After the dramatic Baltimore crash which sent CORE autosport’s existing Porsche to the scrapheap, the Rock Hill, SC-based squad switched into a race against time to build a brand new car in only eight days for this weekend’s event at Circuit of The Americas.

CORE’s Porsche was one of several machines adding to an estimated $1.5 million damage bill from the green flag wreck in Baltimore. Tom Kimber-Smith was left with nowhere to go when he found the HPD of Scott Tucker parked backwards in his path. To make matters worse, the CORE Porsche was struck in the rear by the Falken car. The Paul Miller Racing Porsche and Risi Ferrari were also caught up in the carnage.

“I was waiting in the PC car while the accident was being cleaned up at Baltimore,” CORE autosport team owner Jon Bennett said.

“Our team manager Morgan Brady told me over the radio that the car was damaged beyond repair, but he was already talking with Porsche on securing a new chassis. It was never a question for us. We’re finishing our debut GT season on a strong note.”

Not only does CORE have a new car on track this weekend – they have a new driver line-up with Colin Braun swapping to the Porsche and prototype ace returning to the team’s PC class entry Tom Kimber-Smith.

The new car/driver combination was on the pace on Tuesday at the pre-event test. Colin Bruan got behind the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR for the first time took to the car quickly, even leading the GT times at one point. The team ended the first day of testing second on the times sheets.

“It’s a relief to see the car again after Baltimore and I think it actually feels better. The ultimate goal today was to get the car up to speed and that’s what we did,” Pat Long said.

“The track changed a lot on Tuesday. In the four-hour session, it was a completely different track at the end than what it was in the beginning. I couldn’t believe how much it transformed.

“The first half the track is very technical and high speed—it’s very challenging on the aero. In the second half, you need to calm down and make sure the tires are changing direction.

“I thought putting Colin in the Porsche made sense on a lot of different levels and Colin has driven so many different things already in his career that I have a lot of confidence putting him in the car.”

Check out the amazing timelapse rebuild video below.