The picturesque Monterey Peninsula, and the legendary racetrack that is nearby at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California, host the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship on this Sunday for the Motul Course de Monterey (Motul Race of Monterey), on a racetrack first built in 1957. The tradition of sports car racing in Monterey goes back further than that, with the Pebble Beach road races on the winding roads of Monterey, and of course the historic races and the fabled and famed Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance for antique, classic, and historic cars, is held here every summer. For a number of years this track has been on the IMSA WeatherTech Championship schedule and goes back decades and decades to the old American Le Mans Series and the formidable days of IMSA in the 1970s and '80s during the original GTP era as well. I say original era because of course, the renaissance we are now experiencing in the WeatherTech Championship, for many fans, can indeed be described as GTP version 2.0.
We have one new GTP entry on the grid as JDC-Miller Motorsports debut the first North American customer Porsche 963 which features Mike Rockenfeller of Germany and Dutchman Tijmen van der Helm, a stalwart in European LMP2 racing, on the driver's strength. Four classes in competition just as we will see full-time beginning next year in the WeatherTech Championship with GTP, LMP2, GT Daytona Pro and GT Daytona. Porsche Penske Motorsports are on the pole in GTP with the #7 Porsche 963 being shared by Matt Campbell and Felipe Nasr.
Your other class pole sitters are, in GTD Pro and in GTD, the #9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3R of Klaus Bachler and Patrick Pilet, and the #92 Kellymoss with Riley Porsche 911 GT3R of Alec Udell and Julien Andlauer, are on the respective pole positions. So, some new faces at the top of the shop in the GT classes which is refreshing to see. The Porsche 992 generation 911 is becoming formidable in GT competition globally but especially here in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship. With Porsche on top in GTP, will Acura, Cadillac, or BMW, have anything to say? The top qualifying Cadillac, by the way, in fourth, are my buddies at Action Express Racing with the #31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V Series R, the Sebring 12 Hours winners, Pipo Derani, and Alexander Sims, looking for another victory feather in their hats.
Alexander Sims will be one of the competing drivers in the massive field for the Nurburgring 24 Hours next weekend in a GT3 class car. That event, next weekend, will see an abbreviated highlights package. So, stay tuned. But, now is the time, now is the hour, for racing at Laguna Seca, again, a legendary venue that has hosted sports car racing since 1957. This is an old school circuit and as soon as this motor race is done and dusted, in the middle of next week, the old racing surface that has been here for two decades or so, will be torn up, and the whole circuit is going to get a much needed repave. By the time IMSA comes back next year there is no telling what this track will be like. Ultra fast and ultra competitive would probably be the best way to describe it.
That is the future. This is the here and now. Pebble Beach, Monterey Bay, and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. 11 turns of weathered and sandy pavement, and legendary corners. All the legends, drivers and cars, have been here. The tradition of sports car racing at Laguna Seca continues today. Gorgeous weather at 58 degrees with a slight breeze out of the north on California's central coast. Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there and stay with us because have a great race coming up as the cars are on their pace laps before we get started.
Acura, Cadillac, and Porsche have all broken through to victory so far this year. Porsche are finding their stride. This race will be about tire management on this slick pavement. 38 cars, four classes. The safety car is in the pit lane. Through turn 11 they go. We've got a green flag! It's go time! Colin Braun shoots to the lead as Campbell locks the brakes and here comes Jaminet and Derani! Here come the GT cars, a 21-car field and Klaus Bachler leads with Aston Martin's right on his heels. Daniel Juncadella in the #79 WeatherTech Mercedes AMG GT3 and the two Lexus RC F GT3's. Colin Braun now leads the field over Pipo Derani in second spot. Action Express up to P2 followed by Matty Jaminet and the two BMW M Hybrid V8's and poor old Matty Campbell has to play catch up as Sheena Monk spins in turn six in the #66 Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3 sharing with Katherine Legge.
Russell Ward also involved in the #57 Winward Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 sharing with Philip Ellis andnnow. Brendon Iribe in the McLaren, the #70 for Inception Racing doing emergency service. The lone McLaren in the race and there is also a sole Acura NSX GT3 in the field. Katherine Legge was a winner here in 2018 but the toe out is knocked out of square. In replay, Colin Braun forces the issue on Matthieu Jaminet and Matty Campbell locking the brakes. The brake by wire systems on the GTP cars are still coming up to snuff. Argy bargy there between Sebastian Priaulx and Jack Hawksworth. Madison Snow and Bryan Sellers in the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 is also squeezed. They have won two races in a row at Sebring and Long Beach.
