Road America, the legendary, four-mile ribbon of asphalt in the Kettle Moraine, has just recently been repaved, and for the first time this weekend, the cars and the stars of the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, in all five classes, take to that new pavement to race in the IMSA Sports Car Weekend. On the pole, the venerable #31 Whelen Engineering Action Express Cadillac V Series R GTP car of Pipo Derani and Alexander Sims, looking for their second win of 2023. After a crash in the morning warmup for Alexander Sims at turn 13, so, right between Canada Corner and the last turn before the uphill on the front straightaway. Action Express have come from behind before and is capable of doing so again. It will only make the GTP battle in today's race more intense.
The fight will indeed resume between the two Cadillac's, AXR and Ganassi Racing, the two Penske Porsche 963's, the BMW RLL BMW M Hybrid V8's, and the Wayne Taylor Racing and Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06's, as the new era of GTP rolls on and the Grand Touring Prototypes come back to Road America to race for the first time in 30 years. This race used to be an endurance event of 500 miles way back when, and I believe even in the 1990s did have a sprint format. But now, it is a full-on, flat-out sprint to the checkers as this race will encompass the usual sprint format of two hours and 40-minutes. All five IMSA classes are competing today. GTP, LMP2, LMP3, GTD Pro, and GTD. Back in 1993 I believe there were six classes for prototypes and for big bore and small-bore GT cars, as well as an invitational class for more road legal production-based GT machines, specifically Porsche 911 Carrera's.
That is what sports car racing is all about. The 1993 race marked the final win for the fabled Porsche 962 in the hands of Joest Racing with Manuel Reuter and the late, great "John Winter", the alias of German sports car driver Louis Krages. I think, if my sports car racing history brain serves me right, that was his final ever win at the wheel of a prototype. George Kurtz has pole in LMP2, his second of the 2023 season in the #04 CrowdStrike Racing by APR Oreca 07 he shares alongside Britain's Ben Hanley. Sean Creech Motorsports have their #33 Ligier on the LMP3 pole, Nico Pino sharing with Joao Barbosa and filling in for Dr. Lance Willsey this weekend.
In GTD Pro, Alex Riberas who won last time out in the all-GT race at Lime Rock Park stormed to the pole in the #23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 and on the GT Daytona class pole, it is the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 of Madison Snow sharing alongside Bryan Sellers. It has just been announced that the Paul Miller Racing team will be moving up into the GTD Pro ranks for next year which will undoubtedly put a spring in their step. They will add to the Pro level GT Daytona class which is growing. Keep in mind that the driver ratings are the only separation in the two classes. All the cars are GT3 spec from different manufacturers.
That is how GT3 racing works, really on a worldwide scale, a worldwide basis, no matter which championship you are talking about. Other GTP cars are sure to be in the fight today. Two cars each from Cadillac, Porsche, Acura, and BMW of course and as we've said, there are more coming for next year. We all know the situation with the singular Lamborghini's that will run on both sides of the pond and how their car has been delayed until after the start of the IMSA season next year. No green Lamborghini at the Rolex 24 but that will not detract from the battles we already have. We may see a new Alpine next year as well but that remains unclear at this point.
Sports car racing is indeed growing by leaps and bounds in popularity with this new hybrid era and the new prototype car designs. As we said, the new pavement here at Road America could play a factor, and I emphasize, could. It has done so in other championships. We saw things happen in IndyCar, Porsche Carrera Cup, and NASCAR Xfinity races at the track recently. However, each race, each car is different. So, who is to say? Every driver is aware to be on their toes on cold tires at the start and after pit stops. We do not use tire blankets in IMSA and of course there has been consternation with that in other endurance prototype championships globally, in World Endurance as well. Should tire warmer be used? Or not? It helps, albeit marginally.
So much history here at Road America. Racing began on the streets of Elkhart Lake with sports cars in the early 1950s before this great circuit was built by track designer and architect Cliff Tufte in 1955. Road America along with Laguna Seca, Virginia International Raceway, Watkns Glen, Sebring, these are all significant cornerstones of American sports car racing history. This is the longest course on IMSA's schedule at 4 miles. For decades, it has been a vacation destination, too. The charm and the challenge remains. Speed has increased with the new asphalt. Strap in and get ready to go for a wild ride here on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog.
