Category: IMSA

Cadillac V-Series.R to carry over with two GTP cars in IMSA, one Hypercar in WEC

DETROIT (Oct. 9, 2023) — Cadillac Racing will roar into the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship seasons with the same car count as 2023.

The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R and No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R will be on the grid for the nine-race IMSA Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) campaign that begins in January with the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The sister No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R will contest the eight-race FIA WEC season that begins in March in Qatar as Cadillac Racing’s sole Hypercar entry. Additional Cadillac Racing entries for the 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June will be announced by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest.

“We’re very excited to dive into the second year of our Cadillac V-Series.R program. We are very proud of what we accomplished in the first year and we’ve learned so much racing in two series. We have a great foundation to build on,” said Laura Wontrop Klauser, GM sports car racing program manager.

“Having 2024 as a carry-over year will allow us the opportunity to focus entirely on the car and understanding it better instead of having to balance car learning with new team and new series learning as we did in 2023.”

Cadillac sits atop the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Manufacturer standings and is a close second in the IMSA GTP Manufacturer Championship entering the Petit Le Mans season finale Oct. 14 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Cadillac entries have recorded two victories, five other podiums and two pole starts through eight races.

The GM luxury brand has compiled 29 wins since 2017 in IMSA and WEC prototype competition and 68 overall in North American sports car racing.

The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R, with co-drivers Pipo Derani, Jack Aitken and Alexander Sims, leads both the IMSA GTP Driver/Team Championship and IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTP Driver/Team standings.

Cadillac is fourth in the WEC Manufacturers’ Championship following the Six Hours of Fuji on Sept. 10 in its maiden trip through the WEC calendar. The season concludes Nov. 4 with the Eight Hours of Bahrain at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Cadillac Racing made a resounding return to Le Mans after a 21-year absence with the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R earning a podium finish and the No. 3 Cadillac V-Series.R placing fourth in the centenary race.

The Cadillac V-Series.R is Cadillac’s third-generation prototype racecar and represents the fifth generation of the brand’s storied V-Series production vehicle lineup that includes the Cadillac Escalade-V and track-capable CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing.

Cadillac Racing highlights

Cadillac total wins in all classes/series since 2000: 68

Cadillac total podiums in all classes/series since 2000: 221

IMSA GTP (5)

IMSA DPi (84)

FIA WEC (1)

World Challenge (126)

American Le Mans Series (5)

Cadillac Manufacturer Championships in all series: 8

IMSA DPi (2021, 2018, 2017)

Pirelli World Challenge GT (2014, 2013, 2012)

SPEED World Challenge GT (2007, 2005)

IMSA DPi Driver Championships: 2021, 2018, 2017

IMSA DPi Team Championships: 2021, 2018, 2017

IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Manufacturer Champion: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017

IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Driver Championships: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017

IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Team Championships: 2018, 2017

Pirelli World Challenge GT Driver Championships: 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012

SPEED World Challenge GT Driver Championship: 2005

BATAVIA, Ohio. (October 6, 2023) – Following the conclusion of the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season finale at Petit Le Mans, sports car racing champion Alan Brynjolfsson will take a temporary leave from the sport after seven years of professional competition.

“I have raced in IMSA for seven years,” said Brynjolfsson. “I love racing. I love the challenge, pushing myself beyond my comfort zone, as anything worthwhile in life is hard. Racing forces me to better myself through discipline, exercise, focus, and being goal-oriented. I enjoy the team, the comradery, and the racing family. I am proud to have raced the majority of those seasons with Trent Hindman as my co-driver and slowly improved each year culminating with the GS championship last year.”

Brynjolfsson and the VOLT Racing program first partnered with Wright Motorsports for the 2022 Michelin Pilot Challenge championship, with Hindman joining as the pro-ranked co-driver. They clinched the driver and team championships in the final race of the year at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, with five podium finishes and one win in ten races. Following their success, the VOLT Racing program stepped up to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GTD class, one of the most competitive production-based classes in the world. Though the teams and drivers executed a near-flawless season, the program’s on-track perfection struggled against series-mandated Balance of Performance regulations, resulting in one podium in 2023 at Lime Rock Park. The hard-fought season showed the character and grit of the team, never giving up on producing the best results possible no matter the odds.

No longer bound by racing schedules, training regimens, and months filled with consistent travel, Brynjolfsson, who just celebrated his 29th wedding anniversary with his wife Trish, will use his time off to take more enjoyment from his life outside of motorsports.

“I am ready to take a break from racing to resume some of my off-track pursuits for a year,” continued Brynjolfsson. “Hopefully I will miss it and come back for another championship run. Until then I want to thank Wright Motorsports, Trent, Porsche, IMSA, and everyone in the paddock for seven years of awesomeness. Most importantly, today on my 29th wedding anniversary, I want to thank my wife Trish for being by my side at every race, every practice session, every test day, and supporting me 100 percent on and off the track.”

This move opens up multiple-time champion Trent Hindman to other opportunities for the future.

“Wright Motorsports would like to express its heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the incredible journey we’ve shared with Alan and Trish Brynjolfsson and VOLT Racing,” said Wright Motorsports Team Owner John Wright. “Alan’s time with Wright Motorsports has been marked by numerous achievements and memorable moments. His dedication, passion, and commitment to the sport have made him a cherished member of our racing family. Alan’s journey with us reached new heights when he, Trent, and the team clinched the GS Championship last year, a monumental achievement that we are incredibly proud of.”

Watch Brynjolfsson, Hindman, Max Root, VOLT Racing, and Wright Motorsports in their final GTD event together, on Saturday, October 14 at 11:30 AM ET streaming live on Peacock.

