Category: IMSA

Belle Isle, Mich. (June 4, 2022) — Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque and the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 team achieved a fourth-place finish in the Motor City this weekend. The team is now second in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (DPi) standings with four races remaining.

At the drop of the green flag, Taylor got away cleanly into the first corner, driving a fast and consistent opening stint. The American drove strong until he pitted with 59 minutes remaining and Filipe Albuquerque took control of the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 after a perfect pit stop by the Konica Minolta crew.

With strategy proving to play a crucial role throughout the race, the team elected to take an extra pit stop, gambling that the other teams would have to make a final splash and go as well. Unfortunately, the strategy didn’t play out as hoped and Filipe crossed the finish line fifth. Post-race, when a competitor failed Tech Inspection, the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 team moved up to fourth.

“Today was a rough day,” said Ricky Taylor. “The car was strong all weekend and the team did a good giving us a solid race car. A little bit of traffic in the early stages of the race separated us from the two leaders and we decided to make something happen by going off strategy. At the end of the day, we took a chance, and it didn’t pay off. You can’t blame anyone for trying to win the race. We got the lead of the championship by taking risks trying to win, and the team was trying to win the race again today and it didn’t pay off. Unfortunately, we lost a lot of points, but we’ll go to Watkins Glen which is a really good track for us and hopefully make it back up there.”

“Oh boy. Hard race for us,” commented Filipe Albuquerque. “We were having a good weekend and pace, but the race is a good example when everything goes wrong. Ricky and the team did their best, it just didn’t pay off and it was completely wrong. We’re for sure going to analyze and investigate what went wrong. We want to know why it led us to make those decisions. This isn’t typical for Wayne Taylor Racing to do such a race. Starting in the front with a competitive car and finishing so far behind. Oh well. No one is perfect. We just need to analyze and come back stronger.”

“Disappointed,” said team owner Wayne Taylor. “I have nothing else to say because it’s very disappointing. Now we have to regroup and see what happened here. I really don’t know what happened. We had a fast car all weekend until we got to the race and then we had a fuel problem. We tested well at Watkins Glen, so we look ahead to the Six Hours later this month.”

The 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season continues for the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 with the third endurance race of the year, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen, on June 23rd-26th. Practice 1 begins at 4:30 p.m. ET on June 24th. Green flag for the 6-hour battle waves at 10:40 a.m. ET on Sunday, June 26th. Full coverage can be streamed on Peacock with partial network coverage on 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.

Sebastien Bourdais sets fourth track record in No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac

DETROIT (June 3, 2022) – Sebastien Bourdais put the No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R on the pole for the fourth time in the past five IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races – setting the track qualifying lap record each time – and will lead the field to the green flag June 4 for the 100-minute Chevrolet Sports Car Classic.

Bourdais got around the tricky 2.35-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit on Belle Isle in 1 minute, 18.818 seconds on his final lap in the 15-minute qualifying session to steal the lap record from Juan Pablo Montoya (1:19.373) in 2019.

The No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac previously started from the pole at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, the Long Beach street circuit and Sebring International Raceway. Bourdais and co-driver Renger van der Zande won at Long Beach. Van der Zande co-drove the No. 01 Cadillac entry to victory at Belle Isle in 2021.

Cadillac has won three of the four races at Belle Isle in the DPi era.

Bourdais’ best lap came after a gusty tailwind caught him off-guard in Turn 2 and pushed the No. 01 Cadillac into the unforgiving barrier.

“At that point, I thought I cost myself a shot at the pole,” he said. “I still had some Michelin tires potential left and it all came together. That last lap was mega. It was a messy qualifying, but like I said you have to commit so much around here that you expose yourself.”

The No. 02 Cadillac Accessories Cadillac DPi-V.R, co-driven by Alex Lynn and Earl Bamber, will start fourth. Olivier Pla, making his debut in the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R, qualified fifth and will share driving duties in the race with reigning IMSA DPi champion Pipo Derani. The No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R, co-driven by Tristan Vautier and Richard Westbrook, qualified sixth.

The USA Network will telecast the race live at 3 p.m., while IMSA Radio will broadcast all sessions at IMSA.com along with XM 207 and SiriusXM Online 992.

Rory Harvey, Cadillac Global Vice President, will deliver opening remarks and is the honorary starter. A Corvette C8 Stingray will lead the field to the green flag.

An interview with pole winner Sebastien Bourdais (No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R):

TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS ONE WAS.

“I couldn’t leave the track record to Juan Pablo. It’s really sweet. Obviously, a couple of really big laps, a really big hit and super happy that the Cadillac is so strong because any other car, I think, that was the end of the session halfway through. I took off and ended in the wall pretty square in Turn 2. That was unexpected. There was a strong tailwind in (Turns) 1 and 2, and it caught me off-guard. Really happy for Cadillac at its home race. Big commitment around here; really rewarding. It’s really the first time I put everything together in qualifying in Detroit. I’ve been fast here, but never in qualifying. Hoping for a good day tomorrow. The 01 won last year so the expectations are high.”

