Category: IMSA

Kvamme ends first half of season with victory, two podiums

WATKINS GLEN, NY (24 June 2023) – Racing to End Alzheimer’s driver Mark Kvamme maintained his drive for a second-consecutive Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America championship with a strong weekend at Watkins Glen International – winning a race among a pair of podium finishes.

The driver of the No. 43 MDK Motorsports Racing Against Alzheimer’s / Drive Capital / Avery’s Trail Porsche ended the first half of the season with his sixth triumph of the campaign, having raced to his eighth podium in eight races.

“I’m so happy to get this for Phil (Frengs, Racing to End Alzheimer’s founder),” said Kvamme. “I always want to represent the program well. We’re so appreciative to everyone who has joined this effort, with all the names on the car.”

Kvamme had to come from the back of the pack to finish third in the opening race. That ended a five-race winning streak but kept his streak intact with his seventh podium. Set for a good start, his qualifying time was disallowed due to a ride-height violation that sent him to the back of the 35-car field, seventh in the Am class, for the opening 40-minute race.

“I was going to be P-1, but I missed due to a ride-height issue – by only one millimeter,” he said. “That put me to the very back of the field.”

He got a good jump at the start, only to be bumped off and spun. From that point, he worked his way forward. He took fifth in class with 20 minutes remaining, and fourth with 16:45 left – but six seconds behind the third-place car. Kvamme charged to take third with 9:10 to go. He held that position, taking 26th overall.

“I got a good start, and I passed four or five guys,” Kvamme explained. “Then I got turned around in Turn 9, and I was at the back of the pack – they told me I was 29 seconds behind. Then I had to run my rear end off. That was pretty exciting. I always want to represent the Racing Against Alzheimer’s guys, so I did it.”

Kvamme quickly went to the front in the Sunday event – and stayed there despite steady pressure until a full-course caution for a rain and an incident brought a premature end to the racing with 11:50 remaining.

“I started second, and I got a good drive around the end, and then I got lucky,” Kvamme said. “Then the rain came in, and it was crazy. It was raining, and I did not see it. I almost lost it in Turn 6. But we won, and I’m so happy for everyone who helped us.”

The second half of the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America gets underway at another historic venue, with races nine and 10 at Road America on July 28-29.

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 and his family in honor of his father, Jim, Jr., who passed away after a 13-year battle with 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.

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 25, 2023) – Watkins Glen International brought the rain last weekend as the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series came to compete for rounds three and four of the 2023 championship. Sports car racing team Flying Lizard Motorsports endured varying weather conditions all week long to earn a second-place finish as drivers Paul Nemschoff and Marc Miller became the first Lizard pairing of the season to earn their second podium result of the year.

“We had our challenges this weekend, but it was nice to have Paul Nemschoff and Marc Miller come home with a second place on the first day and gain good points in the championship,” said Program Manager Darren Law. “It also showed we had the pace to run up front. We are looking forward to the next round at Road America.”

Race One

Sadly, driver Tom Tait and the No. 64 Lamborghini sat sidelined for the weekend following an incident during the weekend’s first qualifying session that resulted in vehicle damage that could not be repaired on-site. His teammates continued on, with Johannes van Overbeek and Chris Bellomo starting from fifth, Slade Stewart and Andy Lee starting from eighth, and Paul Nemschoff and Marc Miller from tenth. The 36-car field had a clean start, and van Overbeek immediately charged forward, elbows out to bring the No. 68 Lamborghini up to ninth overall and fifth in class by the end of the opening lap. Twenty minutes into the race, Nemschoff advanced to ninth in class, beginning the No. 64’s climb through the Pro/Am class. The pink unicorn Lamborghini of Slade Stewart sat in the middle of its sister cars, running in eighth by the time the mandatory pit window opened. Each car came in for its required stop at the halfway point, and the secondary driver for each car took over. While the No. 14 and No. 41 cars were to be taken over by the pro drivers, Andy Lee and Marc Miller, Johannes van Overbeek finished out the opening stint in the No. 68 for Am driver Chris Bellomo to finish the race.

Rain started to descend on the track with 15 minutes remaining, just mere laps into the second stint. Several cars went spinning, bringing out a full-course caution. By this point, Miller had already climbed up to sixth in class, hungry for more positions with Andy Lee right behind in seventh, and Bellomo in ninth. The eight-minute sprint run of green racing played well into the hands of Miller, who charged forward through the Pro/Am field to earn a second place finish. Lee finished in eighth with Bellomo right behind in ninth.

Race Two

Since race two’s qualifying was cut short by a red flag that interrupted the session, the field for the final race of the weekend was set by fastest lap times in practice two. Andy Lee led the team charge in the pink unicorn Lamborghini, starting from second place. Poised to fight for another podium finish, Marc Miller started in the second row from fourth place in class. Chris Bellomo started from eighth in class. Lap after lap, Lee and Miller ran in second and third place throughout the first stint trading places just before the mandatory pit stops and driver changes. Bellomo and the No. 8 car of Nick Persing went side by side and off course in turn eight but were both able to continue. Nemschoff, Stewart, and van Overbeek took over for the second stint, but a slick track led to both Nemschoff and Stewart spinning on track. They were able to continue but lost precious ground. In the end, Stewart finished seventh, followed by Nemschoff in eighth, and van Overbeek in ninth.

The Lizards will have their chance at redemption for rounds five and six in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin at the fan-favorite course of Road America. The race weekend will again be in support of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, August 4-6.

2023 Race Schedule

May 12-14, 2023

Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

Salinas, California

June 22-25, 2023

Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America

Watkins Glen International

Watkins Glen, New York

August 4-5, 2023

Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America

Road America

Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

August 25-27, 2023

Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America

VIRginia International Raceway

Alton, Virginia

September 15-17, 2023

Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Indianapolis, Indiana

November 16-17, 2023

Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America

Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi

Campagnano di Roma, Italy

About Flying Lizard Motorsports
Based out of Sonoma, California, Flying Lizard Motorsports is one of the most iconic sports car teams in motorsports, having celebrated ten driver and team championships, as well as competed internationally at the 24 Hours of Le Mans eight times.

The Lizards burst on the American Le Mans Series scene in 2004, competing in the GT class until 2012. In 2013, the team moved to the GTC class, still competing in legendary events such as the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Daytona. In 2014, the team expanded its program to include running two Audi R8 LMS in the TUDOR Championship, and in 2015, again expanded the program to include two Porsches in Porsche Club racing. Flying Lizard closed out the season with a dominating win at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill with Toyo Tires, a win they repeated in 2016, 2017, and 2018. The 2020 season proved the team’s most successful to date, earning four titles in the GT4 America championship. Flying Lizard Motorsports has proven to be a championship contender no matter the race series or race car. For more information, visit lizardms.com.

