Category: IMSA

Near miss for Catsburg, Milner in fight for GTD PRO victory; AWA grows Akin Award lead

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 23, 2024) – Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims scored the season’s second podium finish for the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with a third-place result at the Six Hours of The Glen on Sunday.

The No. 3 Corvette from Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports ran up front in GTD PRO, fell down the order following an early-race brake change and then challenged for the win late in a topsy-turvy enduro at Watkins Glen International that was severely impacted by rain. It was the first podium finish for the Garcia/Sims duo, following a similar finish for the No. 4 Corvette at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

While luck went the way of Sims and Garcia at the end, it was the opposite for Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg in the No. 4 Z06 GT3.R, which had to pit for a fuel splash from the lead on the final lap. The duo ended up seventh in the final GTD PRO standings.

In GTD, AWA’s No 13 Corvette Z06 GT3.R of Matt Bell, Orey Fidani and Lars Kern finished seventh in class following a similarly chaotic race and a number of drive time-related penalties to GTD competitors. The trio fought from deep in the field and briefly ran in the top-five before the Corvette was caught out on-track in a heavy downpour on slick tires and went off-track. The trio’s result did, however, unofficially grow Fidani’s lead in the Bob Akin Award standings, which goes to the highest points-scoring Bronze driver in GTD.

Three separate periods of rain had increasing impacts on the race. The first significant shower hit just shy of halfway and resulted in a crash for two GTD cars that brought out the third full-course yellow of the day. All three Corvettes had elected to stay on dry tires and jumped up the order as the pit closed – the No. 4 to second and No. 3 to third in GTD PRO, and the No. 13 to ninth in GTD.

More rain meant more chaos nearly 30 minutes later as the No. 4 Corvette pitted during a brief but heavy shower on the frontstraight for rain tires. Another full-course yellow neutralized the field again, and Milner was left on grooved tires with the track drying quickly. Once the race went green, he had to stop for slick tires and fell down to 10th.

The biggest downpour arrived with a little less than two hours to go. Garcia, the No. 77 Porsche and No. 14 Lexus were the only GTD PRO cars to make it into the pitlane for rain tires before the pits closed for the sixth time. After 25 minutes behind the safety car with standing water on the track, officials red-flagged the race.

It resumed with 35 minutes left and the field behind the safety car. With the three leading cars in class having to pit for slick tires, Milner assumed the lead and drove a stunning final stint to keep the No. 4 Corvette out front before having to make the last-lap stop.

All three Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs will be back in action for the Chevrolet Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on Sunday, July 14.

CORVETTE RACING BY PRATT MILLER MOTORSPORTS POST-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – THIRD IN GTD PRO: “I’m happy with this. Considering we were on the front row the last two races and didn’t convert, it feels like today we got one back. It was an amazing job by Corvette Racing and Pratt Miller guys to change the brakes. They had the skills to almost keep us on the lead lap. Yes we lost some track position but after that, the car was good and every single strategy call was the right one. I had one of the scariest half-stints in my life when a whole set of our tear-offs on the windscreen came off and then came back on. So I had a triangle in front of me and I couldn’t see to my left. Somehow I made up several positions on the restart, but it was very scary to just keep the car on track. I just couldn’t see anything. Fortunately we got it fixed after the yellow, and it was made better when we were on the same strategy as the Porsche and Lexus to go on wet tires. It was the right call and it would have been nice to run four or five laps in the rain but we couldn’t take advantage of that. It’s also a shame for the No. 4 guys. With all the flag sequences, I think they deserved it. But it’s nice that we were able to get the first podium for Alex and me, and for the Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports team. Now we need to keep the momentum. We know we are fast; we just need to convert and hopefully a win is around the corner.”

ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – THIRD IN GTD PRO: “To be honest with the weather forecast coming into this weekend, it kind of exactly panned out how we expected with a mayhem-filled race. We started up front and had a nice comfortable stint before we had to change the front brakes. The guys did an amazing job to change everything, and we almost got out without falling off the lead lap, which was pretty impressive. So our race went south for a little while but as with IMSA you’re able to get back in the race and we did. The guys made some great calls and the car was fast. It’s great to get a podium; it felt like we came back into contention where we should have been. It’s cool to get our first podium with the No. 3 Corvette. Antonio did a brilliant job in the end to almost get second. It was really tight out there, and I enjoyed it.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – SEVENTH IN GTD PRO: “Nicky was right in that it was a bit of a lottery race for a lot of people with tire calls and things like that. We did well with the tire choice except for when we snuck in just before a yellow to put wets on. I agreed with Tyler (Neff, No. 4 race engineer) that it seemed like the right call at the time because Turn One was undriveable. At the end, we had to take them back off because the track was drying too quickly. But we also got stuck from getting into the pitlane before the red flag, I was happy that it came. But at the end of the day, the result is what matters. And seventh place is not where we want to be. We did some things really well today and some things not so well. We’ll analyze those things that didn’t and be better for the next time when we go to Canada and try again.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – SEVENTH IN GTD PRO: “First off, Tommy did an amazing job late in the race in holding off the Aston Martin. I knew he had it and we were hoping the fuel would work out, but then that got snatched away. It’s tough. This style of racing makes some of these races a lottery. At the start I didn’t think we would be in a position to go for a win because our car was great everywhere except on a straight line. So that was a frustration. The car felt good toward the end of the stint, so we could get around some people. It was good on a long run and we saw that at the end with Tommy’s drive. It’s a tough way to end though. Hopefully we can be on the right end of it the next time out.”

