Detroit, Michigan (The Motor City), on the Detroit River plays host to the Tudor United Sports Car Racing championship, for round five of the championship. We are sandwiched between Motown, and Windsor, Canada, for this race. This is an hour and forty minute, timed event. This race will feature the Prototype and GT Daytona divisions. This race is really important for American manufacturers as GM has dominated. But, Ford, has a huge stake in the game, especially with Chip Ganassi Racing.
The ultimate goal, is, to be a factory racing driver. As a factory driver, you are pressured to win. Corvette dominated qualifying, and Richard Westbrook, put his #90 Corvette prototype on pole. Last year in this race, Gustavo Yacaman and Memo Rojas, had a monstrous crash going through one of the tight corners on this circuit. You have to gamble on a street course, whether you're a driver, or, the owner of a team in the Tudor Championship.
The points are very, very close especially among the top three, with a mere three points separating the leading #5 Action Express Racing Chevrolet Corvette prototype of Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi, from the Ganassi squad of Rojas and Scott Pruett, followed immediately by the Taylor brothers in their Corvette, in a two way tie. The Flying Lizard team and their #45 Audi R8 LMS is on pole for the GT Daytona class.
In the GTD standings, Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell, are tied with John Potter and Andy Lally. The Flying Lizard team of Nelson Canache and Spencer Pumpelly, on pole for this race, are third in points. Magnus Racing is starting deep in the 21 car GTD field. The start is paramount for a sprint race like this. The field under stewards' orders, lines up behind the safety car. Watch the first turn on the out lap, because it's really greasy.
Go! At the start, Michael Valiante, starting in the pole winning #90 Corvette prototype, takes the car into the lead. Joao Barbosa dives down the inside of Scott Sharp to take second place away. The cars fan out onto the long 2,100 foot straightaway between turns two and three. Jordan Taylor is currently third, while Gustavo Yacaman runs fourth. On these tight streets, there's no margin for error, as Markus Palttala in the #94 Turner Motorsports BMW Z4 chases down the #45 Audi of Nelson Canache. The Finn, Palttala, is one of many drivers racing at Belle Isle Park for the first time.
The pavement on these streets is rough, and the drivers will experience a lot of vibration, including kickback from the steering wheel, which is hard on a driver's wrists and hands. Be patient through the Fountain Turn, and corners seven through eleven. The Prototype drivers will need to be very aware of the GT Daytona cars. On a street course, a spin, can turn into a big wreck, really fast. A driver cannot get turned around without completely blocking the track.
We watch the progress of the #33 SRT Viper of Ben Keating, and the man who put the car on pole, Jeroen Bleekemolen. The Viper, is the only U.S. made car in the GT Daytona field, competing against the likes of German giants from Audi, BMW, and Porsche, and of course, Ferrari, the Prancing Horse, from Italy. This Viper team has recovered really well from the dreadful fire they had in the opening hour at the 12 Hours of Sebring back in March. They also ran well last time out at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Watch the corners, because there are lots of transitions between concrete and asphalt. It was a short weekend for this race, so teams could not get on the track until early last Friday morning to practice for this race, held on Saturday. Brett Sandberg (filling in for Patrick Dempsey, testing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans), is in a battle with the #81 Tully's Coffee Porsche.
This track at Belle Isle has been around since 1992 and has seen a lot of great events. The track itself is a temporary street course, 2.3 miles in length, with 13 turns. Future rennovations are planned for this race track. The track was originally 2.1 miles, but the new straightaway was added between turns two and three, and there could be 14 corners on the track, give or take the lengthening of it. Strategies for this race, revolve around some questions.
Will there be an early yellow? Will there be just one pit stop, and if so, will it be for tires? The early yellow could be a conundrum for the Prototype teams, because if you pit at 50 minutes, you might make it on fuel. If you pit earlier, you could be S.O.L. (sorry, out of luck), on your fuel gamble. Also, new dance partners. We haven't seen Prototypes and GT Daytona machinery run a stand alone race, nor, have we seen the GT Daytona machines racing with the Prototypes, since Sebring, back in March.
The leaders are beginning to spread out. Remember, the P2 class cars are 300 pounds lighter than the Daytona Prototype machines. So, tire wear will be totally different on both cars. Yacaman is coming for the DP's, and fast. In practice and qualifying, it took ten laps to get real quick times out of the cars. Michael Valiante is running well, while Christian Fittipaldi is keeping up. Don't run up onto the curbs on this track. Some other tracks, you can afford as a driver, to do that. Not at Belle Isle, because the curbs are very steep.