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.

Mercedes-AMG GT3 Teams Bring “Brickyard” Double-Win Momentum Back to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for this Weekend’s Dual Intercontinental GT Challenge and Fanatec GT World Challenge Indianapolis 8 Hour Presented by AWS

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams bring a double dose of race-winning momentum at the “Racing Capital of the World” back to Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) this weekend for the fourth annual running of the Intercontinental GT Challenge Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS. The full weekend of competition on the 2.439-mile IMS road course also includes the season-ending rounds of all 2023 SRO Motorsports America championships in a packed Thursday through Sunday schedule. The highlight is Saturday’s Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS that is both the penultimate round of the global Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) series and the double-points finale of the 2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge America season.

Six Mercedes-AMG GT3 teams take up the challenge of Saturday’s eight-hour endurance race with four of them designated as points-earning IGTC entries. The quartet includes two Mercedes-AMG Performance Teams from Hong Kong, defending Indianapolis 8 Hour winners Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing and Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing. Craft-Bamboo gave Mercedes-AMG its first overall IGTC victory on American soil in last year’s Indy 8 Hour with the trio of Raffaele Marciello, Daniel Juncadella and Daniel Morad co-driving to victory.

Marciello returns to the team to defend the win in the No. 77 Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 this year with teammates Maximilian Götz and last year’s Indy 8 Hour pole-winner Jules Gounon.

Juncadella co-drives the No. 999 Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 this weekend with Maro Engel and Luca Stolz. GruppeM is set for its first 8 Hour IGTC round in the U.S. since finishing second with one of its two entries in the 2019 running of the race that was the last of three editions held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca before the switch to Indianapolis in 2020.

Juncadella and Gounon combined for a second-consecutive major victory at IMS for the Mercedes-AMG GT3 just three weeks ago. Co-driving the No. 79 WeatherTech Racing/Proton Competition Mercedes-AMG GT3, the duo garnered GT Daytona (GTD) Pro-class honors in the inaugural Battle on the Bricks IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race on September 17.
Another victory at Indy on Saturday would give Juncadella a streak of three consecutive major sports car wins at IMS with three different teams.

The other IGTC points eligible Mercedes-AMG GT3 entries at Indy are a pair of Fanatec GT World Challenge America regulars looking to make a mark in the year’s final race.

Perennial GT World Challenge America Pro-Am contenders George Kurtz and Colin Braun will be joined by Nolan Siegel in the No. 04 CrowdStrike Racing with Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3. The team competes for IGTC points in addition to being a close second in a tight battle for the Fanatec GT World Challenge Pro-Am class championship. Kurtz, Braun and the No. 04 team have 187 points heading back to Indy, just three points out of first place.

The other full-season GT World Challenge Pro-Am team stepping up to support the IGTC points chase at Indy is the No. 91 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 that will see another recent Mercedes-AMG race winner at the Brickyard join the squad.

Philip Ellis co-drove the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 to the GTD-class win at the Battle on the Bricks and joins Juncadella in looking for a repeat win less than a month after their previous victories at IMS. Ellis’s co-drives with full-season No. 91 teammates Jeff Burton and Corey Lewis.

In other racing action at the Brickyard this weekend, six Mercedes-AMG GT3 teams are also entered in the season-ending GT America powered by AWS doubleheader. A single driver sprint series featuring a pair of 40-minute races Friday and Sunday, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 has been the car to beat all season in GT America.

Four different race-winning teams combined to give Mercedes-AMG an early lock on its second-consecutive GT America manufacturer championship one race ago at Sebring International Raceway. Now, two of those teams – TKO Motorsports and CRP Racing – take the battle for the GT America driver and team championships down to the wire at Indy.

Memo Gidley drove the No. 101 TKO Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 to a series-high sixth victory of the season in the opening race at Sebring, but his title rival Jason Daskalos came right back with an equally strong victory ahead of Gidley in the No. 27 CRP Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the Sebring finale. Daskalos’ victory was his fourth GT America race win of the season.
Gidley brings an 18-point GT America driver championship lead ahead of Daskalos to Indy, 277 – 259.

CRP in turn has a two-point lead over TKO in the GT America team championship standings, 284 – 282. In addition to the four race wins by Daskalos, first-year team driver Todd Treffert contributed to the team’s championship bid with his first professional race win at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) in June in the No. 41 CRP Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.

The GT America races mark the North American professional competition debut of the Mercedes-AMG GT2. Lone Star Racing and team owner/driver Dan Knox compete in the GT2 class in their new No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT2. Knox competes alongside the team’s No. 011 Lone Star Racing/Mad Joker Mercedes-AMG GT3 driven by Marc Austin.

Indianapolis also closes the curtain on the Pirelli GT4 America season that has once again seen the No. 34 Conquest Racing/JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4 and returning driver Michai Stephens battle for the top-tier Silver-class championship. With Stephens co-driving this season with first-year Conquest/JMF driver Jesse Webb, the No. 34 team and drivers have won four races so far, including overall GT4 race wins in each of the last two event weekends at Sebring and Road America.

Second in the Silver-class point standings, Stephens, Webb and the No. 34 team are mathematically alive in the championship but need nothing short of a weekend sweep and the class leader to miss the final races to have a realistic shot at taking the title. A strong weekend showing, however, will likely clinch Silver-class championship runner-up honors, the third-straight year the No. 34 team and drivers have finished in the top-three GT4 Silver championship standings.

Following practice sessions today for all series, including a nighttime session for the Indianapolis 8 Hour, the weekend’s first races for GT America and Pirelli GT4 take place Friday.