OREY FIDANI, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – SEVENTH IN GTD: “I’m pleased with our result. It was a tricky race as we were lacking a little bit of speed this weekend, but I’m happy with how my stint went. The team has been working so hard all year long, and today they really delivered for us with strategy calls in what were very challenging weather conditions. They kept us in the fight, and Lars and Matt drove a great race as always.”

LARS KERN, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – SEVENTH IN GTD: “I’m happy with the result we were able to achieve today. When looking at our outright pace, we were just a bit off the mark throughout the whole weekend, and we are actively working on figuring out the reason behind it. We executed well in the race, the team made no mistakes and were perfect as always. We as drivers kept it clean and were able to make up ground, I think we maximized our performance today.”

Near miss for Catsburg, Milner in fight for GTD PRO victory; AWA grows Akin Award lead

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 23, 2024) – Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims scored the season’s second podium finish for the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with a third-place result at the Six Hours of The Glen on Sunday.

The No. 3 Corvette from Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports ran up front in GTD PRO, fell down the order following an early-race brake change and then challenged for the win late in a topsy-turvy enduro at Watkins Glen International that was severely impacted by rain. It was the first podium finish for the Garcia/Sims duo, following a similar finish for the No. 4 Corvette at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

While luck went the way of Sims and Garcia at the end, it was the opposite for Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg in the No. 4 Z06 GT3.R, which had to pit for a fuel splash from the lead on the final lap. The duo ended up sixth in the final GTD PRO standings.

In GTD, AWA’s No 13 Corvette Z06 GT3.R of Matt Bell, Orey Fidani and Lars Kern finished 13th in class following a similarly chaotic race. The trio fought from deep in the field and briefly ran in the top-five before the Corvette was caught out on-track in a heavy downpour on slick tires and went off-track. The trio’s result did, however, unofficially grow Fidani’s lead in the Bob Akin Award standings, which goes to the highest point-scoring Bronze driver in GTD.

Three separate periods of rain had increasing impacts on the race. The first significant shower hit just shy of halfway and resulted in a crash for two GTD cars that brought out the third full-course yellow of the day. All three Corvettes had elected to stay on dry tires and jumped up the order as the pit closed – the No. 4 to second and No. 3 to third in GTD PRO, and the No. 13 to ninth in GTD.

More rain meant more chaos nearly 30 minutes later as the No. 4 Corvette pitted during a brief but heavy shower on the frontstraight for rain tires. Another full-course yellow neutralized the field again, and Milner was left on grooved tires with the track drying quickly. Once the race went green, he had to stop for slick tires and fell down to 10th.

The biggest downpour arrived with a little less than two hours to go. Garcia, the No. 77 Porsche and No. 14 Lexus were the only GTD PRO cars to make it into the pitlane for rain tires before the pits closed for the sixth time. After 25 minutes behind the safety car with standing water on the track, officials red-flagged the race.

It resumed with 35 minutes left and the field behind the safety car. With the three leading cars in class having to pit for slick tires, Milner assumed the lead and drove a stunning final stint to keep the No. 4 Corvette out front before having to make the last-lap stop.

All three Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs will be back in action for the Chevrolet Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on Sunday, July 14.

CORVETTE RACING BY PRATT MILLER MOTORSPORTS POST-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – THIRD IN GTD PRO: “I’m happy with this. Considering we were on the front row the last two races and didn’t convert, it feels like today we got one back. It was an amazing job by Corvette Racing and Pratt Miller guys to change the brakes. They had the skills to almost keep us on the lead lap. Yes we lost some track position but after that, the car was good and every single strategy call was the right one. I had one of the scariest half-stints in my life when a whole set of our tear-offs on the windscreen came off and then came back on. So I had a triangle in front of me and I couldn’t see to my left. Somehow I made up several positions on the restart, but it was very scary to just keep the car on track. I just couldn’t see anything. Fortunately we got it fixed after the yellow, and it was made better when we were on the same strategy as the Porsche and Lexus to go on wet tires. It was the right call and it would have been nice to run four or five laps in the rain but we couldn’t take advantage of that. It’s also a shame for the No. 4 guys. With all the flag sequences, I think they deserved it. But it’s nice that we were able to get the first podium for Alex and me, and for the Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports team. Now we need to keep the momentum. We know we are fast; we just need to convert and hopefully a win is around the corner.”

ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – THIRD IN GTD PRO: “To be honest with the weather forecast coming into this weekend, it kind of exactly panned out how we expected with a mayhem-filled race. We started up front and had a nice comfortable stint before we had to change the front brakes. The guys did an amazing job to change everything, and we almost got out without falling off the lead lap, which was pretty impressive. So our race went south for a little while but as with IMSA you’re able to get back in the race and we did. The guys made some great calls and the car was fast. It’s great to get a podium; it felt like we came back into contention where we should have been. It’s cool to get our first podium with the No. 3 Corvette. Antonio did a brilliant job in the end to almost get second. It was really tight out there, and I enjoyed it.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – SIXTH IN GTD PRO: “Nicky was right in that it was a bit of a lottery race for a lot of people with tire calls and things like that. We did well with the tire choice except for when we snuck in just before a yellow to put wets on. I agreed with Tyler (Neff, No. 4 race engineer) that it seemed like the right call at the time because Turn One was undriveable. At the end, we had to take them back off because the track was drying too quickly. But we also got stuck from getting into the pitlane before the red flag, I was happy that it came. But at the end of the day, the result is what matters. And seventh place is not where we want to be. We did some things really well today and some things not so well. We’ll analyze those things that didn’t and be better for the next time when we go to Canada and try again.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – SIXTH IN GTD PRO: “First off, Tommy did an amazing job late in the race in holding off the Aston Martin. I knew he had it and we were hoping the fuel would work out, but then that got snatched away. It’s tough. This style of racing makes some of these races a lottery. At the start I didn’t think we would be in a position to go for a win because our car was great everywhere except on a straight line. So that was a frustration. The car felt good toward the end of the stint, so we could get around some people. It was good on a long run and we saw that at the end with Tommy’s drive. It’s a tough way to end though. Hopefully we can be on the right end of it the next time out.”

OREY FIDANI, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – 11TH IN GTD: “I’m pleased with our result. It was a tricky race as we were lacking a little bit of speed this weekend, but I’m happy with how my stint went. The team has been working so hard all year long, and today they really delivered for us with strategy calls in what were very challenging weather conditions. They kept us in the fight, and Lars and Matt drove a great race as always.”

LARS KERN, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – 11TH IN GTD: “I’m happy with the result we were able to achieve today. When looking at our outright pace, we were just a bit off the mark throughout the whole weekend, and we are actively working on figuring out the reason behind it. We executed well in the race, the team made no mistakes and were perfect as always. We as drivers kept it clean and were able to make up ground, I think we maximized our performance today.”

WATKINS GLEN, New York (June 22, 2024) – Louis Delétraz behind the wheel of the No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 GTP handed the Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) team its’ first GTP pole position of the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Delétraz threw down a record-setting lap with a time of 1:32.209 around Watkins Glen International.

For Ricky Taylor and the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 GTP team, it was a bit of a trickier qualifying session. Taylor’s best lap of 01:32.835 placed the blue and black team to start seventh for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen.

Delétraz and the No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 team will lead the field to the green flag for Sunday’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at 11:10 a.m. ET. All six hours of the endurance racing classic will be broadcast on Peacock.

TOP FIVE GTP STARTING GRID

1. No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 (Acura ARX-06) J. Taylor, L. Delétraz (132.741 mph)
2. No. 01 Cadillac Racing (Cadillac V-Series.R) R. van der Zande, S. Bourdais (132.687 mph)
3. No. 31 Whelen Cadillac Racing (Cadillac V-Series.R) P. Derani, J. Aitken, T. Blomqvist (132.354 mph)
4. No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports (Porsche 963) T. van der Helm / R. WestbrookP. Hanson (132.288 mph)
5. No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsports (Porsche 963) N. Tandy, M. Jaminet (132.211 mph)
6. No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 (Acura ARX-06) R. Taylor, F. Albuquerque (131.846 mph)

Louis Delétraz, No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06: “It is fantastic and thank you so much to the WTRAndretti team. The car was super fast today. Watkins Glen is fast. I was able to go low fuel and push that one lap which is an amazing feeling I am super happy, but we have to focus on the race and hopefully a win for us. Traffic is pretty insane right now. There are so many GTDs on track and with the LMP2s being so fast in the middle sector. The weather looks like it is going to play some games with us as well. It is going to be a whole team effort – to be good on track, good in the pits, good on strategy. I am looking forward to it.”