We welcome Brian Till and Calvin Fish in the NBC Sports booth and Matt Yocum and Hannah Newhouse in the pit lane. Action Express Cadillac, BMW, Wayne Taylor Racing Acura, and Porsche Penske Motorsports Porsche 963 are the four title contenders. Corvette and Pfaff Porsche battle in GTD Pro. Paul Miller Racing and Heart of Racing, Vasser Sullivan, and Inception Racing, they are all in the fight. The title fights are down to the wire. There will be only two prototype races remaining after we finish tonight. Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Road Atlanta. Road America is IMSA's "House of Speed".
This is a complete repave that is wicked fast, big grip, and wickedly unforgiving. We say drivers off the road like Giedo van der Garde, Misha Goikhberg, David Brule, Steven Thomas, Mike Skeen, Nico Pino flying over the turn one downhill, and Alexander Sims on cold tires crunching the tear end of the Whelen Engineering Cadillac. Our team has been scrambling to get the car ready. The car has made it to the grid, and we will start tenth. So, we are going to go for it. We had to replace the tail, and the hybrid unit. Everything went fine. This is life. Things happen. 20 years from now, no one will remember it. Too true.
Paul Miller Racing with Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow, we have talked about them. Snow set a storming lap in qualifying yesterday. Track position will be critical. Passing will be difficult for everyone. We have a full field of GTD machinery. This motor race will be captivating. Road America is just a huge challenge and that is why the drivers and teams come here to compete. The #25 BMW M Hybrid V8 is now mired in the gravel trap. What happened here? Connor De Philippi spins off on cold tires into the gravel trap through The Carousel. It is like driving on ice. BMW RLL wanted to take advantage and now, #25 too will be on the back foot. De Philippi is dropping debris onto the circuit.
Don't step over the line. We have seen that. An uphill battle for fuel because of the long, flat out nature of the circuit. It is uphill to the pit lane. Pick your fights wisely. In GTD Pro, the #23 Aston is not a contender. Let them do their thing. Lexus has to think of their race with the #14 car of Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat. The fans at the track and here at home are ready for a great race today. The race has started under yellow cleaning up the track. This is a 2 hour and 40-minute event. We are underway but are about to go for the first start double file as normal. BMW #25 at the back. 46 cars starting this race.
IMSA has a lot of momentum right now. We expect yellow flags but can't count on them necessarily. The GTP cars are wicked fast in a straight line. Focus forward. This is the key. The field is formed up. Up the hill we go. Safety car in pit lane. Someone is peaking out back. Don't do that. Green flag. Porsche takes the lead and now it is a scrap between Acura and the #01 Cadillac. Colin Braun in the Acura moving up. Same with Alexander Sims in the Whelen Cadillac. Everyone beginning to motor, beginning to move. The GTD Pro and GTD battle is hot and heavy as the #9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche passes the #70 McLaren.
Pfaff Motorsports vs. Inception Racing. Colin Braun third. Matt Campbell has taken off and Sebastien Bourdais now runs second in the yellow nosed Cadillac as Gerry Kraut spins off in turn eight in the #85 JDC-Miller Motorsports Ligier and he got tagged by the #30 LMP3 entry of Ari Balogh. Gerry Kraut is 71 years old, and still competitive. In the meantime, Matt Campbell at the top of the shop and Penske Porsche have not had a good weekend. They have been strauggling to come to grips with the car. Alex Riberas leads in GTD Pro over Jordan Taylor and now Connor De Philippi is passing by the GTD Pro cars.
166 miles an hour top speed for the GT3 cars and 195 miles an hour for the GTP cars. The biggest speed is through The Kink and Canada Corner, pavement smooth as glass. This is a seamless surface. Riberas right on the curbs and has the opportunity to do that. A huge accident and it is the BMW again! He has wrecked again! This is in The Kink! Holy smokes! Their chances are evaporating. Full Course Yellow. Full Course Yellow. I think there was a delta between the LMP3 battle and the GTD Pro battle. This is heartbreak as it is all coming apart for the BMW team. Stay in the groove or it will be like driving on ice.
