Category: IMSA

Brownsburg, Ind. (September 7, 2021) – The 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship points leaders, Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque enter the seventh round of the season at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with a slim 41-point lead over a pack of contenders who are coming increasingly closer to their No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 rear view mirrors.

With Ricky Taylor and Acura taking home top honors last year, the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 team and teammate Filipe Albuquerque are looking to add a third podium finish to their season best at this beloved permanent 2.238-mile, 11-turn road course. With its last victory at Laguna Seca in 2013, the team’s history is strong with four pole positions, six podium finishes, and 314 laps lead.

“Laguna Seca has always been a great track for the Acura,” said Taylor, whose notable statistics include five poles, four podium finishes and one victory at the track. “We’re definitely defending off the No. 31 and the Mazda in the championship right now. We must have a good weekend, so we can capitalize on that before we get to Long Beach and Road Atlanta try to build a little bit of a gap before the end of the season. I know the guys are going to execute well. We got a little unlucky at Road America from what could have been a good points day, so we have to make up for that coming here to Laguna. Filipe and I can’t wait to get back on track together and to continue the momentum after the Le Mans break. We’re excited to be reunited in our No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05.”

This will be Filipe Albuquerque’s third attempt at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca where the Portuguese driver will work to better his top finish of fifth.

“Laguna Seca is a very special place in the world,” mentioned Filipe Albuquerque. “I just can’t wait to get back to driving the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05. We were so strong at Road America, and Laguna is another track that suits us. The championship is so close that it will be very important for us to win this race. We need to keep the lead and get a bit more room to breathe in the championship. We are optimistic about it, but we know our competitors are very strong as well. We will see how it goes, but we will also have fun driving the car there.”

“We need to focus on winning this race as we now we take one race at time.” said Team Owner Wayne Taylor. The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 team has three more events of the season to capitalize on the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

On-track action begins on Friday, September 10th at 7:30 p.m. ET. Qualifying for Sunday’s main event is on Saturday at 4:55 p.m. ET. Green flag for the two-hour and 40-minute race will waive on Sunday at 4:10 p.m. ET. Flag to flag coverage will air on NBC Sports and TrackPass on NBC Sports from 4:00 p.m. ET to 7:00 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 customers’ digital transformation through its expansive office technology portfolio, including IT Services (All Covered), content services, 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. Wayne Taylor Racing’s existing lineup of partners that also features Harrison Contracting, Acura Motorsports , Hammer Nutrition and CIT.

MSR ready for double attack at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Portland International Raceway

Pataskala, Ohio (7 September 2021) – This weekend marks the start of a busy three week stretch of competition for Meyer Shank Racing’s (MSR) IMSA and INDYCAR programs. The Monterey Sports Car Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is set for September 12 at 4:00pm ET on NBCSN while the Grand Prix of Portland will kick off on September 12 at 3:00pm ET on NBC.

Meyer Shank Racing Ready to Tackle WRLS with Acura DPi

Driver Lineup:

Dane Cameron & Olivier Pla, No. 60 Acura ARX-05 DPi

Tune in:

Sunday, September 12, 4:00pm ET on NBCSN

SiriusXM Ch. 202

With the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season officially at the penultimate round, Dane Cameron and Olivier Pla are hoping to gain a final bit of momentum to close out the 2021 season strong. MSR’s previous outing at Road America saw Cameron and Pla combine to lead 31 laps. The pace had all things pointing towards a podium finish, but coming up just one lap short on fuel forced the No. 60 into pit lane and finish fifth.

It’s a homecoming weekend for Cameron who is originally from Glen Ellen, CA. Cameron comes into the race weekend with strong results at the 2.238-mile road course. The Californian has five podium finishes in the last five race seasons at WRLS which includes his win onboard the Acura DPi in 2020.

