8] and finished the season with five total podiums to his name. The season concluded with another third-place championship finish for Wittmer. He also stepped up to a full-time drive in the Koni Sports Car Challenge's ST class, finishing third in the championship for the i-Moto team. Wittmer embarked on his final TC season in 2009, returning to the RealTime stable for the third consecutive season. He scored just one victory that season, on home soil at Mosport, [9] en route to a sixth-place championship finish.

Dodge factory driver (2010–2014)

Wittmer's Viper at St. Petersburg in 2010 SCCA Dodge Viper Kuno Wittmer HeadOn SPGP 28March2010 (14719410763).jpg
Wittmer's Viper at St. Petersburg in 2010

Wittmer began his relationship with Dodge in late 2009, when he took on a one-off World Challenge drive for Woodhouse Performance in the GT class. The following year, Wittmer began competing full-time in the GT class, driving an SRT Motorsports-prepared Dodge Viper Competition Coupe. After finishing sixth and fifth in the double-header at St. Petersburg, Wittmer claimed his maiden GT-class victory during the ensuing round at Long Beach, leading lights-to-flag and setting a new track record during qualifying. [10] Wittmer followed that up with a second-place finish during the next round at Mosport, [11] but would be forced to wait until the final round of the season at Utah Motorsports Campus to return to victory lane. He finished the season runner-up in the GT class, just under 200 points behind Pobst. [12]

Wittmer shifted to a test driver role for 2011, in advance of the LM GTE-class SRT Viper GTS-R program coming online in 2012. Wittmer completed a one-off drive in the ADAC GT Masters series, [13] as well as taking on a single race in the one-make Dodge Viper Cup. Later that year, he set a production car lap record at Utah Motorsports Campus in a Dodge Viper ACR, [14] and worked with the SCCA to develop technical regulations for its new B-spec regulations for 2012. [15]

Wittmer made his American Le Mans Series debut at Mid-Ohio in August 2012, giving the GTE-class Viper its first outing in official competition. [16] Wittmer's #91 entry, which he shared with Dominik Farnbacher, finished tenth on debut. [17] Another top ten followed at Road America, before the team registered their season-best finish of eighth at Petit Le Mans. [18]

The SRT Viper Wittmer piloted at Le Mans in 2013 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans 5135 (9118758501).jpg
The SRT Viper Wittmer piloted at Le Mans in 2013

The program expanded to a full-time effort in 2013, as Wittmer jumped to the #93 car alongside Jonathan Bomarito for the full season, with Tommy Kendall joining for the endurance rounds. [19] In January, it was confirmed that the program would make its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans that year, marking the Viper marque's return to the race for the first time since the early 2000s. [20] Wittmer remained entered in the #93, marking his own debut at the event, which he called "a dream come true." [21] [22] After starting 11th in GTE Pro, [23] Wittmer's entry came home ninth in class, five laps behind the sister #53 entry and 14 laps behind the class-winning Porsche 911 RSR. [24]

After a quiet start to the ALMS season, which saw Wittmer and Bomarito finish no higher than sixth in class over the first four races, Wittmer's home race at Mosport provided the entry's first podium finish of the season. After starting on pole at the hands of Bomarito, the duo finished third in class behind the sister car and the race-winning #4 Corvette. [25] Bomarito took pole for the next race at Road America, [26] but the entry would fade to a sixth place finish. Wittmer claimed his second and final ALMS podium later that season at COTA, where the #93 finished second in class. [27] At the end of the season, Bomarito and Wittmer were classified ninth in the GT class championship.

Wittmer en route to victory at COTA in 2014 2014 Lone Star Le Mans (15294698271) (cropped).jpg
Wittmer en route to victory at COTA in 2014

Ahead of 2014, Wittmer's FIA Driver Categorisation ranking was downgraded from Platinum to Gold. [28] This came despite a continuation of his factory drive with SRT Motorsports, as he returned for the full United SportsCar Championship campaign with the team, joined again by Bomarito for the full season. [29] After a sixth-place finish at Daytona, Wittmer came up just short of his first victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring, placing second. [30] He returned to the podium at Watkins Glen, claiming a third place finish. As such, the following round at Mosport carried particular weight for Wittmer, as he felt the team was poised for a breakthrough victory in the championship. [31] He claimed pole in GTLM, [32] and would finish the race second behind the #3 Corvette. [33]

Shortly thereafter, Wittmer took part in a one-off Pirelli World Challenge appearance to mark the launch of the Viper GT3 customer racing program at Toronto. [34] He finished second overall on Saturday, and scored the race victory on Sunday. [35]