The tire pressures are coming up gradually, but not to levels where the teams and drivers want them. The last corner on the track, doesn't have a number. But, it's a high speed sweeper on the front straight, into the stadium section on the course. It's unpleasant, but on a street course, get as close to the wall as possible as a driver. If you leave a foot for safety, you'll only lose speed. Between turns three and six, the grip on the track is really low, so watch out in those areas. Adjust the sway bars to get the car to come to you.
What that means, is, a driver can adjust the sway bars in the suspension system, from his cockpit, so the car feels right when he's driving. Memo Rojas runs sixth overall ahead of John Pew in seventh, both, running identical Riley chassis' with Ford EcoBoost twin turbo V6 power. Nelson Canache Jr. continues leading GT Daytona and we've got five marques in the first five places in class. Audi, BMW, Viper, Porsche, and Ferrari. Uh oh. Rojas and car #01, is headed to pit lane.
Any undue pit time will be disastrous in a race this short. Something could be wrong with the car's clutch. Ten minutes is the minimum driving time for points in Prototypes, while 35 minutes is the required minimum, in GT Daytona. Ganassi Racing always seems to have issues with running in Detroit. This will be a tough break for Ford, because it's one of only two bullets in the gun for them. The car is on track, but moving really slowly. The trouble is, the clutch is slipping.
Scott Pruett needs a minimum of ten minutes driving time in the car. The clutch won't engage. You can still drive the car, however, if it continues to spin, the car won't make it back, and he'll be stopped on course, requiring a safety car. The three way battle for the lead is simmering. Contact between Jordan Taylor and Christian Fittipaldi, right behind Michael Valiante. Gustavo Yacaman is also beginning to come back. Jordan Taylor wants his third Detroit victory, trying to run down Michael Valiante.
Three wide, going around a lapped Porsche, and then, run from 160 miles an hour way down to 55 for the braking zone while Fittipaldi takes evasive action to avoid more GT Daytona traffic... a Porsche, and an Audi. In road racing, you have to read the track, anticipating what will happen. With only Prototypes and GT Daytona cars racing, the speed spectrum varies tremendously, because of the fastest cars being the prototypes, and the GT Daytona cars, being the slowest of the four classes in the Tudor Championship. Launch the car through the corner, but don't spin the tires.
Yacaman and Sharp in the two P2 configured cars are running well, followed by the GT Daytona battle between the Audi and the BMW. Keep in mind, there are two Flying Lizard Audi's. One is Nelson Canache, leading in class, while the other is #35, piloted by Flying Lizard team owner, Seth Neiman. Now, the Turner Motorsports BMW had constant issues with the right rear wheel in qualifying, where it would come loose. The team went over to the Rahal Letterman Lanigan BMW team shop in Columbus, Ohio, and ended up getting some new hubs, that are differently threaded.
Again, the ViperExchange.com SRT Viper is running very well. Uh oh. Problems for one of the Prototypes. This is the #31 Whelen sponsored Corvette prototype driven by Boris Said. There's a fire in the back of the car. Jordan Taylor makes a tight pass on the #90 car, squeezing through, for the race lead. There's lots of debris on track at the moment. Be careful for punctures. Michael Valiante and Richard Westbrook, have two different driving styles, and therefore, have to compromise.
Uh oh. Another wreck. The #30 Momo sponsored Porsche 911 GT America in GT Daytona, has hit the wall. Henrique Cisneros at the controls. Back to driving styles. Valiante brakes with his left foot, while Westbrook eases off the throttle, and lets the car float through the corner. If you are a left foot braker, meaning he rides the brake into the corner, and dissipates understeer in the car. By feathering the throttle, more grip is required on the front of the car, speaking of Westbrook's driving style.
Jordan Taylor has a good record going at Detroit. He won the GT class in the old Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series in 2012, and won in that same series, before the merger with IMSA, in Prototype competition, last year. Now back to Cisneros' crash. This is a wallop. The wreck happened in turn six. For GTD cars, the silver rated driver (more experience), has to run a minimum of 35 minutes as we are 29 minutes into the race.
Now, more argy bargy in GT Daytona. We watch Ben Keating in the #33 Viper, trying to go inside Charlie Putman in the #46 Fall Line Motorsports Audi R8. No move, but instead, synchronized spinning for the Viper and the Audi. Putman was already committed to the apex of that corner. Cisneros, meanwhile, is having issues of his own, and he's leaving debris scattered all over the track, trying to make it to pit lane. The inner fender panel disintegrates. Keep in mind, these cars are carbon fiber in their construction. That stuff is sharp when it's in shards all over the track.
