The first post-war sports car race ran on the streets of Watkins Glen. Four classes ran then. Today, four classes will run. This is the third of four endurance classic races in the North American Endurance Cup. This race has been around for 60 years, and it will be dramatic. We have some great cars and drivers, some of whom are fresh off their runs at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, two weeks ago. Let's go racing! This will be the biggest crowd in decades for sports cars at Watkins Glen. June, globally, is the biggest month of sports car racing. Two 24 Hour races. Le Mans, and the Nurburgring. Then, Watkins Glen.
The prototypes have more downforce. It is the biggest field (with 53 cars), since 1984 in this race. Wow. Action Express Racing wants their third straight win at Watkins Glen. This is a true Endurance race. But, watch out for OAK Racing. In their first time racing here, they are on pole. This is the first time an open cockpit prototype in modern specification, has won pole at Watkins Glen. We also have to watch Prototype Challenge. Alex Tagliani spun in qualifying, hitting Chris Miller's car. Both cars were repaired. But, they will start at the back.
Colin Braun has pole for this race in Prototype Challenge. If they win here, and at Petit Le Mans, they can win the grand slam of endurance races as well as the Patron North American Endurance Cup. In GT LM, six teams from four automakers are right on top of each other. At least one driver from the top five finishers at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, will be in this race. Watch out for the SRT Viper's that have the legendary red and white paint scheme they did in 1999 and 2000. They'll carry that livery for the rest of the year.
But, Andy Priaulx and Bill Auberlen in the Team RLL BMW Z4 GT, is on pole. As we look at GT Daytona, AIM Autosport have the lead in points in the class. Again, four manufacturers are in the top five. Porsche is on pole with Leh Keen and Alex Job Racing. It's the first pole for Porsche in GTD. We're running the long course with 11 turns. It's 3.4 miles. Watch the Inner Loop and the Toe section of the part called The Boot. The esses, are signle file, running flat through that section. One mistake, and you'll create a big wreck or a traffic jam.
The cars are fast. Points at halfway, and at the end. Manage your driver lineups. Here we go. We're racing! Alex Brundle and Joao Barbosa are going for it and so is Michael Valiante. They scramble through the first corners. This is havoc! Ricky Taylor is now third. Watch the chicane. The Deltawing is back. Alex Brundle is doing his best into the toe of The Boot. Watch for the tires, as they're cold. Now, the Grand Am Daytona Prototypes ran here. But, the American Le Mans Series never ran at The Glen. So, some drivers need to know how to race here.
Andy Priaulx defends from his rivals in GT LM. He's under pressure from the Corvette and the Viper. The Viper and the Corvette have the power vs. the V8 BMW. The Mazda SkyActiv diesel prototype is also in this fight. The Corvette's were runner up at Le Mans. The slowest corner on this track is 70 miles per hour. David Cheng in the #88 Prototype Challenge car, is holding up the GT LM battle, as they are quicker. Jan Magnussen starts the Corvette. Now, the #60 Michael Shank Racing Riley Ford has a fuel regulation issue.
They have trouble with the Ford EcoBoost V6 turbo motor. Maybe it was a penalty. Car #18 did likewise, in GT Daytona. Joao Barbosa and Action Express want their third straight win at Watkins Glen in the six hours. Joao Barbosa has speed right now. By the way, Jordan Taylor has gotten rid of his mullet. But, seriously, Alex Brundle is still flying. We watch the gorgeous Martini liveried Starworks Prototype Challenge car. Renger van der Zande is at the wheel. He's run in DTM touring cars before, and in Formula 3. He's fast.
In GT Daytona, it's Dane Cameron driving the #94 Turner Motorsports BMW Z4. Dane Cameron is at the controls. They've had trouble with wheel nuts removing themselves from the wheel. But, those issues, have not been solved yet. We continue to work hour one at the Six Hours of the Glen. Six hours, means six chapters for this race blog entry. So much history at this race. They've hosted Formula One (between 1961 and 1980), Nascar, Indycars, and of course, sports cars.
The GT LM battle is between the newly painted Viper's, and Pierre Kaffer in the Risi Competizione Ferrari, after they were promoted to the podium at Laguna Seca back in May. If drivers finish this race, we'll see Jereon Bleekemolen, Pierre Kaffer, Richard Westbrook, and a couple others who have run Le Mans, the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring, and here at Watkins Glen. Use the curbs and pavement as a cushion. The #88 Prototype Challenge car is still holding up the GT LM battle, as the #70 Mazda SkyActiv diesel prototype is pitting for overheated oil.
Patrick Long in the factory Porsche 911 RSR, needs to get by the Prototype Challenge car. Dirk Muller is all over Long. The Viper of Kuno Wittmer, along with Pierre Kaffer, and then, the sister Viper, are all in this pack. Not sure who is in the second Viper right now. Finally, Long and Muller have cleared the PC car. But the Viper's and the Ferrari's are going for it. Now, it's actually Christian Fittipaldi running in the #5 Action Express Chevrolet Corvette Prototype. This is a six hour race. Be patient. There's a long way to go yet.
The Mazda had an oil leak in it's motor. They are still trying to develop the car. They've been working on their cooling and their radiators. They have a major upgrade coming up at the next race. Don't get oil on the turbo, because it will catch fire. Michael Valiante is running well for Spirit of Daytona in the #90 Chevrolet Corvette prototype. Alex Brundle passes the Krohn Racing Ferrari. This is not only the third endurance race. It's the sixth round of the Tudor Championship season. Dane Cameron extends his lead in GT Daytona.