About Lamborghini Newport Beach

Lamborghini Newport Beach is the authorized sales & service franchise for Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. serving Orange County, California.

Representing Lamborghini since 2010, Lamborghini Newport Beach is continuously one of the top US retailers year after year. With many years of combined experience, their team of professionals has all the knowledge and expertise necessary to assist you with purchasing the Lamborghini of your dreams, or properly maintaining the one in your garage. All Lamborghini Newport Beach technicians are fully factory certified, and all sales staff holds master certifications. Their newly opened state of the art facilities are now located at 44 Auto Center Drive, inside the Irvine Auto Center.

About Emerald Center

Emerald center is a premier lifestyle and home furnishings retail mixed use center featuring IKEA and over 2 million square feet of mixed use development serving the Southeast Phoenix market. Emerald center is located at the Northeast corner of I-10 and Warner Rd., Tempe, AZ.

About Chandler Pavilions

Chandler Pavilions is the most successful retail power center in Chandler, Az. With Marquis tenants including Home Depot, Lowes, Sam’s Club, REI, Flemings Steak House, and over twenty restaurants l, totaling 2 million square feet of retail tenants. Chandler Pavilions is located at the northeast and southwest corners of I-10 and Ray Rd, Chandler Az.

Watkins Glen, New York, June 25 – The No. 24 Lamborghini Broward Super Trofeo EVO2 of Ron Atapattu and Kevin Madsen took to the track at Watkins Glen International for the IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series Rounds 3 and 4 this weekend with variable weather conditions.

The Laguna Seca Am class winning duo started the first race from P34 with Atapattu at the wheel of the Lamborghini Broward-sponsored Super Trofeo EVO2. He pitted on Lap 10 for Madsen to enter the cockpit. A caution flag was displayed with 13 minutes remaining in the 50-minute race following a little sprinkle of rain causing slippery conditions. The track went green with less than eight minutes remaining. Madsen brought the No. 24 Raging Bull across the finish line after 24 laps finishing sixth in the Am class.

In Race 2, the pair started from 14th position on the grid and third in class. Atapattu and Madsen swapped driver roles with Madsen as starting driver. He was charging hard and made a few passes during his stint, bringing the No. 24 Lamborghini Broward Super Trofeo to the front and class leader. Madsen brought the colorful red, white and blue Lambo in on the late end of the pit window, which started at the 28-minute mark of the 50-minute race.

Atapattu became driver of the No. 24 Wild Elephant Racing entry on Lap 14 and within two laps had to deal with avoiding a collision at Turn nine, which he did aptly. At race end and 25 total laps, the pair finished seventh in class. Madsen turned the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1:49.014 during his hard charge to the front in the ANSA Motorsports-prepared Lamborghini Super Trofeo EVO2.

Quotes:

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

“It was great to be back in the No.24 Lamborghini Broward Elephantea car again this weekend at Watkins Glen. We had a good battle going in Race 1 and I was glad to be able to escape from mayhem to finish in sixth position.

It was a shame the qualifying two round was called off due to a red flag, which meant we used times from practice two to set up the starting grid position. If not for that I think we could have started further up.

Kevin did a great job and especially getting us into the lead in the second race. I had some braking issues in Race 2 so had to manage them to get to the end of the race. It was a bit of a tough mechanical weekend for us, but we’ll go to the next round ready to go.”

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

“It was super exciting to watch Ron in Race 1 before it was my turn to hop in. He had an epic battle going on with a faster car ahead and finally wore him down to make the pass. This is the type of stuff we discuss prior to the race, and it was great to see him execute so well at a track he hasn’t driven much.

“We knew Race 2 was going to be tough since I wasn’t able to get a lap in before the red flag in qualifying. Since they used our lap from practice when we had a fuel system issue, it meant the time wasn’t what it could have been. Even so I was very happy with my stint, overtook a couple cars from the get-go and ultimately got us up to first in class and right in the mix with the pro cars. The reaction from the ANSA Motorsports team when I came in was awesome. I loved their excitement and was happy I could make them proud of all the work they put in on a tough weekend.”

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.

The next IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo NA race will be August 4-6 at Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisc.

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.

WATKINS GLEN, New York – Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series bring the momentum of recent race wins and points leads in several championships to Watkins Glen International this weekend at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, June 22 – 25. Mercedes-AMG GT3 teams WeatherTech Racing/Proton Competition, Team Korthoff Motorsports and Winward Racing compete in Sunday’s featured Sahlen’s Six Hours WeatherTech Championship race while four Mercedes-AMG GT4 entries do battle in the top-tier Grand Sport (GS) class in Saturday’s two-hour Pilot Challenge race.

The weekend’s races bring both the WeatherTech and Pilot Challenge series to the midpoints of their respective seasons in addition to Sunday’s Sahlen’s Six Hours serving as the third of four rounds in this year’s IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC). The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen starts this Sunday at 10:40 a.m. EDT with live coverage on the USA Network picking up at 2 p.m. EDT through the checkered flag and post-race coverage until 5 p.m. EDT.

Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella co-drove the No. 79 WeatherTech Racing/Proton Competition Mercedes-AMG GT3 to a GTD Daytona (GTD) Pro class victory one race ago at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The win was a GTD Pro series-leading second of the season for Gounon, Juncadella and the WeatherTech/Proton team after a victory in the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona in January.

Combined with a third-place finish in March’s 12 Hours of Sebring, the No. 79 WeatherTech team and drivers come to Watkins Glen leading the Endurance Cup GTD Pro championship four points ahead of the nearest challenger. The early-season success also has Mercedes-AMG atop the GTD Pro IMEC manufacturer championship standings by the same four-point margin, 29 – 25.

The Laguna Seca win also moved the No. 79 squad nearer to the overall GTD Pro championship leaders. The team is second in GTD Pro points, just 41 shy of first place, heading into the weekend with both Gounon and Juncadella set for their debuts on the legendary Watkins Glen Grand Prix circuit.

The other Mercedes-AMG Motorsport customer Mercedes-AMG GT3 contenders at The Glen include the No. 57 Winward Racing and No. 32 Team Korthoff Motorsports entries.

Winward looks to avenge a heart-breaking loss in last year’s Sahlen’s Six Hours when team driver Philip Ellis crossed the finish line first only to see the No. 57 stripped of the victory as one of several teams narrowly missing modified driver-time requirements due to a late and race-delaying rainstorm.

Ellis returns to upstate New York co-driving the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 with full-season teammate Russell Ward and their longtime endurance race partner Indy Dontje.

Korthoff, that made its major league racing debut in IMSA GTD competition at Watkins Glen in 2021, returns for this weekend’s endurance race on the 3.4-mile circuit with full-season co-drivers Mike Skeen and Mikael Grenier and their endurance-race teammate Kenton Koch.

