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