WeatherTech Raceway's Speed Week Feature - Monterey SportsCar Championships Powered By McLaren

The DPi Podium after the finish of the Monterey SportsCar Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

WeatherTech Raceway's Speed Week Feature - Monterey SportsCar Championships Powered By McLaren
By: Brandon O'Brien

Sunday morning dawned at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with a slight fog that burned off well before the start of the Monterey SportsCar Championship Powered by McLaren race.  After an unseasonably hot week the cooler weather was just what the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship teams needed.

This writer is impressed with any championship series where, near the end of the season, there are still mathematical odds for a number of teams and drivers to come away with the championship.  As in years past, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is one not to disappoint.  The series is divided into four distinct automotive classes; DPi (Daytona Prototype International), LMP2 (Le Mans Prototype 2), GTLM (Grand Touring Le Mans), and GTD (Grand Touring Daytona) which are GT3 specification cars.  Due to the number of cars and their performance differences some of the tracks are unable to "safely" handle all four classes at one time.  Fortunately WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca can handle all four classes which makes for some very exciting racing.

The change in weather from hot to "average" Monterey weather left some teams behind the curve.  Those teams that could quickly adapt to the new track conditions seemed to do best.  On Saturday, in the heat,  Ricky Taylor was able to place the No. 7 Acura Team Penske Acura ARX-05 on the overall pole with a time of 1:15.035.

Ricky Taylor and Helio Castroneves had the pole winning No 7 Acura Team Penske Acura ARX-05 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

Kyle Masson in LMP2 placed the No. 38 Performance Tech Motorsports ORECA LMP2 on their pole with a time of 1:16.817.

Kyle Masson exiting Turn 11 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in the No. 38 Performance Tech Motorsports ORECA LMP2.  Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

The GTLM pole when to the No. 24 BMW Team RLL BMW M8 GTE when Jesse Krohn put down a time of 1:21.557.

Jesse Krohn on his way to the GTLM pole in the No. 24 BMW Team RLL BMW M8 GTE while entering the Corkscrew at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

Finally, Corey Lewis with a time of 1:24.962 placed his Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 on the GTD pole.

Bryan Sellers and Corey Lewis on their way to the GTD pole in the No. 48 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3.  Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

Unlike last year, the race had a clean, safe start leaving the full field of 32 cars vying for the coveted checkered flag and the race ran without a full-course caution.  As anticipated, the Acura Team Penske Acura's led the pack of ten DPi cars. Dane Cameron was able to take control of the race from the No. 7 Acura after his second pit stop about halfway through the race.  Essentially from that point the drivers of the No. 6 Acura never looked back.  Pipo Derani and Felipe Nasr in the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R took over third place from the Van der Zande and Jordan Taylor No. 10 Cadillac with about 15-minutes remaining.

The DPi winning No. 6 Acura Team Penske Acura ARX-05 co-driven by Dane Cameron and Juan Pablo Montoya in the Corkscrew at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

With only two cars participating in the LMP2 class Matthew McMurry and Dalton Kellett in the No. 52 PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports ORECA LMP2 were able to take over the lead from Cameron Cassels and Kyle Masson No. 38 Performance Tech Motorsports ORECA LMP2.

Matthew McMurry and Dalton Kellett in the winning LMP2 No. 52 PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports ORECA LMP2 entering the Corkscrew at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

Fortunately for Dirk Mueller the race did not start as it did last year and they were in contention from the very start  The No. 24 BMW M8 GTE being driven by Jesse Krohn was able to hold onto their lead for 19 laps when the car suddenly slowed in Turn 2 allowing Mueller to get by in the No. 66 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GT. Mueller stated, "I knew my car was great, I could follow so closely behind. I don't know really know what happened but he lost momentum and I took advantage (and) got by.  That was tough because you don't expect it.  That was quite a close moment.  From that moment, I think that was the milestone for the victory."

Krohn and co-driver John Edwards in the No. 24 BMW were able to maintain their second place position in front of the No. 25 BMW for most of the race.  With about 10 minutes remaining Antonio Garcia in the No.3 Corvette Racing Corvette C7.R, on fresher tires, was able to pass the No 25 BMW for third place. The BMW was then quickly passed by Tommy Milner in the No. 4 Corvette.  This was the order the race finished.