Competitive runs in both the Rolex 24 and the 12 Hours of Sebring have the Korthoff team second in the GTD Endurance Cup point standings ahead of Sunday’s race. The No. 32 team and drivers are just three points out of first place, the same number that has Mercedes-AMG currently ranking a close second in the GTD Endurance Cup manufacturer championship standings.

Mercedes-AMG Motorsport customer teams are also championship contenders and recent winners in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge GS competition coming to The Glen. Murillo Racing and Winward have combined to win the last two Pilot Challenge races with a pair of first-time series winners.

Kenny Murillo and Christian Szymczak scored their first Pilot Challenge victory last month at Laguna Seca in the No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4. The breakout win moved the No. 72 team and drivers to first place in the GS championship, a lead they have built to 100 points over the nearest competitor, 1000 – 900, coming into The Glen.

Bolstered by the two victories in the year’s first four races, Mercedes-AMG has also added to its GS manufacturer championship lead ahead of Saturday’s race. The current tally of 1300 points is 60 clear of Mercedes-AMG’s nearest competitor.

Russell Ward’s father, Bryce Ward, and his co-driver Daniel Morad secured their first Pilot Challenge win with a convincing victory in the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 earlier this month at the Detroit Grand Prix. Winward’s victory followed a then season-best finish of third at Laguna Seca and was the first for Bryce Ward in five years of Michelin Pilot Challenge competition.

Murillo Racing brings a pair of entries to Watkins Glen, with Jeff Mosing and Eric Foss coming off of a season-best fifth-place finish at Detroit in the No. 56 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4. The hard-earned top-five came after Mosing started 14th in the 22-car field.

The final Mercedes-AMG Motorsport customer entry at Watkins Glen is the No. 27 Lone Star Racing/Bluff City Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 co-driven by Anton Dias Perera and Scott Andrews. The No. 27 team and drivers have been strong all season and look for their first podium showing of the year at The Glen after competitive but ultimately frustrating races at Laguna Seca and Detroit since the team finished a season-best fourth at Sebring in March.

A four-day event, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen weekend begins with opening Pilot Challenge GS practice Thursday afternoon. Final GS practice is Friday morning before that afternoon’s GS qualifying session at 3:55 p.m. EDT.

The WeatherTech Championship practices for the Sahlen’s Six Hours take place for the first time Friday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. EDT with final practice Saturday morning setting the stage for GTD and GTD Pro qualifying at 1:20 p.m. EDT.

Sunday’s schedule begins with a 20-minute WeatherTech Championship warm-up session at 8 a.m. EDT with the weekend’s featured Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen running from 10:40 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. EDT.

Kenton Koch, Driver – No. 32 Team Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I think going into any race you go in trying to do the best that you can. You can’t really look at what the result might be – obviously everybody wants to win – but you just have to look at doing the best that you can. Jumping back in with those guys again as the third driver is great, but we definitely need some luck going our way. We have had plenty of speed, and Watkins Glen may suit the Mercedes-AMG GT3 well, as far as I can tell. If we can have a little bit of luck, maybe we can finally get a result the team deserves. Korthoff is probably one of the best run teams that I have ever been a part of. The collection of people that they have under the tent just flows really well. Always fun running with this group of guys and I hope we can translate the hard work everyone has put into this season into a result.”

Jules Gounon, Driver – No. 79 WeatherTech Racing/Proton Competition Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I am looking forward to exploring the Watkins Glen circuit. I wasn’t able to participate in the test as I was racing in Europe, but Dani told me it is an amazing track. It looks like another great U.S. track. The fast corner that leads to the Bus Stop looks great. I am a big fan of fast tracks. We have done well at the long races so far this year with our win at the Rolex 24 and the podium at Sebring. We want to keep that podium streak going this weekend at The Glen.”

Daniel Juncadella, Driver – No. 79 WeatherTech Racing/Proton Competition Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I got my first real taste of The Glen just 10 days ago. It is fast, high grip, one of the best discoveries of the year. We are coming in from a really strong showing in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Championship as well as coming off of a win at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Having the test is really going to benefit us this weekend. Neither Jules nor I have raced there before. I have been talking to him already, and I am excited to race this track for the first time this weekend.”

Daniel Morad, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “This year has been incredible. A complete change of teams and atmosphere and it has really unlocked the true potential inside myself. Since winning the Indy 8 Hour at the end of last year, building off of that momentum has been unbelievable. I just have so much confidence and self-belief, and I am in great programs. A huge part of that is your environment, and Mercedes-AMG as a family is an amazing place to build your career. The support is unbelievable, and the teams I am driving with – including Winward Racing – are just the best I could have ever asked for.”

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 21, 2023) – After a heartbreaking early retirement just hours into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans in France, drivers Ryan Hardwick, Jan Heylen, and Zacharie Robichon are stateside once again, ready to return to the Wright Motorsports and the No. 16 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R.

“Myself and Bob Viglione were on site to support the Le Mans trio as they raced in the 100th Anniversary of the race with a fellow Porsche team,” said Team Owner John Wright. “Ryan, Zach, and Jan had a great car and after winning the Rolex 24 At Daytona, they’ve proven they have what it takes to come out on top at demanding endurance racing events. We’re glad to have them back with us for the Six Hour, and we’ve got what it takes to get them back on the podium.”

Round Five of Eleven in the full-season 2023 IMSA WeatherTech championship, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen marks the beginning of the second half of the North American sports car racing season. The race is the third of four endurance races in the calendar, with a run time of six hours. The 1st Phorm Porsche is only running in the North American Endurance Cup and will close out their four-race championship in October at Petit Le Mans.

The Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen will feature 57 entries competing across five classes, each entry striving for victory within their own classes, as well as overall. The 1st Phorm Porsche is competing in the GTD class, which boasts the largest field, with 20 entries slated to compete.

TheSix Hours of the Glen has a rich history that dates back to its inaugural race in 1968. Over the years, it has become one of the most highly anticipated endurance races on the North American motorsports calendar. The race itself lasts for six hours, demanding a combination of speed, strategy, and endurance from the teams and drivers. The track is known for its challenging 3.4-mile road course, with high-speed sections, sweeping turns, and elevation changes. Throughout the race, teams must manage tire wear, fuel consumption, driver changes, and pit stop strategies to optimize their performance and maintain a competitive edge. The Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen provides an exciting and unpredictable racing experience, with various twists and turns as teams navigate the challenges posed by traffic and changing weather conditions.

The race will begin on Sunday, June 25 at 10:40 AM ET, airing live on Peacock. imsaradio.com will offer live and comprehensive coverage of all WeatherTech sessions. For schedule information, visit imsa.com.