Getting out of the groove it is like driving on black ice. The chassis is bent, damaged, and the BMW is stuck in gear. Grab the Electrical switch and the Neutral switch. No more action today for Connor De Philippi and Nick Yelloly. This morning has been bananas. So glad we recovered at AXR from the cold tires spin in the morning warmup and how Chris Mitchum, Bob Johnson, and our whole team really put everything together. Mr. J, as I call him, is the team owner of course and has to be proud of his team for making their recovery work. Our boys are in the motor race now. Alexander Sims says that this season has been wild and the track temps being cold are the most challenging. Everyone makes mistakes but Alexander is proud of the team, and we have everything to fight for.
On cold tires, the biggest problem is that you have to be on the limit and when the level of grip is low, is instantaneous. It catches you out. Normally, two to three laps. Our team is one big family. A driver might feel terrible about what happened but the team rallies around you like a family and it is the way it is. Now our team is in the race going for maximum points. We did the same thing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans earlier this summer. Live up to what you say and that is what our drivers and our team do. Every team does this. But I believe that our boys at AXR have the most team spirit.
This track is so picturesque and so fast. It is the best track food you will find anyplace. Bratwurst, ice cream, and so much more. Great fishing on the lakes, too. That is a great idea. There is some great food. Bratwurst, breakfast sandwiches, my gosh. Speaking of eating lunch, the Porsche and Acura battle is on and Matty Campbell says, so long boys, I'm gone. Filipe Albuquerque is pushing and so is Mike Rockenfeller in the #5 JDC-Miller Porsche. Rockenfeller on the attackk and pushes the BMW off in the grass! Phillip Eng gets the worst of it. The Yellow Submarine, the Banana Boat, is really pushing hard.
Eng tried and tried to slam the door and "Rocky" was on the other side pushing the door saying, "don't even think about it, bucky." Pipo Derani and others are moving in. Race Control is going to look at that "argy bargy". Wayne Taylor Racing have wanted to win at all costs and now have to realize that going for points is wiser. Now, Pipo Derani is moving in on Rockenfeller. Some drivers not in the championship fight are going for the glory. In GTD Pro, we can see Jordan Taylor reeling in Alexander Riberas down the backstretch, look. Turn five and now, Riberas is stretching the advantage.
The Corvette C8.R is coming to life in the second half of the year. Recognize your opponent. Heart of Racing won at Lime Rock Park but have no skin in the game with regard to the championship title. Three more GTD races including Virginia International Raceway which is a GTD only event and then Indianapolis Motor Speedway followed by Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in October. Campbell leads Bourdais at the top of the shop by nearly two seconds. Brendon Iribe in the McLaren 720S GT3, is right on Madison Snow's six for the GTD lead.
The McLaren has had incredible speed but not the results they wanted after a massive crash at Lime Rock last time out. Their wrecked chassis was sent to Europe to be repaired and they have their European GT3 car in this race. Brendon Iribe is a successful businessman who is now learning to be a great racing driver. The driving talent level in both GT Daytona classes is just amazing. We have plenty more racing to come from here in Wisconsin. Love the GT classes as much as the prototypes. Madison Snow continues to lead in the regular GTD class. Three wins on the year with the championship lead but have lost the lead in the Sprint Cup to Roman De Angelis and Marco Sorensen in the #27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin.
Pit stop time for the #79 WeatherTech Racing Mercedes AMG GT3. Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon the driving duo. Pit stop time coming soon and with the new repave, teams are picking up speed burning fuel off. There is very little tire degradation. Trust your strategist to push and leapfrog someone in the pit lane for new boots. If you have a big delta between Pro and Am, get the Pro into the car. A full fuel run on maximum save is 63 minutes. The playbook from the past, is gone. Recycle it. Your strategy opens up. Matt Campbell continuing the lead, feathering the throttle through The Carousel and into The Kink. Watch the traffic. Sebastien Bourdais and Colin Braun both working traffic. Through Canada Corner and up the hill is much smoother than it used to be in spite of a lack of grip.