Ricky Taylor, No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06: “I am disappointed with the qualifying. Really nice for the 40 car and for Acura to get the pole. Louis did a great job. I am scratching my head a little bit about where the pace was. We know what the car felt like, and we can compare it to our teammate and learn a lot for tomorrow. Long race – six hours – you can win from anywhere. It is never nice to qualify in the back but nice to start a race when you can work your way to the front.”

ABOUT WTRANDRETTI
Andretti Global and Wayne Taylor Racing announced a new, long-term partnership in 2023 that combines the resources of the two championship-caliber teams to compete in IMSA’s top classes. In 2024, Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) has expanded to a two-car GTP program as well as competes in the GTD class. Coming off its 2023 championship winning effort, WTRAndretti continues its Driver Development Program competing in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series with a full stable.

WTRAndretti’s global motorsports enterprise boasts two IMSA driver championships (2013 and 2017), and back-to-back IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Championships (2020, 2021) which contributed to nine IMSA manufacturer championships for Acura, Pontiac, Corvette and Cadillac. In its brief 17-year history, WTRAndretti has accumulated multiple victories in sportscar racing’s most iconic events: Rolex 24 At Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring, Petit Le Mans, Mid-Ohio, Road America and the Six Hours of The Glen. With its back-to-back PRO Class Championship wins (2022, 2023), WTR also has ten North America Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship titles and a Lamborghini World Finals title.

Andretti Global, a Championship-winning motorsports organization, competes in additional racing categories worldwide, including the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Extreme E, Australian Supercars and the Mexico SuperCopa Championship. Additionally, the racing enterprise commits to driver development through competition in INDY NXT by Firestone and through support of Sebastian and Oliver Wheldon’s racing careers.

WTRAndretti’s long term partnerships include Acura, Honda Racing Corporation US (HRC), Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA, DEX Imaging, Harrison Contracting Company and Gainbridge.

For more than a quarter of a century, Risi Competizione has been at the forefront of GT racing. Under the leadership of Giuseppe Risi, the team has consistently showcased the prowess of Ferrari vehicles, from the Ferrari 333 SP to the modern Ferrari 488 GTE and Ferrari 296 GT3, across the most prestigious circuits globally.

Pennzoil is the only motor oil used and recommended by Risi Competizione.

Driven by the passion to reach new levels in motorsports, the relationship between Pennzoil and Risi Competizione was a perfect fit from the start. Stationed in Houston, Texas, Risi Competizione has achieved outstanding results with Pennzoil in the engine, including remarkable victories at iconic races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Daytona and the Twelve Hours of Sebring. The collaboration highlights a mutual dedication to greatness in motorsports and has cemented Risi Competizione’s status as a titan of GT racing.

Daniel Serra and Davide Rigon, two seasoned Ferrari Factory drivers known for their commitment and passion, embody the spirit of Long May We Drive and are set to lead their team as they battle again this year. Daniel, from São Paulo, Brazil, has been competing for a decade and is known for his noteworthy victories, including wins at Petit Le Mans in 2016 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2017 and 2019.

Davide, hailing from Thiene, Italy, has accomplished much in his 15 years on the track, including GT racing, open-wheel racing, and Formula 3. In addition to racing with Risi Competizione, he currently serves as a Formula 1 test driver for Scuderia Ferrari.

In the fiercely competitive arena of the IMSA GTD PRO class, Risi Competizione continues to showcase its skill by competing in some of the most challenging endurance races.

The 2024 season kicked off with a first-place finish at the Rolex 24 at DAYTONA and was followed by another podium finish at the Twelve Hours of Sebring. The fight for the Endurance Cup will continue at the Six Hours of The Glen, a race renowned for its demanding nature and historical significance. The action then moves to the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway for another six-hour test of durability and performance. The climax of the season will be Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

In parallel path to their competition in the IMSA series, Risi Competizione also plays a pivotal role in the Ferrari Challenge. This one-make series is a platform where amateur drivers push the boundaries of their Ferrari race cars on some of North America’s most storied racetracks. The 2024 schedule includes races at Circuit of The Americas in Texas, the scenic Laguna Seca, followed by a mid-summer challenge at Watkins Glen. The competition then heads to Sonoma and wraps up in Indianapolis.

To learn more about Risi Competizione and stay up to date on their races, check out their website or their Instagram!