DID YOUR FASTEST LAP COME AFTER YOU HIT THE WALL?

“Yes. I hit really hard, regrouped for two or three laps. I wasn’t really sure everything was right; I was checking tire pressures for a couple of laps. As bad a hit as it was, I didn’t want to keep pushing through but make sure everything was right. At that point, I thought I cost myself a shot at the pole. I still had some Michelin tires potential left and it all came together. That last lap was mega. It was a messy qualifying, but like I said you have to commit so much around here that you expose yourself. I think that’s why you see so many mistakes; it’s a really unforgiving place. A good, traditional street track with walls right on the edges. Very sharp curbs on the entry and exit. Big reward when you put it together but high intensity behind the wheel.”

AN UP AND DOWN YEAR FOR YOU. DO YOU WISH IT WAS MORE CONSISTENT?

“For sure. I’ve had a fairly uneventful season. Mostly, it’s been running out of luck. We’ve had electrical issues that really never happens. It’s not so much on the guys. I don’t think I’ve hit the wall that many times in succession in a long time – since I was 16 or 17 when I was dumb and stupid. I guess I’m not getting any wiser. You have to hustle the car around so much and push that you expose yourself. The BoP is tough for us on a track that is historically strong for us. I think it proves that we have to dig that deep. Track position is key. We haven’t had the season we’ve wanted so far as far as results. We’ve been really fast and have had a bunch of poles, but opportunity doesn’t reward the points you need to win the championship. We’re hoping to kickstart our season in the second half and put some points on the board. Hopefully, it starts tomorrow.”

MAXIMIZING THE POINTS IN QUALIFYING HELPS A LITTLE?

“It’s a small consolation prize. We’re 200 points behind in the championship. We have to start getting things to come our way and our opponents to have some issues if we want to get back in that fight. We have to keep our heads down, push as hard as we can and minimize mistakes and hope we get a little luck at some point.”

Cadillac Racing from the cockpit

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

Renger van der Zande, Sebastien Bourdais

Bourdais drove in the qualifying session (start first, 1:18.818).

Van der Zande and Bourdais co-drove the No. 01 Cadillac DPi-V.R to the victory on the streets of Long Beach on April 9 after starting from the pole. … It was the 16th IMSA victory for van der Zande and eighth for Bourdais. … Bourdais set the qualifying lap record time in the event. He set the lap record time in earning the pole for the March 19 Twelve Hours of Sebring. … Bourdais earned the pole for the May 15 Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio. … van der Zande, in addition to claiming the 2021 overall victory at Detroit, co-drove to IMSA Prototype Challenge class wins in 2015 and ’16 at Belle Isle. … Bourdais is a four-time INDYCAR champion and two-time winner at Belle Isle in INDYCAR competition. … Bourdais and van der Zande are on the entry list for the 24 Hours of Le Mans this month.

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

Lynn drove in the qualifying session (start fourth, 1:19.334). “I think the car deserved better, to be honest. I was quick enough to deliver something better, but long race tomorrow and we’ll make it better.”

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, 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 is on the entry list for the 24 Hours of Le Mans 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

Pla drove in the qualifying session (fifth, 1:20.298): “First time in the car and with the team. Coming to this place, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I tried every lap learn from the car and get more confidence. We’re going to continue to push and see what I can improve on for the race and give the car to Pipo in position to win the race.”

Pla is making his debut in the No. 31 Cadillac at Detroit. … Derani and Felipe Nasr were runners-up in 2021 and 2019 at Detroit. … 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 Mike 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 are teammates for the second consecutive year for the 24 Hours of Le Mans this month.

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

Vautier drove in the qualifying session (start sixth, 1:20.331): “Today was challenging. We were hoping to have a little more after being strong here last year. The top Cadillacs have made a step up and we have to find what we’re missing. We’re hard at it. We have the warmup to try a few things and hopefully have a solid race.”

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 Loic 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. … Westbrook is a London-trained chef. … Vautier and Westbrook are on the entry list for the 24 Hours of Le Mans this month.

Car chief-Josh Kerrigan

Lead engineer-Rick Cameron

Race strategist-John Church

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.

BATAVIA, Ohio. (May 31, 2022) — The Motor City will host the sixth round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship this weekend on the temporary street circuit of the Raceway on Belle Isle, an island situated on the Detroit River between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario. The conclusion of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Presented By Lear will mark the halfway point of the 2022 season, which started with Porsche customer racing team Wright Motorsports winning the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The No. 16 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R of drivers Ryan Hardwick and Jan Heylen will be one of 16 entries competing in the 100-minute sports car racing event on Saturday, June 4.

“Detroit is a special city with such a strong history in the automotive industry,” said Team Owner John Wright. “We’re proud to be racing in the final event at Belle Isle and hope to reach the halfway point in the season by returning to where we started: at the top step of the podium and with the points lead. We kicked the season off strong and are looking strong in the championship hunt.”

With exciting wins at the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Wright Motorsports stands second in the GTD class team standings, with Hardwick and Heylen also holding second place in the driver standings.

