Category: IMSA

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 23, 2022) – Seven weeks have passed since Era Motorsport’s LMP2 team landed on the podium at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, though the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship team has been running ahead at full speed preparing for this weekend’s race, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen. With podiums at the Twelve Hours of Sebring and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Era Motorsport is on the hunt for continued success at Watkins Glen, New York for Sunday’s big race.

As round three of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup and round five of the full-season championship, this weekend’s festivities at “The Glen” have great championship implications for the team and drivers Dwight Merriman, Ryan Dalziel, and Kyle Tilley. The LMP2 Prototype racing effort has been productive in the weeks between race events, preparing the car in their Indianapolis-based shop and testing at Watkins Glen International.

All the weeks of effort and preparation come together for the six-hour endurance racing event, a fan favorite in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship title. Last year, the team rolled off the truck with promising speed, allowing Merriman to qualify second. Merriman, Tilley, and Dalziel finished fifth, and will see to improve on that result this weekend in their quest for the 2022 championship titles.

The 3.4-mile, 11 turn road course is the perfect location for the six-hour endurance event, adored by fans and participants alike. The beloved road course has undergone many changes over its 66-year history, continuously improving for all who journey to the circuit. This year’s main event will involve 49 entries across the five IMSA WeatherTech classes, giving fans plenty of action to watch throughout the weekend, culminating in Sunday’s Six Hours of the Glen.

After two practice sessions, Era Motorsport will qualify for the big race on Saturday, June 25 at 2:10 PM ET, and the session will air live on imsa.tv. Sunday’s race will begin coverage at 10:30 AM on Peacock, and IMSA Radio will again offer their comprehensive coverage of the event. For full event information, visit imsa.com

DRIVER QUOTES

Dwight Merriman

The Six Hours of the Glen is a great event, and I’m looking forward to heading back to such a great facility. We had a productive test at the Glen recently, and we were strong here last year too. We started near the front and ended in fifth, and I know we can better that position this year. Ryan, Kyle, and I make a great team and I know the car will be ready.

Ryan Dalziel

I’m looking forward to the Six Hours of the Glen. It is such a great track and event. We had a good test there recently and our Era Motorsport Oreca is really fast just now so looking to continue our Michelin Endurance Cup podium streak after a strong Sebring. It’s really good to have Kyle back sharing the car with Dwight and I also. There are lots of P2 cars with stacked line ups so it’s going to be a great race.

Kyle Tilley

I’m super excited to be back with Ryan and Dwight. The boys had a successful test here last month, and I can’t wait to get back in our Era Motorsport Oreca 07. We had a strong package here last year, and I’m looking forward to building on that this weekend.

About Era Motorsport
Era Motorsport was formed in 2018 with the idea of providing unmatched excellence in historic racing. Just two years later, the team expanded to the world of professional sports car racing, fielding an Oreca 07 in the prolific IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2021, the team went on to win at the iconic Rolex 24 At Daytona, in what was their second attempt competing in the event. Motorsport isn’t just a hobby, it is a way of life: a passion that is in the team’s blood. Whether you find us in the IMSA WeatherTech paddock with modern prototypes or chasing down lap records in our fully restored classic sports cars, or even globetrotting to experience historic F1 at some of the world’s most iconic circuits, Era Motorsport has something for everyone. In 2021, the team secured a prestigious victory at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, and also became class champions in the Asian Le Mans Series.

WATKINS GLEN, NY (22 June 2022) – Irish Mike’s Racing returns to action with a two-car entry for this weekend’s Round 4 of the IMSA Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by Visit Cayman Islands during the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen event weekend.

The team will field a pair of Porsche 992s in a pair of 40-minute races on the legendary 11-turn, 3.4-mile circuit. Conor Flynn will drive the No. 95 FlynnCo Cars / Chillout Systems entry in the Porsche Pro class, while Craig Conway pilots the No. 97 Diamond Suzuki Porsche in the Porsche Pro-Am division.

Conway is coming off his best finish of the season, placing a season-best 10th in Pro-Am in the Sunday race at Laguna Seca after finishing 11th on Saturday. Since then, he joined Flynn in a test at the upstate New York circuit.

“We had a good test at the Glen, and it was very helpful,” Conway said. “We learned a lot, and made some changes to the suspension and wing. I felt pretty good.

Conway’s history at Watkins Glen includes a Rolex Series American GT victory in 2000, driving a Flis Brothers Corvette, in addition to several podiums in the Firestone Firehawk series.

“It seems I’ve been going to the Glen forever, and it’s the same track,” Conway said. “The biggest difference is that it’s much grippier since they paved it a few years ago. The test was my first time there with our new Porsche. I got a little closer every time out, I was learning on every lap.”

Flynn finished 10th in class during Round 2 at Long Beach, but was forced to sit out both races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca after a practice incident forced him to go from racer to spectator.

“When we get back to Watkins Glen, we’ll be a couple of steps ahead of where we would have been if we didn’t test,” Conway said. “We also fixed Conor’s car since his accident, and both Porsches are now OK. I think we will be in pretty good shape when we get back to the Glen for the races.”