Qualifying for the Indy 8 Hour highlights Friday’s schedule, including the Top-10 Pole Shootout at 6:45 p.m. EDT.

Saturday’s featured Indianapolis 8 Hour goes green at 12:15 p.m. EDT with the checkered flag coming down soon after the sun does eight hours later at 8:15 p.m. EDT.

The weekend concludes with the final GT America and Pirelli GT4 races of the season Sunday morning.

All of this weekend’s races can be viewed live on the GTWorld YouTube channel.

Daniel Juncadella, Driver – No. 999 Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Mercedes-AMG GT3: “It’s pretty exciting to be back at Indy after a very successful IMSA round. That obviously brings a lot of momentum into the weekend. It’s been a strong season so far, both this year and last year, and I am taking it all race-by-race and trying to deliver my best. That’s the way to keep scoring good results. The Indy layout is cool. It suited the Mercedes-AMG GT3 quite well in the IMSA round and let’s hope we are competitive again. I’ve raced several times with GruppeM, in DTM in 2021, some IGTC rounds last year and the Spa 24 Hours this year. I feel we deserve our bit of luck after just missing out in a couple of events we did together. I am really hoping I can win my third race at Indy with a third different team. That would be great. Luca and Maro are obviously very strong teammates by my side, and that is going to help have a strong weekend.”

Maro Engel, Driver – No. 999 Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I am definitely looking forward to heading back over to the U.S. It’s always special and obviously Indianapolis is a place with incredible heritage. It’s a technical track for sure and one where two years ago we were in contention until late in the race, so hopefully we can have a strong run this weekend. The layout is for sure more about the corners, which suit the Mercedes-AMG GT3, so all of the medium and high-speed corners are places where the car will be good. The recent success in IMSA is definitely great but that is in a different series with different tires and different BoP (Balance of Performance). But we feel confident, we have a strong team and a very strong lineup with Dani and Luca on board. I am very happy with our preparations and now we look forward to rolling into the race weekend.”

Philip Ellis, Driver – No. 91 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I am really looking forward to being back at Indy, especially after the victory in IMSA. We also should have had a good race last year in the 8 Hour with Russell and Jules putting us on pole, so I think I am bringing some experience for sure to the team with the track and in the car. Corey and Bryan Sellers on the team, they know the track very well and may bring some other insights to me, which is very good. It will be a bit different BoP and different tires, but I think overall we will have a good car on the long run, which is always a strong suit for the Mercedes-AMG GT3. It will be difficult for sure, a lot of tire management – Indy has a very high tire degradation – but it should be a very interesting race and we are going to try and go for the win in Pro-Am.”

George Kurtz, Driver – No. 04 CrowdStrike Racing with Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3: “Indy will be a one-race shootout for the title for the Fanatec GT World Challenge America Pro-Am championship. I think we have a good team, we have been to Indy this year already in testing and some other areas, so hopefully we will come away with the win. It’s going to be super tight but hopefully we have a little bit of an edge. We will see where it all shakes out.”

Memo Gidley, Driver – No. 101 TKO Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3: “The GT America series has 18 races, which is a lot of races and a lot of opportunities to do well and also have the occasional bad day. Being able to come down to the wire in Indy 18 points in the lead is just awesome. It feels great but I wish we had more points, and I wasn’t thinking about it so much! But I would rather be 18 points in the lead than 18 points behind. Confidence wise and preparation wise, there is no doubt in my mind that I am ready to go. Our TKO Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 is very consistent in what it does, and it is also very simple. Some of today’s GT3 cars can be pretty complicated, with so many buttons and switches when you are in them, but the Mercedes-AMG GT3 is a much simpler package when you are inside of it.”

CRESSON, Texas (September 19, 2023) – Lone Star Racing scored a milestone race finish for an established program and successfully launched a new one in a full weekend of competition for the Texas-based team and co-drivers Anton Dias Perera and Scott Andrews in the IMSA Battle on the Bricks this past Saturday and Sunday on the road course at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).

Doubling up on their Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing programs on the 2.439-mile IMS road course, Lone Star, Perera and Andrews made their debut together in top-tier IMSA competition in Sunday’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race while continuing their competitive IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS) campaign in Saturday’s four-hour Indianapolis Motor Speedway 240.

Both efforts reached and even maximized their goals in a successful weekend, but it was Saturday’s fast and frenzied four-hour race into darkness in which the Lone Star team and drivers truly shined.

A highlight event of this year’s full-season campaign by Perera and Andrews in the No. 27 Lone Star Racing/Bluff City Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 in Pilot Challenge GS, the four-hour race started at 4:30 p.m. EDT and literally raced into the night for the checkered flag at 8:30 p.m. EDT.

After a clean and competitive opening driving stint by Perera, Andrews challenged in the lead pack throughout the final half of the race and stepped up in a mad dash to the finish to challenge for the win. With the clock winding down, Andrews kept the pressure on the race leader in the closing minutes, almost closing enough to attempt a pass, but he ultimately crossed the finish line a scant 0.566 of a second behind the winner.

The second place finish was still a season-best result for the No. 27 Lone Star Racing team and drivers after coming so close to reaching the podium – if not a victory – several times this season.

Lone Star and its drivers carried the momentum of Saturday night’s thriller straight into their debut as a team in the GT Daytona (GTD) class in the No. 15 Lone Star Racing/Bluff City Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 on Sunday.

Rebounding from a pair of early spins, the Lone Star team and drivers met their pre-race goal of finishing in their GTD debut together. Andrews brought the No. 15 across the finish line in 15th place, just one lap behind the front runners.