Vasser Sullivan Lexus have been ticking the boxes in the GTD Pro and GTD class. Track position is more important than on any track we race on all season in this 2 hour and 40-minute motor race. The Corkscrew all the way to turn 11 and through Rainey Curve, there is a 160 foot drop. Turns also named for the Andretti's and for Bobby Rahal. So some legends recognized. Turn nine as well, Rainey Curve, named for World Champion 500cc Grand Prix motorcycle racer, Wayne Rainey. Some part of the car has to stay on the curbs and within the bounds of the track or you will be pinged for track limits by the stewards.
The #01 Cadillac got through the smokescreen with Sebastien Bourdais at the controls. We also have the #5 yellow JDC-Miller Motorsports Porsche 963 is in yellow and we shall call it "the banana boat". Lots of similar components on these GTP cars but each GTP has styling cues from the manufacturers and each brand has their own combustion engine design. Pipo Derani chasing down Colin Braun. Derani locks the brakes but keeps on trucking. Action Express only a handful of points behind the leaders. Action Express won at Sebring with an alternate strategy. At Long Beach, that idea did not work. But it could very well work today.
Great overhead shot from the drone or helicopter camera over this fabulous circuit. Dave Burns and Calvin Fish calling the action topside with Matt Yocum and Dillon Welch reporting from the pit lane. A spin, look, for Dwight Merriman with rear diffuser damage for Dwight Merriman in the Era Motorsports Oreca LMP2. Matt Campbell has flown Plummet Airways down to seventh place. Merriman sharing with Ryan Dalziel in that LMP2 car. Temperatures in the high 50s today at Monterey. Brake lockup has been a concern for the Porsche boys in GTP all season. The car stands right on it's nose.
Roger Penske is here to watch after the Indianapolis Grand Prix for the IndyCars. You might want to watch that one if you have the time. Klaus Bachler had never seen Laguna Seca before but he is getting used to it and learning fast. Bachler, the Austrian, sharing with Patrick Pilet of France. There is so much elevation change and the surface is so low grip. Roman De Angelis in the #27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage in GT Daytona as Patrick Gallagher passes by Frankie Montecalvo. Gallagher aboard the #96 Turner Motorsports BMW M4 GT3 sharing with Robby Foley.
A new GTD entry for Jarett Andretti (the son of the late, great John Andretti), sharing with Gabby Chaves in the #94 Andretti Autosport Aston Martin Vantage GT3. Colin Braun leads the motor race by three seconds over Pipo Derani. You know that Pipo will be pushing hard and on the fight to catch Braun in the Acura. 2.4-liter turbo V6 power in the Acura and naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V8 all-American General Motors horsepower in the Cadillac. In the case of the Cadillac, no replacement for displacement. What an amazing season we have seen in all classes in the WeatherTech Championship and it is continuing right here, right now.
Poor Jarett Andretti has just had a wreck with the #94 Aston Martin right in pit in! In replay, let's see what happens. Overlap with the prototypes and he got brushed by the second Porsche 963 of Matty Campbell before... screech... ker-runch! Right into the inside of the pit wall on pit in! I don't think Jarett Andretti knew the Porsche GTP was there. Campbell was following in the dead air behind Ricky Taylor in the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-06 sharing with Filipe Albuquerque. This is our second Full Course Yellow. The keys to victory today, tire mamagement, get the undercut in the pit lane, and don't visit the beach.
Pit earlier than your competitors with fresh tires and a splash and a dash on fuel. Don't visit the beach, with the sand on the outside of the track. No grass, sand. The #01 Ganassi Racing team had a pit fire at the 12 Hours of Sebring. Then, at Long Beach, Sebastien Bourdais, pushing to the limit, hit the wall. Yesterday in practice, Bourdais had another huge accident! He is frustrated. The primal scream of an angry driver. No! No! Don't the the wall! Ahhhhhh! The #60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura in the lane for four tires and fuel. Same for the #6 Penske Porsche team with hot rear brakes. Move the brake bias forward to cool them down. Sticker tires taken. But you will have to use them judiciously. Less tires. Three sets between qualifying and the race, so, a dozen tires.