To the pit lane comes the #23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin. Alex Riberas brings it in for service. They swept the weekend at Lime Rock Park and were on pole here. They will make a driver change to Ross Gunn, the Englishman. Trouble for the #6 Penske Porsche 963 has a flat tire and has had to trundle around the track. This is supposed to be a three-stop strategy for the GTP cars. Four new tires and VP Racing Fuel. Trouble now for the #57 Winward Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 with Russell Ward at the wheel of it spinning in turn seven. Now, can he get back on the road? He has right rear damage. He may have gotten tagged, and he hits one of the WeatherTech billboards.
I think the #93 Racer's Edge Acura NSX GT3 of Ashton Harrison who might have tagged him. Harrison sharing with Mario Farnbacher. Russell Ward sharing alongside Philip Ellis. This is the longest track on the IMSA calendar. Cliff Tufte buiilt this track on 525 natural acres in 1955. Roaf America is faster than a lot of the other tracks we go to including CTMP, Daytona, and Sebring among others. Matt Campbell continues to lead the motor race over everyone else. Campbell, Bourdais, Braun, Albuquerque, Rockenfeller, Eng, Derani, and Bruni.
Campbell leads by eight seconds on Sebastien Bourdais. With tire saving comes fuel saving. If you push too hard you are not saving fuel. It is anywhere between 46-50 minutes on full tanks. Campbell should hit pit lane in a few minutes. The Porsche does not have the stability and they have been throwing the kitchen sink at it. It is another case of recycling the notebook. At JDC-Miller Motorsports with the #5 Porsche, they have run three races and Mike Rockenfeller and Tijmen van der Helm want a podium. They did run in the recent Indianapolis Motor Speedway test with the other GTP teams. Mike Rockenfeller is racing here for the first time since 2006.
The #59 Proton Competition Porsche 963 has not done any testing. They did race last month at the 6 Hours of Monza in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Bruni teamed up with Harry Tincknell from England who drove for Mazda in DPi years ago. Bryan Sellers now into the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 and has a full fuel load and fresh tires. Same deal for the Pfaff Motorsports #9 Porsche 911 GT3R and one of the two Turner Motorsports BMW M4 GT3's as well. You would think Inception Racing and McLaren would want to get the Dane Fred Schandorff in the car. We have all five classes racing into turn five and on cold tires the #9 Pfaff Porsche runs wide.
Brendon Iribe on hot, bedded in tires. The pit lane is busy. The #3 Corvette is now in the lane and a driver change as Jordan Taylor hands off to Antonio "The King of Spain" Garcia. New tires and fuel. Garcia down and away. Also in the lane, Vasser Sullivan Lexus in the #12 GTD RC F GT3 entry with Frankie Montecalvo and Aaron Telitz. For all drivers that don't have a deal signed for 2024, this is an audition. Traffic everywhere! What a gorgeous Sunday at Road America. Sit in the shade and check out the race.
Matt Campbell is indeed in control. The weather has maybe brought the track to them. He is rolling apex speed without being ragged. They are going a long way on fuel and are 56 minutes into their stint. The top speed of the GTP cars is a blessing down the straightaway but into the corner the GTD Pro and GTD cars do not see the prototype boys. Campbell losing time now in traffic in GTD and LMP3 traffic. Penske Porsche could now do this race on two stops instead of three. Sebastien Bourdais is second 11.3 seconds behind. Bourdais runs off the road and back on in turn six. Colin Braun through The Carousel. It makes a strange noise, the Acura. Hard to know what it is. It is not traction control. It must be something with the energy recovery or something. Who knows.
There were reliability woes in pre-season testing in GTP but these cars have been extremely reliable as Bourdais is blocked in traffic and the #5 JDC-Miller Porsche is in the lane now with Tijmen van der Helm getting into the car. BMW #24 will be in the lane soon. Augusto Farfus will take over from Phillipp Eng in the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8. A slow stop and a stall at BMW. Bourdais in the lane and someone has gone off the road in turn one. Hard to tell who it is. Colin Braun stays on track to attempt to gain. Pipo Derani has now moved up to fourth place in the #31 Whelen Cadillac. Make that third. Also in the lane, the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura. Filipe Albuquerque out, and Ricky Taylor in.