It's like a razor blade and can cut a tire, instantly. More drama in GT Daytona, as the #64 Ferrari 458 Italia has spun. Same spot. Chris Cumming at the controls. There was oil laid down in a preliminary event, before this race. Something else, too. Last week, before the race, Detroit had a lot of rain, and there's water in the tire bundles. A crash will explode those tires. Cumming needs to turn the car and continue on his way to avoid a yellow.
The corner marshals will wave yellow flags to warn the drivers to slow down. It's just a local yellow. He goes across the track, and two cars pass, fortunately without incident. But, he's not out of harm's way yet. Ironically, Cumming is at the widest part of the Belle Isle course. Finally, Cumming is on his way, back to the pits. Speaking of the pits, #30 has made it there, too. Kuba Giermaziak is due to take over the car. Hero to zero in one week, because Giermaziak won the Porsche Super Cup preliminary race to the Monaco Grand Prix last weekend.
But, in this race, he'll finish lower. Much lower. We're getting ready for this race's only pit stop. Recall that the event at Long Beach with the Prototypes and GT Le Mans machines ran the same way, back in April. Some teams might not change tires at all, while others will use sticker tires (fresh tires with no heat cycles), or, scuffed/scrubbed tires (meaning tires that have been used for one or two heat cycles). At Long Beach, Ganassi won the race on scuffed tires as Joao Barbosa's sticker tires were not performing at their best level.
We are under yellow at Belle Isle for the first time while the #30 Porsche is headed to the paddock to be fixed. Race control has indicated the damp spot in turn six, has to be dried. The track marshals will attend to the water slick ASAP. Wow. Now, Scott Pruett and the Riley Ford EcoBoost for Ganassi is back on track. Unfortunately, his clutch is still sick. It's still spinning. He could spin the center out of the clutch, and then, it's without a doubt, game over.
Pruett just needs time in the car to score some points. With just about an hour to go, Ganassi could put a fresh clutch in the car and get back out. But, now, they run the risk of breaking down entirely. Then, the car might just sit there. If you pull to the left, it is game over. There's only a couple spots on the right to pull into the garage. Everyone is coming to the pits. But, speaking of clutch issues, rumors circulate that the Taylor brothers could have an ailing clutch on their Corvette prototype. The car won't stay in gear, indicating another possible problem.
Teams will have to have the tire and driver changes down to a science so they can leapfrog their competitors on these stops. Richard Westbrook takes over the #90 Corvette. Westbrook is really quick at Belle Isle despite saying "I hate this course!" Ricky Taylor took over the #10 machine from his brother and only had the left side tires changed. Ricky Taylor had an embarrassing moment in the Grand Am race here in 2012, hitting the pit wall immediately after his stop, exiting.
They were done for the day that day. Now, speaking of well, not done, but in dire straits, the #01 car is back in the garage and will have the clutch replaced. Has Scott Pruett done ten minutes in that car? The time starts when you exit the pits and then stops when you re-enter the pits for a driver change. Fixing the car in pit lane doesn't count towards your driving time. Most of the GT Daytona machines now pit. A couple Audi's stay out on track. What will the strategy be?
We watch the #23 Alex Job Racing Porsche as Ian James steps out, and Mario Farnbacher takes over. The #45 Flying Lizard Audi R8 is also in the pits for fresh tires, as Spencer Pumpelly takes over from Nelson Canache Jr. Andy Lally gets into the #44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT America while Townsend Bell limps his way into the #555 Level 5 Racing Ferrari 458 Italia. Whoops! We've got a loose wheel in the pit lane. Not good. A crewman retrieves the tire. Hopefully it's not from a car going back on track.
The question will be, what will the race stewards say about that? Hello, Canada, as fans can probably see the ore boats on the St. Lawrence River. What a beautiful place for a race course, here on Belle Isle. We are back to green flag racing with less than an hour to go in this one. It's a battle of Corvette's for the top three. Taylor, Barbosa, Westbrook. Will the transmission in the #10 car hold out? Theirs is not a clutch issue. Rather, the transmission wants to jump in and out of gear.
P2 fisticuffs, as Olivier Pla wants by Ryan Dalziel. It's OAK Racing vs. Patron Racing. Pla looks to the inside in turn four. Nissan vs. Honda power. Again, don't spin the tires. The car won't go forward, and to quote Fox Sports sports car analyst and former driver, Dorsey Schroeder, "you are a sitting duck." Uh oh. Trouble on course for the #73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT America. Kevin Estre qualified the car well, but he's got a damaged rear wing, now.