For Joey Hand this was a dream come true. Hand said, "I've been trying to win at this racetrack, my home racetrack, since like 1998."

The smile on Joey Hands' face says it all.  Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

The GTLM winning No. 66 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GT during practice on Saturday was co-driven by Joey Hand and Dirk Mueller.  Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

In GTD Bryan Sellers and Corey Lewis in the No. 48 Lamborghini Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 were able to take their pole position all the way to take the checkered flag.

The GTD winning No. 48 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 driven by Bryan Sellers and Corey Lewis exiting Turn 11 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

In second place was the No. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3 which was being co-driven by Cooper MacNeill and Toni Vilander.  The final podium spot was taken by the No. 44 Magnus Racing Lamborghini driven by John Potter and Andy Lally.

Next up for the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is the 2019 season finale, Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on Saturday October 12th.




TAGS: Acura Team Penske, Acura DPi, Brandon O'Brien, BMW Team RLL, BMW M8 GTE, Chip Ganassi Racing, Ford, Ford GT, GTD, GTLM, Huracan, Lamborghini, LMP2, Monterey SportsCar Championships, WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, 

WeatherTech Raceway's Speed Week Feature - Michelin Pilot Challenge 120

Michelin Pilot Tire rig seen in the paddock at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the Michelin Pilot Challenge 120. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

WeatherTech Raceway's Speed Week Feature - Michelin Pilot Challenge 120
By: Brandon O'Brien

The Michelin Pilot Challenge made its lone west coast appearance in the penultimate round of its 10 race season this weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The Michelin Pilot Challenge now features a two-class format which includes the Grand Sport (GS) class featuring cars that are built to international GT4 regulations. The Touring Car Racing (TCR) class conforms to international TCR technical regulations for front-wheel drive turbocharged race cars.

Track conditions may not have been ideal for the running of the Michelin Pilot 120 with high temperatures that were expected to cool down on race day but did not.  Fortunately for all the teams, practice and qualifying were under similar conditions. The racing was tight with drivers vying for position within groups of three to five cars.

Grand Sport Co-drivers Tyler McQuarrie and Jeff Westphal (Audi R8) needed a top three finish to maintain their first place driver standings.  Going into the weekend Mercedes-AMG had the manufacturers lead well maintained with only one race remaining.

Tyler McQuarrie and Jeff Westphal going through Turn 3 during practice at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in their No. 39 CarBahn With Perigrine Racing Audi R8.  Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

The 2-hour event was cleanly raced with the No. 33 Winward Racing / HTP Motorsport Mercedes-AMG co-driven by Russell Ward and Dominik Baumann taking the checkered flag for the first time after three years of effort.

Russell Ward and Dominik Baumann on their way to their first victory at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in their No. 33 Winward Racing/HTP Motorsports Mercedes-AMG.  Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

Tyler McQuarrie and his co-driver Jeff Westphal in the No. 39 CarBahn With Peregrine Racing Audi R8 finishing second held on to their lead in the drivers standings.  They were followed by Alan Brynjolfson and Trent Hindman in the No. 7 Park Place Motorsports / Volt Lighting Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport.

The No. 39 CarBahn  With Peregrine Racing Audi R8 on way to a 2nd Place finish with co-drivers Tyler McQuarrie and Jeff Westphal at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

The No. 7 Park Place Motorsports / Volt Lighting Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport with co-drivers Alan Brynjolfson and Trent Hindman exiting Turn 11 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

In the new TCR class the race for the Drivers, Team, and Manufacturers championship was still up for grabs.  Gavin Ernstone and Jon Morley driving the No. 61  Roadshagger Racing By eEuroparts.com Audi RS3 LMS TCR DSG took first place.  They were closely followed by Mark Wilkins and Michael Lewis in the No. 98 Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian Hyundai Velostar N TCR. It was Michaels' (unfulfilled) hope to leave Laguna Seca with both the Drivers and Team standing firmly in first place.

The TCR Class winning No. 61 Roadshagger Racing By eEuropart.com Audi RS3 exiting the Corkscrew at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.   Image Credit: Edmund Jenks  (2019)

2nd Place went to the No. 98 Bryan Herta Autosport With Curb-Agaganian Hyundai Veloster  N TCR co-driven by class leading drivers Mark Wilkins and Michael Lewis.  Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

The remaining spot on the podium was taken by the No. 37 L.A. Honda World Racing Honda Civic TCR which was being driven by Tom O'Gorman and Shelby Blackstock.