It has a similar feel to the GT LM BMW from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. But, it's not as fast on the straights. It's better in the corners. Cameron is followed by Leh keen's Porsche 911 and Spencer Pumpelly in the Audi R8 LMS. These cars won't be separated too much through the six hours of the race. Spencer Pumpelly will drive both the #35 and #45 car. But, he can only get points in one car. Lots of teams have more than two drivers, because they want to have a reserve driver for this race.
Andy Lally burned his foot in a support race he ran yesterday. The #81 Tully's Porsche spins with Michael Avenatti at the controls. He hasn't run this car since Sebring. The Inner Loop was put in in the mid 1990s, it was slow. But, that's not true anymore. It's faster than it used to be. The Porsche's have had a BoP (Balance of Performance) change. Less tire, more fuel. Nick Tandy was given a penalty. He may need to go to the pit lane. Andy Priaulx is doing well in this car.
He is fully running in the Tudor Championship after running DTM last year (the German Touring Car championship). One o the Ferrari's is pitting. The #51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia. Christian Fittipaldi continues to lead. He has a three and a half second lead over Michael Valiante. Burt Frisselle is entered as a third driver in the #5. Fiitipaldi hits the #63 Scuderia Corse Ferrari 458 Italia in GT Daytona, with Jeff Westphal at the controls. Watch for a blistered tire coming from the bead between the tire and the wheel.
Barbosa and Fittipaldi will go the distance in this race as a duo with Burt Frisselle in the sister #9 car. Ooh. Contact with the BMW and the Porsche. Did Tandy listen to his warning? He taps Priaulx. He might have to go to the sin bin in the pits. You can come to Watkins Glen and drive the original course where they ran for five years. There was a tragic crash, which is why the street course was abanadoned. We see Renger van der Zande pitting, and Marco Shultis getting in the car.
They had trouble with the belts. Stefan Pfeiffer is the car chief. He's experienced in road racing. Boris Said pitted the #31 Whelen Corvette for a flat tire. Alex Brundle is trying to mak a move on Michael Valiante. Qualifying was amazing yesterday. We're 42 minutes into this race as the #17 Falken Tire Porsche 911 RSR pits. Valiante, Brundle, and Fittipaldi pit. Fittipaldi stays in the car. The #17 Porsche is shared by Brian Sellers and Wolf Henzler.
Valiante stays in the #90 car. Tires and fuel. Double stint the drivers now while it's cooler. Go for single stints later in the day when it gets hot. Do a driver change when you have less fuel so you don't lose time. Many drivers have sticker tires. Brundle is still hounding the Daytona Prototypes. Jordan Taylor pits and stays in the #10 Velocity Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette. Meanwhile, contact into the heel of The Boot, as Brundle tags Valiante. We saw these teams take a swing at each other at Laguna Seca back in May. Gabby Chaves leads with the Deltawing.
Tim Keene is the crew chief on that car. James Gue in the #54 CORE Autosport PC car pits. They've won Daytona and Sebring and are the only cars that can win the endurance cup in class. Now, the #2 Patron HPD car pits, and the sister car has a speeding penalty. Meanwhile, the left rear tire is flat on the #45 Audi R8 LMS. Cut to the short course to come back. The #3 Corvette pits with Antonio Garcia out, and Jan Magnussen in. Lots of rubber develops on the track as the Audi is starting to have the tire flail. The carcass will come off, and tear the bodywork apart.
Slow down to keep that from happeening. The Audi has made it to pit lane. The left rear tire is exploded. But, there's no damage. Spencer Pumpelly stays in nthe car. TOmmy Milner will also double stint in the #4 Corvette C-7-R-. Both Tequila Patron HPD prototypes will have to do a drive through penaltu. #1 has already done so. These speed limiters can go awry. Now, the #5 Corvette makes another pit stop as we see Michael Valiante go into the lead of this motor race with Alex Brundle still second, sliding off the road, on the marbles.
The car won't turn if you are skating on the marbles. Look out! The #55 RLL BMW Z4 makes a stop. Priaulx out. Bill Auberlen, in. Oh! The #007 TRG Aston Martin Vantage has spun under the bridge with David Block at the controls. He pinches the corner and swaps ends with the car, trying to stay out of the way, losing the steering and almost hitting the wall. One of the Ferrari's also spins out. So, action is hot and heavy right now. We are in the Finger Lakes region in the southern tier of New York State.
Valiante and Brundle continue their battle. Brundle is ruthlessly attacking the blue car. Something got messed up with Action Express' driver nomination. All the paperwork and timing and scoring had a different driver. That's a rare incident. Now the #51 Ferrari for AF Corse is still smoking. It could be a tire, or, something more. Leh Keen continues to lead the GT Daytona class. They are second and third in the championship standings right now.
Leh Keen was helping Jeroen Bleekemolen and Cooper MacNeil, running two driver at Le Mans. Jack Gerber is at the wheel of the #51 Ferrari with the iffy tire. Look out. What happened to Jack Gerber? He spun and another prototype went off course but didn't hit Gerber. He pits. So does the #1 HPD for Patron Racing, as the car has damage. They are Honda's, and once were designated as Acura's. These cars are very aerodynamically sensitive. We're ready to start the second hour as the #33 GT Daytona SRT Viper pits.
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