“Being from Northern California I’m always excited to go home and race at Laguna Seca,” said Cameron. “It’s a pretty challenging place to get right these days with a low grip surface, but it’s always suited the Acura ARX-05 well. I am confident we will be in the fight for the win on Sunday.”

Having just completed his 14th 24 Hours of Le Mans, Pla is ready to get back into IMSA action at Laguna Seca. Pla’s first and only race start at Laguna Seca was in 2017 which saw him lock in a seventh place finish in the Prototype category. He now looks forward to taking on the iconic west coast circuit onboard the Acura DPi.

“I have been to Laguna once in 2017 and I liked the track a lot,” said Pla. “The mix of uphill and downhill corners and that mixed with a low grip track surface makes it challenging, but fun too. I’m really looking forward to racing there again.”

MSR Aiming to Continue its Strong Past at Portland with Harvey and Castroneves

Driver Lineup:

Jack Harvey, No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda

Helio Castroneves, No. 06 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda

Tune in:

Sunday, September 12, 3:00pm ET on NBCSN

SiriusXM Ch. 205

Just 730 miles up the coast from Monterey, MSR will be competing in the Portland Grand Prix as the INDYCAR season stages its final three rounds of competition. MSR is excited to welcome back Helio Castroneves for his fourth race of the season as the Brazilian will close out the final three INDYCAR races on the west coast. Castroneves will be joined by MSR season regular, Jack Harvey.

The visit to Portland International Raceway will be the third for MSR which has proven to be a strong contender since its debut race in 2018 with Harvey. In just his first partial INDYCAR season with MSR and his sixth career INDYCAR race with MSR, Harvey qualified the No. 60 Honda 13th – his best qualifying result at the time. Harvey came back the following year with the same strength, qualifying the No. 60 Honda on the second row in fourth. Harvey was on his way to a podium finish until he was taken out by a competitor from behind.

Now coming back to the shortest circuit on the INDYCAR calendar at just 1.9-miles, Harvey is aiming to get that podium finish that he nearly captured two years ago.

“We have been really strong at Portland the two times that we’ve been there, so that’s always a good sign with any race that you’re heading to,” said Harvey. “It was unfortunate that we did not finish the race in 2019, but knowing what we know about the track and the car, I’m certain we can roll off the trucks strong again this year and hopefully get that finish we deserve.”

Castroneves will be making his return to MSR since his last outing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course last month. Castroneves and MSR participated in a series test at PIR to help refresh the 2021 Indianapolis 500 winner with the west coast circuit. Castroneves has six race starts at PIR and last raced there in 2001 with CART, when he qualified third.

“I’m super excited to go back to Portland, it’s probably been over 20 years since I’ve been there,” said Castroneves. “We had a great test there and it looked like we were right on the pace.”

· Twenty-third consecutive appearance in Monterey for Corvette Racing
· Team’s first race in IMSA since runner-up finish at 24 Hours of Le Mans
· Track saw program clinch GT Le Mans Drivers, Team titles in 2020
· GTLM points leaders Garcia, Taylor part of 12:30p ET Zoom today

DETROIT (Sept. 7, 2021) – After a strong showing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Corvette Racing is back in the U.S. and returns to its quest of a second straight GT Le Mans (GTLM) title as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship starts its West Coast swing this weekend.

Picturesque WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., is the site of the Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship and the second race at the circuit for the mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette C8.R. Sunday’s race is the seventh of 10 points-paying events for Corvette Racing, which is coming off second- and sixth-place finishes in the GTE Pro class at Le Mans.

Laguna Seca has been a fixture on Corvette Racing’s calendar since the program’s first year of competition. It’s one of two tracks at which the team will have competed in each of its 23 years to date. The other is Sebring, and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta will be the third with the season-ending Petit Le Mans.

The Corvette C8.R raced at Laguna Seca during its 2020 debut season with Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor finishing second. The result was enough to clinch the GTLM Drivers championship and the Team title for the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette C8.R. Chevrolet went on to claim the Manufacturers title.