He backs up the car. But the left side of it has probably been pancaked. Ricky Taylor moves away from Joaoa Barbosa, who has his hands full with Richard Westbrook. This ding dong scrap continues. Westbrook has been thinking, "ugh! Why can't I just win a race?" Oh boy. Barbosa leaps the curbs, and this is the perfect chance for Westbrook to pounce. No dice. He's balked by a Flying Lizard GTD Audi. Now, Westbrook will once again have to deal with Olivier Pla and the #42 black and pink Morgan Nissan.
These teams are no strangers to battling each other in this inaugural season of the Tudor Championship, so far. For his contact with that #46 Fall Line Audi, Ben Keating and the Viperexchange.com SRT Viper #33 has been assessed a stop and hold penalty by the marshals. Or, was it a separate contretemps? Three wide with the Viper as the meat in the sandwich, while the Audi and the Ferrari, are the two buns, and the BMW Z4 for Turner Motorsports also wants a piece of this.
No worries here. But the penalty still stands for his contact with the Audi earlier. That's a stop and hold plus 55 seconds, which will raise Jeroen Bleekemolen's blood pressure, giving him lots more work. ...And, we've got a second full course caution flag. Looks like the #81 Porsche is into the tires. Damien Faulkner crunches the tires, and of course, releases more water from inside of them, making the road, slick. Faulkner went in backwards and only damaged, minimally, the rear bumper. Ricky Taylor leads at halfway. The first half flew by.
What will the second half, have to offer? Tomy Drissi currently leads the GT Daytona class driving the #18 Muehlner Motorsports Porsche 911 GT America. We have had one lead change, and some heavy attrition, as six cars are out of this one. Drissi stayed out on course, with different and smart pit strategy, and has the class lead, as the car's livery is promoting Channing Tatum's movie, "22 Jump Street". We've got 30 minutes left in this race.
The other Ford powered prototype team, Mike Shank Racing, is running well. Shank, the team and car owner, said that they thought they lost turbo boost on the Ford V6. But, that wasn't the case. The real culprit, was a fuel pressure problem. MSR has been dealing with gearbox issues, and did so in the previous race at Laguna Seca, as well as in practice for the Detroit round. Alessandro Balzan in the #63 Scuderia Corse Ferrari 458 Italia, now has the GT Daytona class lead.
The team is bullish about their chances. The #23 Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT America is also having a great run. With no GT LM cars on track, (since many of those teams were testing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans), there's no tire war. Everyone in the field in Prototype and GT Daytona is on Continental tires. The points standings are starting to shake out in the Tudor Championship. But as for this race, no more yellows, please.
It needs to get going, in a hurry, with just 27 minutes left. Green flag. Jordan Taylor leads the way, as others try to pass the lapped #2 Extreme Speed Motorsports HPD prototype. The car will be a buffer for Ricky Taylor as his competition has to get around it. Westbrook wants nothing to do with the lapped HPD car. He wants to go by and get to harrying the #5 machine. The Daytona Prototypes, being heavier, generate more tire temperature, and get up to speed quicker on restarts than the P2 spec cars do. Oswaldo Negri Jr. is also coming, and fast.
Negri splits the P2 cars in the #60 MSR Riley Ford EcoBoost. The Ford brass are without doubt, keeping an eye on this, as Ricky Taylor consolidates his lead in a huge way. The V8 powered prototypes (using the Chevrolet small block, primarily), can point and shoot, whereas, the turbocharged cars like the Ford, and the Nissan powered OAK machine, have turbo lag to contend with. Now, the track is very dirty, and with all the debris, it's harder to get rid of on street courses, because of the concrete walls and fences. The debris gets blown in the air, and floats back down to the surface.
The #1 Patron Racing HPD has had gearbox issues, or at least they did last time out at Laguna Seca. Team manager Robin Hill said that the bevel gears in the gear cluster have really given the team problems, breaking four times this year already. With the HPD car, the team has run the same transmission for the last eight years, since 2006. It is completely unclear as to where the whole problem came from. Now, there's a HUGE traffic jam, primarily comprised of GT Daytona cars.
That's a mob of GT Daytona machines with a small number of random Prototypes, mixed in. Ricky Taylor is whistling off into the distance. But the second place battle is six cars strong! Barbosa, Westbrook, Pla, Negri Jr., and Dalziel, are all scrapping for position here. There's also a war in GT Daytona. It's Ferrari vs. Viper, Audi, and Porsche, at the very least. The GT Daytona cars may be the slowest (not necessarily), but they have some of the best closing drivers in the business, at the wheels of their respective machines.
