By: Marshall Pruett July 23, 2018 11:24 AM IMSA’s Michelin Encore race weekend will be unlike anything the sanctioning body has offered since its return in 2014.Set for an off-season date of November 9-11 at Sebring International Raceway, the sports car mixer will open the doors to IMSA for any entrants with LMP3, GT3, GT4, and TCR cars. It will also give regular IMSA competitors with those cars a first look at running on the new Michelin tires that will be used exclusively throughout the paddock in 2019.New details of the four-hour race have also been confirmed, with Friday Nov. 9 scheduled as an open test day, three one-hour practice sessions put in place for Saturday, a pair of 20-minute qualifying sessions on Sunday split into LMP3/GT3 and GT4/TCR, and the race itself.With GT3, GT4, and TCR cars proving to be quite popular in the Pirelli World Challenge series and in various championships found throughout the globe, IMSA is hoping to use the Michelin Encore as an open house with an eye to recruiting new participants for its WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the soon-to-be-renamed Continental Tire Series (pictured).“The Michelin Encore event is intended not only to give existing IMSA competitors a unique incremental event, but to also provide an attractive opportunity for non-IMSA teams and drivers to sample what it’s like to participate in an IMSA-sanctioned event,” IMSA president Scott Atherton told RACER.“We believe the combination of a fall event at Sebring International Raceway, featuring the first-ever opportunity to compete with Michelin tires — surrounded by the professionalism of IMSA — will deliver a compelling and rewarding experience for all involved.”A limit of 60 entries has been set, and with four Pro-Am classes defined for the event, driver ratings will be used to ensure only those with Bronze, Silver and Gold status will be permitted. A maximum of one Gold driver and three drivers total per entry will be allowed, and pit stops with three crew members going over the wall to fuel and change tires have also been stipulated.The awarding of prize money and tire credit is another development that has been confirmed. The four winning entries will receive $10,000 from IMSA and $5000 to apply toward Michelin tires at next year’s IMSA events, and for second and third in each class, credits of $3000 and $2000, respectively, will be handed out.Looking beyond the racing in November at Sebring, IMSA’s senior director of technical regulations and compliance wants to showcase the organization’s competition department to a new audience.“Besides having the opportunity to race at Sebring, this event gives these new teams the chance to experience an IMSA-sanctioned weekend, see how we operate and get to know our technical staff,” Geoff Carter said. “We have made it easy for teams to enter and make it part of their schedule. We are looking forward to a competitive weekend and have the chance to get to show them our operation.”

By: David Phillips | 9 hours ago
Word around the Road Atlanta paddock at Petit Le Mans has Corvette Racing entertaining thoughts of running both IMSA’s 67th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and the FIA World Endurance Championship’s 1000k race the weekend of March 13-16, 2019. Corvette had previously confirmed plans to race in WEC’s 6 Hours of Shanghai this November, in what will be Corvette’s first “factory run” race appearance in Asia. However, Corvette officials offered a firm, if congenial, no comment on their plans for a Sebring “double.”“This year as with every year, at the end of the racing season the executive commitee will evaluate future opportunities to showcase Corvette’s engineering, performance and reliability,” said Doug Fehan, Corvette Racing Program Manager. “We won’t know the details of the 2019 program until then.”More IMSA!

Team TGM, Compass, BimmerWorld win CTSCC titles

Risi swimming upstream in Petit return

Derani takes Petit Le Mans pole for ESM

The lure of running both the IMSA and WEC races at Sebring is obvious, given the team will be on hand for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in any case. Looking further ahead, participating in the 1000 km of Sebring could perhaps be another step toward an “expanded” effort in the 2020 WEC with the new mid-engined Corvette CR.8. Then again, piggy-backing Saturday’s Twelve Hours fresh off Friday evening’s 1000-km race would present significant challenges for the team, not least of which would be brutal physical (and mental) challenges for drivers and crew alike.

By: Marshall Pruett December 4, 2018 1:00 PM Above: Alex Zanardi with Nathalie McGloin, president of the FIA Disability and Accessibility CommissionBMW presented Alex Zanardi with the chance to race an M8 GTE at one of the world’s two biggest 24-hour events. As he tells it, the Italian’s response caught BMW Motorsport boss Jens Marquardt by surprise.“In this situation I kept hearing about some of my colleagues taking part to the Daytona 24,” he said. “And that got me curious about this event and I kept a promise to myself down the road if ever I would have the opportunity, that’s the place where I would want to be.