Fresh right side and worn left side tires for a three-stint race. Great stop for the #31 Whelen Cadillac and Pipo Derani is at the top of the shop. So, we shall see, but things are looking good for Action Express early doors. Each track is so unique. Scenic hillsides, beaches, and a fast, flowing, technically demanding circuit. When Michelin look at a track, they look at micro and macro levels. This track has had it's current pavement for 16 years, since 2007. The coarser layers of pavement are exposed making tire wear high. A full repave will happen right after this race. Then, the micro view will look good. Michelin does a great job with the tires for everyone in IMSA.
We have had a great variety of race distances and durations all season so far. Klaus Bachler, blew the red light at the end of the pit lane after scheduled GTD Pro/GTD pit stops. Klaus Bachler is new to this championship and this circuit. More communication. Watch out for that red light at the end of the lane. Pipo Derani leads Connor De Philippi. No tires for the #31. Right side tires only for the #25 BMW. It could be one stop to the finish. The tire strategy will come in on old tires. Matthieu Jaminet pressing Filipe Albuquerque up the hill into The Corkscrew!
Filipe Albuquerque has taken over the Acura from Ricky Taylor and chasing down Tijmen van der Helm who runs wide in the #5 JDC-Miller Motorsports Porsche 963. Penske Porsche #7, drive through penalty and a stop plus 60 seconds for Bachler in the #9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3R. #9 with the penalty and when you are new to the series you can digest only so much information. Bachler has studied race notes from the last four seasons dating back to 2019. Different people can be on the radio and you don't hear the message to look for the red light. A big dust cloud someplace and the car kept going. This is so low grip, the surface.
You never feel the tire is gripping the track. 21 GT cars in the field with GTD Pro and GTD for driver lineups of course. All are GT3 spec cars. Jordan Taylor in the #3 Chevrolet Corvette C8.R leads GTD Pro while in GTD is the sister Kelly Moss Racing Porsche 911 GT3R in the hands of Alan Metni sharing with Kay van Berlo. Alec Udell in the sister car is third and now, Hawksworth puts a late lunge to the inside on Patrick Gallagher through The Corkscrew! Wow! Great variety of cars. Nine brands in both GT3 based classes. In the meantime, in GTP, Jaminet on the attack and Albuquerque forces him wide. Albuquerque off in the sand in turn ten and then back on.
Pipo Derani still leading here at Laguna Seca after great pit work from Action Express! Laguna Seca is all about handling and grip and unfortunately, one of the Lexus RC F GT3's has lost a dive plane and there's a slight tap which dislodges the winglet on the right front turn. Late move there, look, by Colin Braun on Filipe Albuquerque. Chandler Hull in the #97 Turner Motorsports BMW M4 GT3 gets passed by the prototypes, sharing with Bill Auberlen. Connor De Philippi in the #25 BMW M Hybrid is closing on Pipo Derani. De Philippi might find the sweet spot. Reminiscent of Sebring where Action Express beat the BMW. De Philippi is chasing. These new GTP cars are amazing but very complex with the hybrid systems.
In replay, contact between the BMW #24 of Philipp Eng and Filipe Albuquerque in the Acura. 38 cars on a two and a quarter mile circuit here at Laguna Seca. We are nearly an hour into the race. But play it safe and survive the traffic. Madison Snow and Patrick Gallagher battling in GT Daytona being harried by Roman De Angelis in the #27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin. Alec Udell and Alan Metni in the two Kelly Moss Porsche's are ahead in GT Daytona. Colin Braun wants by Phillip Eng. The GTP cars are 100 kilograms heavier than the Daytona Prototype International machines they replace. The tires are more durable as well.
Will Pipo Derani and Action Express succeed running their different strategy? That is the question. Porsche have been at the top of the tree through practice and qualifying and now, Cadillac are going for it. The qualifying speed at AXR was indicative of their pace. The energy usage is right on target. That's good to hear. All good, managing the race to get to the distance to make the strategy work out. Connor De Philippi still trying to reel in Pipo Derani in the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8 for BMW Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. De Philippi, hitting the grip strips on the outside, like riding the cushion in a sprint car.
BMW RLL just now getting back into the top class in sports cars. Cadillac with Action Express have been running these cars for a long time as we now see Colin Braun right on Philipp Eng's six. Acura vs. BMW in Grand Touring Prototype. Again, we have seen some amazing parity in the GTP class. Meyer Shank Acura at Daytona, Cadillac with Action Express at Sebring, Porsche with Team Penske at Long Beach. Will BMW make it four for four? Will Action Express have something to say? Connor De Philippi could have a grip advantage but we shall see. Oh dear. The #8 LMP2 car of John Farano is in the wall. Defending winner at Laguna Seca. All the calculations will be thrown out the window. Trouble in paradise for John Farano and co-driver Louis Deletraz in the Tower Motorsports Oreca.
