COURTNEY CRONE Returns to IMSA as 3D Scholarship Recipients Find Their Footing

February 2, 2026

• COURTNEY CRONE makes her strategic return to IMSA’s VP Racing Challenge with CarBahn Motorsports, stepping into a BMW M4 GT4 after her F1 Academy stint with Haas. After bouncing between different teams and cars throughout her career, she’s found stability with Jeff Westphal’s operation and BMW engineering legend Steve Dinan backing the program. Her path shows the smart pivot from open-wheel back to sports cars, leveraging her IMSA scholarship foundation to build lasting partnerships.
• The IMSA 3D Scholarship program is proving its worth as all four recipients are actively competing across IMSA series. Jaden Conwright grabbed the program’s first win at VIR in TCR, showcasing the patient racecraft that separates scholarship drivers from weekend warriors. Meanwhile, Celso Neto finished fourth in TCR points as a rookie and returns with an all-Brazilian team effort that spans three continents of expertise.
• What’s compelling here isn’t just the individual success stories, but how these drivers understand the bigger picture. CRONE nails it when she explains how the scholarship opens doors beyond just the financial support – having “IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship winner” on your resume carries weight in the paddock. As the 2027-28 application window closes, we’re watching a program that’s actually delivering on its promise to create pathways, not just publicity.

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