Related

Catching up with Alex Zanardi

Zanardi, RLL partnership in the works for Rolex 24

Zanardi completes first BMW M8 test in Rolex 24 prep

“So last year at the beginning of the season actually, Jens Marquardt came to me and said, ‘Alex, you know we’re developing this new car, the new M8. We may have the possibility to get you into one of our team for a 24-hour [race], okay? It’s probably now too early to say this but if ever you have the opportunity would you prefer to compete in Daytona or Le Mans?“He probably thought, with me being European, that I would answer with no doubt answer with Le Mans. And I answer instead, with no doubt, Daytona. All the way. All the way.” His wish was granted last December.“So I had to doubt in my mind. I said, ‘Oh yes. Absolutely Daytona,’” he added. “This is the place where it would really be cool for me to be. Sorry, Le Mans would be an interesting offer, but if you say which one you prefer, no doubt, I wanna go to Daytona. So that was that. Then at the end of the year we all went to the Christmas party and he announced that he would have organized a team for me in 2019. Which was nice, but it was also a surprise for me. A very nice one. Here we are.” Zanardi will race for BMW Team RLL at Daytona in an M8 GTE fitted with new controls that allow the former CART IndyCar champion to use his hands to operate the twin-turbo V8-powered machine. It’s a welcome upgrade over the previous system that required the paraplegic to use his prosthetic legs to operate some controls.Looking ahead to his Daytona debut, the 52-year-old cites a purity of competition around the 3.56-mile road course and oval as the greatest attraction to the event.“In comparison … don’t get me wrong, Le Mans is a great race,” he continued. “They have a great tradition and whatever. But quite frankly there’s no appeal for me. It has no charisma on me. It’s a race where it’s more a technical exercise among the engineers to give to the drivers the best car because that’s what you take to compete.“Daytona is a completely different ballgame. It’s a field where you need to manage your skill, your driving. Also, it very often into physical situations of traffic. Definitely very busy, turning the wheel many times. So, it’s much more racing, let’s say, than in my view than Le Mans would have been.”Zanardi expects to enjoy having the likes of Fernando Alonso and other big stars in the Rolex 24 field, but the bigger attraction will come from reconnecting with American racing fans after building such a loyal following during his IndyCar years.“This goes on top of everything but the main thing for me is to turn the engine on and take [to] the circuit,” he said. “This is what I care about. This is the most important thing and let me also add that for some reason, when I was competing in Indy cars and I considered United States my home up to the point where I felt a little bit American.“I don’t wanna sound too arrogant in saying this, but I felt very welcome in your country. Not only by the fans, by the people surrounding me but also in the opportunity I was given.”

By: J.J. O'Malley 24 hours ago Ben Keating and Mercedes-AMG Team Riley Motorsports will honor Wynn’s in 2019 with a throwback livery.The team’s No. 33 Mercedes-AMG GT3 will carry the multi-color scheme that Hotchkis Racing ran in 1987, when team drivers John Hotchkis, John Hotchkis Jr. and Jim Adams began the season with a fifth-place overall and GTP finish in that year’s SunBank 24 At Daytona, driving a purple Porsche 962 in the Camel GTP class.

More IMSA!

Mazda MX-5 Cup champ Nikko Reger moves up to IMSA PC

Till, Howe join IMSA Radio

Barrichello relishing Rolex 24 return

The livery is in honor of the 50th anniversary for Wynn’s, the automotive products technology company celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2019. Wynn’s has entered into a partnership with Keating and Mercedes-AMG Team Riley Motorsports for this year’s 50th anniversary IMSA season, and will carry the new scheme beginning with this weekend’s Roar Before the 24 and continuing through the season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.The Wynn’s automotive technology products line started in 1939 and continues a heritage of automotive excellence today with an array of products designed to effectively treat and improve a car’s engine.