“It’s really validating for our program, it’s satisfying for our guys to get the result, get a podium,” said AJ Petersen, Lone Star Racing Team Manager and Technical Director. “Of course, we still wanted more. We’re always wanting more, but it was very satisfying Saturday night to finally make it to victory lane. I am also proud of hitting our goal of finishing Sunday’s race in Anton’s GT3 debut. All weekend our execution as a team was fantastic, Anton drove very well and improved all weekend, and you can count on Scott to always be fast. Everybody gets along and works well together. It’s a consistent feeling in the tent. We’re all in it, pulling in the same direction, and that’s rare.”

Perera and Andrews are in their first season racing with Lone Star but the team gelled from their very first race together at Daytona in January.

“In GT4, a podium was a long time coming,” Perera said. “It was a long race, so it was important not to have any damage and bring the car home on the lead lap. Scott Andrews is a fast driver, the Mercedes-AMG GT4 is great on long runs, and the car comes alive as the race goes on. The team has been working well together so that was good. It was a brand-new track for me, I’ve never been here, which is always challenging, especially in a new car on Sunday. We checked all the boxes. I spent most of my time on how to manage traffic and keep the car clean, but it was definitely a baptism by fire. It was frenzied and fast paced but it was really good, and for the team as well. Lots of positives and a lot of things to work on too.”

“It was a successful weekend,” Andrews said. We walked away with a GS trophy, which had definitely been a long time coming for this particular operation. I’m glad to finally get the monkey off our backs, so to speak. Sunday’s race was about learning. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 program is new and I’m proud to be a part of it. We’ll definitely be able to use this as a building block and continue moving forward.”

Emotions ran high as the Lone Star team and drivers celebrated their first visit to victory lane together on the hallowed ground of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“It’s just an absolute testament to the team,” Andrews said. “We just never give up, we work so hard and tirelessly, particularly for this weekend’s double-duty effort. I’m just so happy, this result is for my teammates and for my family back home in Australia. They’ve been supporting me. I haven’t lived there in 10 years, do go back for Christmas, but they’re not over here. So this is for them, for Anton and the whole team.”

Petersen thought of his family and Lone Star Racing owner and driver Dan Knox in victory lane and recalled the team’s role in last October’s Intercontinental GT Challenge Indianapolis 8 Hour victory by Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing. Petersen worked with the Hong Kong-based team throughout the event and Lone Star provided the winning Mercedes-AMG GT3 and all of the foundational support for the effort, including pit and paddock equipment and all car setup.

“None of us could make the commitment required to be successful at this level of competition without the love, support and incredible understanding of our families,” Petersen said. “I am thinking of and have to thank my wife and children back home in Texas while we are up here on the podium at Indianapolis. I am also really thankful for Dan. He was texting me the whole race, this result is for him, and we wouldn’t even be here without him. This one means a little more than last year, just because it was all us. We’ve had stronger cars and had stronger performances in the past but it just came together Saturday.”

Next up for Lone Star Racing is a return to Indy in three weeks with a multi-car effort for this year’s Indianapolis 8 Hour and season-ending SRO Motorsports America race weekend, October 5 – 8. One weekend later, the IMSA season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans takes place at Michelin Raceway Laguna Seca where Andrews, Perera and the No. 27 team will get a final shot at securing their first GS race win of the season in Friday’s Michelin Pilot Challenge finale.

Lone Star Racing competes in the 2023 season with the support of ACS Manufacturing and Bluff City Racing.

About Lone Star Racing: Based at Motorsport Ranch within the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area in Cresson, Texas, Lone Star Racing is competing in the No. 27 Lone Star Racing/Bluff City Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 in the 2023 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series. Lone Star Racing and its team members have won races across North America spanning sprint and endurance racing formats. The crew has worked together on many different teams and various types of cars, developing a strong bond and proven capability that gives them a competitive and winning advantage. Lone Star Racing competes with the support of primary partner ACS Manufacturing, Inc. (www.ACSManufacturing.com). Look for Lone Star Racing and team owner/driver Dan Knox on Facebook and follow the team on YouTube at Lone Star Racing, on Twitter and Instagram at @LSRTeam and on the official team web site at www.LoneStarRacingTeam.com.

Kvamme maintains point advantage for Am championship with two weekends remaining

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (19 Sept. 2023) – The Racing to End Alzheimer’s team continued its podium streak with a pair of second place finishes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Mark Kvamme in the No. 43 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, who continues to lead the Am class of the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America with two weekends remaining.

Kvamme has placed on the podium in all 12 races this season, extending an 18-race streak that began with the final six races of his 2022 championship campaign.

“Racing at Indianapolis is amazing,” Kvamme said. “It’s such an historic place, and it’s a lot of fun to drive here. Now, I’m looking forward to watching the IMSA WeatherTech Championship race. I’m a race junkie, and I get to do it all here. I get to play in it, and I get to see it. Today I had 184 names along for the race with me on the front of the car, and that’s absolutely 100-percent of why I’m doing this.”

The team carries 184 names on the No. 43 Porsche 992 Cup Car, and each of the names reflects the efforts of the R2EndAlz team to increase awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease, while giving families a way to honor their loved ones in a very tangible way – and raising funds for research and treatment (more information at (https://www.r2endalz.org).

For Racing to End Alzheimer’s founder Phil Frengs, the chance to bring the team’s message of hope to the legendary Brickyard – and to bring home a double podium – was a season highlight. Kvamme’s teammate Scott Noble, who won both races, has joined the team as well, carrying a R2EndAlz decal to aid the cause – which hit a milestone this weekend.

“For a racing nerd like me, being here is special in itself,” said Frengs. “And for us to have a double podium, in both races. Congratulations to Scott, he’s been terrific lately and Mark was just hanging in there trying to catch him. But we are very pleased.