The Owner/Driver Will Pilot the No. 2 Ford Mustang Dark Horse R Sponsored by James Hardie and Opal Enterprises With New Knowledge From the Opening Weekend

WATKINS GLEN, New York (June 19, 2024) – Max Opalski has his eyes up and focus forward for the second stop of the 2024 IMSA Mustang Challenge series this weekend at Watkins Glen International, carrying lessons from the first weekend forward for he and his Max Opalski Racing program.

The 18-year-old driver and team owner, like many in the paddock, had almost no experience with the brand-new Ford Mustang Dark Horse R before the series debut at Mid-Ohio two weeks ago. His No. 2 Opal Enterprises/Max Opalski Racing Ford Mustang Dark Horse R arrived in time to be broken in on the dyno, wrapped in its black and green livery and taken to the track from the shop in Charlotte.

Each bit of experience from Mid-Ohio will carry over to rounds three and four at Watkins Glen this weekend in support of the famed IMSA WeatherTech Championship Six Hours of the Glen. Round three takes place on Friday at 3:15 p.m. EDT with a quick turnaround for Saturday morning’s 8:05 a.m. start. Both races are 45-minutes in length and can be seen live on IMSA.tv and via subscription on Peacock.

The opener at Mid-Ohio was full of ups and downs for Opalski and the team. He moved forward to a strong sixth-place finish on Saturday, tops among the “small teams” in the paddock. Sunday’s race two felt even more promising, but ended just as quickly when Opalski was knocked off track in the first turn into the grass and collected a third car. Though the results fell short of expectations, the team gathered invaluable knowledge on the car and the suspension package to carry forward through the rest of the season.

“Last weekend was the way it was, but now we have something to build on,” Opalski said. “There was a lot of change and hard work in between the last race and this weekend. I think we’re coming to Watkins Glen a lot more prepared because of what we know. I feel a lot more confident in our setup package. It was a new crew, a new team, and there were just things that had to be worked out in the first race. Now that’s over, I think this week will go much smoother. I believe everything will play out better and translate to what’s happening on the track so we can fight for podiums.”

Armed with that experience and a change in the baseline setup, Opalski is ready for Watkins Glen and the first practice on Thursday morning. He’s got track knowledge, having competed in the IMSA Mazda MX-5 Cup events at the track the past two season. Though he’s yet to land on the podium, he’s completed every lap in the four races at Watkins Glen as a 16 and 17-year-old – no small feat in that contact-filled championship.

“Watkins Glen is definitely a proper racetrack, which is cool,” Opalski said. “The Mustang is heavy, so you’ll be waiting on it unlike the MX-5 Cup. It should be fast here if you have a good setup. You want to have as much speed as you can through the corners. If we can get the car to carry the speed in and you can get the power planted down early to power off the corner and onto the long straightaways, it’s the key to going fast here.”

Prior to going on-track this weekend, Opalski will be part of a Wednesday evening with a free event near the track at The Yard, a family entertainment center in the town of Watkins Glen, that will feature a driver autograph session, go-karting, live music and more from 5 – 7 p.m. EDT. Fans in attendance will have the chance to get Opalski’s autograph, along with other IMSA drivers, and even win tickets for the weekend to see the race.

Opalski’s chase of his first Mustang Challenge podium begins on Thursday with a pair of 30-minute practices. Qualifying takes place at 8 a.m. EDT on Friday morning, followed by the 3:15 p.m. green flag on Friday and an 8:05 a.m. EDT start on Saturday morning. Each race is 45 minutes in length, available at IMSA.TV for free around the world or on Peacock for subscribers to that service.

About Max Opalski Racing: Founded in 2024 by 18-year-old racer Max Opalski, Max Opalski Racing has put its maiden-season effort into the IMSA Mustang Challenge championship featuring the brand-new Ford Racing Mustang Dark Horse R race car. Based in Mooresville, North Carolina, Max Opalski Racing is dedicated to championship-winning racing efforts within their customer racing program, which includes driver coaching at races and testing in their program. Away from the Mustang Challenge program, Max Opalski Racing utilizes the skills and abilities of Opalski for coaching, both in real life and through sim racing. More information on Max Opalski Racing can be found at MaxOpalski.com, on Facebook and on Instagram.

NEXT UP: IMSASAHLEN’S SIX HOURS OF THE GLEN
WATKINS GLEN, NY | JUNE 21-23

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y., (June 19, 2024) — Five weeks have passed since the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD class raced at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and Wright Motorsports is fully ready to jump into the next round in the endurance championship. The Sahlen’s Six Hour of the Glen is the third round in the Michelin Endurance Cup, bringing co-drivers Adam Adelson and Elliott Skeer back together with Jan Heylen for the six-hour race on Sunday, June 23.