Rip up Plan A and write up Plan B. That is the next step. Maybe your plans will go all the way to plans Y and Z. All 26 letters of the alphabet. The history of this track actually saw the sports cars racing on the roads of Pebble Beach. But Laguna Seca was developed, just east of Monterey Bay and this place was built on the former Fort Ord Army Base. Ten stories dropping from turns eight and nine in The Corkscrew. 180 feet of elevation change. New notebooks for setup will be needed for next year with the repave.
What will the GTP cars do? Do you elect to hit the pit lane? There wll be a class reset. Everyone in GTP is in the lane now. You'd think Action Express takes tires and sacrifices a wee bit of track position. The #01 Ganasi Racing Cadillac goes for fresh tires and Renger van der Zande gets in the car. At BMW with the #25, they are doing the left side tires. The #31 car, fuel and four tires, Pipo Derani stays in the car. Did the #60 Acura team at Meyer Shank roll the dice for Colin Braun? An hour and 35 minutes to go and maybe one more pit stop. #60 probably did not take tires. The GT Daytona cars do have new cars in their ranks and now they will pit.
It will be far more congested with 21 cars in the lane all at once. Good chances to leapfrog your rivals. Execute for track position. Madison Snow brings the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 in with early tire fall off, and Bryan Sellers will get in. Antonio Garcia replacing Jordan Taylor in the #3 Chevrolet Corvette C8.R. This is our third Full Course Yellow but we should go back to racing soon with an hour and a half of racing left. It is bright and sunny and the old marine layer was present delaying the morning warmup and compressed the schedule. It was only a ten minute morning warmup.
This is a cool track to visit I am sure, with a Corkscrew sign just like the Hollywood sign. GTP and Hypercars will be able to race together at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the convergence. 30 drivers will be in the field. Mike Rockenfeller is now in the #5 JDC Miller Motorsports Porsche 963. We have seen Jota Sport run this car in World Endurance Championship competition. Mike Rockenfeller won Le Mans with Audi. JDC-Miller Motorsports are very excited to see the potential of this customer Porsche 963 topping up on petrol. IMSA President John Doonan says he and his team have exceeded the goals they set out for.
Daytona and Sebring were extremely successful, and the racing has been competitive. The new Porsche 963 customer car is here. Garage 56 with the NASCAR Cup Series Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 are going over to race just like Bill France Sr. did in 1976 with a Dodge Charger and a Ford Torino. Green flag. Colin Braun leading and Pipo Derani really pushing hard. Filipe Albuquerque also in the fight. Braun slams the door. Squeaky, squeaky time here, look. Now more argy bargy between the factory Penske Porsche's. All the GTP cars right in one long chain. Watch for the clag on the tires. Braun holding off Pipo Dernai for the moment and Felipe Nasr goes off the road in the #7 Porsche 963 with massive damage!
Bodywork shedding all over the place. Goodness me! Well, well, well. All the wheels are pointing in the right place but the rear bodywork is shredding itself with carbon fiber all over the road, like running over nails and razor blades all over. Goodness! He just got loose and tried commiting back to power but couldn't do it. Cold tires caught Nasr out. He brings the car to the pit lane. Was there suspension damage to the #7 Porsche? An hour and 20 minutes to go. Halfway home. Both Porsche's have had races that have gone pear shaped. They are reinstalling the right rear fender.
A new nose as well for the #7 Porsche 963. Nasr is a two-time DPi champion. 39 starts in Formula 1 in 2015 and 2016. These cars operate differently with the electric motor and the internal combustion engine and the cars drive differently. Pipo Derani leads Colin Braun now by 4.3 seconds. Braun has Filipe Albuquerque right on his six. Pipo Derani was able to move past Colin Braun through turn three as Braun runs wide into the apex. Braun did not fight it. He did not take tires. Track position is king here at Laguna Seca. Pipo Derani is turning it on right now. This is the overall lead. Ben Hanley now leads LMP2, Alex Riberas in GTD Pro, and Alec Udell in GTD.