They also were second at Le Mans in the first race there for the C8.R. Garcia has three wins at Laguna Seca and Taylor two.

Tommy Milner and Nick Tandy, teaming in the No. 4 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette, look to close the gap on their teammates in the GTLM standings. They teamed for a victory at Detroit and the Rolex 24 qualifying race, and added runner-up finishes at Daytona, the Watkins Glen sprint round and Lime Rock Park.

Milner, a past Laguna Seca winner, has set the fastest GTLM race lap the last two years in Monterey while Tandy was third in GTLM a year ago.

Corvette Racing will contest the Hyundai Monterey SportsCar Championship on Sept. 10-12 from WeatherTech Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. Live television coverage will air at 4 p.m. ET on Sept. 10 with live streaming coverage on TrackPass and NBC Sports Gold. Live audio coverage from IMSA Radio will be available on IMSA.com, Sirius 219, XM 202 and SiriusXM Online 992.

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “As we have seen everywhere we’ve gone, the C8.R has been an upgrade in every single aspect compared to C7. I could feel that also at Laguna Seca last year. I felt like we were more competitive there than over past years. This year will be different again because we have a year’s worth of development. I’m looking forward to getting back there. I like the area, I like the track and everything about the event. Maybe we can give the C8.R its first victory there.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “Laguna Seca is such a unique track and is always a tricky one to get right. The surface is very slippery which usually leads to pretty high tire degradation throughout the race. Last year was obviously great. Going there and clinching the championship. This year we have the same goal, going there to execute as well as we can all weekend. We’re in a good spot in the championship, but we’re going there to win the race.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “Laguna Seca is definitely one of the most challenging tracks we go to. It’s not just about its layout but also the track surface and weather conditions. It’s a place that seems like all the tire data that we learn all throughout the year doesn’t apply for whatever reason. It’s a tricky one for sure for that reason with very low grip and traffic. I feel like we are always used to high-grip surfaces and then going there, it’s quite a bit different with high degradation. Having been there already once with the C8.R, we’ll have some knowledge and data to go off of.”

NICK TANDY, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “I’m very keen for a victory at Laguna Seca. For one, Tommy and I have been so close to winning races. We just need one or two things to go our way on the No. 4 Corvette side. Second, Laguna Seca is one of the few tracks in IMSA where I haven’t won a race. It would be nice to check off both those boxes and end the season strong. It’s never easy at this track and will require a lot of work and study to get us in optimum shape going into the race. If we can keep controlling the things we can at Laguna Seca then I think we will have an excellent weekend.”

2021 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – GTLM (After Six of 10 Events)
Driver Standings

1. Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 2,207
2. Tommy Milner/Nick Tandy – 1,993
3. Cooper MacNeil – 1,984
4. Matt Campbell – 1,372
5. Augusto Farfus/Jesse Krohn/John Edwards – 1001

Team Standings

1. No. 3 Corvette Racing – 2,207
2. No. 4 Corvette Racing – 1,993
3. No. 79 WeatherTech Racing – 1,984
4. No. 24 BMW Team RLL – 1,001
5. No. 25 BMW Team RLL – 966