Wright Motorsports celebrated a third-place finish at the Glen in 2023 with Heylen as one of the drivers, at a track known to not favor the driving style of a Porsche. In preparation for the event, the team traveled to Watkins Glen International for unofficial testing with the green and yellow No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 R. The extra track time only aids the preparation and execution of the team, who have been on a roll for the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech season.

Adelson, Skeer, and Heylen demonstrated their skills behind the wheel in their third-place finish in March’s Twelve Hours of Sebring, and again, Adelson and Skeer placed third at their most recent round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The pair, combined with the crew’s skill in pit lane and the strategy calls from the pit box, climbed an impressive nine positions in the two-hour, forty-minute race.

This weekend’s race will feature a six-hour endurance event at Watkins Glen International, in upstate New York’s Finger Lake region. Fifty-six entries are competing in the event, across IMSA’s five sports car racing classes. Adelson, Skeer, and Heylen will split the drive time for the No. 120 race, with each driver needing to complete a minimum of one hour, 30 minutes during the race, and a maximum time of four hours.

The Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen will take place on Sunday, June 23, beginning at 11:10 AM, and ending at 5:10 PM ET. The race will air live in the United States in its entirety on Peacock.

Adam Adelson

The summer break has felt like a long one! I’m really excited to get back in the car at Watkins Glen. It’s a super high speed track with lots of long banked corners, and with the downforce that modern GT3 cars are capable of producing, it should be a super exciting new experience. We’ve been on a roll so far this season, but I also know Watkins Glen isn’t the best track for Porsche, so I hope we can try and change that this year, as I know we have the best Porsche team in the paddock.

Elliott Skeer

The IMSA Endurance races are always highlights of the season! Even though Watkins has traditionally not been a Porsche track, our preparation and execution as a team this year has me optimistic about changing that! Testing has gone extremely well and I know what Jan is capable of, and just how much Adam likes these types of tracks. So as long as Adam and I are comfortable in traffic, I feel we have all the ingredients for an efficient and successful six hours of racing. Sunday cannot come soon enough!

Jan Heylen

I hope we can continue our strong run in the endurance cup. Wright Motorsports has continued to give us the best Porsche and Adam and Elliott have both been doing an amazing job all season long. We’re ready for the challenge! I’m looking forward to an exciting race!

Event Schedule | All Times Eastern

Friday, June 21

1:25 PM – 2:55 PM Practice 1

Saturday, June 22

9:10 AM – 10:40 AM Practice 2

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Autograph Session

3:30 PM – 3:45 PM GTD Qualifying

Sunday, June 23

10:05 AM – 11:10 AM Open Grid/Fan Walk

11:10 AM – 5:10 PM Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen

Wright Motorsports
Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series and international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy, and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013, and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team, and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. In 2020, the team captured the GT World Challenge America Am championship. In 2021, Wright Motorsports had a wildly successful season, capturing nine championships across their five racing efforts.

WATKINS GLEN, New York (June 19, 2024) — The Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) Lamborghini Super Trofeo (LST) team will return for Rounds 5 and 6 of the LST North America Championship at Watkins Glen International, continuing the team’s four-car effort in the series across the PRO, PRO|AM and AM classes. The team will take on the historic 3.45-mile course, marking the halfway point of the LST North America season.

Danny Formal and Ryan Norman will return as the driver pairing for the No. 1 WTRAndretti Lamborghini Huracán LST. After a mixed weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, where the driver duo secured a podium in the first race but struggled in the second with over 40 cars on track, Formal and Norman will look to improve their championship standings as they sit 13 points off the leader in the PRO class. The duo has shown considerable pace with multiple front row starts and podiums under their belt, but they will look to take the top step of the podium at the Glen. Formal will also be completing double duty in the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen race on Sunday, June 23.

In the No. 8 Huracán LST in the PRO|AM class, Nate Stacy and Nick Persing will continue their championship hunt from third in the standings, as misfortune has counteracted their two impressive wins in the first four rounds. After a racing incident brought their first race to an early end at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the driver pair responded in fashion by winning the following round. Watkins Glen International offers a strong opportunity for the No. 8 car to put together solid performances across both races in the weekend. The No. 8 team are still very much in the championship picture currently sits 11 points behind the leader in the PRO|AM class.

Anthony McIntosh and Glenn McGee have started their title defense in the AM class of LST North America Championship in an assertive fashion, building a healthy points gap between the No. 69 Global Power Components WTRAndretti Huracán LST and the rest of the competition. The duo secured two podiums and a win in the last four rounds. A steering wheel issue in the first round at Laguna Seca dropped the driver team to the back, but the experienced pair followed this misfortune with a win in the fourth round. McIntosh and McGee currently have a three-point lead in the AM class standings.