So many reasons to love Laguna Seca. Alec Udell is being harried by teammate Kay van Berlo. These are the two Kelly Moss Porsche 911 GT3R's in the GT Daytona class. Udell will need more fuel than will van Berlo. Kelly Moss with Riley Motorsports have dominated Porsche single make championships and an affiliation with Riley Motorsports. In LMP2, Ben Hanley is being harried by Mikkel Jensen and Paul Loup Chatin. TDS Racing and PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports sharing with Crowdstrike Racing with Algarve Pro Racing. They will be racing at Le Mans with Colin Braun, George Kurtz, and James Allen.
Juan Pablo Montoya is fourth in the #51 Rick Ware Racing entry. Montoya sharing with Eric Lux. Massive traffic for the GTP cars! Look at the class overlap! Unreal! The two BMW's are flying. Augusto Farfus trying to pass by Nick Yelloly. Jules Gounon third in the #79 Mercedes AMG GT3 with it's 6.2 liter V8 motor. Roman De Angelis getting squeezed by the GTP pack! Off course excursion for one of the LMP2 cars. Colin Braun is fourth and will have to hand the #60 Acura to Tom Blomqvist. Pipo Derani will also have to hand off to Alexander Sims as Renger van der Zande is now in the #01 Cadillac.
The leaders at Whelen Engineering have 16 seconds in hand with the oldest tires but they will put scrubbed tires on the car, another set of stickers. They are in a good place, managing the race and now, Colin Braun fighting for his life over the BMW boys. Wow! Nick Tandy makes the move splitting the Corvette. Nick Yelloly and Augusto Farfus and Colin Braun goes off in the dust to make a move! Holy moly Martha! Hold your line. Antonio Garcia starting his 100th IMSA race. Alec Udell has made a pit stop and we are seeing that there was a driver change to Julien Andlauer. Vasser Sullivan Lexus also has made a pit stop. Just over an hour of racing remains. Andlauer on cold tires.
Th sister Kelly Moss Porsche now in the lane. Alan Metni will take over from Kay van Berlo with 61 minutes left on the board. Corvette Racing #3 in from the GTD Pro lead, Antonio Garcia staying in the car. They will be racing the #79 WeatherTech Racing Mercedes AMG GT3. Jules Gounon at the wheel of it. Nick Tandy in the lane in the #6 Penske Porsche 963. #60 in as well in the #60 MSR Acura, Tom Blomqvist finishing it. Mike Shank was in Indianapolis for the IndyCar race yesterday. Pit stop time at Action Express to get Alexander Sims into the car. Tires and fuel. These are scrubbed Michelin's from morning warmup at AXR.
Maintain the gap and hope for no yellows. The #10 Acura at Wayne Taylor Racing are in as well with Filipe Albuquerque at the controls taking a nutrition drink to get an energy boost. These drivers are physically and mentally exhausted after a race at Laguna Seca. Running wide, Alexander Sims. Oh dear. Sims is now fourth. What will the call be? Cold tires. Get into a rhythm quickly. BMW in the lane as well. No penalty for the #31. Good thing. Lexus in the fence in turn 11. Aaron Telitz off the road in the #12! The right rear looks askew. A gearbox problem at Lexus. The car will not shift. Renger van der Zande comes in in the yellowish gold Ganassi Racing Cadillac. He had a huge shunt at Spa Francorchamps two weeks ago.
BMW #25 in the pit lane as well. Nick Yelloly at the controls. He will stay in the #25 BMW M Hybrid. Hybrid engines and sustainable materials in these GTP cars. Full Course Yellow for the Lexus going off the road as we have 55 minutes of racing remaining. Alexander Sims in the race lead. The grand name of GTP is back. The cars were fabulous in the 1980s and are fabulous now. Pit stops have been made and there has been some shuffling. LMP2 cars lead but there will be a class reset before green. A bundle of the LMP2 cars are in the lane. Ryan Dalziel, Juan Pablo Montoya, and more. Oh dear! Trouble for the #20 High Class Racing car with the tire! The rear wing rips the tire out of the mechanic's hand!
Elton Julian is now the Competition Director for Rick Ware Racing. Great aerial coverage of the Laguna Seca Raceway, a vast expanse of this 2.23 mile road course. The #44 Magnus Racing Aston Martin was not scheduled to enter but have done so with Andy Lally and John Potter. Melanie Snow, Madison Snow's mom, and his dad, Martin, have raced and so, the family legacy continues. Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there. So great to have a race on Mother's Day as we anticipate the restart here at Laguna Seca. Magnus Racing finished second at the Rolex 24. They are 24 laps into their current stint with 45 minutes to go in the race.