The opening race of the weekend goes green at 1:25 p.m. (all times ET) on Friday. Saturday’s second race begins at 11:05 a.m.

Garcia, Taylor hope to rebound from Le Mans with Six Hours repeat

DETROIT (June 22, 2022) – While their run at the 24 Hours of Le Mans ended with disappointment, Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor and the rest of Corvette Racing’s squad in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship are back stateside for another shot at a long-distance race victory.

The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen is the first race in the U.S. since May 1 for Corvette Racing and the rest for the field of competitors in the new GT Daytona (GTD) PRO category. Through five races, Garcia and Taylor stand second in Drivers points as does Chevrolet in the Manufacturers standings on the strength of a class victory at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

The No. 3 Corvette also arrives at The Glen leading GTD PRO in the Michelin Endurance Cup – a championship made up of the WeatherTech Championship’s four long-distance races. Given recent success at The Glen, there’s a better than average chance that advantage remains going into the weekend.
Corvette Racing has three victories at Watkins Glen since 2014 – including two last year. Garcia and Taylor won in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) category in last year’s Sahlen’s Six Hours as well as the WeatherTech 240 sprint a race a week later.

Garcia is one of nine drivers to win more than once in the Sahlen’s Six Hours and has five podium finishes in his last five races at The Glen, while Taylor won for the first time in the event a year ago.

Chevrolet has a strong history of success in the race with 18 victories – second among active manufacturers.

The GTD PRO Corvette differs in several ways from the C8.R that ran at Watkins Glen in 2021. Chief among the differences are additional weight, restricted power and customer Michelin tires that are mandated for all GTD entries as opposed to Michelins specifically designed for the C8.R in GTLM trim.

Chevrolet Motorsports Display On-Site at The Glen
In addition to the many series and events on the racetrack at Watkins Glen, fans will have plenty to see and experience from Chevrolet. The Chevrolet Motorsports Display will be full of Chevy vehicles that spectators can learn more about throughout the weekend.

The Chevrolet Motorsports Display opens at 8 a.m. Friday through Sunday and is located in the Fan Midway at Watkins Glen International. Numerous Chevrolet vehicles and other highlights include:

• The 2023 Corvette Z06 convertible
• Additional Chevrolet products such as Blazer RS, Silverado ZR2, Camaro 2SS 1LE and Colorado ZR2
• A Corvette Racing C8.R showcar and LT6.R engine
• An opportunity to receive a 2022 Team Chevy t-shirt

Fans should also be on the lookout for an additional Corvette on the racetrack. A Corvette Stingray will serve as Official Pace Car for the two-hour Tioga Downs Casino race for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge starting at 3:45 p.m. ET on Saturday.

The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen is scheduled for 10:40 a.m. ET on Sunday, June 26. The race will stream live on Peacock with USA’s live television coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ETIMSA Radio will air all on-track sessions beginning at IMSA.com along with XM 207 and SiriusXM Online 992.

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “I really, really like this race. I enjoy the track a lot. I believe it was my very first race in America in GRAND-AM. We’ve generally been strong there. Being a six-hour race, there always is something going on. It might be a super-hot race, there may be rain storms… you never know what’s a race at Watkins Glen is going to be like. That’s why experience is a good thing to have there. I think I’ve run in every different condition there so I’m looking forward to going back in this new class and see how this spec of the C8.R fits in there.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “Winning last year’s race was a big deal. It was always on my dad’s bucket list of races to win as a driver. I think it was the only endurance race that he hadn’t won. He won Daytona, Sebring, Petit Le Mans and Le Mans, so the one he always talked about was the Six Hours. The same was happening for me. I had gone all these years without winning it. I finished second a couple of times, I think, and it was always something little. To finally have everything click and work out was pretty special. It really kicked off our season last year with a good run of success.”
“Watkins Glen was always a cool race for me from obviously watching sports car racing but also being a fan of motorsport. It was one of the few natural-terrain road courses that Formula One used in America. Seeing old footage of Formula One cars around there and still having the classic blue guardrails to pay homage to the history is pretty special. To win at those types of tracks is really nice.”

2022 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – GTD PRO (After four of 11 Events)
Driver Standings

1. Mathieu Jaminet/Matt Campbell – 1,345
2. Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 1,295
3. Ben Barnicoat/Jack Hawksworth – 1,265
4. Cooper MacNeil – 1,112
5. Alex Riberas/Ross Gunn – 1,106

Team Standings

1. No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports – 1,345
2. No. 3 Corvette Racing – 1,295
3. No. 14 VasserSullivan – 1,265
4. No. 79 WeatherTech Racing – 1,112
5. No. 23 Heart of Racing Team – 1,106