Graham Doyle and Ashton Harrison will return to pilot the No. 10 DEX Imaging WTRAndretti Lamborghini Huracán LST. Despite showing strong pace at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the driver duo is seeking to achieve big results across a full race distance. Doyle and Harrison will look to build on lessons learned at Laguna Seca as they approach the doubleheader at Watkins Glen International. Doyle will join teammate Danny Formal in pulling double duty in the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 for the third endurance event of the 2024 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen.

The WTRAndretti LST team will start on-track action at Watkins Glen International weekend at noon on Thursday, June 20, with qualifying and the first race of the doubleheader commencing at 10:30 a.m. ET and 5:20 p.m. ET, respectively, on Friday, June 21. The second race of the weekend will take place at 4:50 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 22. Rounds 5 and 6 of the LST North America Championship from Watkins Glen International will be streamed live on Peacock.

Ryan Norman, No. 1 WTRAndretti LST (PRO): “We made some great improvements in Laguna Seca, and we know what we need going into Watkins Glen, so I’m very excited to get back into the No. 1 WTRAndretti Super Trofeo. We were very strong last year there, and I have no doubt that we will continue to build on that. Danny and I are looking to make a stance and will be going for both wins.”

Danny Formal, No. 1 WTRAndretti LST (PRO): “Round 5 and 6 of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo season coming our way and one of my favorite tracks of in the country. It’s not been an easy season so far, but our WTRAndretti team never give up. We did a test earlier in the year and the car felt back to 2023 standards, which is just a rocket ship. Super excited to get going. I have not won with Ryan yet and it’s a goal of mine. I’m actually one win away from being the all-time record holder of wins in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Championship and it just makes me super excited that I might be able to do it at my favorite track with the team that gave me all my wins: WTRAndretti. Excited to get going and ready to see the crew, drivers and families and I am so grateful for this opportunity.”

Nate Stacy, No. 8 WTRAndretti LST (PRO|AM): “I’m eager to get back behind the wheel on the No. 8 WTRAndretti Lamborghini ST. After the most recent race win, we are hoping to bring that momentum into the Glen. Currently we’re in a good spot in the championship, so we are determined to secure some good points and move us closer to winning a championship!”

Nick Persing, No. 8 WTRAndretti LST (PRO|AM): “Expectations are high for Watkins Glen considering we have two wins this year. We expect to keep that momentum going. From Laguna Seca and Sebring, I think we learned that we just need to bring home some consistent results this weekend and start focusing on the championship as well too. I couldn’t be more excited to get back in the car and hopefully the sim work and exercise will have me in good driving shape after the break from Laguna.”

Graham Doyle, No. 10 DEX Imaging WTRAndretti LST (AM): “Looking ahead to Rounds 5 and 6 of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship, I feel we are continuing to make strides towards the end results we have been looking for. Coming into this race weekend, Ashton and I have been working tirelessly, pushing ourselves to achieve the results we desire.”

Ashton Harrison, No. 10 DEX Imaging WTRAndretti LST (AM): “I am super excited to be back with Graham and WTRAndretti for one of my all-time favorite tracks. Laguna proved to be a tough track with over 40 cars for qualifying and both races, so I am looking forward to Watkins Glen, a much longer and wider track, getting back to the high-speed corners and taking advantage of the power output in our Lamborghini ST. I am really happy with the progress Graham and I are making in our DEX Imaging LST and I’m looking forward to charging to the front in the competitive AM class.”

Glenn McGee, No. 69 Global Power Components WTRAndretti LST (AM): “I’m really excited for this race at Watkins Glen in a fast car at a fast track! We had an amazing test here with WTRAndretti, the engineers, and Danny Formal, and it was great to be a part of the process of the team developing a setup, and a learned a lot working with Danny. I think we will be very strong as a team here.”

ABOUT WTRANDRETTI’S DRIVER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Wayne Taylor Racing, now with Andretti Global (#WTRAndretti), is a leader in sportscar racing, recognized worldwide for fielding championship winning racing efforts since 2007. WTRAndretti has run a stable of championship winning cars and drivers in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series for over half a decade, forming the basis of its Driver Development Program. Since its inception in 2015, the team has clinched eight North American PRO Driver, Team and Dealer Championship titles, fielded the first woman World Finals race winner and became the overall 2017 Champions at the World Finals in Imola, Italy. In addition to its Lamborghini Super Trofeo stable, WTRAndretti fields a two-car GTP program with it Championship winning No 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 and No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 effort as well as GTD program with the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2.

For more information on WTRAndretti’s Driver Development Program and how to get involved, contact Travis Houge at info@waynetaylorracing.com.