Manufacturer Standings

1. Chevrolet – 2,230
2. Porsche – 2,108
3. BMW – 1,052
4. Ferrari – 330

CORVETTE RACING AT LAGUNA SECA: By the Numbers
• 1: As in one team, one manufacturer and one model of car for 23 years at Laguna Seca: Corvette Racing, Chevrolet and the Chevrolet Corvette.
• 3: Tracks where Corvette Racing has competed in each of its 22 previous years: Sebring, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
• 4: Generations of Corvette Racing entries since 1999 – Corvette C5-R (2000-04), Corvette C6.R (2005-13), Corvette C7.R (2014-2019) and Corvette C8.R (2020).
• 7: Number of Laguna Seca victories for Corvette Racing dating back to 2004.
• 10: Laguna Seca victories for the current Corvette Racing for the current driving lineup – Oliver Gavin (four), Antonio Garcia (three) and Tommy Milner (two) and Jordan Taylor (one).
• 11: Victories at Laguna Seca for Chevrolet in IMSA competition.
• 12: Drivers who have competed for Corvette Racing at Laguna Seca. Of those, seven went on to win at Monterey.
• 13: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001.
• 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.
• 26: Number of GT Le Mans wins in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for Corvette Racing since the start of 2014.
• 117: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 109 in North America and eight at Le Mans.
• 246: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999.
• 12,795.65: Number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing in its 21 previous trips to Laguna Seca. That represents 5,800 laps… or more than 750 trips around Carmel’s famous 17-Mile Drive.
• 330,467.26: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing since its inception. To put that in perspective Apollo 13 – the longest manned spaceflight in history – covered “just” 248,655 miles. Simply put, the program has raced to the moon and back… and then some.

Corvette Racing at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (wins in bold)
1999
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Chris Kneifel – 2nd in GTS

2000
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Andy Pilgrim – 2nd in GTS (Fellows pole)
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Justin Bell/Kelly Collins – 4th in GTS

2001
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GTS
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins – 3rd in GTS

2002
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 5th in GTS
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins – 3rd in GTS

2003
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GTS
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Oliver Gavin/Kelly Collins – 3rd in GTS

2004
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 1st in GTS (O’Connell fastest race lap)
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 2nd in GTS (Beretta pole)

2005
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GT1
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 1st in GT1 (Gavin fastest race lap)

2006
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 3rd in GT1
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 2nd in GT1 (Beretta fastest race lap)

2007
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GT1 (Magnussen pole, fastest race lap)
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 1st in GT1

2008
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Johnny O’Connell/Jan Magnussen – 2nd in GT1 (Magnussen pole, fastest race lap)
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 1st in GT1

2009
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GT2 (Magnussen pole, fastest race lap)
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 10th in GT2

2010
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell – 6th in GT2
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen – 3rd in GT2

2011
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Tommy Milner – 7th in GT
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen – 5th in GT

2012
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 2nd in GT
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 1st in GT (Gavin fastest race lap)

2013
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 1st in GT
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 9th in GT

2014
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 1st in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 5th in GTLM

2015
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 7th in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 6th in GTLM

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

2017
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 4th in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 8th in GTLM

2018
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 3rd in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 5th in GTLM (Gavin pole)

2019
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 3rd in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 4th in GTLM (Milner fastest race lap)

2020
No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 2nd in GTLM (Taylor pole)
No. 4 Corvette C8.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 6th in GTLM (Milner fastest race lap)

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 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.

LE MANS, France. (August 20, 2021) – Following an incident in practice for the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Thursday, Era Motorsport and IDEC SPORT Racing have decided to withdraw the No. 17 Oreca from this year’s competition.

“It’s heartbreaking to be pulling out of Le Mans before we even got a chance to race, but I know we’re doing the right thing,” said Era Motorsport Owner Kyle Tilley. “We had high hopes going into the event, but with a handful of unfortunate events in the span of a few days, this year’s race week has been a constant uphill battle. Circuit de la Sarthe demands respect, and we take the speeds and technicality of this track very seriously.

“The low downforce nature of the LMP2 makes it incredibly difficult to drive on the hard Goodyear compound, and the BOP hasn’t played into our favor either. After a last-minute driver swap, a new chassis, and a second on-track incident, we had to make the tough call: If we don’t feel 100% confident going into this race, we feel we have the responsibility to our competitors not to run.”