Manufacturer Standings

1. Porsche – 1,345
2. Chevrolet – 1,305
3. Lexus – 1,295
4. Mercedes-AMG – 1,220
5. BMW – 1,180

CORVETTE RACING AT WATKINS GLEN: By the Numbers
• 1: As in one team, one manufacturer and one model of car for 24 years of racing: Corvette Racing, Chevrolet and the Chevrolet Corvette
• 2: Wins at Watkins Glen International in 2021 for Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor: the Sahlen’s Six Hours and the WeatherTech 240 in consecutive weeks
• 2: Wins and pole positions in the Sahlen’s Six Hours for Antonio Garcia. He won GTLM in 2014 and 2021 and was the GTLM pole-sitter in 2019 and 2021
• 3: Victories at Watkins Glen for Corvette Racing since its debut there in 2014: 2014 and 2021 Sahlen’s Six Hours, and 2021 WeatherTech 240
• 5: Consecutive podium finishes for Antonio Garcia at Watkins Glen dating back to 2017
• 14: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001
• 18: Victories for Chevrolet in the Sahlen’s Six Hours, ranking second among all manufacturers
• 23: Number of drivers to compete for Corvette Racing at Le Mans. That number grew in 2021 with Nick Tandy, Nicky Catsburg and Alexander Sims joining the lineup.
• 25: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, Charlotte Motor Speedway, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Daytona, Detroit, Houston, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Miami, Mid-Ohio, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen
• 121: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 113 in North America and eight at Le Mans
• 257: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999
• 8,476.20: Number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing in its eight previous trips to Watkins Glen. That represents 2,493 laps… or more than four full trips around the Earth at its equator. The two Corvettes combined to go over the 100,000 mile mark in the 2021 race.
• 344,240.56: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing since its inception. To put that in perspective, Corvette Racing is more than halfway to the distance traveled by Apollo 13 – the longest manned spaceflight in history: 622,268 miles. That means Corvette Racing has raced to the moon and more than halfway back!

Corvette Racing at Watkins Glen (wins in bold)
2014
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 1st in GTLM (Team’s first race at Watkins Glen)
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 4th in GTLM

2015
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 4th in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 7th in GTLM (Ret., Accident)

2016
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 7th in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 4th in GTLM

2017
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 3rd in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 5th in GTLM

2018
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 2nd in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 5th in GTLM

2019
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 2nd in GTLM (Garcia pole, fastest race lap)
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 8th in GTLM (Accident on first lap)

2021
No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 1st in GTLM (Garcia pole)
No. 4 Corvette C8.R: Tommy Milner/Nick Tandy – 4th in GTLM (Tandy fastest race lap)

2021*
No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 1st in GTLM (Taylor pole, fastest race lap)
No. 4 Corvette C8.R: Tommy Milner/Nick Tandy – 2nd in GTLM

• Two-hour, 40-minute sprint race
  Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 80 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Five Cadillac DPi-V.R teams prepare for 6-hour event on challenging Watkins Glen course

DETROIT (June 22, 2022) – As Pipo Derani can attest, one strong race can change the fortunes of an IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship team.

Last June, Derani co-drove the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R to a fourth-place finish in the six-hour race at Watkins Glen International and returned a week later to win the 2-hour, 40-minute race. That victory gave the team momentum, which translated into four consecutive podium finishes – including two wins – in the closing races on the way to earning the DPi championship.

Derani, along with co-drivers Olivier Pla and Mike Conway, will aim for a similar kickstart this weekend in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen. Four other Cadillac DPi entries will seek to secure the victory on the 3.45-mile, 11-turn road course and score maximum points in the third of four rounds of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup.

“Coming into this race, it will be Olivier’s second race in the car. We believe he is going to be super strong,” Derani said. “This is an important race for the endurance championship; one that we are very much in the fight. That’s going to play a lot into the strategy as well. Having Mike coming back to the team is a great addition. I’m looking forward to going back into a long-distance race – six hours – which normally plays into our hands.”

Pla, who joined the team for the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic on June 4, co-drove to victory in 2019 at Watkins Glen and has finished on the podium three times in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar competition.

“It’s an amazing track with high-speed corners. It’s a very difficult race too with all the categories together,” he said. “Strategy is very important there. It’s about having good track position at the end. The last two hours, you need to be at the front. I’m really looking forward to the race and to give the maximum to get a strong result for the team.”

The No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R is the endurance race pacesetter, with Tristan Vautier, Richard Westbrook and Loic Duval co-driving the JDC-Miller MotorSports entry, through two of the four events.

The No. 02 Cadillac Accessories Cadillac DPi-V.R won the last endurance race – the Twelve Hours of Sebring – in March. The Cadillac Racing entry will be co-driven by Alex Lynn and Earl Bamber. The No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R, which has claimed two victories and four pole starts, will be co-driven by Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande.

Co-drivers Mike Rockenfeller and Kamui Kobayashi will again join seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson in the No. 48 Ally Cadillac DPi-V.R. The team is competing in the four endurance races this season.

“In one of these DPi Cadillacs, the pace and the effort you can drive around that racetrack is quite impressive – especially comparing it to my days in NASCAR,” said Johnson, who did not compete at Sebring International Raceway because of a scheduling conflict with INDYCAR. “Some of the braking zones, the Bus Stop in the back, and the Carousel, it’s just mind blowing how fast these cars can travel through those tight little areas. I’m very excited to get back and have that experience once again.”

The Cadillac DPi entries received a 15kg weight reduction to 945kg for the race weekend as part of IMSA’s Balance of Performance adjustments. The Cadillac DPis will still be 15kg heavier than the Acura counterparts.