“We’ve met last year’s total for names on the car, and funds raised, and we still have two races to go,” continued Frengs. “So we really feel like we are on our road to 200 or more, which was our goal at the beginning of the season. We are happy to see it being reached.”

Kvamme unofficially maintains a 17-point advantage in the Am standings with a pair of two-race weekends remaining over MDK Racing teammate Scott Noble, who won both weekend races. Kvamme was able to cut the gap on Noble in the closing minutes of the Sunday event, ending up 2.148 seconds behind at the checkered flag.

“Scott is the new sheriff in town,” Kvamme said of his teammate following Sunday’s race. “I’m having a hard time trying to catch him.”

Throughout the weekend, the Racing to End Alzheimer’s team was chasing better grip on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile circuit that uses a portion of the 2.5-mile oval that hosts the Indy 500.

“Traction here has been really tough,” Kvamme said after qualifying second for Saturday’s opening round. “We were trying to figure out the right setup, and I ended up going very soft in the front to get more turn-in, because the understeer was amazing. But as you get softer, you get oversteer, so it’s an interesting balance between the two. The setup for my car was a lot softer than my teammates.”

Race 1 saw Kvamme gain four positions on the overall field but found himself two positions behind Noble. Over the closing laps, Kvamme raced hard to maintain second, and was able to hold that position by one second. He placed 23rd overall, one place behind his teammate.

The Sunday morning finale quickly went under yellow for a multicar incident in Turn 1. After a slowdown of nearly 18 minutes, Kvamme was 17th overall, two seconds behind Noble. He closed the gap to under two seconds in the final minutes – while also defending his second-place position in the class – but could get no closer.

“I drove much better today,” Kvamme said. “I’m much happier with my drive today. Yesterday, I couldn’t really figure it out. I was a couple of seconds behind him. On the end part of the course, I was actually faster than him on each lap, but overall, he had me. Today we were 17th overall – that’s pretty good. It was crazy out there!”

Next up for the Racing to End Alzheimer’s team and the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America will be the doubleheader in support of the Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca September 29 – October 1. Race one takes the green flag Sunday at 9:50 a.m., with race two later in the day at 4:20 p.m. The race will be broadcast live in the U.S., on IMSA.TV, the NBC Peacock streaming app and PorscheCarreraCup.us.

About Racing to End Alzheimer’s

In 2013, Phil Frengs’ wife Mimi was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Their experience with the disease led Frengs to a seminal moment: his company, Legistics, had long sponsored a team in IMSA sports car racing and he realized an opportunity to raise money and awareness for the fight against the disease. In 2017, he formed Racing to End Alzheimer’s, giving fans the opportunity to honor loved ones by putting their names on the race car via donation – with Legistics matching each donation. 100% of those donations go to the two organizations the team supports:

The Nantz National Alzheimer’s Center at Houston Methodist Hospital is exploring cutting edge strategies in therapy, care and research to find a cure for these dementias. NNAC was founded by longtime CBS Sports broadcaster Jim Nantz III and his family in honor of his father, Jim, Jr., who passed away after a 13-year battle with Alzheimer’s. It is a world-class research, referral and care center that combines comprehensive patient services with the resolute pursuit of scientific breakthroughs in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s.

The UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program is a nationally-recognized grant-funded program designed to help patients and their families with the complex medical, behavioral and social needs associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. UCLA is renowned for its compassionate, personalized Alzheimer’s care; innovative social and psychological programs; and robust support services for patients, caregivers and families. Via webinars and on-site education, UCLA works with Alzheimer’s and dementia programs across the country to improve care for patients and families alike.

Kyle Washington Earned a Pair of Third-Place Showings on the Indianapolis Road Course While Washington and Jeroen Bleekemolen Battled Four Hours for a Lead Lap Finish on Saturday Night

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (September 18, 2023) – GMG Racing’s drivers and Porsche machinery completed all 193 laps possible in five hours and 20 minutes of racing over two days at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with Kyle Washington taking home a pair of class podiums in Porsche Carrera Cup North America and teaming with Jeroen Bleekemolen for a lead lap finish in the dark in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.

Washington opened the weekend by qualifying the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fifth in the Pro-Am class of Porsche Carrera Cup. In Saturday’s first race, he kept his cool during the opening lap to move to third place. Washington spent the caution-free sprint matching the lap times of his class competition, pulling to the finish line third.

His Sunday run nearly mirrored Saturday’s, with Washington avoiding a chaotic opening lap that ended the day for some. He settled into a rhythm after a long caution period and once again Washington held strong in third place to the checkered flag.

“What I’m most pleased about is Kyle’s race pace,” James Sofronas, GMG Racing Founder and Principal, said. “He’s been able to put in consistent, fast laps to stay up front and contend for podiums. In that regard, he’s making great progress and I take a lot of pride in seeing him evolve over the years and develop as a great driver. It’s fun to see his progress in the Cup car, which he really loves racing. It’s a pure race car that really commands driver skill and focus, and he’s stepped up to the task.”

From Saturday’s Carrera Cup podium celebration, Washington jumped almost immediately into the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport for the four-hour Pilot Challenge race. Despite a light rain varying the grip level throughout his stint on slick tires, Washington held onto the lead lap throughout the run and passed the car to Bleekemolen for the final two hours, 20 minutes.

With various fuel strategies in play up and down the field, GMG Racing made the right call to put Bleekemolen into the top 10 and with an opportunity to contend in the final stint. Bleekemolen, however, was battling a braking issue in the Cayman and was unable to push the car to the limit. Instead, the team brought home a 14th place, lead lap finish.