Saturday’s race will be a 100-minute sprint, the shortest race length on the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech schedule. Qualifying position and flawless pit stop execution will be vital for a desirable finish in the Grand Prix, as the right 2.30 mile, 14-turn track can make passing difficult and the concrete walls on both sides of the circuit unforgiving of errors. The 2022 Detroit Grand Prix will be the final running of the circuit’s two-decade run, for in 2023, the event will return to the streets of downtown Detroit, where it first began in 1982.

With the exclusion of the GTD Pro class in the weekend’s activities, the Wright Motorsports Porsche will again be the sole entry for the German manufacturer, proudly representing the marquee the team has raced for the last two decades.

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Presented By Lear begins on Saturday, June 4 at 3:00 PM Eastern, airing live on the USA network, and also streaming live on Peacock. Fans outside the United States can stream live on imsa.tv, or visit the IMSA International Coverage page. Race fans can also watch the race live in its entirety from the Wright Motorsports Porsche via two onboard cameras on www.imsa.com/tvlive.

DRIVER QUOTES

Ryan Hardwick
I’m excited to be racing back in Detroit. I really enjoyed this street circuit back in 2019 when I first competed here. I love the 100-minute format because it puts a lot of emphasis on strategy and the pit lane, which are two areas where our Wright Motorsports team excels. Looking forward to the challenge.

Jan Heylen
It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Detroit. I love the street course, so I’m looking forward to being back to a tight course, which should suit the Porsche well. It’s a race that Ryan is looking forward to since he has prior experience in a GT3 car there. I think we’re setting up for a good weekend and I can’t wait.

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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.

• Scott Schmidt Secures First Super Trofeo Podium Finish Saturday and Fourth Place Sunday in LB Cup Class Debut in No. 38 DSC Sport/Erin Levitas Foundation Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2
• Wesley Slimp and Tyler Hoffman Finish Second from the Pole Saturday in Super Trofeo Am Class in No. 9 HNTB Companies Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2
• Billy Johnson Leads First Super Trofeo Overall Race Laps Saturday in No. 71 DSC Sport/Erin Levitas Foundation Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (May 24, 2022) – TPC Racing and its three-car IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo team secured a pair of podium finishes, a pole position and led several laps overall in a wet and wild Saturday race that was part of a successful weekend of competition at NOLA Motorsports Park.

The weekend’s pair of 50-minute sprints were rounds 3 and 4 of this year’s Super Trofeo championship. The results give TPC three podiums and a pair of poles for the season so far in addition to a mass of knowledge and data about the new Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2.

The double podium Saturday saw TPC and its drivers rack up a full list of first time achievements. It was the first time TPC earned a pair of Super Trofeo podium finishes in the same race, the first top-three finish for team driver Scott Schmidt, the first race for Schmidt in the LB Cup class and Schmidt’s first time racing solo in a Lamborghini Super Trofeo Huracán.

The top result, however, came from Am-class co-drivers Wesley Slimp and Tyler Hoffman who led the majority of Saturday’s race from the pole in the No. 9 HNTB Companies Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2. The duo was elevated to the Am class after winning the year’s opening race last month at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in the LB Cup class.

NOLA marked the first full weekend of Am-class competition for Slimp and Hoffman in the Am class and they made the most of it. Hoffman led every lap of his stint in Saturday’s sprint from the pole while closing driver Slimp battled for the win until the end when he crossed the finish line in second place.

The fact that the No. 9 duo was able to contend at all was remarkable considering both drivers had to compete without windshield wipers in the wet and rainy conditions. Despite the wipers not working, both Hoffman and Slimp turned competitive lap times through the rain-soaked race.

While Hoffman was setting the early pace Saturday in Am, TPC Racing’s Pro-class driver Billy Johnson stepped up to lead his first overall Super Trofeo race laps in the rain in the No. 71 DSC Sport/Erin Levitas Foundation Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2.

Johnson was in the hunt for the win only to drop from contention when he was assessed a late drive-through penalty for an earlier pit infraction. Johnson rebounded to finish Saturday’s race and then closed out the weekend with a fifth-place result in Sunday’s weekend-ending sprint.

Meanwhile, Schmidt put in two of the best drives of his Super Trofeo career in the No. 38 DSC Sport/Erin Levitas Foundation Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 in the pair of NOLA races.

While Johnson and Hoffman led respectively in Saturday’s soaker, Schmidt steadily ripped off laps in the wet and worked his way into a third-place podium position he would hold to the finish. He was on pace in the No. 38 again on Sunday, setting his fastest lap of the weekend while racing to a fourth-place LB Cup finish in dry conditions.

The IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo series next returns to action at Watkins Glen International in New York State, June 23 – 25, four Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2022 championship.