The GTD cars can go a long way on fuel, about 75 minutes. They might roll the dice. Hopefully the yellow is extended as we clean up the accident for the Lexus #12. The final quarter pof the race is on! Alexander Sims being chased by Renger van der Zande. vander der Zande grabs the lead! Chip Ganassi Racing won the IndyCar race at the Indianapolis Road Course with Alex Palou. Nick Yelloly is now third chasing Alexander Sims. Tandy and Albuquerque fourth and fifth. The #80 car of Sebastian Priaulx has picked up a signboard. The T Rex Porsche is fine. 38 minutes remaining. Andy Lally leading GT Daytona over Kay van Berlo and Bill Auberlen. Chandler Hull did his stint and handed it over to Auberlen.
One of the Heart of Racing Aston Martin's in the lane and so is the #3 Corvette C8.R. Improper wave by for Heart of Racing and for Corvette Racing! Oh boy! A wrestling match between the #52 PR1/Mathiasen Oreca of Paul Loup Chatin and Ben Hanley in the #04 APR Crowdstrike LMP2 as well. P.J. Hyett is recovering after a couple of accidents. Gunnar Jeanette sharing the car. Now, Alexander Sims has found the sweet spot on the tires and is chasing down Renger van der Zande. It is not done yet. 35 minutes to go. Sims does not have a lot of seat time in the Cadillac. Focus on hitting the apex to keep the tires in the window and keep the car from understeering.
The GTD battle is hot and heavy. Lally, van Berlo, Auberlen, Andlauer. Lally is slowing the trio of cars behind him and Andlauer tries Auberlen on the inside. No dice. Julien Andlauer in the #92 Kelly Moss Porsche. Auberlen in the #95 Turner Motorsports BMW M4 GT3. Kay van Berlo won the Rolex 24 in LMP3 with Riley Motorsports a couple years ago. In GTD Pro it is Jules Gounon being harried by Patrick Pilet after co-driver Klaus Bachler lost a lap. Andy Lally feeling the heat from Kay van Berlo! Andlauer is also coming in a big hurry.
You want to stand on the podium as much as possible. Lots of debris offline at turn five. Auberlen has a move on van Berlo. Lally escapes and here come both Robby Foley and Trent Hindman. Volt Racing Porsche 911 GT3R and Turner Motorsports in the #95 BMW M4 GT3. Andy Lally and Bill Auberlen are two of the best and most accomplished drivers in sports car racing history. The top six in GTD are within two seconds. You could throw the proverbial blanket over all of them. Looking forward to the Indianapolis 500 in a handful of weeks. That will be great. 27 minutes to go and Alexander Sims is catching Renger van der Zande but had to back off just a wee bit.
Filipe Albuquerque reeling in Nick Yelloly. In the GTD class, Kay van Berlo continues hassling Andy Lally. Renger van der Zande has two wins here. Trouble for Ryan Dalziel in the #18 Era Motorsports LMP2 car from fourth in class. What is going on here? He got tapped and spun off the road, getting scrappy with Ben Hanley. Oh dear. Aston Martin with the 4 liter turbo V8 followed by the flat six Porsche's at 4.2 liters and the 3 liter turbo V6 BMW M4 GT3. A variety of engine sounds. Meanwhile, Paul Loup Chatin challenging Ben Hanley and Hanley trying to pass Mikkel Jensen.
It is a busy race this afternoon at Laguna Seca with just 24 minutes to go. Side by side. Chatin and Hanley! Wow! Here they come to The Corkscrew! Hanley uses the GTD cars as a pick. Mikkel Jensen is absolutely flying right now. Now for the GTD lead, contact between van Berlo and Lally! Yikes! Auberlen gives room to an LMP2 car before having to defend from Andlauer. Giedo van der Garde in the TDS Racing LMP2 car, ex Formula 1 driver. Porsche, Aston Martin, BMW, Porsche in GT Daytona. Julien Andlauer still sticking to Auberlen who uses the runoff to get a head of steam on Andy Lally.
Juan Pablo Montoya slices down the inside of the GT Daytona cars. Auberlen flashing the lights to distract Lally. Jules Gounon battling with Patrick Pilet. These two Frenchmen are pushing each other. 99 wins between Andy Lally and Bill Auberlen. Renger van der Zande trying to turn things around for Cadillac Racing and Chip Ganassi while Alexander Sims in the red #31 Action Express Cadillac is chasing a second win of the year. Renger van der Zande leads the motor race working through the GT Daytona field. Nick Tandy challenging Alexander Sims. Tandy takes the place. 16 minutes to go. Sims will be chasing Tandy down.