The USA Network will telecast the closing hours of the race, starting at 2 p.m. ET June 26. Peacock will provide flag-to-flag streaming coverage, starting at 10:40 a.m. ET. IMSA Radio will broadcast all on-track sessions at IMSA.com along with XM 207 and SiriusXM Online 992.

Following action at The Glen, Cadillac teams will venture north for the 2-hour, 40-minute Chevrolet Grand Prix on July 1-3 on the 2.459-mile, 10-turn Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. It’s the first back-to-back race weekend of the IMSA season and will be the first stop at the track in to Bowmanville, Ontario, since 2019.

Cadillac DPi roster for Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen

No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R (Cadillac Racing)

Renger van der Zande, Sebastien Bourdais

Van der Zande and Bourdais co-drove the No. 01 Cadillac DPi-V.R to the victory on the Belle Isle street circuit June 4 and the streets of Long Beach on April 9 – starting from the pole both times. … Belle Isle was the 17th IMSA victory for van der Zande and ninth for Bourdais. … Bourdais set the qualifying lap record time in both events. He also set the lap record time in earning the pole for the March 19 Twelve Hours of Sebring and for the May 15 Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio. … Bourdais is a four-time INDYCAR champion. … Bourdais and van der Zande competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans two weeks ago.

Car chief-Phil Binks

Lead engineer-John Hennek

Race strategist-Peter Baron

No. 02 Cadillac Accessories Cadillac DPi-V.R (Cadillac Racing)

Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn

First-year entry in expanded Cadillac Racing DPi program. … Bamber and Lynn co-drove to a runner-up finish on the streets of Long Beach on April 9 after starting second. They placed third June 4 on the Belle Isle street circuit… They, along with Neel Jani, co-drove to victory March 19 in the Twelve Hours of Sebring. … Bamber salutes his home country with a silver fern design on the sides of his helmet — a quasi-national emblem used for various official New Zealand symbols. … Lynn competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans two weeks ago. … Bamber drove the No. 02 Cadillac during a test day at The Glen earlier this month.

Car chief-Jamie Coates

Lead engineer-Danielle Shephard

Race strategist-Michael Harvey

No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R (Action Express Racing)

Pipo Derani, Olivier Pla, Mike Conway

Pla made his debut in the No. 31 Cadillac on June 4 at Detroit. … Derani and Felipe Nasr won the 2-hour, 40-minute race in 2021 at Watkins Glen. … Derani and Tristan Nunez co-drove to third place on the Laguna Seca road course after starting sixth. They followed with a third-place finish May 15 at Mid-Ohio. … Derani and Nunez, joined by Conway, started second and finished third in the March 19 Twelve Hours of Sebring. … The three-driver team started seventh and finished fourth in the Rolex 24 At Daytona to open the season. … Derani and Felipe Nasr were the 2021 IMSA DPi Driver Champions and Whelen Engineering/Action Express Racing was the Team Champion. … Derani and Pla were teammates for the second consecutive year for the 24 Hours of Le Mans two weeks ago.

Car chief-Bill Keuler

Technical director/lead engineer-Iain Watt

Race strategist-Tim Keene

No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R (JDC-Miller MotorSports)

Tristan Vautier, Richard Westbrook, Loic Duval

Vautier and Westbrook co-drove to third place on the streets of Long Beach on April 9 after starting fifth. Vautier and Westbrook, joined by Duval, drove to second place in the March 19 Twelve Hours of Sebring and opened the ’22 season by starting second and finishing third at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. … The team sits atop the Michelin Endurance Cup Championship standings. … Westbrook is a London-trained chef. … Vautier and Westbrook competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans two weeks ago. … Duval drove the No. 5 Cadillac on a test day at The Glen earlier this month.

Car chief-Josh Kerrigan

Lead engineer-Rick Cameron

Race strategist-John Church

No. 48 Ally Cadillac DPi-V.R (Action Express Racing)

Jimmie Johnson, Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Rockenfeller

Team is running the four endurance races this season. … Team of Johnson, Kobayashi, Rockenfeller and Jose Maria Lopez opened the season by starting third in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Repairs in 13th hour necessitated by being bumped off course negated a strong showing, and team placed 11th overall. … Lopez was the third driver for the Sebring race, sitting in for Johnson, who had a conflicting INDYCAR race weekend. … The team started fifth and finished sixth at Sebring. … In May, Johnson competed in the Indianapolis 500 and was voted rookie of the year. … Kobayashi, co-driving with Mike Conway and Jose Maria Lopez, was runner-up in the 24 Hours of Le Mans two weeks ago.

Car chief-Scott Darnell

Technical director/lead engineer-Iain Watt

Race strategist-Chad Knaus

Cadillac Racing DPi-V.R Watkins Glen results 2021-2017

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

See the Cadillac lineup

Spectators can view an array of Cadillac vehicles, including the exciting CT5-V Blackwing, CT4-V Blackwing and the 2023 Escalade-V, at the Cadillac display in midway at The Glen. The display is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. each day.