Harris Levitas, TPC Racing Director of Race Operations: “Saturday we had a mixed-weather race. It was all mixed conditions. We started in wet conditions and Billy jumped straight to the lead, opened up a four-second gap and just maintained the pace. Then the track really started to dry out. We pitted for four tires to send Billy back out on drys. We left the other two cars on wet tires for their position and their experience, and that suited them best. When Billy went out on drys he was back into P3. Unfortunately we had a pit stop penalty and had to serve that as a drive through and we couldn’t get that Pro podium that the team and Billy truly deserved. But we’re working hard. We’re really trying to figure out the chassis right now and we’ve got to thank Billy for his help and patience with us. I feel we’re getting really close. We’re in a good spot and we’re working really hard to get there. I really have to thank our TPC Racing team. The guys have worked five days, 17 hours a day in this heat and humidity, just working really hard to get all three cars to where they are now. Saturday went really well for Scott Schmidt in the No. 38 car. He did an awesome job getting a podium in his first race driving by himself, which is a huge thing for him. We’re really proud of him and all the effort he put into it. Wesley Slimp and Tyler Hoffman did a really great job finishing P2 in class Saturday. Unfortunately, Tyler got hit Sunday during his stint and had a spin that knocked him out of any chance to fight for a podium. But he had a great recovery and we’ll just keep plugging away.”

Scott Schmidt, Driver No. 38 DSC Sport/Erin Levitas Foundation Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2: “We ended up placing third in the rain in the first race, which makes the podium even more satisfying. I would absolutely recommend testing in the rain to anyone driving. Don’t fear the rain. It’s probably one of the best tools you’ll ever find out there. Through the weekend, I was able to run 50-minute stints for the first time, which is a game changer when it comes to this car. I am feeling more comfortable, allowing the car to move, it’s predictable and now it’s time to take it to the speeds that the car is capable of reaching. The highlight Sunday was being able to pass and move up into fourth position. I couldn’t get up to the third place car and was just not carrying enough speed into the turns on the high-speed turns. I am looking forward to Watkins Glen where we can focus on that specifically, and that is finding the limits of the car at high speed. I did run my fastest lap in Sunday’s race when the conditions were a little warmer. It was very satisfying. I’m really looking forward to Watkins Glen.”

Wesley Slimp, Driver No. 9 HNTB Companies Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2: “I’m really proud of how I drove, Saturday specifically. Those were the worst conditions I’ve probably seen in any race car, so putting 600 horsepower down to the pavement with rain tires on a drying track was tricky. We were hoping for more rain, that would have helped us out a little more, but we still maximized what we felt like we had in the car. By the time I was on the track, most of the moisture on the racing line was gone. Being behind another car, it wasn’t really spitting up too much water. My visibility was all right. The biggest thing during that stint was the rain tires just falling to pieces on the dry track. The rain setup was strong enough that with limited grip we were still able to wheel the car and it just felt great. Sunday was a little trickier, but once we really unlock these cars it should be a different story. This season is all about development for us, just elevating all together as a program. Each session I am out on the track I want to find something, and so far I’ve been doing that.”

Tyler Hoffman, Driver No. 9 HNTB Companies Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2: “It was an exciting weekend and a lot of fun. They say rain is the ultimate equalizer, and we were able to show our abilities and our skill level as we continue to develop and figure out this new car. We’re making the most of the promotion up to the Am class and to be able to snag a podium P2 and a pole position on our first full weekend in Am is a fantastic achievement. I’m looking forward to coming back at Watkins Glen. The rain lights were instrumental in keeping the car in one piece. With no windshield wipers, we were literally driving by braille. I couldn’t see really anything. These cars, with their aerodynamic grip and the diffuser in the wings, also applies to water on the track. So there was water everywhere. For some reason, the rain wasn’t beading and running off the windshield like we have seen before; it was just sitting on the windshield on a dirty, wet track. So the rain lights were very nice to have. Without them, it would have made the start a little bit more exciting than we would probably would have wanted.”

Billy Johnson, Driver No. 71 DSC Sport/Erin Levitas Foundation Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2: “This is really our second weekend with the car so it’s still very new and we’re just chipping away at it, just testing a whole bunch of stuff and trying to figure it out. It’s a unique car to set up, has unique characteristics, and we finally came across some positive things. Going into Saturday’s race it was looking well, but we got hit really hard in the right front in Turn 1, which damaged the car. Despite that, we were still able to pass the four cars in front of us and lead the race. Then we had some pit issues and ended up finishing seventh after having to do three pit stops. For Sunday’s race we got the car back together but we didn’t catch some issues that had damaged the car from the crash, so we were struggling with that. Now we will actually have time for once to take the car to the shop and go through it. It needs to be gone through. We caught some things that we couldn’t address this weekend so we’ll go through it and properly prepare for Watkins Glen. I’m looking forward to doing some testing at The Glen and having some more time in the car.”

About TPC Racing: TPC Racing is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier maintenance, service, tuning and modification center dedicated solely to Porsche sportscars. TPC Racing specializes in R&D and sales of high-performance modifications for Porsche sports cars and race cars, offering a wide range of vehicle upgrades. Best known for a line of forced induction solutions for the Porsche 911, Cayman and Boxster, a long-time focus on only one make, Porsche, has enabled TPC Racing to become experts in Porsche service, tuning, and racing. In 2000, TPC Racing began entering races under its own banner, scoring an SGS-class Championship in 2004 in the Grand-American Rolex Series and was a class winner in the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona, and captured the 2013 and 2016 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA Gold Cup Championships. More information can be found at www.TPCRacing.com.