Wittmer claimed his maiden IMSA victory at Indianapolis in late July, the first of the year for SRT Motorsports. [36] Following another podium at Road America and a fifth-place at VIR, Wittmer returned to victory lane as part of a Viper 1-2 at COTA. [37] With both Bomarito and Wittmer in contention for the drivers' title at Petit Le Mans, the duo were split for the championship decider, with Wittmer drafted into the #91 alongside Marc Goossens and Ryan Hunter-Reay. [38] A podium finish for the #91 was enough for Wittmer to secure the title, making him the inaugural United SportsCar Championship GTLM champion. [39]

Less than 48 hours after his title was confirmed, Chrysler shuttered the factory-backed Viper program for 2015, leaving Wittmer without a ride. [40]

Later career

Prior to the 2020 Michelin Pilot Challenge season, Wittmer joined AWA Racing's McLaren entry in the Grand Sport class. [41] Wittmer took pole in his first race with AWA, with a half-second advantage over Tyler McQuarrie in second. [42]

In August 2023, Wittmer announced his official retirement from professional racing. [43]

Racing record

Career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition
1999Canadian Formula Ford ChampionshipBasi Autosport800031837th
2000 Formula Toyota Atlantic Hylton Motorsports40000622nd
2001Canadian Formula Ford ChampionshipBasi Autosport20000723rd
2002Canadian Formula Ford Championshipde Sigi Autosport700003010th
2003 Formula Renault 2.0 Fran-AmGelles Racing ? ? ? ? ?1419th
2004Honda Michelin Challengede Sigi Autosport1002232045th
2005Honda Michelin Challengede Sigi Autosport953162741st
2006 Speed World Challenge - TC de Sigi Autosport / Autohaus600005521st
2007 Speed World Challenge - TC RealTime Racing 1001012303rd
Koni Sports Car Challenge - ST Georgian Bay Motorsports51 ? ?312132nd
2008 Speed World Challenge - TC RealTime Racing 1030159303rd
Koni Sports Car Challenge - ST i-Moto100 ? ?22373rd
Koni Sports Car Challenge - GS 10 ? ?0585th
Canadian Touring Car Championship - Super Touring Lombardi Racing9212572211th
2009 Speed World Challenge - TC RealTime Racing 1011018036th
Speed World Challenge - GT Woodhouse Performance100006030th
Canadian Touring Car Championship - Super Touring Lombardi Racing4000445219th
2010 SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge - GT Dodge Motorsports 12212410982nd
2011 ADAC GT Masters Vulkan Racing-Mintgen Motorsport200000NC
Dodge Viper Cup1 ? ? ? ?027th
2012 American Le Mans Series - GT SRT Motorsports 30000528th
2013 American Le Mans Series - GT SRT Motorsports 100012739th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro 10000N/A9th
Rolex Sports Car Series - GT TRG 100001662nd
2014 United SportsCar Championship - GTLM SRT Motorsports 1121073311st
Pirelli World Challenge - GT 21 ? ?223425th
2015 United SportsCar Championship - GTD TRG-AMR 6000320210th
Riley Motorsports 11001
Canadian Touring Car Championship - Grand Touring Fastco Motorsports201201239th
Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge - ST HART200002454th
2016 Pirelli World Challenge - SprintX - GT Mills Racing411033902nd
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTLM BMW Team RLL 300007316th
2017 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTLM BMW Team RLL 310018013th
Nürburgring Endurance Series - SP9 Schubert Motorsport 20000 ? ?
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 10000N/A11th
2018 Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge - TC Compass Racing 1031273052nd
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD CJ Wilson Racing 100001568th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP-X GTronix 360 Team mcchip10001N/A2nd
Bathurst 12 Hour - C RHC-Lawrence/Strom10000N/A4th
2019 Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS Compass Racing 10100217513th
2020 Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS AWA 10100569th
2021 Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS AWA 10221322405th
2022 IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP3 AWA 3000055625th

Complete American Le Mans Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

YearTeamClassMakeEngine12345678910RankPointsRef
2012 SRT Motorsports GT SRT Viper GTS-R SRT 8.0L V10 SEB LBH LGA LIM MOS MOH
10
ELK
9
BAL VIR PET
8
28th5 [44]
2013 SRT Motorsports GT SRT Viper GTS-R SRT 8.0L V10 SEB
10
LBH
8
LGA
11
LIM
6
MOS
3
ELK
6
BAL
6
COT
2
VIR
9
PET
5
9th73 [45]