The 2023 Escalade-V — the industry’s most powerful full-size SUV that goes on sale late this summer – expands the V-Series lineup. Now in its fourth generation, Cadillac’s V-Series represents ultimate performance, the epitome of Cadillac’s engineering capability, with unrivaled sophistication and comfort for everyday driving. In adding Escalade-V to the lineup, the V-Series family continues to expand, while consistently combining power, luxury, thoughtful technology and athletic refinement for the discerning enthusiast.

About Cadillac

A leading luxury auto brand since 1902, Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio that features distinctive design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com.

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y., (June 21, 2022) – With six of the twelve rounds of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championships complete, the famed Watkins Glen International will kick off the second half of the season with the Six Hours of the Glen. Porsche customer racing team Wright Motorsports will take part in the event with the No. 16 Porsche 911 GT3 R, piloted by drivers Ryan Hardwick, Jan Heylen, and Zacharie Robichon. The GTD-class entry will be supported by the team’s three Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars, competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America Presented by the Cayman Islands double-header.

“While our team is strong and on point no matter the event, Wright Motorsports always really shows our strength in the endurance rounds,” said Team Owner John Wright. “From the quality of our drivers to having one of the fastest crews in pit lane, we have a good outlook for this weekend. After a couple of challenging sprint rounds, we know we have a good opportunity to score some championship points this weekend at the Glen.”

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
Entering round six of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Wright Motorsports will have two championships in mind: the full season-points battle and the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC), the four-race endurance championship within the full season schedule. The team, along with the endurance driving lineup of Ryan Hardwick, Jan Heylen, and Zacharie Robichon hold third place in the IMEC championship, in both the team and driver standings. The group, along with fourth driver Richard Lietz, won the 2022 Rolex 24 at Daytona, and salvaged a 10th place finish at the Twelve Hours of Sebring when a mechanical issue set the team several laps down from the leaders. With two endurance rounds remaining, the defending IMEC champions have high hopes of defending their title.

In the full-season championship, the team has a strong grasp on second place in the GTD class, behind the No. 32 effort of Korthoff Motorsports. With two podiums and an additional top-five finish, the Wright Motorsports squad has had its share of attrition in the last six races but is geared up and ready to go for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen.

The six-hour endurance event will host 49 entries across the five classes, marking the first time all have raced together since the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March. The GTD class will be comprised of 17 entries, making it the class to watch in this highly competitive season. The class will feature an all-out battle of the manufacturers, highlighting the Wright Motorsports Porsche racing against the makes of BMW, Lexus, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Mercedes, Lamborghini, McLaren, and Acura.

The Porsche team tested at the upstate, New York track several weeks ago, getting a jump ahead on the preparations of a busy race weekend. Since the test, both Heylen and Robichon completed impressive runs at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Heylen finishing fifth in the GTE Am class.

Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen will take the green flag at 10:40 AM Eastern, airing live in its entirety on Peacock. International audiences can watch via imsa.tv, or visit imsa.com to check local listings.

DRIVER QUOTES

Ryan Hardwick
Watkins Glen has always been my favorite racetrack in North America. Nothing quite matches the feeling of putting in a quick lap around this place! Our team had a solid test here a few weeks ago, and I’m expecting us to bounce back after a couple of poor performances these past few events. I’m excited to have Zach back with us for this race, both he and Jan are coming back from strong drives at Le Mans, and I know they are both ready to fight hard for our team at the Glen.

Jan Heylen
I’m looking forward to having Zach back in the car and back to real endurance racing. It’s a track well-suited for the Porsche. We’ve always done well there. We’re looking forward to getting some points back after our runs at Mid-Ohio and Detroit. A podium would be nice, but we’re mostly looking at getting back in the points battles for the endurance and overall championships.

Zacharie Robichon
I’m looking forward to having Zach back in the car and back to real endurance racing. It’s a track well-suited for the Porsche. We’ve always done well there. We’re looking forward to getting some points back after our runs at Mid-Ohio and Detroit. A podium would be nice, but we’re mostly looking at getting back in the points battles for the endurance and overall championships.
Porsche Carrera Cup North America Presented by the Cayman Islands
The trio of Wright Motorsports Porsches will resume their Carrera Cup racing season at Watkins Glen, after an almost two-month break. A total of 34 entries will compete in the event, split into three classes: Pro, Pro-Am, and Am. Hutton McKenna (No. 88 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup), and Varun Choksey (No. 13 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) compete in the Pro class, and John Goetz (No. 57 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) completes the lineup in the Am class. So far this season, Goetz holds the team’s four podium finishes, and six top-five results. McKenna and Choksey have been improving in the higher-ranked class with each race, building on the success of their growth as young drivers. Race one at Watkins Glen International will take place on Friday, June 24, at 1:25 PM ET, followed by race two on Sunday, June 25 at 11:05 AM ET. Both races will air live on porschecarreracup.us and imsa.com/tv.

EVENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, June 23
9:50 AM – 10:30 AM PCCNA Practice 1
1:45 PM – 2:15 PM PCCNA Practice 2

Friday, June 24
8:45 AM – 9:15 AM PCCNA Qualifying
1:25 PM – 2:05 PM PCCNA Race 1
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM WeatherTech Practice 1

Saturday, June 25
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM WeatherTech Practice 2
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Autograph Session
11:05 AM – 11:45 AM PCCNA Race 2
1:20 PM – 1:35 PM WeatherTech GTD Qualifying

Sunday, June 26
8:00 AM – 8:20 AM WeatherTech Warm Up
9:35 AM – 10:20 AM WeatherTech Open Grid Fan Walk
10:40 AM – 4:40 PM WeatherTech Race

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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

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.