Brownsburg, Ind. (May 17, 2022) — After a successful season debut, Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing travels to NOLA Motorsports Park for Rounds three and four of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo (LST) North American schedule. The Wayne Taylor Racing stable, which includes four cars across all three classes, looks to continue their momentum on from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

At Laguna Seca, the No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing LST EVO2 driven by Kyle Marcelli and Danny Formal achieved two podiums with one overall victory and a second-place finish. The two veteran drivers are hungry, aiming to sweep this weekend and extend their lead in the Pro Team Championship, where they currently trail the leaders by a single point. While Marcelli has driven the circuit many times, this will be Formal’s first attempt at the high speed, technical track.

Jordan Missig, who missed the season kick-off due to a schedule conflict with his IndyPro 2000 commitment, is eager to jump back in the cockpit of the No. 53 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing LST with co-driver Aidan Yoder. Yoder is coming off an impressive debut as a solo driver In the PRO Class at Laguna Seca.

The current PRO|AM Driver Championship leaders, Ashton Harrison and Tom Long, concluded a strong weekend with one class victory and a second-place finish at Laguna Seca. The resilient driver pairing will be competing in NOLA for the first time, but are eager to experience a new track to extend their advantage in the championship. Ashton is competing in two different series this weekend, splitting her time between LST and GT World Challenge America in the No. 93 Harrison Contracting Company Acura NSX EVO22.

Randy Sellari, the 2020 Lamborghini Super Trofeo LB Cup champion, had a second place podium and tenth place finish at Laguna Seca. He heads to NOLA Motorsport Park seventh place in the AM Class standings, driving the No. 3 JG Wentworth LST.

Practice at NOLA Motorsports Park begins this Friday, May 20th at 8:00 a.m. ET. Race 1 is set for Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET with Race 2 on Sunday at 9:45 a.m. ET. All race coverage will be on IMSA.TV.

Kyle Marcelli, No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing LST (PRO)
“We’re looking forward to going to New Orleans. Truth be told, I was looking forward to going to the Ozarks as well, but it is what it is. I’ve been to New Orleans a few years ago, I drove the circuit, but dating back a few years, I don’t think the layout has changed. It is a relatively flat circuit with a mix of high and low speed corners and a long straightaway so it should offer some good racing—good overtaking opportunities. It’s going to be business as usual for the Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing group. Danny and I are gelling and working well together, same as our engineers, Jeff and David. This is a championship-contending year for us. We’re back. It’s a very consistent program in terms of the personnel involved. We have a new, upgraded car. It’s full championship mode. I think we left something on the table in Race 2 in Laguna—we could have left there with two wins. Unfortunately, in the second race, we got turned around at the start and we had to claw our way back. Going into NOLA, we need to get pole position, because those points matter, and we need to win the race. That’s our goal.”

Daniel Formal, No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing LST (PRO)
“New Orleans Motorsports Park is a new track for me as we head to the third and fourth round of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo season. I’ve watched a lot of onboards and it looks like it will suit my driving style as a fast track that’s very technical. Some corners require you to risk quite a bit, but the surface is very bumpy and slow in other corners. I’ve been to New Orleans for karting many times and have many wins, so I’m hoping to continue that form. Coming off of Laguna with a win and a second-place finish, I’m feeling that the car is very strong and I have a great relationship with Kyle and the team. I’m hoping to achieve great results with the team.”

Jordan Missig, No. 53 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing (PRO)
“I’m very excited to be back with Wayne Taylor Racing and get my Lamborghini Super Trofeo season started at NOLA this weekend. My expectation this year is to pick up right where I left off last year, and that means running up front, getting on the podium, and fighting for race wins. I’m especially excited to be teaming up with my new co-driver Aidan Yoder. His efforts at Laguna Seca showed a lot of promise and that gives me even more excitement to get to NOLA and race alongside him and compete for wins and the championship. Together, we can produce the pace to be very competitive with the other PRO guys. I know we’ll work well together and produce great results for Wayne Taylor Racing. NOLA is a first-time track for me so I’m interested to see what transitions we can make with the new Super Trofeo platform. I’ll learn the track and see how the car can handle. Thank you to WTR for giving me this opportunity in the LST series, and thank you to Autobahn Country Club for coming onboard for another year.”

Aidan Yoder, No. 53 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing (PRO)
“NOLA is a track that I haven’t been to in several years. With the limited running available to teams coming into the weekend, I’m confident that the bit of experience I do have will give me a head start and a boost as we get the weekend kicked off. The entire Wayne Taylor Racing squad is coming off of a very strong weekend at Laguna Seca. We have a lot momentum on our side and I’m confident we can bring that with us into New Orleans. Having Jordan back in the car is going to be great. I’m excited for my first race weekend with him this season. He’s going to offer us way more strategy options than what we had at Laguna Seca when I was the only driver in the car. He’s another driver that I can reference data from and gain insight from throughout the weekend. I can look at the experience he has from Lamborghini Super Trofeo and learn way more about the car and how I can apply myself in an elevated way. It will be great to have him back in the car and I’m excited to get the weekend started.”