97 minutes on the board. Nico Pino has done his stint in the #33 Sean Creech Motorsports Ligier LMP3 car and now Joao Barbosa is into the car to take it to the finish. Porsche #7 in the lane from the lead changing drivers to Felipe Nasr. Team Penske seemingly on cruise control right now. Pit stop time too for the #60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura and now Tom Blomqvist takes over. Derani now the erstwhile leader before we might pit over Nasr, Braun, and Gianmaria Bruni in the #59 WeatherTech Racing Porsche 963. An hour and 35 minutes now on the clock.
Right now, Ricky Taylor moves past Alexander Sims and both are struggling with tire temperatures. These cars are incredibly tricky on cold tires. The best drivers in the world are trying to tame the dragon. These GTP cars are so incredibly sensitive and Road America with the new pavement does not give you any grip. These GTP cars have the brake by wire systems connected to the hybrid units. The car is not communicating with you the same way as a driver. It feels artificial. It is like having a cookie and it has sweetener in it instead of real sugar. It is like skating on thin ice, walking on eggshells. You can't tippytoe around and have to go for it. I can look silly on my own. Trust me.
Felipe Nasr now in Porsche #7 has cycled to the lead over van derr Zande, Blomqvist, and van der Helm. Colin Braun and company are settling in and wondering about yellows. Matt Campbell tells us that track evolution since the team tested at Road America has been night and day and they've tweaked the car. The race car looks stable. The Porsche seems to turn on the tires quicker than everyone else with respect to the Cadillac, the Acura, and the BMW. Meanwhile, Alexander Sims is being chased by the sister #6 Porsche 963 and Sims spins the car. He is not happy with the car balance. Nasr leads for Porsche currently in #7.
Not sure honestly if it is Nick Tandy or Matthieu Jaminet in the #6 Porsche. What a gorgeous day. There is another lake just beside Road America, but it is different. It is not Elkhart Lake, specifically. Tom Blomqvist now all over the back of Renger van der Zande. Ben Keating has done his stint in LMP2 in the #52 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Oreca 07 handing off to Paul-Loup Chatin. The groove in The Carousel is widening but just little by little. This track will rubber in and weather in over the next season or two. Alexander Sims now running sixth in the #31 Whelen Cadillac. They are continuing to do a great job.
Pipo Derani tells us he is so thankful for our team to get into the game. That is very special and the car is a bit off on the handling, fighting balance issues but hoping for a large slice of luck and some good points. Fingers crossed to see if we can make it with the BMW out of the race. We are thinking long game and getting points for the championship. Trying to get through today's race. Mike Skeen has finished his stint and handed off to Mikael Grenier for Team Korthoff. The #32 Mercedes has been comfortable with car setups and are trying to get onto the GT Daytona podium. The team replaced a bunch of parts on the car.
Meanwhile, the #4 LMP3 car spins off the road and now goes back on and the car is right at pit in. Tonis Kasemets in the car. Kasemets sharing with Seth Lucas. Kasemets got off turn 14 a little hot. He is from Estonia and knows Road America like the back of his hand. He is a veteran and has slipped through the net in terms of the pro ranks. Camp Boggy Creek is a camp for kids with chronic and life threatening illnesses and they got to see a race car, the LMP3 car from Sean Creech Motorsports. IMSA used to have a day there at the camp. So wonderful to see that. 232 acres of land. It was founded by Paul Newman in 1996.
Car #33 leads LMP3 followed by the #29 car of Colin Noble and Bijoy Garg for JR III Motorsports and now the #6 Porsche is in with Nick Tandy for an earlier pit stop than they wanted with an hour and nine minutes to go. Daniel Juncadella pits from the GTD Pro lead too. This will be a lengthy run to get to the checkered flag. We have not had another yellow flag. Fuel save is possible, but the hills are troubling. This is a four-mile track at Road America of course. Felipe Nasr leading the motor race currently. We have found out the schedule for 2024 for IMSA and are going to talk about that more.