CADILLAC RACING WATKINS GLEN PREVIEW: ZOOM TRANSCRIPT

Jimmie Johnson, co-driver of the No. 48 Ally Cadillac DPi-V.R, met with the media June 21 via Zoom conference to preview this weekend’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen on the 3.45-mile, 11-turn Watkins Glen International road course. Johnson will team with Kamui Kobayashi and Mike Rockenfeller for the third round of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup.

Transcript of IMSA-related questions:

WATKINS GLEN, TOUGH RACETRACK. WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING THIS WEEKEND FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE?

“I’m happy to be back in the race car and happy to be back with everybody at Action Express Racing. Really excited to see Kamui and Mike – two great human beings and great guys to be around. All in all, I have a lot of excitement to come back to Watkins Glen. It’s a track and area that I really do enjoy. And to be on the track through the full loop – the Boot – I have not done that many times in all the trips that I’ve been there, so I’m excited to run the full-distance track. And in one of these DPi Cadillacs, the pace and effort you have to drive around that racetrack is quite impressive. Especially comparing it to my days in NASCAR. Some of the braking zones, the Bus Stop and the Carousel, it’s just mind-blowing how fast these cars can travel through those tight little areas. So very excited to get back and have that experience once again.”

HOW BIG WOULD A WIN BE FOR YOU THIS WEEKEND?

“It would be incredible to win at Watkins Glen. Incredible to win in another division and series. And then the way sports car racing and endurance racing works, the team atmosphere. I really feel like I’m part of the family at Action Express Racing, and to do so and to win as a race team and as a family in a sense would be really special, too.”

HOW MUCH MORE DO YOU THINK YOU ARE IN TUNE WITH THE TEAM AND THE CAR COMING BACK TO WATKINS GLEN?

“I truly feel like I’m in a better place. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to drive the car at Sebring to see where I kind of fit in and get more time in the DPi car. Clearly, I’ve been a lot more busy in the IndyCar and have a lot more reps and I feel like I’m evolving and more on pace. I think the 24 and even Petit last year you can see that gap closing and I felt much more comfortable and competitive in the car. In a short race, a six-hour race, the importance of being on pace is even higher yet. I’m excited to get a few laps in practice, and I’m not sure I’ll get much more than that the way the practice sessions work out. Hopefully, the time I spend in the sim tomorrow actually will pay off and I can get a step closer to the pace I want to run.”

DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH TIME YOU’RE EXPECTING TO SPEND IN THE CAR SUNDAY?

“I think it’s how things play out in the race. A six-hour race with three drivers there’s not a lot of drive time period. But I think the time I spend in the car ultimately depends on my pace.”

HAVE YOU HAD ANY MORE TALKS ABOUT LE MANS FOR NEXT YEAR?

“I’m still eagerly awaiting the (INDYCAR) schedule. I’m pushing behind the scenes to Jay Fry (INDYCAR president) and others to try to understand what the schedule might be. I want to go to Le Mans. It would be an amazing experience to go with Hendrick and Action Express and the way this whole partnership works. But I think so much hinges on the schedule being released to understand if I can and from the team standpoint what drivers would be at the top of their list. So, I’m thankful to have had a few conversations with them and I know that there’s interest. I certainly have a ton of interest to do it. We’re just waiting for that first domino to fall.”

IF THE INDYCAR SCHEDULE WORKS OUT, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE PRETTY HIGH ON THAT LIST?

“I do. I feel like the interest is really high on both sides. We haven’t been able to talk anything more formal because the schedule is not out.”

WHERE DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF IN IMSA NEXT YEAR?

“I really think it’s schedule permitting and then the opportunity permitting. There’s such a shakeup next year within sports car racing. I’m not sure the dust is really settled yet to understand where opportunities might lie. I think in the next month or two there will be more clarity for myself and for a few others out there as well just as the series really comes together and cars and seats and opportunities are out there.”

IS IT MORE A CASE OF CAR AVAILABILITY?

“That’s definitely a big player in it.”

FOR 2023, YOU WANT TO DO A FULL INDYCAR SCHEDULE AND ANYTHING THAT FITS?

“Absolutely. What I’ve been doing has been so much fun and enjoyable. I continue to get better and certainly hope to do something similar next year.”

SINCE YOU HAVEN’T BEEN IN THE CADILLAC DPI SINCE DAYTONA, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE TO GET UP TO SPEED?