Ashton Harrison, No. 25 Harrison Contracting with Wayne Taylor Racing LST (PRO|AM)
“After an incredible start to the 2022 LST season, I’m looking forward to trying out a new track and continuing to succeed with Tom, Dave (our engineer) and WTR. Our goal is a championship, so our focus is on doing the best we can at any track we go to. Tom and I work great together as teammates, and I have a good feeling going into NOLA. I am pulling double-duty by contesting SRO this weekend, competing with the No. 93 Harrison Contracting Company Acura NSX EVO22 in GT World Challenge North America. The additional track time will only serve to help me learn the track, get faster and more comfortable throughout the weekend.”

Tom Long, No. 25 Harrison Contracting with Wayne Taylor Racing LST (PRO|AM)
“I’m very excited to take our momentum from Laguna Seca into NOLA this week. In the first event of the season, you always want to have a strong start, and that we did. NOLA is a new track for Ashton and I to learn, and I believe that the relationship we have from years of working together will allow us to optimize our performance very quickly. Combine that with the incredible support WTR provides in preparation and engineering, and we have a platform that I’m very confident in. I’m personally still learning the nuances of this Lamborghini Super Trofeo car, and I couldn’t think of a better scenario for our team this season.”

LEXINGTON, Ohio – Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams persevered through a hot and hard-fought IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Race Sunday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course to secure a pair of positive results despite several challenges. The No. 32 Team Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 and co-drivers Stevan McAleer and Mike Skeen reclaimed the IMSA WeatherTech GT Daytona (GTD) team and driver championship points leads while the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 team and drivers Russell Ward and Philip Ellis secured their first top-five finish of the 2022 season.

In a two-hour-and-40-minute race run in hot and humid conditions, both Korthoff and Winward showed solid pace and an even stronger ability to shake off some in-race setbacks.

The competitive performance showed from the drop of the green flag when McAleer jumped to the lead from his outside front row starting position. McAleer led the first 33 laps before pitting from second place one hour into the race to hand off to Skeen.

After a well-executed stop by the Korthoff team, Skeen returned to the race and continued to battle for the lead in the top five. He was less than 30 minutes into his race-closing stint when he returned to the pits from third place for a suspected cut left-front tire.

Another solid stop by the team quickly put Skeen back in the race but the No. 32 was now deep in the GTD top-10 after the unscheduled stop under green-flag conditions.

The Winward No. 57 also moved off to a good start before encountering some trouble of its own. Starting driver Ward worked his way up to fifth place but spun off course late in the first hour and lost several positions despite quickly rejoining the race.

Both teams entered the race’s final hour down in the GTD running order but determined to make up as many positions as possible. Winward’s closing driver Ellis passed Skeen for position just four laps from the finish and the two Mercedes-AMG GT3 entries took the checkered flag in sixth and seventh place respectively.

A few hours after the race finish, however, the competitor that took the checkered flag first failed post-race technical inspection and Winward and Korthoff joined the rest of the GTD field in officially being moved up one position.

The fifth-place result is Winward’s best finish in what has been a challenging season while Korthoff’s move up to sixth place gave the GTD title contenders even more championship points.

The No. 32 team and drivers left Mid-Ohio back on top of the GTD team and driver championship standing after out qualifying and finishing three race positions ahead of their nearest challenger.

Topping the championship standings following the year’s opening races at Daytona and Sebring, the Korthoff No. 32 team and drivers proved they are legitimate championship contenders by stepping up to lead the points race again for the second time this season.

McAleer and the No. 32 team hold a 12-point advantage over the second-place team and drivers heading into the next race at Detroit’s Belle Isle Park, June 3 – 4, as part of the Detroit Grand Prix.

Mike Skeen – No. 32 Team Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3: “We had a great start with Stevan leading a bunch in the first hour. We had a really strong car, and the team gave us a great Mercedes-AMG GT3 with great pace for the weekend. We were really looking for a good finish, hopefully being on the podium again, but, unfortunately, we lost a tire and had to pit. That put us on the back foot a little bit, but we just kept fighting through it, getting a little creative with strategies and the guys kept executing in pit lane. In the end we were able to get through it with some decent points, retake the championship lead and salvage a good finish.”

Philip Ellis – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “It’s been a very unlucky season so far. Quite a frustrating one because we have always had great pace, and the drivers, team, pit stops and strategy have all been on point too. So far, we have yet to really put it all together, and even in the Mid-Ohio race it didn’t work out perfectly like we hoped it would. In comparison to this year’s other races, however, Mid-Ohio was a lot cleaner and the result shows. It’s definitely something to build on. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 performed quite well. It seems to suit the track nicely. It’s a very flowing track, my first time there, but I really enjoyed it in the car. I had a good time on the race track. We were fast but couldn’t really do the fuel savings some of the cars around us did, but for sure it was a good performance from the car. I hope we carry that to Detroit and through the rest of the season.”