“It was a good race,” Bleekemolen said. “We learned a lot, and there was a lot more in it without the issue at the end with over an hour to go. We couldn’t be competitive any more, but it was a good, fun weekend and hopefully we can build on this and get better.”

The pair of podiums for Washington in Carrera Cup were his second and third of the year, and the first time that he’s earned back-to-back trophies.

“The weekend has been super fun,” Washington said. “It’s been a ton of driving, and I’m ready for a beer and some football.”

With bookend trophies in hand on Sunday morning, Washington earned some rest before his return to the track at Porsche Rennsport Reunion VII, September 28 to October 1 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The GMG Racing team will be racing a variety of cars at Porsche Rennsport Reunion, the weekend-long celebration of the racing heritage of Porsche. More details on the GMG Racing entries will be announced in the near future.

About GMG Racing: Founded in 2001, GMG Racing quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning facility. What began as a small 1,200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a 30,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility located in Santa Ana, California in Orange County and with a trackside motorsports facility at 28,000 sq. ft. currently being built at The Thermal Club. The staff, attention to detail, and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts worldwide. GMG, in its early years, was located directly across the street from Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA). This close proximity allowed GMG to build a strong relationship with the legendary racing brand which has helped us support our customers to the highest level possible. From club racing to Sebring, Daytona and Spa, GMG can take you as far as you want to go. More information can be found at www.gmgracing.com.

Indianapolis, Ind., September 18 – International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) returned to Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) for the first time in nine years for Round Five of the IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series Sept. 15-17 in Indianapolis, Ind.

Wild Elephant Racing team owner/driver Ron Atapattu and co-driver Kevin Madsen were due to compete in both Lamborghini NA rounds in the No. 24 Lamborghini Broward Super Trofeo EVO2 at the historic 2.439-mile, 14-turn IMS road course. Unfortunately, during Saturday morning qualifying the engine failed and a lengthy new engine installation halted their ability to compete in Race #1.

The engine change forced the No. 24 Lamborghini Broward entry to start from the back of the field for Race #2. The team elected to have Atapattu, who was driving for the first time at IMS, be the starting driver from tenth position in the Am class and 36th overall. He quickly rose through the field with a yet untested new engine and by the caution flag displayed on Lap 7, Atapattu was P8 in class.

Pit stops were allowed once the race went green again and Atapattu brought the No. 24 Lamborghini Super Trofeo EVO2 into the pits on Lap 12 for the mandatory driver change pit stop. Madsen went to work quickly, continuing to climb through the large Lamborghini field at the historic Indianapolis circuit, where he had previously raced in 2021 during the 8 Hour race for the Intercontinental GT race in a McLaren GT3 race car.

His drive was impressive as he got as high as fifth position by race end on Lap 29. Unfortunately, while Madsen was alongside another car on Lap 24 contact occurred and he was deemed the primary cause of the incident since he was doing the passing, thus received a penalty.

In the end the No. 24 was scored as seventh in class and 23rd overall in the 50-minute race. The team left happy with the event and performance because the goal was a directive to go for a podium finish if possible. This was especially important after missing Race 1 this weekend and the previous two races at VIRginia International Raceway last month, which left the team unable to have a high season championship result.

Fans were treated to an up-close look at the No. 24 Lamborghini Broward-sponsored red, white, and blue, stars and stripes liveried Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2 at Thursday evening’s IMSA Tirerack.com Battle On The Bricks Street Festival in downtown Indianapolis.

Atapattu and Madsen previously won the inaugural race of the season at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. in their debut 2023 race.

Quotes:

Ron Atapattu, Team Owner/Driver, No. 24 Lamborghini Broward Elephantea Super Trofeo EVO2:

“We had quite an eventful weekend at Indianapolis. This was a track I was glad to see on the calendar this year because I have never raced here and it’s such an iconic track. Everyone wants to ‘kiss the bricks’, which you get to do when you win here.

No one would have thought we would have an engine failure because these Lamborghinis, although powerful and complex, rarely have issues like that. The Ansa Motorsports team did a terrific job working until midnight to change the engine after we couldn’t compete in the first race.

Starting the No. 24 Lamborghini Broward car from the back of the field gave me free range to put the power down to move up. I was making good progress and then the yellow flag came out. After it went green it was time for pit stops so I turned the car over to Kevin. He did an impressive job moving the car up so fast as he didn’t have a very long drive time. It was too bad for the penalty because we were so close to being back on the podium again. In the end though we were happy with our performance in Race 2.”

Kevin Madsen, Driver, No. 24 Lamborghini Broward Elephantea Super Trofeo EVO2:

“What a weekend here at IMS. It was Ron’s first time and the goal the entire time for me was to get him to ‘kiss the bricks’ and get him on that podium. Unfortunately I thought that was out the window once we had the engine failure during that red flag lap during my qualifying session. Ron drove great the entire weekend, especially for his inaugural race here, where he continually improved, knocking off big chunks of time. But with the engine going and us missing Race 1, we knew it was going to take everything by the Ansa Motorsport team to get this new engine in and get us on track. And they delivered. They did an absolute great job to put the car together. Whatever needed to be done, they did it and got us back out for Race 2.

Ron went out and started from the very last position, 36th place overall, for Race 2 and charged up the field, making a number of passes before I got in. Unfortunately a yellow came out and was just a little too long. I was charging through the field hot and the team had me giving it my all as they knew I could catch the podium cars. I had hoped the LB Cup car ahead saw me outside of him at Turn 1 but unforunately he didn’t and we made contact in Turn 2 when he came back to the left. When I talked to him after the race he said he thought I would drop back and just go by on the straight. Unfortunately we didn’t have that sort of time but we both left on good terms knowing we could have both given a bit more space to avoid one another. That’s how it goes in racing sometimes.