The Glen next up for important six-hour race in the championship picture

DETROIT (June 19, 2024) – Three races totaling 31 hours, 40 minutes are packed into June for Cadillac Racing, which concludes its two continent IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship journey this weekend at Watkins Glen International.

The Sahlen’s 6 Hours of The Glen is the third of five rounds of IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup, which is paced in points by the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R. Cadillac is tied for the top in the Manufacturer Cup.

The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R will employ full-season drivers Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande, while the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R will have regulars Pipo Derani and Jack Aitken joined by endurance driver Tom Blomqvist for the six-hour race on the 3.4-mile, 11-turn Watkins Glen International road course.

“The last two years I’ve scored a pole position, second place, and a third-place finish, so this year it would be fantastic to finally reach that top step,” Blomqvist said. “Pipo and Jack are locked in a championship fight for the overall championship, and we currently lead the Endurance Cup standings, so I will be giving my all to help the team.”

A 90-minute practice session is scheduled for Friday and another Saturday preceding the 15-minute qualifying round. The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R has qualified on the pole in three of the five races, and the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R won the Long Beach race from the pole.

The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R started and finished second at The Glen in 2023, while the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R placed fifth in the inaugural season of GTP. Cadillac won the 2017 race in its first season of IMSA prototype competition.

Four of the drivers are coming off competition in the Hypercar class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in which Bourdais and van der Zande, joined by six-time INDYCAR champion Scott Dixon, started on the front row for Cadillac’s highest position ever in the race. The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R, with Derani and Aitken joined by 2022 F2 champion Felipe Drugovich, started 18th. The sister No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R – a full-time FIA World Endurance Championship entry – started and finished seventh in the iconic endurance race.

The month started with the Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic.

Peacock will provide flag-to-flag streaming of qualifications (3:25 p.m. ET Saturday) and the race (11 a.m. Sunday) in the U.S., while IMSA.TV will stream to a global audience. USA will telecast the first half of the race starting at 11 a.m. imsaradio.com and RadioLeaMans.com will broadcast qualifying and the race.

‘No Perfect Formula’
Documentary chronicles Cadillac Racing’s first year of Grand Touring Prototype/Hypercar competition on its road to the 24 Hours of Le Mans after a 21-year absence. WATCH

Race car versus road car
Sebastien Bourdais and the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R put some high-powered road cars to the test in a drag race. WATCH

What they’re saying

No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R

Sebastien Bourdais: “The biggest issue we had last year is we only went for durability and homologation purposes with that car and most everybody else not having the double program of IMSA and Le Mans went testing and had a leg up on us. It proved quite challenging and we struggled, but I think we have a better understanding of what the car needs and what it likes and doesn’t like to try to not repeat the weekend. It’s a long stretch from Detroit to Test Day to Le Mans to Watkins and hard on the crew. We just need a slightly different approach and a stronger baseline, so hopefully we’ll hit the ground running.”

Renger van der Zande: “We’re coming to Watkins Glen with a bit of a revenge taste after not having a strong performance there last year. It’s a flowing and high-speed track, which is like Le Mans so for that we’re still in the groove. It is an important race in the championship, so it’s now time to act.”

No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R

Pipo Derani: “We’re going back to a place where we were strong but not the strongest., so we’re hoping to take a step forward. Obviously, last year the qualifying was canceled because of rain so we started the race second and wound up finishing second. It will be a critical point of the championship, so as we enter the second half of the championship hopefully by then it will be clearer – different from last year — the ones who will have a better chance to fight for the championship. Watkins being a long race, it will be important for us to get through it without any issues. With limited track time in practice, we need to maximize the time. That can be beneficial for the race.”

Jack Aitken: “It’s a track that rewards being on it from the word go, so getting enough practice time between us really is what sways it. (coming off Le Mans and into another endurance race) I think everybody is going to be a bit fatigued, so it’s going to take a bit of extra vigilance to watch out for each other and we have the processes in place to avoid where mistakes can creep in. Quite a few of our competitors will go through something similar.”

Tom Blomqvist: “I’m really excited to be joining back up with Action Express Racing and Cadillac Racing for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen alongside Pipo and Jack. Watkins is one of the highlight races of the season, it’s such a fantastic track and it’s so much fun to drive. The last two years I’ve scored a pole position, second place, and a third-place finish, so this year it would be fantastic to finally reach that top step. Pipo and Jack are locked in a championship fight for the overall championship, and we currently lead the Endurance Cup standings, so I will be giving my all to help the team. After a difficult past month for me personally, to be returning to a championship that I love competing in makes me very motivated and I can’t wait to get back in the paddock and hit the ground running.”