The incident in practice was only one in a series of unfortunate events for the team in the last few days, beginning with a last-minute driver-swap after team principal and driver Kyle Tilley sustained a shoulder injury. The team secured a backup driver who, unbeknownst to the public, subsequently tested positive for COVID. Despite the setback, the team was able to secure Frenchman and 24 Hours of Le Mans race winner Thomas Laurent. Laurent joined the team after the official test day had already concluded last week, where No. 17 Oreca was punted by another car and sent into the barrier. The crash caused enough damage for the team to build up a new car from another chassis to be able to compete.

With their new car and completed driver lineup of Dwight Merriman, Ryan Dalziel, and Thomas Laurent the team pressed forward, desperate to make up for lost time and to get a good set up for the new Goodyear tire compound with the low-downforce LMP2 car. Then in practice three on Thursday afternoon, the No. 17 car had another incident in turn three, one of at least two cars to crash in that spot. Following the crash, the team made the call.

“This is an event where you really have to be on top of your game across the board, and with these setbacks, we just didn’t feel we were there this time,” said Tilley. “Sadly, this isn’t the type of event where you can close your eyes and hope for the best. That’s what makes it Le Mans. I hope our fans can respect the decision. It was a tough one to make, as no one wants to win here more than we do. I’d like to thank our drivers, crew, and everyone at IDEC Racing for all the hard work they put in for this one. We’ll be back.”

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 will return to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for the full LMP2 season and also contest in the full seasons of the Asian Le Mans championship and European Le Mans Series.

ELKHART LAKE, Wis., Aug. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The weather was changing by the hour at Road America for the IMSA SportsCar Weekend, but the Idemitsu-sponsored No. 55 Mazda Motorsports Mazda DPi RT24-P tandem of Harry Tincknell and Oliver Jarvis stayed consistent on race day to finish second and return to the podium.

Consistency was the key. The No. 55 Mazda was quickest in a rain-soaked practice session Friday, then qualified Q3 on Saturday. Then, the two-hour and 40-minute sprint race around historic Road America was much like a Sunday drive. The team stayed in the top four during the race, running third in the waning laps. With just over three minutes to go, and rain drops starting to fall again on the 4.048-mile high-speed track, Tincknell muscled into the second position and cruised to the podium barely a second and a half behind the race winner.

Tincknell shared his excitement on social media after the race. “P2 at Road America! In the mix for the win until the end. Mega job by Olly (Jarvis) in the first half. Got out on the track in 4th and managed to move up two more spots before the checkered. Sweet result for the championship as well.”

The next stop for Idemitsu and Mazda is the IMSA Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship, September 10-12, at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

About Idemitsu and Contact info:

Idemitsu Lubricants America is the Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) official factory-fill lubricants partner and the bulk oil program supplier for the Genuine Mazda Premium Oil Program, as well as a primary Mazda Motorsports USA sponsor.

About Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. Founded in 1911, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (IKC) is a Japanese petroleum company and the second-largest refiner and lubricants supplier in Japan. In order to evolve into a resilient business entity, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. will continue to, both domestically and abroad, operate and expand in the following five business segments: Petroleum Products, Basic Chemicals, Functional Materials, Electricity & Renewable Energy, and Resources. The company’s Functional Materials segment covers the production and sale of fuel oil and lubricants.

About Idemitsu Lubricants America Corporation Idemitsu Lubricants America Corporation (ILAC) is a premier lubricants manufacturer and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., committed to providing quality, innovation, and service to customers across North America. ILAC offers unmatched production quality, ensuring peak operating performance from a full range of lubricants for the automotive and industrial sectors. Idemitsu Lubricants America Corporation provides environmentally-friendly, cost-effective lubricant solutions that help maximize performance efficiencies and minimize cost.

About Mazda North American Operations Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees Mazda vehicles’ sales, marketing, parts, and customer service support in the United States and Mexico through approximately 620 dealers. Mazda Motor de Mexico manages operations in Mexico in Mexico City.