We will have the calendar and more news to come in the days and weeks ahead. We have a long way to go yet here at Road America. Stay tuned because we still have a Michelin Pilot Challenge event to talk about. Might post that one tomorrow. Indianapolis Motor Speedway needs no introduction. It is going to be a massive race coming up in another month or so. Join us on Sunday, September 17th at Noon for that one. Less than an hour to go. The #52 PR1/Mathiasen car leads LMP2. van der Garde, Sims, van Berlo, Chatin, and De Angelis have moved up three or four places give or take in their respective classes.
Now we have the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 and Madison Snow gets back in the car after Byran Sellers finishes his stint. The #27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin has also pitted. Fred Schandorff has had a brutal battle with De Angelis and drivers on cold tires have to be especially careful. Mario Farnbacher passes Mikael Grenier. Robby Foley in the #96 Turner Motorsports BMW M4 GT3 has gone by Marco Sorensen. Alexander Sims in the #31 Whelen Cadillac also goes by. Rexy, the dinosaur, the Porsche 911 GT3R has been incredibly popular. AO Racing is back stateside with Rexy and the kids love it! That's so wonderful to see!
It is a worldwide phenomenon! P.J. Hyett's son designed the livery. Pit stop time for the #3 Chevrolet Corvette C8.R with Antonio Garcia doing a double stint and he will need to push and push hard. Ross Gunn on hot tires right on Garcia's six. Garcia is going to do all he can. Believe me. 50 minutes to go. Alexander Sims stays ahead of the BMW as Ross Gunn is off in the fuzz! Well, well, well. That could be a massive moment in GTD Pro! Augusto Farfus in the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 had a birds' eye view of all of that as it appears he is chasing Alexander Sims. The #24 BMW and the team has not had a good day. It came out of the pit lane at reduced speed and stopped at the side of the road. Motor trouble or being stuck in gear is the issue. Farfus has no drive.
43 minutes to go. Power cycling has not worked. BMW in trouble again. Maybe it was up against the rev limiter. These hybrid cars are so fast into the braking zone with the GTP cars. That is Phillip Eng at the controls of the BMW. Antonio Garcia passes Ross Gunn into turn five and Gunn has to give it up. That was the squeeze play. 41 minutes left in the race today. Corvette #3 has a drive through penalty for failing to meet minimum fuel flow time in the pit lane. A great day to be sailing on the lake or on the track, honestly. I would be upside down in a sailboat. I am a good swimmer but not a sailor. Paul Loup Chatin leading in LMP2 and PR1 Mathiasen have yet to win.
We will have more teams coming for LMP2 for next year. Paul Loup Chatin's co-driver Ben Keating is a World Champion in the FIA World Endurance Championship GTE Am class. With the new surface, this track is brand new for many teams including PR1/Mathiasen. Heck, it is new for everyone. Keating and Chatin lead LMP2 points by 95 markers over the #11 and 97 over the #04. 34 minutes left on the board. Josh Burdon now second in LMP3 in the #74 Riley Motorsports Ligier in second in LMP2 and Burdon went way off the road and back on through The Carousel! Egad!
Burdon is gaining on Joao Barbosa. Traffic in the way. The fueling violation penalty for the #3 Corvette has not been served yet. They are saying they have a sensor issue and trying to convince the stewards that the penalty is unwarranted and unnecessary. IMSA are giving them a chance to present their case. Felipe Nasr and Penske Porsche serenely in the lead of the motor race as Stuttgart wants to get back to the top of the podium. BMW #25 stopped on the road to. They got the car back on track but are still having issues. 25 minutes remaining in the race.