I have to thank the team because we couldn’t have done it without the Ansa Motorsports team supported by Lamborghini Broward. Next we’re going to Vallelunga and let’s see what we can do.”

The next race for the series will be held in Vallelunga, Italy on November 16-17 when all three Lamborghini Super Trofeo series, North America, Europe and Asia, come together for the tenth edition of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Grand Finals.

Warren Henry Auto Group’s Lamborghini Broward, located in Davie, Florida, serves as a sponsor and partner for the No. 24 Wild Elephant Racing team.

Supporting partners for the Wild Elephant Racing team include Lamborghini Broward, elephantea, ShipOCI, Star Warehouse, Hippogriff Racing Co., Racers Safety Source, and CXC Simulations.

About Warren Henry Auto Group

Established in 1976, Warren Henry Auto Group is one of the longest-standing, private, family-owned dealership groups in Florida. The company comprises of nearly 500 employees, 6 different retail locations, and 17 luxury and premium brands including Jaguar, Land Rover, INFINITI, Audi, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Hennessey, Koenigsegg, Toyota, Ford, Lincoln, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, Icon, and Vespa.

Grounded in its original core values and vision, the company prides itself on providing exceptional customer service, creating a superior work environment for its employees, and supporting local causes in the communities it serves. Warren Henry Auto Group has received numerous awards and accolades including being named Best Dealership to Work for by Automotive News, honored by J.D. Power for Dealer of Excellence, and recognized by the South Florida Business Journal Philanthropy List. The company’s headquarters is located at 2300 NE 151st Street in North Miami. For more information, call (305) 690-6006 or visit www.warrenhenryauto.com.

For more information, please go to: www.wildelephantracing.com.

Cadillac V-Series.Rs finish fourth, seventh in 2-hour, 40-minute race at IMS

Updates Cadillac Racing place in the GTP Manufacturer Championship standings.

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 17, 2023) – From a 17-point gap to the championship lead, the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R will look to wrap up the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Grand Touring Prototype title Oct. 14 at the Motul Petit Le Mans.

After missing nearly all the initial practice session Friday because of a brake issue and qualifying a season-low eighth, Pipo Derani and Alexander Sims drove the hybrid Cadillac racecar to fourth place in the 2-hour, 40-minute TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R driven by Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande overcame a first-lap incident to finish seventh.

The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R takes a three-point advantage in the GTP Team/Driver Championship into the 10-hour race on the 2.54-mile, 12-turn Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Derani, Sims and Jack Aitken also lead the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup in points.

Cadillac is eight points out of first place in the GTP Manufacturer Championship standings and will seek to claim its ninth manufacturer title (three in IMSA DPi, three in the Pirelli World Challenge GT, two in the SPEED World Challenge GT).

The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R took the point following a round of yellow flag pit stops and Derani kept the Cadillac, powered by the 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V-8 engine, out front for 35 minutes at the midpoint of the race on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course.

Derani was overtaken in Turn 1 with 1 hour, 3 minutes left by the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsports entry and the eventual race-winning No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsports car. Sims held his own over the final 47 minutes after a full-service stop.

Bourdais, who qualified fourth, was tagged from behind in Turn 1 of the green flag lap, spun and hit again. He continued and brought the crippled car onto pit lane under yellow for a front bodywork change assembly and right-rear tire change. He returned to pit lane five minutes later under green for tires and fuel. Van der Zande took over the wheel for the final 1 hour, 51 minutes left.

The USA Network and Peacock (in the U.S.; IMSA.TV outside the U.S.) will air the Motul Petit Le Mans on Oct. 14.

What they’re saying

No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R

Sebastien Bourdais: “The run down to Turn 1 at the start is so long and you get a crazy amount of tow. They were all bunched to the right, so the only option was to go left. You know at that point that you’re in a three-wide situation and I was just trying to hold my position. In the process, I got turned and got hit and we had to come in for a new nose and got a drive-thru. It was a frustrating race after the team prepared hard for this race. We’ll keep at it and hope to finish on a better note at Petit.”

Renger van der Zande: “I was disappointed with our pace after the first-corner crash because it didn’t feel right. I was hanging on to it much of the time. We hopefully can improve at the upcoming test and understand a little more what the tire does and take it from there at Petit Le Mans.”

No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R

Pipo Derani: “I’m proud of the whole team. After missing practice 1 and to be in position to lead the race, we fought hard to bring home a solid finish for the championship. We moved up the grid from P8 to P4 and back in the championship lead. Obviously, not the race result we were looking for when we arrived here. We always want to win, but if you can’t win you always try to get your best finish. Considering how we started the weekend, it was a very good effort. Thank you to our Whelen team, Cadillac Racing for always fighting hard.”

Alexander Sims: “Honestly, from where we started, the end was pretty good. The middle of the race it was looking pretty rosy the was the strategy played out. Ultimately, we didn’t quite have the long-run pace of the guys up front. When I got in we were fourth and we finished fourth. I didn’t have the strongest of stints and there is work to do to keep improving. Nevertheless, we go into the last race in a good position and as always in IMSA it’s pretty exciting down to the end. I’m looking forward to it.”

Cadillac V-Series.Rs finish fourth, seventh in 2-hour, 40-minute race at IMS

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 17, 2023) – From a 17-point gap to the championship lead, the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R will look to wrap up the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Grand Touring Prototype title Oct. 14 at the Motul Petit Le Mans.