Leh Keen battles Andy Lally. James Davison (who made his first start at the Indianapolis 500 a couple Sundays ago), and Dane Cameron, are also in this fight. Turner Motorsports races with heavy hearts, as Linda Turner, mother of team boss Will Turner, passed away recently. He recalls that he always got a text from his mom, asking how things were going, but didn't get that, the day his mother passed away. Rest In Peace, Linda Turner.
Meanwhile, John Potter and Andy Lally, are having issues getting their #44 Magnus Racing Porsche to the front of the field in GTD. TRG and Aston Martin are running better because the ride height on the car has been lowered, and the motor has a bigger air inlet restrictor on it. Al Carter and James Davison are running well. Meanwhile, more seesawing in GTD. Jeroen Bleekemolen in the Viper is fast, but he's a lap down. Alessandro Balzan in the class leading Ferrari 458 Italia, chases. Spencer Pumpelly is second, with Ian James in third.
Jeroen Bleekemolen is quick, but needs a yellow to get back on the lead lap. Correction. Mario Farnbacher is at the controls of the #23 Porsche. Bleekemolen's only hope is for a yellow to get a wave around so he's back on the lead lap, and between the GT Dayton class leader, and the safety car. Bleekemolen is a hot shoe, as he's won twice in Porsche Super Cup competition on the streets of Monaco. Townsend Bell, despite his injuries, is doing very well getting the #55 Aim Autosport Ferrari to the front of GTD.
More battles ahead! Lally runs wide, and Leh Keen, pounces. Dane Cameron is having none of it. He's eating them up with the V8 grunt of that BMW, thinking, "so long, blokes. I'm going to get ahead of you." Keen blocks Cameron. What will the marshals have to say about that? Cameron flies down the back straight and tries to get by Keen into the corner. The thing is, competition director for IMSA, Paul Walter, doesn't want drivers to pull out back in front to defend. The rules are like baseball. Three strikes, and you get a black flag.
Because this track is made up of public roads, the surface will only get faster as we get to the end of the race with the surface rubbering in. The battle between the Porsche's and the BMW was a clean one. Now, Spencer Pumpelly has his hands full with Alessandro Balzan, and has to go now, because a late caution, means that the race might not get restarted. The #23 Porsche has been dealing with handling issues all day. Ian James dealt with a loose car where the back end wants to step out and spin the car. Mario Farnbacher is dealing with understeer, and the car doesn't want to turn.
The #48 Paul Miller Racing Audi R8 LMS is closing in, with Christopher Haase at the wheel. Haase is doing well, even though he seems lukewarm about racing on street circuits, and thinks it might be a bit too dangerous. Ricky Taylor, meanwhile, opens the gap up front, but has to cleanly and decisively deal with traffic ahead. Be careful into the roundabout curve. There's a section at Belle Isle with two consecutive 90 degree corners. Ouch! The #48 Audi of Haase, slams the wall.
That's a wake up call, because it doesn't hurt the car, and the driver can only wonder why, probably going, "say what?" The marshals frantically signal with blue flags, as Westbrook is right on Barbosa's tail, carving through the GTD traffic. Ricky and Jordan Taylor hope to win, and hopes are for Jordan Taylor to score his third straight win at The Raceway at Belle Isle. The GTD battle is red hot, with Spencer Pumpelly all over Alessandro Balzan like a rash. Leh Keen has broken away from Dane Cameron, while Jeroen Bleekemolen continues to protect his lead lap position.
Bleekemolen is holding up the faster cars, even though he wants a yellow. The officials might have something to say about that. Move over,and let these chaps race to the end. The Ferrari can use the curbs on the inside of turn one. Not too many cars of any type have been able to do that at Belle Isle. The Ferrari has more top speed than the Audi. But on the other hand, the Audi's strong suit is under braking. Christopher Haase, Mario Farnbacher, and Townsend Bell, are all in the thick of this.
Bell is still on pain medications after his Indianapolis crash, and had to clear them with race director Paul Walter, so he doesn't fall afoul of substance regulations. Barbosa is now right on Taylor's gearbox with just over five minutes left in this race. The Taylor brothers drive for their dad's team, but, they are also contracted, employed drivers for General Motors. Barbosa is running three seconds faster than Taylor. He's on it. Action Express Racing has won on these streets before.