Ryan Hardwick

After many weeks racing in Europe, I’m looking forward to getting back in our Wright Motorsports GTD car and back to Watkins Glen! The Glen is my favorite race track in North America. I’ve always enjoyed racing there, and the 6 Hour is a marquee event. Our team will be pushing with everything we’ve got, and aiming for a podium result.

Jan Heylen

Luck hasn’t been on our side this year, but we are optimistic about this weekend! We had a good test here a few weeks ago, and we’re well prepared and ready for a good battle. Watkins Glen is always fun, but even more so in the new Porsche 911 GT3 R. The high downforce track suits us very well. I look forward to being back in the car with Ryan and Zach, and hopefully we get our first win of the season.

Zacharie Robichon

Watkins Glen is one of the most fun tracks for drivers. We had a good test in May and although we expect the weather to be very different, we learned a lot about the 992 GT3R and we are hoping to be able to apply our learnings into what is sure to be a very exciting race,

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.

1st Phorm

1st Phorm is a sports nutrition company based in St. Louis, MO. In 2009, CEO Andy Frisella and his business partner Chris Klein started the brand, and since then, it has become the fastest growing supplement company in the world. 1st Phorm has set the standards in the industry for quality and helping people reach their goals. This new racing partnership is not their first time in the exotic car scene either. 1st Phorm has been the title sponsor for the Gold Rush Rally for six years running. With over a million followers across social media, 1st Phorm has amassed a huge cult-like following known as, “The Legion of Boom.” They stand for a movement in the fitness world. To turn it back to what it was meant to be. Helping others improve their lives, to be a good human… and to drop the excuses and do the work. 1st Phorm is a winning brand and they don’t expect anything less when it comes to their race team. For additional info: www.1stphorm.com

Mountain Motorsports

Mountain Motorsports is a group of motorcycle and powersports dealerships with multiple locations in the southeastern United States. The company was founded by lifelong friends Ryan Hardwick and Justin Price when they opened their first location as a single-line Honda dealership in Sevierville, Tennessee in 1999. The company has since grown into one of the largest retailers of motorcycle and powersports vehicles in the nation, spanning nine dealership locations representing eleven of the industry’s most well-known brands. For additional info: www.mountainmotorsports.com

Una Vida Tequila

Una Vida translates to One Life. That is how this brand started. By people who want to live their “One Life” to the absolute fullest and to their highest potential. A group of guys from the Midwest who love great quality tequila, and want their One Life to have meaning and impact others.

One Life, One Tequila is our CORE BELIEF. We’re building the only tequila brand you will ever need to drink. Una Vida is bigger than just tequila we’re also building a culture of people who want to live their life to their utmost potential.

Our story begins and continues to grow bottle by bottle. It’s a life mission for us to create a community of people who all raise a glass knowing they’re living their ONE LIFE! For more information, visit unavidatequila.com

Motul

Motul is a world-class French company specializing in the formulation, production, and distribution of high-tech engine lubricants (two-wheelers, cars, and other vehicles) as well as lubricants for the industry via its MotulTech activity. Present in more than 120 countries, Motul USA was established in 1989 as a subsidiary of Motul France and is based in Southern California. Motul is recognized as the specialist in synthetic lubricants. As early as 1971, Motul was the first lubricant manufacturer to pioneer the formulation of a 100% synthetic lubricant for automotive engines, the 300V lubricant, making use of Esters technology from the aeronautical industry.

Throughout the years, Motul has gained experience as an official supplier for many racing teams and manufacturers to further technological development in motorsports. Motul is supporting those teams in international competitions such as 24 Hours of Le Mans (cars and motorcycles), FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Super GT, Formula Drift, Pikes Peak, Dakar, Le Mans Classic, MotoGP, World Superbike, World MX, IOM TT, and score of others.

We represent the highest quality in racing safety with the intention of maintain our position at the top. With 50 years in the industry, Sabelt is the world’s premier safety equipment

Preview, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Round 5, Watkins Glen (USA)

• Atlanta, June 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —
• Porsche Penske Motorsport travels to round five of the season leading the championship
• Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet at the top of the drivers’ standings
• Second race outing for the customer-run 963 from JDC-Miller MotorSports
• A total of six Porsche 911 GT3 R contest the two GTD classes
• Porsche GT4 e-Performance demonstrates its potential in show runs

Porsche Penske Motorsport travels to round five of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship as the leader of the team classification. In the 6 Hours of the Glen in New York state, the factory squad aims to extend its championship lead and propel Porsche to the top of the manufacturer’s standings. Porsche Penske Motorsport fields two Porsche 963 at Watkins Glen International, with the customer team JDC-Miller MotorSports campaigning one identical hybrid prototype in the top GTP class. In the two GTD categories, four partner teams run a total of six Porsche 911 GT3 R.

Atlanta. After scoring top results at the Californian circuits of Long Beach and Laguna Seca recently, the works drivers Mathieu Jaminet from France and Nick Tandy from the UK moved to the top of the leaderboard in the drivers’ classification. The pair in the No. 6 Porsche 963 is determined to defend their lead in the championship at Watkins Glen International. Felipe Nasr from Brazil and Australian Matt Campbell share driving duties in the sister car. The No. 7 entry secured the first pole position for Porsche Penske Motorsport in Laguna Seca. In the manufacturers’ classification, Porsche currently ranks second. In the long and illustrious history of the race track in the Fingerlakes region of New York, the sports car manufacturer from Germany has achieved eleven overall victories.

“After the disappointment at Le Mans, we now want to continue the clear uptrend that we’ve demonstrated previously in the IMSA series,” explains Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. “Our two Porsche 963 will be well prepared for the race and the driver pairings have already impressively displayed their ability. The North American endurance racing scene offers fans some gripping, balanced and spectacular racing at every event. I hope that we’ll also be mixing with the main players at this fantastic show at Watkins Glen.”

“We recently achieved some fantastic results in the sprint races of the IMSA series. Now it’s time for another endurance event. We aim to shine there as well,” states Urs Kuratle. The Director of Factory Motorsport LMDh adds: “Our team went testing at Watkins Glen a few weeks ago and has already set up the Porsche 963 to the special characteristics of this stunning parkland race track. Our goal is clear: we also want to take the lead in the manufacturers’ championship.”

“The team is completely focused on the task ahead at Watkins Glen. We want to continue fighting for the lead in the championship – especially after what happened at Le Mans,” Jonathan Diuguid clarifies. The Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport adds: “We learn something new at every race and we continue to improve the car and the team. Watkins Glen will be a huge challenge. The race is not as long as those in Daytona, Sebring or Le Mans, but the six-hour event should not be underestimated. We hope to benefit from our two days of testing at Watkins Glen and we look forward to heading into the second half of the season.”