After missing nearly all the initial practice session Friday because of a brake issue and qualifying a season-low eighth, Pipo Derani and Alexander Sims drove the hybrid Cadillac racecar to fourth place in the 2-hour, 40-minute TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R driven by Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande overcame a first-lap incident to finish seventh.

The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R takes a three-point advantage in the GTP Team/Driver Championship into the 10-hour race on the 2.54-mile, 12-turn Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Derani, Sims and Jack Aitken also lead the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup in points.

Cadillac continues to pace the GTP Manufacturer Championship standings and will to claim its ninth manufacturer title (three in IMSA DPi, three in the Pirelli World Challenge GT, two in the SPEED World Challenge GT).

The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R took the point following a round of yellow flag pit stops and Derani kept the Cadillac, powered by the 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V-8 engine, out front for 35 minutes at the midpoint of the race on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course.

Derani was overtaken in Turn 1 with 1 hour, 3 minutes left by the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsports entry and the eventual race-winning No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsports car. Sims held his own over the final 47 minutes after a full-service stop.

Bourdais, who qualified fourth, was tagged from behind in Turn 1 of the green flag lap, spun and hit again. He continued and brought the crippled car onto pit lane under yellow for a front bodywork change assembly and right-rear tire change. He returned to pit lane five minutes later under green for tires and fuel. Van der Zande took over the wheel for the final 1 hour, 51 minutes left.

The USA Network and Peacock (in the U.S.; IMSA.TV outside the U.S.) will air the Motul Petit Le Mans on Oct. 14.

What they’re saying

No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R

Sebastien Bourdais: “The run down to Turn 1 at the start is so long and you get a crazy amount of tow. They were all bunched to the right, so the only option was to go left. You know at that point that you’re in a three-wide situation and I was just trying to hold my position. In the process, I got turned and got hit and we had to come in for a new nose and got a drive-thru. It was a frustrating race after the team prepared hard for this race. We’ll keep at it and hope to finish on a better note at Petit.”

Renger van der Zande: “I was disappointed with our pace after the first-corner crash because it didn’t feel right. I was hanging on to it much of the time. We hopefully can improve at the upcoming test and understand a little more what the tire does and take it from there at Petit Le Mans.”

No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R

Pipo Derani: “I’m proud of the whole team. After missing practice 1 and to be in position to lead the race, we fought hard to bring home a solid finish for the championship. We moved up the grid from P8 to P4 and back in the championship lead. Obviously, not the race result we were looking for when we arrived here. We always want to win, but if you can’t win you always try to get your best finish. Considering how we started the weekend, it was a very good effort. Thank you to our Whelen team, Cadillac Racing for always fighting hard.”

Alexander Sims: “Honestly, from where we started, the end was pretty good. The middle of the race it was looking pretty rosy the was the strategy played out. Ultimately, we didn’t quite have the long-run pace of the guys up front. When I got in we were fourth and we finished fourth. I didn’t have the strongest of stints and there is work to do to keep improving. Nevertheless, we go into the last race in a good position and as always in IMSA it’s pretty exciting down to the end. I’m looking forward to it.”

Cadillac V-Series.Rs qualify fourth and eighth for 2-hour, 40-minute GTP race

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 16, 2023) – Cadillac Racing’s Grand Touring Prototype racecars qualified fourth and eighth Saturday for the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway — the penultimate race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.

Sebastien Bourdais, driving the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R, recorded a best lap of 1 minute, 13.939 seconds during the 20-minute session on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course to place fourth in the 10-car field. The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R has started in the top half of the field in all but one of the eight races.

The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R driven by Pipo Derani qualified eighth with a best lap of 1:14.284 for the 2-hour, 40-minute race Sunday. It will mark the first time the premier North American sports car racing series competes on the IMS road course since 2014. The event will expand to a six-hour race in 2024.

Bourdais was 0.267 of a second off the pole-winning lap time of the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsports entry. The field was separated by 0.960 of a second.

Bourdais is no stranger to the Brickyard. The four-time CART champion has made 10 INDYCAR starts on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course (best finish of fourth in 2014, ’15 and 2018) and nine Indianapolis 500 starts. He also co-drove a Daytona Prototype with Alex Popow to victory in the 2012 NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race and co-drove a Chevrolet Corvette DP to 11th place in 2013 on the previous (2.534-mile) circuit configuration.

NBC will telecast the race live at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 17. Peacock streaming in the U.S. begins at 1 p.m. ET, while viewers outside the U.S. can tune in to IMSA.com. IMSA Radio will air the race at IMSA.com along with XM 207 and SiriusXM Online 992.

What they’re saying

No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R

Sebastien Bourdais drove in qualifying: “We had a really great car at the test in July and then I saw the temperatures on the forecast and said this is going to be a tough one. I wish it was hotter because if it was I think we’d be in a better spot. But the conditions being what they are, we’ll get on with it. A little sad about that but the team is executing well and I think we’re doing everything we can maximize the result. Tomorrow will be a chaotic day. I think the weather is going to come into play as well. We’ll try to stay out of trouble and see what comes our way.”

No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R

Pipo Derani drove in qualifying: “Considering what happened in the (first) practice, when we were basically one practice session behind everybody else, the field is so tight that it’s hard to catch up if you lose 90 minutes (sorting out a brake issue). All in all, we improved from practice 2 but it didn’t look like it was enough. Balance-wise, the car is OK, but we were just not able to extract what we wanted out of it in qualifying conditions. For race conditions, I thin our car is fast. Last time we qualified first and finished sixth, so we’ll try to reverse that this time out. Hoping we can come out with some good points.”