Complete Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

YearTeamClassMakeEngine123456789101112RankPointsRef
2013 TRG GT Porsche 911 GT3 Porsche 4.0L Flat-6 DAY
20
COT BAR ATL DET MOH WGL IMS ELK KAN LGA LIM 128th [46]

Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

YearTeamClassMakeEngine1234567891011RankPointsRef
2014 SRT Motorsports GTLM SRT Viper GTS-R Dodge 8.0L V10 DAY
6
SEB
2
LBH
10
LGA
7
WGL
3
MOS
2
IMS
1
ELK
3
VIR
5
COT
1
PET
3
1st331 [47]
2015 Riley Motorsports GTD Dodge Viper GT3-R Dodge 8.3L V10 DAY
1
SEB LGA BEL 10th202 [48]
TRG-AMR Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Aston Martin 6.0L V12 WGL
10
LIM
3
ELK
2
VIR
2
AUS
8
PET
9
2016 BMW Team RLL GTLM BMW M6 GTLM BMW 4.4L V8 DAY
11
SEB
6
LBH LGA WGL MOS LIM ELK VIR AUS PET
6
16th73 [49]
2017 BMW Team RLL GTLM BMW M6 GTLM BMW 4.4L V8 DAY
11
SEB
6
LBH AUS WGL MOS LIM ELK VIR LGA PET
1
13th80 [50]
2018 C.J. Wilson Racing GTD Acura NSX GT3 Acura 3.5L Turbo V6 DAY SEB
16
MOH BEL WGL MOS LIM ELK VIR LGA PET 61st15 [51]
2022 AWALMP3 Duqueine M30 - D08 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 DAY
5
SEB
4
MOH
8
WGL MOS ELK PET 25th556 [52]
Source: [53]

Complete Bathurst 12 Hours results

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLapsPos.Class
Pos.
2018 Flag of the United States.svg RHC-Lawrence/Strom Flag of the United States.svg Cameron Lawrence
Flag of the United States.svg Daren Jorgensen
Flag of the United States.svg Brett Strom
BMW M4 GT4 C18829th4th

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLapsPos.Class
Pos.
2013 Flag of the United States.svg SRT Motorsports Flag of the United States.svg Tommy Kendall
Flag of the United States.svg Jonathan Bomarito
SRT Viper GTS-R LMGTE Pro30131st9th
Source: [53]