15 minutes to go. Will Turner and his team had two strategies planned between the two BMW M4's. Patrick Gallagher ran well at the beginning, they swapped things, and three strategists are working with Turner. Salama, Peterson, and O'Connell. 14 more minutes to go. Don't count your chickens until they hatch. They need a Car Chief. Close stuff with Nick Yelloly dodging lapped traffic. Don "The Ice Man" Salama, one of the top strategists in the pit lane. The next race for IMSA is a 6 hour endurance race, the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen.
This has been a sensational motor race all day as Julien Andlauer is chasing down Andy Lally and Kay van Berlo is the GT Daytona class leader. Renger van der Zande trying to extend his lead in the overall over Nick Tandy and Alexander Sims. Cadillac, Porsche, Cadillac, the top three in GTP competition. Ganassi, Penske, Action Express. van der Zande, Tandy, Sims. Tire degradation and management are key. Time is running out if Nick Tandy wants to catch Renger van der Zande. Juan Pablo Montoya in P5 in LMP2 so he might finish off the podium for the first time in a long time. Jules Gounon being harried by Patrick Pilet in GTD Pro.
Seven minutes and change left. Gounon is leading GTD Pro but is battling with the GTD cars over Patrick Pilet. Look who's coming to dinner. Renger van der Zande is about to eat up the GTD contenders. A few teams from the WeatherTech Championship will be headed to Le Mans. Ganassi Racing, Action Express, and Penske Porsche will all be at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the prototype class next month. van der Zande slicing and dicing through the GT Daytona Pro and GT Daytona cars. Tandy is catching van der Zande unless he too gets stymied by the lapped cars.
Tandy is closing up. How many can he get? Alexander Sims is coming as well. Tandy can see van der Zande and Sims is right to the wall on the inside around a couple GTD cars! Tandy remains in the traffic. van der Zande might be in clean air for a bit. Sims will also have to negotiate the traffic. But now it is hammer time. Time is running out. van der Zande wants his third Laguna Seca victory and his first win with Chip Ganassi in the GTP era. The Action Express boys won at Sebring in March. Tandy is coming. The clock is on Tandy's side.
1:16.421, Alexander Sims will earn fastest lap of the motor race. van der Zande survived the traffic. Tandy is right there. Time is of the essence with two laps remaining. White flag next time by. Hit your marks. Stay focused. The Porsche's absolutely blitzed everyone in qualifying. The GTP cars with their hybrid systems are so amazingly new yet. Every single weekend is a surprise. Augusto Farfus in the #24 BMW M Hybrid scrapping with Tom Blomqvist in the #60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06. White flag. One lap, 2.2 miles to go. The lead up to three and a half seconds. Cruise control. Bring it home.
Clear track ahead. Tandy and the #6 Porsche team for Team Penske will extend their points lead. Again a number of these teams will be prepping for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Renger van der Zande straight as an arrow and Cadillac Racing with Chip Ganassi could get the W here in California today. Yes. van der Zande, Sebastien Bourdais, and Cadillac Racing win. In GTD, Kay van Berlo and Alan Metni win in class. Jules Gounon, Daniel Juncadella, and Mercedes will win GTD Pro. LMP2 honors go the way of Mikkel Jensen and TDS Racing sharing with Steven Thomas.
Overall/GTP: #01 Bourdais/van der Zande Cadillac Racing Cadillac V Series R
LMP2: #11 Thomas/Jensen TDS Racing Oreca 07
GT Daytona Pro: #79 Juncadella/Gounon WeatherTech Racing Mercedes AMG GT3
GT Daytona: #91 van Berlo/Metni Kellymoss with Riley Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3R
That is a wrap from Laguna Seca. The next IMSA race will be the endurance classic, the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York at the fabled Watkins Glen International Raceway. But before that, many of the teams and drivers from the IMSA WeatherTech Championship including my pals at Action Express who finished third today, will be headed to northwest France for the centenary running of the greatest sports car race on the planet, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, on the 10th and 11th of June. We will see you in Le Mans in less than a month for wall to wall coverage of that great race.
Until then, so long, everyone, from the Monterey Peninsula on the California central coast. Bye bye.
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