The race
The six-hour race has its roots in the Grand Prix Watkins Glen, which was contested on public roads for the first time in 1948. Eight years later, it switched to a purpose-built closed race track under the name Watkins Glen International. From 1961 to 1980, Formula One was contested regularly on the 3.4-mile (5.47-kilometer) course. At the same time, endurance racing became a regular fixture at the circuit, which features eleven turns and spectacular uphill and downhill passages. To date, Porsche has eleven overall victories at Watkins Glen.
The course nestles harmoniously into the forested and undulating landscape of the Finger Lakes, which lie close to the Canadian border and are extremely popular with tourists. Fast and flowing with dramatic elevation changes make it a favorite among drivers. Like on almost all North American tracks, Watkins Glen has very few run-off zones. This adds to the thrill for drivers and spectators alike. Alongside long-distance races at Daytona, Sebring and the season finale at Road Atlanta, the six-hour event counts towards the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup. This special classification includes the four longest races of the season.

The drivers
Mathieu Jaminet from France and Nick Tandy from the UK share the cockpit of Porsche Penske Motorsport’s No. 6 car. The Englishman won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015. In April, the pair clinched the maiden victory for the Porsche 963 at Long Beach. Scoring second at the previous race in Laguna Seca, Jaminet/Tandy moved to the top of the drivers’ standings. The crew in the No. 7 sister car, Felipe Nasr from Brazil and Australian Matt Campbell, currently ranks sixth. Campbell achieved the first pole position for the Porsche 963 at Laguna Seca.

The customer teams
The Porsche 963 fielded by the customer team JDC-Miller MotorSports tackles the top GTP class. The squad from Minneapolis put in a strong drive at its debut in Laguna Seca and crossed the finish line in seventh place. The experienced German driver Mike Rockenfeller and the young Dutchman Tijmen van der Helm share driving duties in the yellow No. 5 hybrid prototype.

In the GTD-Pro class, Pfaff Motorsports fields one Porsche 911 GT3 R. The defending champion of the top GT category currently ranks third in the championship after a win in Sebring and podium finishes in Long Beach and Laguna Seca. The No. 9 racer from the Canadian squad is helmed by Austrian Klaus Bachler and Patrick Pilet from France. In the GTD category, three customer teams field a total of five GT3 cars from Weissach, Germany. The Laguna Seca class winners Kellymoss with Riley and the Wright Motorsports outfit each field two vehicles, with AO Racing running one car.

Porsche GT4 e-Performance demonstrates its potential at Watkins Glen
As part of the support program of the IMSA race weekend in Watkins Glen, spectators will not only be treated to two races of the hotly contested Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America. In addition, Porsche brand ambassador Jörg Bergmeister will turn demo laps in the Porsche GT4 e-Performance on Friday (June 23) and Sunday (June 25). The overall Daytona winner and Le Mans class victor will push the all-electric test car delivering up to 800 kW (1,088 PS) to the limit. The aim is to underline the power of the potential customer racer of the future. The demo run of the impressive concept car is part of the GT4 e-Performance World Tour. The vehicle has already made appearances in Goodwood (United Kingdom), Leipzig (Germany), Austin, Los Angeles and Atlanta as well as at the Race of Champions in Sweden.

Overview of vehicles and drivers
GTP class (Porsche 963):
JDC-Miller MotorSports No. 5: Mike Rockenfeller (D) / Tijmen van der Helm (NL)
Porsche Penske Motorsport No. 6: Mathieu Jaminet (F) / Nick Tandy (UK)
Porsche Penske Motorsport No. 7: Matt Campbell (AUS) / Felipe Nasr (BR)

GTD-Pro class (Porsche 911 GT3 R):
Pfaff Motorsports No. 9: Klaus Bachler (A) / Patrick Pilet (F)

GTD-class (Porsche 911 GT3 R):
Wright Motorsports No. 16: Ryan Hardwick (USA) / Zacharie Robichon (CDN) / Jan Heylen (B)
Wright Motorsports No. 77: Alan Brynjolfsson (USA) / Trent Hindman (USA) / Maxwell Root (USA)
AO Racing No. 80: PJ Hyett (USA) / Sebastian Priaulx (UK) / Gunnar Jeannette (USA)
Kellymoss with Riley No. 91: Alan Metni (USA) / Kay van Berlo (NL) / Jaxon Evans (NZ)
Kellymoss with Riley No. 92: David Brule (USA) / Alec Udell (USA) / Julien Andlauer (F)

The schedule (all times ET)
Friday, June 23
11:50 am – Noon: Demo laps GT4 e-Performance
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Free practice 1

Saturday, June 24
8:00 am – 9:45 am: Free practice 2
1:20 pm – 1:35 pm: Qualifying GTD-Pro/GTD
2:10 pm – 2:30 pm: Qualifying GTP

Sunday, June 25
8:00 am – 8:20 am: Warmup
8:30 am – 8:50 am: Demo laps GT4 e-Performance
10:40 am – 4:40 pm: “Six Hours of the Glen” race

Drivers’ comments on the Watkins Glen race
Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche 963 No. 6): “I wasn’t particularly happy with Le Mans. So, I’m pleased to quickly get back into the IMSA series in the Porsche 963. Nick and I are leading the IMSA drivers’ championship. The main thing is that we get through the six hours at Watkins Glen in one piece and collect a lot of points. Our two-day test at the track was helpful. We gained important experience and data, but we still don’t know where we stand compared to the opposition.”

Matt Campbell (Porsche 963 No. 7): “I’m super excited about the race at Watkins Glen. A few weeks ago we conducted very successful tests there, and we made noticeable progress. Before this test, I’d only ever driven GT cars at Watkins Glen. I like the track. It’s wonderfully fast and offers a lot of grip. It’s even more fun with a prototype. I hope we can take home maximum points with our number 7 car.”

Mike Rockenfeller (Porsche 963 No. 5): “The Watkins Glen course is fantastic to drive. I know the track and I can’t wait to get back in the Porsche 963 for our second race in the car. We learned a lot at our debut in Laguna Seca, but unlike many others, we didn’t test at Watkins Glen. So, we have to quickly work out a good setup in practice. If we finish the race cleanly and unscathed, then we should get a good result. I’m not expecting miracles though – we have to be realistic. In a way, the season is only just starting for me, because from now on I can focus fully on the IMSA series.”

Klaus Bachler (Porsche 911 GT3 R No. 9): “We tested at Watkins Glen about a month ago. The track is super cool with plenty of grip – significantly more than the circuits in Long Beach and Laguna Seca. Watkins Glen is really fast and offers several overtaking opportunities. It’s going to be fun because the LMP2 and LMP3 classes are back. With such a packed grid, it should be an action-packed six hours. We’re currently in third place and are in the fight for the championship. So, we must be well prepared, make it safely over the race distance and score as many points as possible.”

Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3 No. 62:

Davide Rigon (ITA)
Daniel Serra (BRA)

(Houston, Texas, June 21, 2023) …Risi Competizione’s No. 62 Ferrari 296 GT3 GTD Pro team and car returns to Watkins Glen International this week for Round three of four of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC) Championship for 2023.

Ferrari Competizioni GT factory drivers Davide Rigon and Daniel Serra, the defending IMEC GTD Pro champs, return to the U.S. following Ferrari’s big overall victory at the Centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans race earlier this month. Their 24 Hours of Daytona teammates, James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi, along with third factory driver, Antonio Giovinazzi, captured a popular Hypercar overall victory at the Circuit de la Sarthe in the fourth round of FIA WEC 2023.

The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International, June 22-25, 2023, has a 57-car field entered, set to match the track’s largest yet. The 3.4-mile, 11-turn road course will feature all five IMSA WeatherTech classes — Grand Touring Prototype (GTP), Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3), Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO), Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) classes on track together.

Last year Italian Rigon and Brazilian Serra finished in second place in class at the legendary New York state race circuit, helping them with strong points towards their IMEC championship.

Risi Competizione driver, Brazilian Daniel Serra

Daniel Serra, driver, No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3:

“I’m really happy to be back in IMSA. It’s one of my favourite championships. Racing Watkins Glen is one of the best tracks we have. It’s a very high-speed track, a lot of grip. It’s been a while since we raced together the last time with Risi. I think the guys will do a good job in the shop to get ready. We are looking forward to the race. We had a nice race last year there…finished in second place and close to winning. Let’s see what we can do with the new car this weekend.”

Davide Rigon, driver, No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3:

“Yes, we are coming from Le Mans. From my side in regard with the 499P,

I’m so happy as well and proud for everything we have done. I participated in most of the tests with the 499P. I’m so happy the No. 51 won Le Mans. For me at Le Mans it was a very nice race. We led a lot of time. I was very happy for my pace and in the end, we finished P5 in the LMGTE-Am class with our Ferrari 488 GTE.

I’ve been waiting a long time to come back to the U.S. It’s always such nice moments with Risi and I like driving in IMSA so much. I’m really focused to do the best I can at Watkins Glen. It looks like the weather will not be as good as last year, but we will all do our best and see what happens. Our team with Rick (Mayer), our engineer, and all the crew members have so much experience with the IMSA championship so we’ll be ready for everything.”

Risi Competizione driver, Italian Davide Rigon

With the official race start time at 10:40 a.m. (Eastern), the race will be televised live in the U.S. on USA Network from 2:00-5:00 p.m. There will also be streaming cover flag-to-flag beginning at 10:30 a.m. for the full six hours on Peacock and IMSA.com/TVLive (outside U.S.). IMSA Radio will cover select sessions live on IMSA.com/RadioLeMans.com, and SiriusXM coverage begins Sunday, June 25 at 10:30 a.m. (XM 207, Web/App 992).

The weekend schedule includes qualifying on Saturday, June 24 at 1:20 p.m. ET for the GTD Pro class. The Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen race starts at 10:40 a.m. on Sunday.

Sponsors for the 2023 season for Risi Competizione include Pennzoil, Michelin, OMP Racing and Rotiform.

For more information about Risi, please go to www.risicompetizione.com and follow us on Facebook/RisiCompetizione, Twitter @RisiComp and Instagram @RisiComp.

(Watkins Glen, NY.) June 20, 2023 – After a long break in the schedule, the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 and Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport (WTRAndretti) returns in action this weekend at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen. The six-hour endurance event at Watkins Glen International is the third race out of four in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Championship. The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 returns to the classic, 3.4-mile road course as defending winners and have their sights set on returning to victory lane.

As Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque handle the full season co-driving duties, the pair will be joined by IMSA Michelin Endurance Championship driver teammate, Louis Deletraz, to complete the WTRAndretti lineup. In the last three events at Watkins Glen, the blue and black stable has started on the front row, featuring two pole positions in 2021, as well as finishing on the podium – including last year’s win. Marking just near the halfway point in the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen proves to be a pivotal race not just on the schedule, but in championship points.

“Watkins Glen was a turning point in our season last year and we are looking for a similar momentum shift this year when we head there,” said Ricky Taylor, full time co-driver of the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06. “Acura has given us an amazing car to fight for GTP victories, and we are prepared and ready to clinch a victory this weekend.”

“For me, Watkins Glen always marks the halfway point of the championship,” said Filipe Albuquerque, full time co-driver of the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06. “We will have Louis and happy to have him back. We’ve been happy at Watkins Glen in the past – we won last year, with an epic ending. We need to learn about everybody, and which manufacturers can do better on such a smooth track now. There is no reason why for us to not go for the win. We’ll keep pushing and get that win that’s been eluding us.”

“I’m really excited to be going to Watkins Glen with WTRAndretti,” said Louis Deletraz, endurance co-driver for the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06. “I haven’t been racing in the Acura ARX-06 since Sebring three months ago so it’s good to be back. Watkins Glen is an important event for us. We have shown that we are fast and are always in contention to win races and we intend to keep doing that. On the driving side, Watkins Glen is a very high-speed track with no runoff areas, mistakes are always punished and that’s a challenge for all drivers but also why we love it. In testing there, the car felt great and we are ready to fight on track.”

“Watkins Glen is a big race and is one of the longest running sportscar races in America,” said Wayne Taylor. “From a team standpoint, it’s one race that we’ve only won once. This year has been tough, but we’ve been competitive at every race, but we’ve had incidents. Now we need to start concentrating on finishing races, certainly in the top three, to start gaining points in this championship. Obviously, we’re third – 60 points behind – but things can change so quickly. Everybody is going into this race with the attitude of ‘Okay, guys, we need to have a good race here, good strategy and we need to get a good result.’ Daytona was really our only good result this year. The other two races should have been good results, but we crashed out right at the end of both races and then Laguna Seca, we finished fourth which was disappointing considering we had won two in a row before. We had a good test at Watkins Glen and so we are looking forward to this weekend. Although, I’ve been checking the weather and its rain. Rain is always an equalizer so will see what happens, but really looking forward to this race.”

The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen weekend begins with practice on Friday, June 23 at 4:30 p.m. ET on IMSA.TV and qualifying will be held on Saturday June 24 starting at 2:10 p.m. ET, live on Peacock TV. All six hours of flag-to-flag coverage of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen on Sunday, June 25, will be broadcast live on Peacock TV and USA Network broadcast will begin at 2 p.m. ET through the checkered flag.

