Ryan Hardwick, a multi-time championship-winning race car driver, has announced that he will step away from full-time competition.
Videos by FanBuzz
Speaking to Sportscar365, Hardwick said that he will shift his focus to his family after Saturday's Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. This event closes out the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, and it will serve as a natural end point for the 45-year-old's full-time career.
"While this decision has been hard, I am at peace with it," Hardwick told Sportscar365. "It's time to take a step back. It's time to devote more of my time, effort and energy with my family.
"My two sons have dreams of their own that they are chasing, and I want to be there to love and support them every step of the way on their own journeys.
"I will always love racing and I will deeply miss competing at the highest level. But I have done my part, and it has been one hell of a good ride."
The Georgia native has achieved success all over the globe while competing in sports car racing. This includes capturing two of IMSA's prestigious wins. He scored a class win in the 2020 12 Hours of Sebring and a class win in the 2022 Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.
Additionally, he captured the crown jewel of triple crown endurance wins during his racing career. Sebring and Daytona are two of these crown jewels.
The third is the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He captured this FIA World Endurance Championship win before ending the season as the champion. He became only the second American driver to win the world championship.
Hardwick's list of championships also include the 2018 GT World Challenge America, the 2018 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, the 2018 Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final, and the 2023 European Le Mans Series.
Hardwick has also celebrated a win this season while closing out his full-time. career. He captured the GTD class win in the Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International while sharing the Manthey Racing entry with Richard Lietz and Riccardo Pera.