The 3rd Place No. 37 L.A. Honda World Racing Honda Civic TCR driven by co-drivers Tom O'Gorman and Shelby Blackstock entering the Corkscrew at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: Edmund Jenks  (2019)

The final race of the Michelin Pilot Challenge in conjunction with IMSA's Motul Petit Le Mans finale at Road Atlanta will determine the championship standings for the TCR class drivers.  That race will take place on Saturday October 11, 2019.




TAGS: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Motul Petit Le Mans, Michelin, Michelin Pilot Challenge, Motor Driven Images, Brandon O'Brien, Edmund Jenks, The EDJE

WeatherTech Raceway's Speed Week Feature - Lamborghini Super Trofeo

Top three Pro-Class Lamborghini Huracan were separated by inches at the top of the Corkscrew at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

WeatherTech Raceway's Speed Week Feature - Lamborghini Super Trofeo
By: Brandon O'Brien

The Monterey Peninsula always seems to surprise, confound, and delight anyone fortunate to visit this beautiful California location.  The Lamborghini Super Trofeo held this weekend at the iconic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca had unseasonably hot dry weather for Saturday's Round 9 race with a more typical cooler fog shrouded Sunday morning for Round 10.

The Lamborghini Super Trofeo drivers compete in identical Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO cars based on the Huracan LP-620-2.  These championship races are held in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia with a World Championship finale held in Italy with the top worldwide drivers competing. They compete in four classes.  Professional (Pro), Professional-Amateur (Pro-Am), Amateur (Am), and LB Cup.

Putting the weather aside, this years Lamborghini Super Trofeo fortunately had less drama than the event last year. Pro-Class drivers Conor Daly and Brandon Gdovic co-drove the No. 46 Precision Performance Motorsports Lamborghini to a first place in both rounds.

The Pro-Class winning  No. 46 Precision Performance Motorsports Lamborghini driven by Conor Daly and Brandon Gdovic at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

Second and third place (Round 9) Pro-Class drivers Corey Lewis and Richy Antinucci in the No. 29 Chance Racing Lamborghini and Andrea Amici and Sandy Mitchell in the No. 1 Prestige Performance/WTR car swapped positions for Round 10.

Second Place (Round 9) and Third Place (Round 10) No. 29 Chance Racing Lamborghini driven by Corey Lewis and Richy Antinucci at the top of the Corkscrew. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

Third Place (Round 9) and Second Place (Round 10) No. 1 Prestige Performance/WTR Lamborghini co-driven by Andrea Amici and Sandy Mitchell at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

James Sofronas competing in his first Lamborghini North America race in the No. 14 GMG Lamborghini placed first in both events for the Amateur-Class, followed closely in both events by the Pro-Am No. 09 US RaceTronics car co-driven by Damon Ockey and Jacob Eidson. With these wins they have secured the Pro-Am North American class championship.

Amateur Class winning No. 14 GMG Lamborghini  driven by James Sofronas braking for the Corkscrew at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

Pro-Am class winners Damon Ockey and Jacob Eidson in the No. 09 US RaceTronics Lamborghini at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

The LB Cup Class was the only class where the two rounds were won by a different team.  Round 9 was won by the No. 22 Dream Racing Motorsport car driven by Justin Price and Chad Reed.  Round 10 was won by Mel Johnson and Thomas Lovelady in the No. 08 GMG Racing Lamborghini.

The Round 9 LB Cup Class winning No. 22 Dream Racing Motorsport  Lamborghini driven by Justin Price and Chad Reed. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

The Round 10 LB Cup winning No. 08 GMG Racing Lamborghini co-driven by Mel Johnson and Thomas Lovelady at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images (2019)

All, in all, the Lamborghini Super Trofeo showing this weekend provided the fans with the additional intertest of having a professional IndyCar driver lead the charts in both races.  It helped to prove that racing Lamborghini's is not just a dealership sport.  We hope that Conor Daly is able to achieve his wish for a steady seat in the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series.




TAGS: Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Lamborghini, Huracan, LP620-2, WeatherTech, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey SportsCar Championship, Monterey Speed Week, Brandon O'Brien, Motor Driven Images, Conor Daly