ABOUT KONICA MINOLTA
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. is reshaping and revolutionizing the workplace to achieve true connectivity through the Intelligent Connected Workplace. The company guides and supports its clients’ digital transformation through its expansive office technology portfolio, including IT Services (All Covered), intelligent information management, managed print services and industrial and commercial print solutions. Konica Minolta has been included on CRN’s MSP 500 list nine times and The World Technology Awards named the company a finalist in the IT Software category. Konica Minolta has been recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys for fifteen consecutive years, and is proud to be ranked on the Forbes 2021 America’s Best-in-State employers list. The company received Keypoint Intelligence’s BLI 2021 A3 Line of The Year Award and BLI 2021-2023 Most Color Consistent A3 Brand Award for its bizhub i-Series. Konica Minolta, Inc. has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for nine consecutive years and has spent four years on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list. The company recognizes 150 years in global business in 2023. Konica Minolta partners with its clients to give shape to ideas and works to bring value to our society. For more information, please visit us online and follow Konica Minolta on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter.

The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 effort and Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport is supported by an outstanding lineup of partners including Harrison Contracting Company, Acura Motorsports, Honda Performance Development and Hammer Nutrition .

Braselton, GA (June 20, 2023) – Today, MLT Motorsports announced their entry into the 2023 Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen race to be held Sunday, June 25, at Watkins Glen International. The team will field the No. 54 Belle Haven Investments/Aufgang Architecture/AdeptID/OwnBackup LMP3 Ligier JS-320 entry with drivers Jason Rabe, Andrew “Pinky” Pinkerton, and Stevan McAleer. This marks the first IMSA WeatherTech race for the team in 2023, in addition to their full-time entry in IMSA’s VP Racing SportsCar Challenge series in an LMP3.

“First, I need to give a huge thanks to all of the partners for believing in me and making this dream come true,” said Rabe. “Belle Haven Investments, Notlad Racing, AdeptID, OwnBackup, Aufgang Architecture, and of course, MLT Motorsports.

“Making my IMSA WeatherTech debut at Watkins Glen is very special because it’s a home event at one of my favorite tracks. I used to camp in the infield in my car for a lot of the IMSA and IndyCar races wishing to be on the other side of the fence. Now here I am about to race in the six-hour endurance classic, which is extra special since it’s the last year of LMP3 in WeatherTech. It’s a big class field, and I get to race with my friends!”

Rabe will be joined by Pinkerton, an MLT Motorsports engineer, and strategist usually found on the pit box. This week he takes on driving duties to help improve the team’s 2022 result at The Glen.

“First off, I am extremely grateful to Dr. Mike and the whole of the MLT team for trusting me with this responsibility.” Pinkerton continued, “This will be my first WeatherTech race behind the wheel after calling strategy and engineering the LMP3 program for the past year with the team. Our car has pace, and we were well-positioned strategy-wise during last year’s race. After a strong test last month and doing our homework in the shop, I am excited to show what we can do as a team. On the driving side, I can’t wait to share the car with Jason and Stevan around the extremely quick Watkins circuit. Physically it is a very demanding track as you are constantly under load in high-speed corners and really have to trust the Ligier’s aero-platform.”

Rounding out the trio of drivers is veteran McAleer who will also be competing in the Michelin Pilot Challenge series that weekend. A previous winner at The Glen, McAleer is no stranger to the 2.45-mile historic road course.

“I’m very excited to find myself back in WeatherTech for the 6 Hours of the Glen,” said McAleer. “I tested with MLT last month in their Ligier LMP3 car and was thoroughly impressed with their program, staff, and car performance. I am good friends with Jason Rabe, so this is how the discussions began, and we have always talked about being teammates one day, so this will be a memorable moment.”

Having logged the most laps at the track, McAleer has high expectations for the race, saying, “Pinky was plenty fast at the test, so I have high expectations for the team and result.” He continued, “This will be the first Weathertech race for Pinky and Jason, so traffic management will be key, and as always with endurance racing, the pit stops have to be executed quickly with no penalties. I do fully believe we will be in the running to fight for the win.”

Rabe added, “Having Stevan and Andrew as my co-drivers is pretty cool, and that’s a big part of why this event means even more to me. They are both incredibly talented, and we’ve all known each other for a while now. We coach and race in many of the same paddocks, motor clubs, and school programs. We are looking forward to going after a trophy in our MLT Motorsports LMP3 Ligier JS-320!”

Fans can watch all the action live at 10:30 AM ET, with the first half of the race broadcast on Peacock. Coverage switches to USA Network at 2:00 PM ET and runs until the finish at 5:00 PM ET. IMSA TV will also have live flag-to-flag coverage from 10:35 AM – 4:40 PM ET. Be sure to follow MLT Motorsports on Instagram @mltmotorsports for live team updates.

About MLT Motorsports:

Founded in 2018 by Dr. Mike Thompson, MLT Motorsports has established itself as a premier team amongst the IMSA paddock in the LMP3 category. Based near Road Atlanta, the team has easy access to some of the best road courses in the country and, importantly, Florida, where the sportscar racing world kicks off every winter at Daytona and Sebring. Constant investment and maintenance have seen the team arrive at each race weekend with top-notch race cars and state-of-the-art equipment.

Early success can be attributed to the hard work and experience the team possesses, as the first win came on their second start at Mid-Ohio in 2019. During the 2021 season, MLT finished off the podium only once on the way to a double championship win, earning the IMSA Prototype Challenge Team’s and Driver’s Championship with drivers Dakota Dickerson and Josh Sarchet. Parlaying the success of the 2021 Championship, MLT made its IMSA WeatherTech Championship debut at Mid-Ohio in May of 2022, joining the ranks of the best sportscar teams in the world.

Cadillac V-Series.R coming off second win in four GTP races, good showing at Le Mans

DETROIT (June 20, 2023) – Cadillac Racing seeks to continue its positive vibes flowing this weekend at Watkins Glen International following a double podium finish in the last IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race.

The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R, driven by Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande, carved through the Grand Touring Prototype field from its sixth starting spot and won the 2-hour, 40-minute race at Laguna Seca. The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R driven by Pipo Derani and Alexander Sims placed third.

Cadillac has won two of the four IMSA GTP races and paces the Manufacturer Championship entering the six-hour race on the 3.4-mile, 11-turn Watkins Glen International road course.

Both sets of drivers are coming off competition in the Hypercar class of the centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans in which Bourdais and van der Zande, joined by six-time INDYCAR champion Scott Dixon, secured fourth place overall in the 62-car field. The sister No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R – a full-time FIA World Endurance Championship entry – claimed Cadillac’s first podium finish in the iconic endurance race.

In 2022, Bourdais and van der Zande drove to a third-place finish at The Glen.

Derani and Sims will team with Jack Aitken for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen. They combined for victory in the Twelve Hours of Sebring in March and co-drove to 10th place in the Hypercar class at Le Mans in the No. 311 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R.