Charlotte-based racing team continues success in two IMSA series

Lexington, Ohio (15 May 2022) – Jr III Racing, the Charlotte-based racing team and full-service automotive shop, successfully completed a double-duty weekend with three cars on the entry list between the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship and the IMSA Prototype Challenge (IPC). The Lexus Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio weekend was a productive one for the team, with a competitive outing in IPC on Sunday morning ahead of a run to the podium and provisional points lead in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Jr III Racing Leads LMP3 Championship Points

After a two-month hiatus with the LMP3 class, Garett Grist and Ari Balogh picked up right where they left off in Sebring as they took the No. 30 Airbnb Ligier JS P320 to the podium. Good race pace, well-executed pit stops and strategy, and some prudent fuel saving all added up for a run to second place.

Balogh opened the race from behind the wheel and managed both his pace and the extensive traffic in the four-class event to make forward progress up the timing charts. Grist took over the controls and returned to action sixth in the order before moving up to second on board the No. 30 Ligier.

Grist navigated multiple contacts during his two stints but was able to keep making progress. That rough and tumble action continued through the last lap as he was hit off track and into the grass, but was able to recover to cross the line in second to come home with a second consecutive runner-up finish after the team opened the year with a run to second in the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Jr III Racing now leads by seven points in the provisional IMSA LMP3 class championship points. This is the third WeatherTech Championship podium in a row for the fairly new racing team, including the second place finishes at the Twelve Hours of Sebring in March and the 2021 Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta

“You know, luckily we didn’t run out of fuel in the end so we just got home,” said Grist. “It was an amazing call by the team. Once again, great pit stops by the guys and car prep is always 100%. Ari’s (Balogh) stint was incredible, just incredible. We made massive improvements all weekend long. With second again, that’s three WeatherTech races in a row, all three of our WeatherTech races second too.”

Jr III Racing will return at Watkins Glen International for the six-hour endurance race during the weekend of June 24-26.

LEXINGTON, Ohio (15 May 2022) – Sean Creech Motorsport (SCM) came into Sunday’s Lexus Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio as the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s LMP3 class points leader, and while the team had an unlucky start to Sunday’s race, the sixth-place result doesn’t tell the entire story.

The team, with drivers João Barbosa and Lance Willsey, tested at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course late last month – but in unseasonably cold and rainy conditions that yielded little in the way of usable information. The team built on the No. 33 Sean Creech Motorsport Exelixis/Focal One/Alta Equipment Ligier JS P320’s setup through two practice sessions, settling on what they hoped would be a solid foundation to build from through the two-hour and 40-minute event at the 2.4-mile Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Taking the green flag in eighth position, Willsey immediately found himself in a game of bumper cars, as multiple cars around him bounced off each other – and off his own Ligier. Willsey maintained his composure amongst competitors, traffic and the faster DPi prototypes. But late in his stint, one of those GT cars tangled with a lapping DPi in Turn Nine and put Willsey into the grass – and a lap down. Once he knew the car was undamaged, Willsey was swiftly back under way, holding his own and keeping the car in seventh position.

Pitting with just under two hours remaining, Willsey handed the wheel to Barbosa, who has three podiums (including a victory) at Mid-Ohio. Barbosa immediately made his presence known, setting a team-best lap time of 1:19.058 despite being a lap down to the leaders.

A full course caution with just over an hour remaining sent the team on an alternate strategy: with the leader having the good fortune to pit just before the yellow, there would be no pass around to get the lap back. Team strategists brought Barbosa in for a top-off of fuel and four new Michelin tires. But he returned to the fray in the middle of the pack of LMP3 cars, unable to break free with all six running comparable lap times. The yellow they’d been hoping for never materialized and Barbosa took the checkered flag in sixth position.

“It just wasn’t our race today,” said Willsey, who also contested the IMSA Prototype Challenge race earlier Sunday with co-driver Parker Thompson. “But this one’s on me, starting P8 just in front of the GTD cars. Things got really backed up ahead of me, and one of the LMP3 cars spun, so a couple of the GT cars were able to get around. Then, while trying to get around them, one of them put me into the dirt – and that put us in a hole we couldn’t get out of. We don’t come here to finish sixth, but the team did a great job and we had a good car, a podium car if things had gone our way. Huge thanks to Alta and Focal One for all their support, we’ll regroup and be maniacally focused on the Glen coming up!”

“The overall speed wasn’t there but we had a very consistent car,” said Barbosa. “I’m pleased with my stint: we stayed with the top guys in the class for a long time, even quicker at times. The pace was there but it was a tough sequence of events early in the race – it’s hard to come back in a sprint race. We struggled here last year as well, I guess it’s just not our track. We struggled all weekend for grip – these track conditions were so different than they were at the test so it was difficult. The team will dig deep, figure it out, and we’ll come back stronger at the Glen. We’re still close in points and the next few tracks will be good for us. We know the championship is still wide open.”