There's no gap now. The Rolex 24 overall winners, want something out of this. Barbosa is setting up Ricky Taylor for a pass. He slides inside, and Taylor legally blocks. Focus forward and choose your line. Pumpelly is trying to choose where to make the move. He knows the Ferrari is quicker in a straight line. Balzan won't give up. Pumpelly's off in the marbles, and here comes Farnbacher! Farnbacher passes in the Porsche. Not only that. Haase is now right on Pumpelly's back door.
Oh! Pumpelly is off the road, another time. Pumpelly's got clag on the tires. Clag on the tires, means you're a sitting duck. Taylor and Barbosa will fight to the end, with just over three and a half minutes to go. Taylor wants to force Barbosa to the outside, to mess up his tires, and cover them with the aforementioned clag. Keep it clean, Ricky Taylor. He wants this win for Detroit as a GM factory driver. Barbosa is still digging. Barbosa's got him! He's outside. No! He can't pass the black car.
Now, there could be a car off the road in turn one. There was no contact between Taylor and Barbosa. That was just really good motor racing. Oh boy! It's Townsend Bell in the #555 Ferrari that is off the road. Oh no! The #45 Audi is off in the grass in turn one! Bell, meanwhile is limping on a flat left rear tire. Did Townsend Bell force the issue on Spencer Pumpelly? With the Ferrari, it's just fender rub creating smoke. It's not a flat tire.
Now, no yellow. Let them race for the final two minutes. Barbosa is fading slightly away from Taylor. We're on the last lap of the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic. This lap plus one more. Barbosa wants traffic. None to be seen. Ricky Taylor wiggles. Barbosa has the run on him. Can he do it? Look to the inside. Nothing there. Final lap. Look for a local yellow in turn one. No debris is hit. Traffic lies ahead. Two GT Daytona cars. The Fall Line Audi and the Magnus Porsche. Ricky Taylor cannot even think about opening the door.
But, Barbosa makes a move! He goes to the outside, coming to the corner. Now he's running to the inside. Here comes Barbosa! Oh my! They're leaning on each other! This could end in tears! Barbosa makes the pass, but Taylor gets slammed into the wall! Taylor made a mistake, and Barbosa could run away with a win, giving Action Express their first victory in Tudor Championship competition, since the Rolex 24 in January. Where's Westbrook? There's Westbrook, in third. Oh no! Commentator's curse! It's the kiss of death for Barbosa! He has a flat tire!
What a final lap! The left rear tire on Barbosa's Corvette, explodes! Taylor's clear, as Barbosa spins out! Yours truly is chuckling like mad. Can Westbrook snatch this one away from Taylor? This is the race of the century! Taylor's a walking wounded right now. Can Westbrook pass and seal the deal? Westbrook has to time his run off the last corner, and the race is his. He's got a run. Taylor, inside. Taylor shuts the door on Westbrook!
These guys were team mates last year. But now, it's all bragging rights in a win for Chevrolet. This will be close! Hang on! Out of time. Westbrook has to settle for second. Taylor gets it! Wow! What a finish! Barbosa's tire is still shredding itself into oblivion. Oh yeah. Wait a second, folks. One more race on our hands for the GT Daytona honors. Trouble here is, this Viper is becoming a moving chicane for Alessandro Balzan in the Ferrari.
Balzan is stacked up, and Farnbacher's saying, "hey, I can make a move here, maybe." Thought this was a two car battle? Not even close. Ferrari, Porsche, Audi, Aston Martin. Haase and Davison are right there. They're going to have to race through the debris field left by Barbosa's cut tire. Two corners left in GT Daytona on the streets of Detroit. They've got to drive through the mess. Haase tries a move on Davison. Balzan wins it!
Phew! What a race! Here's the overall and class winners.
Overall/Prototype: #10 Taylor/Taylor Chevrolet Corvette Prototype
GT Daytona: #63 Balzan/Westphal Ferrari 458 Italia
Jordan and Ricky Taylor get the first win for each of them in their father's car, for their father's team. The next race in the Tudor Championship, will be the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen, at the beautiful and legendary Watkins Glen International Raceway in Watkins Glen, New York. It will be round three of the North American Endurance Cup. However, fans, you will next get your huge dose of sports car racing excitement, with the biggest, most prestigious race in the world.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans... (the favorite race of yours truly), will happen in less than two weeks, and will be covered right here on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog. Stay tuned for that action, plus, much more leading up to it. Bring on Le Mans! We'll see you there, in less than two weeks. So long, everyone.
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