Peacock will stream flag-to-flag coverage of the race in the U.S. starting at 10:30 a.m. ET, with IMSA.com/TVLive providing streaming coverage outside the U.S. USA Network will telecast the race from 2-5 p.m. ET. Qualifying and the race will be broadcast on IMSA.com and RadioLeMans.com, with SiriusXM live broadcast of the race on XM 207 and Web/App 992 starting at 10:30 a.m.

See the roster of Cadillac vehicles

Spectators can view the exciting lineup of Cadillac vehicles, including the Escalade-V and the track-capable CT5-V Blackwing at the Cadillac display in the midway. The special CT4-V Blackwing Watkins Glen track edition will also be on display and lead the prototype field to the green flag..

Hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

What they’re saying

No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R

Renger van der Zande: “Watkins Glen is one of the better tracks in a six-hour race. It’s a track where you really get tired because of the high G loads and the track has a lot of grip. It is the first time we’ll be there with the Cadillac V-Series.R car, so that will be interesting how we set up the car. I was in the Dallara simulator this week to see if we can benefit for the weekend. There always seems to be a red flag because there is often rain on at least one of the days, so we’ll see what it brings this year. We had some practice in the rain at Le Mans, so hopefully we can benefit from when we go back to IMSA racing. We’re the winners from the last race so obviously that’s motivating.”

Sebastien Bourdais: “A lot of things have happened in the last few weeks — the win at Laguna Seca and a strong performance from the whole Cadillac group at Le Mans. With all the adversity we had throughout the week and the race itself, that we finished the race and finished fourth is a credit to the entire team and Cadillac. Going into Watkins Glen, it is an intense race on a very intense track. High speed, mega commitment with quite a bit of momentum. Hopefully, we can build on the form we had at Le Mans and Laguna and the progress we’ve made over the last few weeks. The weather can be a wild factor in that race, so it’s going to be interesting to see how it all shakes out. On top of it, we have the medium hot temperature Michelin tire for that weekend, which is the hard from Le Mans. Overall, pretty happy where we are at and looking forward to the challenge.”

No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R

Jack Aitken: “Looking forward to getting back into IMSA racing after our trip to Le Mans with the team. I think we learned a lot from that trip and there are some lessons that we can bring to IMSA, which is quite exciting. A six-hour race compared to 24 hours is going to feel like a sprint. Probably just one time in the car for each driver. Watkins Glen is a new track for me and it will be a challenge with the amount of cars starting the race, so we’ll be working our way through traffic the whole time. We don’t have a lot of practice time, so we’ll have to learn fast and make good decisions during those sessions. I’m looking forward to driving what looks like an exciting, fast-flowing track. I think it will suit the car well.”

Pipo Derani: “Happy to come back to Watkins Glen. It’s a very fast and enjoyable track to drive and also part of the endurance championship where we are also fighting at the top. It will be, as usual, a demanding race and I am looking forward to be back in IMSA after having the pleasure to race at Le Mans with our team. Hoping we can get back on victory lane as we did in Sebring and continue our fight for the endurance and overall championship.”

Alexander Sims: “Looking forward to Watkins Glen. Having completed the Le Mans 24-hour race, we got a lot of really useful information to develop and verify some of the systems on the car, the engine management software seems to be going in a good direction. And it was good to get a lot of laps to get a good feel for the car. It’s always difficult with some of the short weekends. You go from one practice session to the next doing short runs and short runs and then you’re in the race without a lot of time to get on top of things, so the Le Mans week was good for that. The car felt really good in the Porsche curves at Le Mans and we’ll see similar medium and high speed corners at Watkins, so hopefully that will play to our advantage. It’s my first time there in a prototype so it will be a challenge in short practice sessions. I’m hopeful we can get a good result and continue our form in IMSA.”

Cadillac Racing DPi-V.R Watkins Glen results 2022-2017

2022: Third (No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R) start third – Sebastien Bourdais, Renger van der Zande

     Fourth (No. 02 Cadillac Accessories Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fourth – Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn

     Fifth (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fifth – Pipo Derani, Olivier Pla, Mike Conway

     Sixth (No. 48 Ally Cadillac DPi-V.R) start seventh – Jimmie Johnson, Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Rockenfeller

     Seventh (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R) start sixth – Tristan Vautier, Richard Westbrook, Loic Duval

2021 (2-hour, 40-minute race): First (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fourth – Pipo Derani, Felipe Nasr

    Second (No. 01 Cadillac DPi-V.R) start third – Renger van der Zande, Kevin Magnussen

    Fourth (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R) start sixth – Tristan Vautier, Loic Duval

2021 (6-hour race): Fourth (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fifth – Pipo Derani, Felipe Nasr, Mike Conway

    Fifth (No. 48 Ally Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fourth – Jimmie Johnson, Simon Pagenaud, Kamui Kobayashi

    Sixth (No. 01 Cadillac DPi-V.R) start third – Renger van der Zande, Kevin Magnussen

    Seventh (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R) start sixth – Tristan Vautier, Loic Duval, Sebastien Bourdais

2020: No race

2019: Fourth (No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fifth – Renger van der Zande, Jordan Taylor

     Sixth (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R) start sixth – Joao Barbosa, Filipe Albuquerque, Mike Conway

     Seventh (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start seventh – Pipo Derani, Felipe Nasr, Eric Curran

    Eighth (No. 50 Juncos Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R) start 10th – Will Owen, Rene Binder

    Ninth (No. 84 JDC-Miller Motorsports Cadillac DPi-V.R) start ninth – Simon Trummer, Stephen Simpson, Chris Miller

    11th overall (No. 85 JDC-Miller Motorsports Cadillac DPi-V.R) start eighth – Tristan Vautier, Misha Goikhberg, Juan Piedrahita

2018: Fifth (No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R) start sixth – Renger van der Zande, Jordan Taylor

     Sixth (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R) start 12th – Gabby Chaves, Filipe Albuquerque, Christian Fittipladi

     Seventh (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start ninth – Felipe Nasr, Eric Curran, Mike Conway

     11th overall (No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Cadillac DPi-V.R) start 10th – Tristan Vautier, Matthew McMurry

2017: First (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R) start third – Christian Fittipaldi, Joao Barbosa, Filipe Albuquerque

     Sixth (No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fourth – Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor

     16th overall (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start sixth – Dane Cameron, Eric Curran, Filipe Albuquerque

2023 Cadillac V-Series.R

Wins: Sebring (Pipo Derani, Alexander Sims, Jack Aitken), Laguna Seca (Sebastien Bourdais, Renger van der Zande)

2 wins, 4 podiums (including wins) IMSA

1 podium FIA WEC (Le Mans; No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R – Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn, Richard Westbrook)

Cadillac total wins in all classes/series since 2004: 68

Cadillac total podiums in all classes/series since 2004: 216

IMSA GTP (4)

IMSA DPi (85)

FIA WEC (1)

World Challenge (126)

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