“We tested here a few weeks ago and we had we were really fast car, but this weekend the conditions were different so it didn’t translate well,” said Creech. “But we got the car dialed in through the race so during João’s stint, we were running similar times as our competitors. It’s just in the beginning of the race, we didn’t have that. We made some adjustments through the stops and had a pretty good car in the end. While we didn’t finish where we wanted to, I think we’re still close in the points. That was the main thing – coming out of here with good points and with the car in one piece. And there are still a lot of races to go. We’ll test it at Glen in early June and just start over again, like we always do every weekend. We’re the circus!”

Next up for Sean Creech Motorsport will be the third endurance race of the season, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International Raceway. The race will be broadcast live in the U.S. on PeacockTV and USA Network, while international viewers can watch via IMSA.tv. IMSA Radio will also be available at IMSA.com.

About SCM
Team leader Sean Creech has competed in a multitude of sports car series from 1990 until the present day, includingGroup C, IMSA GTP, WSC, Grand-Am, SRO World Challenge, and IMSA. SCM will contest the full WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2022 with João Barbosa and Lance Willsey. http://seancreechmotorsport.com/

About Alta Equipment
An industry-leading material handling and construction equipment company, Alta Equipment is an innovator of solutions, delivering diverse products and unrivaled support centered on building lasting customer relationships. Alta Equipment began in 1984 with a single location in Detroit and has grown to 57 locations throughout the Midwest, Northeast, and Florida.
https://www.altaequipment.com/

About Focal One
One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime in the United States. The Focal One® HIFU Prostate treatment offers patients a non-invasive outpatient procedure to target prostate tissue while avoiding the common side effects such as loss of urinary continence and sexual function. The Focal One treatment uses high performance, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to precisely target and ablate the prostate, allowing patients to quickly return to normal activities.
http://www.focalone.com/

Nick Galante and Sean McAlister had No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche Cayman Squarely in Top 10 Before Late Contact With TCR Cars

LEXINGTON, Ohio (May 15, 2022) – Hardpoint’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge team was on pace for its best finish of the season on Saturday afternoon at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course until the team’s GS class No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman Clubsport GT4 RS had contact with a TCR-class car with three laps to go, ending the day just shy of the race distance and relegating the team to a 23rd-place finish.

Co-drivers Nick Galante and Sean McAlister had the Porsche firmly on pace for a top-10 finish with just over five minutes remaining in the race. McAlister, running 11th and holding off a line of three cars for position, was committed to the exit of Mid-Ohio’s keyhole turn when a pair of TCR-class cars, also battling for position, came together. McAlister had no opportunity to avoid the pair, causing damage to the front of the Porsche and forcing him to pull off course for the final three laps of the race.

No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche Post-Race Notebook

Galante qualified and began the race in 11th position, the best starting position of the season for the team.

A series of early yellow flags hurt Galante’s ability to push forward on long runs, but he quickly moved into the top 10 and was able to hold the position through his hour-long stint.

Hardpoint came to pit lane under green flag conditions right at the halfway mark of the two-hour race. That was the correct call, as three cars running in the top 10 ahead of the No. 22 Porsche either ran out of fuel on track or had to make a late splash and go for fuel. McAlister had no fuel worries during his stint.

Despite stopping while the race was green, the No. 22 Porsche entered the pits in 10th place and remained in the same position after the field cycled through its stops. Hardpoint’s lone stop of the race included fuel, four Michelin tires, and a driver change.

Only one team spent less time on pit lane during the race than Hardpoint, confirming the flawless pit stop.

The next race for the No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport is at Watkins Glen International, June 23-26.

Hardpoint Quote Board

Nick Galante, Driver, No. 22 Porsche Cayman: “The team did great today. I never get too worked up over being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nobody made any bad moves today, we just got caught up in another battle with TCR and that happens. Just remembering that this Hardpoint team really stepped up and we hit every mark and did everything we could do to get a great result. It was looking like we were going to do that, but I’m coming away from this as a positive direction. The Racing to End Alzheimer’s campaign is heating up for the summer and is going to be huge. It’s going to be a great summer.”

Sean McAlister, Driver, No. 22 Porsche Cayman: “It was an unfortunate end to our day. I had pressure all around, with three behind me and the two TCR cars behind me. I just had nowhere to go. The car in front of me had to correct and hit the brakes, and I had a car behind me and to my left and had nowhere to go. But we were running good and in 10th for the majority of the race. We had a good strategy going, we had pace and were in a good spot. We’re in a good spot. We’re learning the car much better, we’re quick and consistent. We just have to keep minimizing the mistakes and we’ll be good.”

About Hardpoint:

Hardpoint was founded by Rob Ferriol in 2018 with the vision of combining his experience as a successful entrepreneur with his passion for racing. Headquartered at VIRginia International Raceway, the team captured the 2021 Porsche Carrera Cup North America Pro-Am championship in its inaugural season and competes full-time in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R with co-drivers Ferriol and Katherine Legge, joined by Stefan Wilson for Michelin Endurance Cup races. In 2022, Hardpoint has added the No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport driven by Nick Galante and Sean McAllister in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS). More information on Hardpoint can be found at www.hardpoint.com or through its strong social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.