Rolex 24 Winners Return to Victory Circle

ELKHART LAKE, Wis., (August 9, 2021) – Six months since their victory at the Rolex 24 victory at Daytona, Era Motorsport has returned to victory circle with top honors this weekend at Road America, winning the IMSA SportsCar Weekend in the LMP2 class. The team, originally slated to only run the 2021 North American Endurance Cup decided last minute to join the Road America race weekend to prepare for this month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, and after an impressive start, took the lead with a large margin over the LMP2 field.

While co-owner and co-driver Kyle Tilley raced in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen International, Dwight Merriman was joined by teammate Ryan Dalziel to step in for Tilley to race the two hour-forty minute race in Wisconsin. Dwight Merriman had one of his best race starts to date, expertly avoiding the early race calamity of other competitors to jump from fourth place to second in the opening lap. He maintained his position in the competitive field, holding off the No. 11 of Steven Thomas. He held the spot for the remainder of his stint, pitting for tires and a short fill of fuel just before the race went full-course caution.

Shortly after the restart, the field went back to yellow, and Merriman pitted the No. 18 Oreca again, but this time, for a full-service stop. Ryan Dalziel took over with fresh tires and a full tank of fuel and charged forward. The rest of the field pitted after, and unbeknownst to him, Dalziel took the lead. Thinking the class leaders were out of sight ahead of him, Dalziel pushed on, hoping to catch a glimpse of the position he needed to set his sights on. Once he asked the pit box how far behind the leader the No. 18 was, he was informed that he was indeed leading the No. 8 car of Gabriel Aubry by eight seconds. From there, Dalziel never looked back. He pitted for two more stops for fuel and tires, taking the win with a five-second gap over the rest of the class.

The win marks Era’s second of the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season and third visit to an IMSA podium. With four races complete stateside, the team will now prepare to go back overseas to prepare for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team will run with IDEC Sport, the same team they already partner with in the European Le Mans Series. Following the traditional week of preparation and testing, the 24 Hours of Le Mans will take place Saturday, August 21 and Sunday, August 22. As it currently stands, the team has one final stateside race this season, Petit Le Mans November 13, with Kyle Tilley, Dwight Merriman, and Ryan Dalziel.

DRIVER QUOTES

Dwight Merriman
I’m really happy with today. At Watkins Glen, we had a couple of mechanical issues that were out of our control, so it’s really nice to come back and win here. There are some really strong drivers in really great cars here, which makes this win even more special. The crew did a great job, the car set up was fantastic, and the engineering was on point. It’s really been a team effort. Everyone working together is why we won.

Ryan Dalziel
Mega day. The goal was obviously to come here and win, but ultimately it was to come here and work on the issues we’ve had for the last couple of races. Now we’re going into Le Mans with a lot of confidence. It’s hard to beat a win. This was the best car we’ve had all year. In a way, it’s a shame because it shows what we had at Watkins Glen before our electrical gremlins, and it backs up what we’ve done at Daytona and Sebring. I’m looking forward to the next couple of weeks ahead in France.

Second and Third Place Finishes Move No. 6 SADA Systems US RaceTronics Lamborghini Huracán Evo Drivers and Team Closer to Super Trofeo Pro-Class Championship Lead With Four 2021 Rounds Remaining

ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin (August 8, 2021) – Steven Aghakhani and Jacob Eidson closed in on the 2021 IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Pro-class championship lead this weekend at Road America with a pair of podium finishes in the No. 6 SADA Systems US RaceTronics (USRT) Lamborghini Huracán Evo in a Saturday and Sunday doubleheader schedule of 50-minute sprint races on the four-mile road course.

Aghakhani and Eidson scored a second-place overall and Pro-class finish in Sunday’s second and final race following a third-place overall and Pro showing in Saturday’s opening race. The twin visits to Victory Lane were the third straight Super Trofeo podium finish for the No. 6 drivers and team following their first victory of the year one race ago at Watkins Glen International in New York.

In total, Aghakhani, Eidson and the SADA/USRT team have hit the podium in six of the year’s first eight races, a consistent run that includes at least one top-three showing on each of the four doubleheader race weekend events held to date this season.