References

  1. "Kuno Wittmer - IMSA". imsa.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  2. Gheciu, Alex Nino (16 May 2016). "Meet Kuno Wittmer, Canada's Fiercest Endurance Racer". Sharp . Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  3. "Kuno Wittmer Returning to GT Le Mans with BMW". Inside Track News. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  4. "Kuno Wittmer veut promouvoir les pilotes québécois" [Kuno Wittmer wants to promote Quebec pilots]. 360Nitro.tv (in French). 28 January 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame | Kuno Wittmer". Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame . Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  6. "Speed World Challenge: The Defining Moments of 2007". Racing Nation. 13 December 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  7. Smith, Steven Cole (17 December 2007). "Year in Review: SCCA Speed World Challenge--Pobst takes one out of two". Autoweek . Retrieved 23 July 2025. Altenburg ended up with 277 points, 18 ahead of Pobst. Kuno Wittmer finished third...
  8. "Competition: Bartone wins, Pruett wins again, Mosley update". Autoweek . 20 July 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2025. Also at Mid-Ohio... Kuno Wittmer (Acura TSX) won the Touring Car race...
  9. "Speed World Challenge: Kuno Wittmer wins first of two Touring Car races at Mosport". Autoweek . 15 May 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  10. "Wittmer Dominates for World Challenge Win at Long Beach; McQuarrie, Stout Class Winners". SCCA . 18 April 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  11. "Pobst nabs 24th career win with World Challenge race-one victory at Mosport". Autoweek . 22 May 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2025. 2. GT, (3), Kuno Wittmer, Montreal, Quebec, Dodge Viper...
  12. "Wittmer, Cunningham and Stout end World Challenge season with wins". Autoweek . 2 October 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  13. "SRT Viper set for return debut in 2012; drivers signed". Motorsport.com . 4 April 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2025. Kuno Wittmer will make his debut in the ALMS... Last year, the Canadian had the chance to take on the ADAC GT Masters in Assen, Netherlands...
  14. Roy, Don (18 April 2011). "Video: Viper SRT10 ACR Does It Again; New Miller Lap Record". Street Muscle. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  15. "SCCA: First B-Spec test complete". Autoweek . 18 October 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2025. Drivers... Kuno Wittmer (Fiat) and Andy Vrenko (Ford) completed five-lap sessions around the track before coming in and debriefing the technical staff.
  16. "SRT Vipers make ALMS debut at Mid-Ohio". Autoweek . 2 August 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  17. "SRT Viper team conquers their debut at Mid-Ohio, next stop Road America". Motorsport.com . 7 August 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2025. The GT class team saw their #91 Viper finish in 10th with drivers Dominik Farnbacher and Kuno Wittmer...
  18. "SRT Viper team continues learning process at Petit Le Mans". Motorsport.com . 21 October 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  19. "Two-car Viper team set for full 2013 ALMS season and 24 Hours of Le Mans". Motorsport.com . 1 March 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  20. Smith, Steven Cole (31 January 2013). "It's official -- SRT Viper heading back to Le Mans". Autoweek . Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  21. Mio, Kevin (5 March 2013). "Kuno Wittmer: Montreal racer to live dream at Le Mans". Montreal Gazette . Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  22. "SRT Motorsports - Kuno Wittmer: What Racing at Le Mans Means to Me". Stellantis North America . 3 June 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  23. "24 Hours of Le Mans preview -- breaking down the ALMS and Grand-Am teams". Autoweek . 20 June 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2025. The No. 93 starts 11th in the 12-car GTE Pro field.
  24. "Le Mans 24 2013 Results: Final Complete Leaderboard, Highlights, and More". Bleacher Report . Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  25. Cécile, Bonardel (21 July 2013). "ALMS, Mosport : Comfortable win for Muscle Milk". 24 Hours of Le Mans . Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  26. "Jonathan Bomarito's fast lap at Road America gives SRT Viper second consecutive GT pole". Autoweek . 9 August 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  27. Dagys, John (21 September 2013). "Corvette Wins GT Battle at COTA". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  28. Dagys, John (6 November 2013). "Revised Driver Ratings, Categorizations Revealed". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 27 July 2025. Kuno Wittmer – Platinum to Gold
  29. "Kuno Wittmer and SRT Motorsports at the 24 at Daytona". Motorsport.com . 20 January 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  30. Wittmer, Kuno (23 March 2014). "SRT Viper so close to a Sebring win: Kuno Wittmer's Autoweek blog". Autoweek . Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  31. Dagys, John (12 July 2014). "Wittmer: "To Get a Win Here Would be a Dream Come True"". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  32. Dagys, John (12 July 2014). "Vipers Sweep GTLM, GTD Poles at CTMP". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  33. Dagys, John (13 July 2014). "Corvette Takes Fourth Straight GTLM Win". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 27 July 2025. Wittmer and co-driver Jonathan Bomarito came home 11 seconds behind in second...
  34. Goodwin, Graham (14 July 2014). "SRT Enter New GT3 Viper For Wittmer In Toronto Pirelli World Challenge". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  35. "Wittmer, Wilkins and Mills take Pirelli World Challenge race two wins in Toronto". Autoweek . 20 July 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  36. Soltani, Khatir (26 July 2014). "USCC: Kuno Wittmer claims first GTLM win in Indianapolis". auto123. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  37. DiZinno, Tony (20 September 2014). "Viper Doubles Up in COTA GT TUSC Race". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  38. DiZinno, Tony (1 October 2014). "SRT Shuffles Driver Lineup in GTLM Title Bid". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  39. DiZinno, Tony (4 October 2014). "Falken Repeats at Petit; Wittmer, Cameron Win GT Titles". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  40. "The good news: Kuno Wittmer is a champion. The bad news: He's unemployed". motorsport.com. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  41. "Wittmer Joins AWA McLaren GT4 Effort". sportscar365.com. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  42. "Kuno Wittmer Wins BMW Endurance Challenge at Daytona Pole". frontstretch.com. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  43. "Kuno Wittmer Retires from Professional Racing". sportscar365.com. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  44. "Kuno Wittmer – 2012 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  45. "Kuno Wittmer – 2013 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  46. "Kuno Wittmer – 2013 NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  47. "Kuno Wittmer – 2014 Tudor United SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  48. "Kuno Wittmer – 2015 Tudor United SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  49. "Kuno Wittmer – 2016 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  50. "Kuno Wittmer – 2017 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  51. "Kuno Wittmer – 2018 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  52. "Kuno Wittmer – 2022 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  53. 1 2 "Kuno Wittmer Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
None
United SportsCar Championship
GTLM Champion

2014
Succeeded by