“I’m putting a lot of stock into the sim experience I’ll have tomorrow. I know last year I had a testing conflict with INDYCAR and I wasn’t able to drive the sim with Action. After the practice session took place, it was obvious that the sim session would have been very useful for me. The drivers that did participate in it were very pleased with how close reality and sim were for that given experience. So, I worked really hard to get in the sim this time knowing how few laps you get in practice prior to the race. But I think my senses, my eyes have really adjusted well to how fast an IndyCar gets around a racetrack and I think that experience will carry over for us in the DPi car. From a comfort standpoint, the DPi car I’ve been more comfortable in it than I have the IndyCar. The side force properties of the car, the aerodynamics and just the way it rides fits more of my background, if you will. There’s a lot more side force in the car, and it’s always brought me a lot of comfort. So, with all that being said, I’m excited about sim tomorrow and really plan to trust sim and the braking marks and the aggression to drive the track and carry that right to the track and looking forward to that applying.”

WHAT DID YOU LEARN LAST YEAR THAT WILL HELP YOU GOING ALL OUT FOR THOSE BIG LAPS?

“That was truly the eye-opening experience I had last year. I think I only got six laps of practice before the race, and I was nowhere near pace. And then my stint, towards the end of it, I think I had 20-25 laps in the car. At the end I was finally close on pace and ran my fastest lap. It took me 30 laps to find the aggression level, so that’s why I have so much focus on the sim session. The commitment level was just mind-blowingly high. One, it was an eye-opener but two it’s so much fun to rip around the track that fast, especially going through the Carousel with barely a slight lift and right back to the gas and wide open. What the other drivers said about the commitment level did catch me out when I was there last year, and I hope to do more on pace this year.”

IS THAT WHY YOU ENJOY THE EXPERIENCES IN THE CADILLAC DPI – WHEN YOU HIT IT RIGHT YOU REALLY ENJOY IT?

“I do. It makes me feel like a kid again. The years I spent driving cars my senses and body has understood a certain level of grip and speed and braking marks and throttle marks. And when you just shatter everything you know, it just makes you laugh. Inside the car I’m literally laughing like I cannot believe I just did that in a race car. That’s the part I’m really enjoying.”

LOOKING TO NEXT YEAR, DO YOU HAVE A SENSE THAT KAMUI AND ROCKY COULD RETURN WITH YOU?

“I really don’t have a good sense of things. I feel like Action has been able to help Kamui navigate through the Toyota conflict, and we’ve been able to do it for a few years. I feel confident if there’s an opportunity we would be able to figure it out. Rocky’s schedule is a little bit more open; he’s not running a race team like Kamui is at this point. I definitely know all of us want to stay together and I feel like behind the scenes and the political pieces of it we could get that organized. It’s just really about cars being available to drive. I think we’ll have a better idea in the next month or so what opportunities might be there.”

AND THE ALLY SPONSORSHIP IS SOLID?

“The relationship I have with them is rock solid. We’re still in this phase, whether it’s INDYCAR or sports car or any other ideas I have to go racing, people are just starting to talk about options. It’s usually end of summer, beginning of fall when paper starts moving around and people are looking to ink stuff and get it done. So, we’re early in the cycle and I’m certainly trying to keep my options open, and I know I have Ally’s support on and off the track whatever I choose to do. I certainly hope it involves more on track.”

CAN YOU EXPOUND ON HOW HAVING TEAMMATES IN VARIOUS SERIES IS DIFFERENT?

“I think sports car racing really takes the driver relationship to a deeper level. And in some respects, I think the team relationship, too. You all are working for a common goal at a deeper level than what I’ve experienced in NASCAR. Six days of the week in NASCAR we were that community, but Sundays was all about yourself and what you could do for yourself and your team. Adding that extra day – and especially the most important day of the week from racing terms – really takes those relationships to the next level.”

GETTING TO ATTACK THESE HIGH-COMMITMENT TRACKS IN A CADILLAC DPI, HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM A CUP CAR?

“I think whatever lane you’re in whether it’s sports cars, formula cars, big, heavy stock cars, at a young age your path is sort of chosen for you and you really start spending time on those tracks seeing the cars, the technology. It’s amazing all these little pieces you pick up along the way that help you be stronger in that given discipline. In the NASCAR space I clearly spent a career there, a lifetime there. I always wondered what it would be like to drive the other cars. I am realizing when I cross over all the things that I took for granted I’m now needing to relearn. Sometimes it’s the simplest of things of pit ins, pit outs, the little details on the track that after four or five braking zones those little details on those four or five braking zones add up to a second. It really is a specialized discipline. When you look at how strong the INDYCAR field is, the DPi field, the NASCAR field, they are very specialized skill sets for each one. I just think that’s a credit to motorsports and how strong the series are. I think generations back, certainly it was specialized, but I think there’s a bit more freedom for a driver to move around. This has certainly been an eye-opening experience for me to leave the top of one field and literally start over in these other fields.”

COULD YOU EXPOUND ON HOW RACING THE CADILLAC DPI HAS SHATTERED YOUR EXPECTATIONS?

“To use Watkins Glen and an area of the track as an example, qualifying coming to the Bus Stop, the brake markers start at 500. In qualifying, we’re at the 5 full brakes from fourth gear down to second towing through the Bus Stop in a NASCAR vehicle. In the DPi car, you’ll be in fifth gear, go down two gears with maybe a lift about the 75 mark – and it’s really just kind of a moderate braking zone. And off that brake wide open exiting the Bus Stop, upshifting with a slight lift through the Carousel. Just the braking zone alone is almost four times better than what we would have in the Cup car. That math really translates all the way around the track – the cornering speeds, the braking zones. The acceleration is less; the vehicle has less power than what a Cup car has so there is a tradeoff, especially in how a lap time is made. NASCAR vehicles really make up that lap time on the straightaways with all the power it has. Braking and cornering, these cars are just in a whole different level of performance.”