Felipe Nasr, Porsche, and Team Penske have dominated. Tom Blomqvist and Meyer Shank Racing and the #60 Acura, with three races left, anything can happen. Blomqvist has the speed and Braun has the experience. Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque in the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura are searching for their first win of 2023. They won this race last year. WTR could leapfrog the #25 and #31 for the points lead. At AXR, we will have to maximize at Indianapolis and Petit Le Mans. The scrap between Blomqvist and Nasr is intensifying. If MSR can grab another victory they will be in the championship fight. Right now, the #31 Cadillac is sixth.
22 minutes of racing to go. Felipe Nasr focusing on GTD traffic and Tom Blomqvist is coming in a big hurry. The clock is ticking. 18 minutes on the board. Nasr's lead has been trimmed from 5.2 seconds to 3.9 seconds. Nasr has to stamp his mark on the Penske Porsche team and Blomqvist is coming in a massive hurry. Traffic will be key. Don't go offline and be patient. Nasr has lots of traffic to work with. Blomqvist could have an easier job to do through the traffic. Nasr to the inside of the GTD cars as Blomqvist is pushing hard. The GTP cars are 20 miles an hour faster even than the LMP2's. Blomqvist pushing even more.
Can Porsche pull a victory out of the hat? Can Blomqvist continue the momentum shown by MSR especially last time out with their win at Mosport. The lead narrows every single lap by and just over ten minutes before the race ends. Nasr has stymied the attack from Blomqvist. Blomqvist might get to Nasr but passing is an entirely different kettle of fish. #7 needs a win for themselves and for Porsche. Blomqvist is going to go for it. The lead is cut down again to just over two seconds. 2.09 seconds and they are evenly matched through sector one which is just turn one. Nasr clears the traffic. Katherine Legge and Sheena Monk are looking for a top ten in GTD and have had a solid year despite no podium placings.
Nasr will be catching his Penske Porsche teammate in traffic. Blomqvist clawing his way forward. The lead is ebbing and flowing. Traffic giveth and traffic taketh away. The #59 WeatherTech Porsche 963 and the sister #6 Penske Porsche 963 are ahead. Harry Tincknell and Proton Competition have had a strong debut today. Nasr has the better run through the traffic. The GTD Pro and GTD cars are all around. Tom Blomqvist is poised behind the wheel and they are flying right now. Nasr has been blessed as far as traffic goes.
You cannot run over the top of your competitors in traffic. Be patient but remain on the attack. Felipe Nasr telling his spotter to have the GTD car move over. White flag next time by. Eight miles to go. Nobody in front of Blomqvist but time is slithering through the hourglass. Michelin tires have had zero degradation on the new surface here at Road America. Blomqvist gets stymied by the #9 Pfaff Motorsports GTD Pro Porsche 911 GT3R of Patrick Pilet and he won't let Blomqvist go. You cannot just whistle around a GT car with a prototype these days because the GTP cars are heavier and a wee bit slower than the Daytona Prototype International cars were.
White flag. One more lap to go. No panic right now. Don't get too racy. Wait it out. No pressure. Waiting on the #20 LMP2 car, the High Class Racing car of Ed Jones and Dennis Anderson. Felipe Nassr and Matty Campbell win for Porsche Penske Motorsports. In GTD it is Paul Miller Racing taking their fourth win of the year. In LMP2 it is PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports for Ben Keating and Paul Loup Chatin. LMP3 honors go to Riley Motorsports.
Overall/GTP: #7 Nasr/Campbell Porsche Penske Motorsports Porsche 963
LMP2: #52 Keating/Chatin PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Oreca 07
LMP3: #74 Robinson/Burdon Riley Ligier JS P320 Nissan
GT Daytona Pro: #23 Gunn/Riberas Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3
GT Daytona: #1 Sellers/Snow Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3
Time is now very much of the essence in the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship with just three races remaining. One more all-GT event coming up at Virginia International Raceway in three weeks. Then, for the prototypes the next one is a return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the most fabled race track on the planet, for the Battle on The Bricks, coming up in a month or so in mid-September. Very excited to bring that one to you. We have more racing coming from Road America today. Stay tuned for Michelin Pilot Challenge competition, too, and that one should be posted here, tomorrow morning more than likely.
For now, so long everyone, from America's National Park of Speed. Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Bye bye.
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