“The guys on the SADA Systems/USRT team did an amazing job, doing what they had to do,” Aghakhani said. “It’s a huge thank you to them, the entire team, the sponsors and everyone that came out to support us. It wasn’t the double victory sweep that we intended and wanted to get, but we’ll gladly take it. We’re out here racing for the long run in the season, and just getting the points and being safe about it was the correct thing to do in this race.”

The entire Road America race weekend was hampered by rain, including a heavy deluge late Friday afternoon, and a string of red flag stoppages in practice that cost competitors a large amount of track time.

“There were a lot of factors this weekend that we couldn’t control,” Eidson said. “We did the best with the hand that we were dealt and got two podiums. I think we had the potential to win Saturday, and especially on Sunday, but that’s just how racing works. It was still a good weekend, and I’ve got to thank US RaceTronics, SADA Systems and all the guys on the team and everyone behind the curtain that supports us and makes this possible.”

Saturday’s first race saw Aghakhani and Eidson overcome a challenging race start to power back to the third-place finish. The move to the front was fueled by another well executed and perfectly time pit stop by the USRT team that moved the No. 6 up several spots as Eidson took over from Aghakhani at mid-race.

Although Eidson never had a chance to get close enough to make a move for second place or the race lead, he brought the SADA Systems No. 6 across the finish line a full three positions ahead of the current Pro class points leader.

Picking up where they left off Saturday, Eidson started Sunday’s race third on the grid and immediately made a move to the front. He was in second place by lap two and kept the pressure on the leader until pitting to hand the No. 6 off to Aghakhani just past the race’s halfway point.

Aghakhani returned to the race in second place but lost some valuable track position to the leader after a rare timing miscue in the pits.

“We had a little issue in pit lane, just like we had here last year with a seat belt problem during our stop,” Aghakhani said. “Today we had an issue with the pit timer and left a little late, but it was better safe than sorry.”

Despite the lost track position, Aghakhani still managed to steadily close the gap to the front. He was on pace to catch the leader before the end of the race only to see a late on-track incident stop the run and ultimately end the race under caution.

The Road America podium haul saw Aghakhani and Eidson gain a full nine points on the current championship leader. Coming into the race third in the standings 20 points out of first, the No. 6 drivers and team now trail the leader by just 11 points in third and are only six points shy of the second-place competitor.

Next up for Aghakhani, Eidson and the No. 6 SADA Systems/USRT team in Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America competition is the fifth and final North American doubleheader weekend of 2021 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, September 10 – 12. The season’s sixth doubleheader will be held in Misano, Italy in late October just ahead of the season-ending World Finals at the same Italian circuit.

Aghakhani’s Lamborghini racing programs run with the support of several key sponsor partners in 2021. SADA Systems, Inc. is a privately held global leader in providing business and technology consulting services that transform organizations through cloud-based solutions at www.sada.com. Insignia Mortgage focuses on providing flexible portfolio lending options for clients with non-traditional lending needs. Learn more at www.insigniamortgage.com. Magic Laundry Services (MLS) is one of the largest independently owned hospitality linens and dry-cleaning operations in the country, catering primarily to the hospitality industry. Learn more at www.magiclaundryservices.com. TKX Associates specializes in consulting and staff augmentation at www.tkxassociates.com, Shegerian & Associates is a Los Angeles based firm at www.shegerianlaw.com. The Tax & Business Consulting Group is a Los Angeles-based public accounting firm at www.alllp.com. Equeduct provides capital funding solutions for small businesses at www.equeduct.com. O’Gara Coach, at www.ogaracoach, is a luxury and high-performance auto dealer in Beverly Hills, Westlake Village and San Diego. Additional valued partners include Forgiato Wheels at www.forgiato.com, Speed Society at https://speedsociety.com and the Pro Automotive Repair Center in Glendale, California.