About Cadillac

A leading luxury auto brand since 1902, Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio that features distinctive design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com.

Brownsburg, Ind. (June 21, 2022) — As the reigning Michelin Endurance Cup Champions, Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque and the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 team are ready to compete for a top result at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen.

Hosting the third endurance race on the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship calendar, Watkins Glen International’s 3.4-mile, 11-turn purpose-built road course is a fan-favorite and one of the most historic racing venues in the United States.

“After a tough weekend in Detroit, we are excited to get back to traditional road courses,” said Ricky Taylor, two-time IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Champion. “Watkins Glen has always been a strong racetrack for us and for Acura. We need to get our mojo back that helped us win in Laguna Seca and Mid-Ohio. The 6-hour is such an iconic event and as we enter the second half of the year, we need to take control of the points.”

A Watkins Glen winner in 2016 and 2017 and a two-time podium finisher with the blue and black Konica Minolta crew in 2021, Albuquerque is eager to return to the top step.

“Watkins Glen is normally a great track for our car,” said Filipe Albuquerque. “We’ll have to see how the balance of performance affects us. This championship has been very competitive. It’s about who makes the fewest mistakes and we are coming off a race weekend (in Detroit) that wasn’t great for us. A few mistakes cost us a lot. So, we enter this weekend with the feeling of needing to do a perfect job at Watkins Glen to get the third win of the year. After a first corner incident for my car at Le Mans, I’m even more focused on getting a good result. Let’s go for the win!”

With a podium this year, Wayne Taylor’s team will have podiumed in half of its previous 22 entries at Watkins Glen. He and the team are focused on achieving that result again.

“The title is still very open,” said team owner Wayne Taylor. “The Cadillacs still have the edge in terms of power and BoP. However, that’s out of our hands. We’re very much looking forward to going to Watkins Glen. It’s a race we haven’t won in a while. We had a successful test there recently. Everyone is excited. We love this track. The points race will continue. There’s so little gained or lost because there’s only six cars in the field—it’s pretty tough. We’re only ten points out of the lead, and the leading car is an Acura, which is good. I’m looking forward to going back to Watkins Glen.”

Practice for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen begins this Friday, June 24th at 4:30 p.m. ET. Qualifying is set for Saturday at 1:20 p.m. ET. Green flag for the main event will wave at 10:40 a.m. ET on Sunday, June 25th with full coverage streaming on Peacock and television coverage on the USA Network beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET.

ABOUT KONICA MINOLTA

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. is reshaping and revolutionizing the Workplace of the Future. 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 recently 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 fourteen consecutive years, and 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. 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-05 effort and Wayne Taylor Racing is supported by an outstanding lineup of partners including Harrison Contracting, Acura Motorsports, Hammer Nutrition and CIT.

Watkins Glen, NY (20 June 2022) – Jr III (“Junior-Three”) Racing heads to Watkins Glen International for the annual Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen on June 26 (10:40am ET, Peacock).

The event will be Jr III Racing’s second IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup race this season, having scored an impressive second place finish at the Twelve Hours of Sebring in March.

Jr III regulars Garett Grist and Ari Balogh will be joined by Nolan Siegel as the trio take on the six hour classic in the No. 30 Airbnb Ligier JS P230.

After scoring a second place finish at the last IMSA round at Mid-Ohio, Jr III Racing rose to the top of the leaderboard in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship LMP3 class standings. The team looks to extend its 27-point lead heading into the second half of the IMSA WeatherTech season.

Last year, Grist and Balogh teamed with Jr III Racing for the WeatherTech 240 at The Glen competing in Prototype Challenge which saw the pair nearly score a podium after finishing fourth.

Jr III Racing has scored two consecutive podium finishes so far this season, and Grist is ready to add another to the stat sheet at the 3.4-mile course.

“Watkins Glen is an old school fast track with close walls,” said Grist. “It’s part of what makes racing in the US so good with high speed, high commitment. We had a great test there the other week getting all three of us comfortable with the car on that track. The boys have been hard at work at the shop preparing our race car. With it being an endurance race, reliability will be key for a successful result.”

Joining the driver duo is 17 year old Siegel, who debuted in the highest level of IMSA competition in 2022 at the Rolex 24 At Daytona which saw him finish sixth. Siegel has shown his strengths as a racer this season competing in the Indy Pro 2000 Championship which has yielded two poles, two podiums and two wins.

“I’ve raced at The Glen in a GT4, but the LMP3 is very fast,” said Siegel. “It’s a very fast track, so it was quite cool to drive the prototype. I can’t wait to get back in there. I’ve known Garett (Grist) now for a little bit, and he is obviously very fast. It will be great to work with him and see what I can learn from everyone. Overall, it’s a fun team, and I’m sure it will be a fun race.”

The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen goes green on Sunday, June 26 at 10:40am ET with flag-to-flag coverage on Peacock.