By: J.J. O'Malley January 3, 2019 2:25 PM After winning championships in World Challenge and Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama, Pfaff Motorsports is ready to make a name for itself in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship as it readies for the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 26-27.“This is a really big honor for me, because this is my third season for Pfaff Motorsports and we won the Canadian GT3 Cup Challenge together in 2017, and won the Pirelli World Challenge GT Sprint championship in our first time there last year,” said Scott Hargrove, who will join Zacharie Robichon in contesting the complete 2019 GT Daytona schedule. “Now, here we are in IMSA, ready to take on the big show. We’ve got a great group of guys. It’s going to be a big learning curve, but I think we’re ready for it.”In addition to Robichon and Hargrove, Lars Kern and Dennis Olson are set to co-drive the No. 9 Pfaff Porsche/Castrol Porsche 911 GT3 R in the Daytona endurance classic.
One of the challenges for the team will be learning a brand-new Porsche.“The new Porsche GT3 R is going to be a big learning curve,” Hargrove said. “I think there only about three components that are the same from the old car; otherwise, it’s a completely new car, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.” Hargrove’s only Daytona experience was spectating at the Rolex 24 in 2011 and 2012.“I’ve definitely done my homework,” he said. “I’ve been here awhile ago, and have watched the races on TV since then. I think I’ve got a good grasp of what it’s going to be like, but you never know until you’re on the banks racing with the Prototypes and negotiating with all the different classes. It’s going to be new, but I think I’m well prepared and ready to learn as much as I can.”Robichon captured the 2018 Canadian Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, winning 11 of 12 events for Mark Motors Racing. In addition, he won seven races while contesting the final eight races of the season in the American series.“It’s a very special opportunity for me to be here at Daytona,” Robichon said. “We had a great year in 2018 in Porsche Cup, not only in Canada, but the U.S. as well. We won 18 of 20 of the races that we competed in. I will be looking to use the lessons I learned. But here, it’s such a different game. We’re stepping into endurance racing. And look at all the drivers around us. It’s going to be a completely new challenge, and I’m really looking forward to joining Pfaff Motorsports with the Porsche GT3 R, staying within the Porsche family and having a lot of fun.”

By: Stephen Kilbey | February 5, 2019 1:57 PM Toyota Gazoo Racing hit the track at Sebring International Raceway today for the first time with its LMP1 class TS050 HYBRIDs as part of a three-day test.The Japanese marque is running at Sebring ahead of the FIA WEC 1000 Miles of Sebring next month, with both its TS050s and all six drivers.Toyota ran exclusively today, though it is set to be joined by multiple teams this week. RACER understands that Ford, AF Corse and Jackie Chan DC Racing are among those expected to test.

More Le Mans/WEC!

Foyt inducted into Houston Sports Hall of Fame

Lotterer to miss Sebring; Beche moves to No. 1 Rebellion

The Week In Sports Cars, Jan. 31 - Rolex 24 and more

A source told RACER that Toyota wasn’t pushing for times today, although its lap times ran consistently below the best times from IMSA qualifying last March.A Toyota spokesperson confirmed to RACER that Day 1 was for development and testing specific items before it takes on a 30-hour endurance test across the remaining days.Next month’s race will be Toyota’s first at Sebring in LMP1. The team was not present at the inaugural FIA WEC round at the Florida circuit in 2012, the year it made its debut at Le Mans.Today’s track action was also the first for an LMP1 Hybrid at the circuit since Audi’s pre-season test in 2016 ahead of its final FIA WEC LMP1 campaign.

By: Stephen Kilbey | 21 hours ago Former Le Mans winner Brendon Hartley is set to return to racing in LMP1 next month at the FIA WEC’s Sebring 1000 Miles. The New Zealander returns to the championship after a year spent away from competing in sports cars in 2018, racing in Formula 1 with Toro Rosso following the cancellation of Porsche’s LMP1 program.In the race at Sebring, the 2015 and 2017 FIA WEC champion will replace reigning Super GT champion Jenson Button in SMP Racing’s No. 11 BR1 AER, driving alongside Mihail Aleshin and Vitaly Petrov. He will replace Button at Spa too, the Briton unable to make either trip due to racing commitments elsewhere.

More Le Mans/WEC!

Toyota confirms 2019/20 WEC participation

Foyt inducted into Houston Sports Hall of Fame

Toyota tests at Sebring ahead of WEC's return to Florida

“I’m very pleased to join SMP Racing for the next two WEC races at Sebring and Spa,” Brendon Hartley commented. “The team have all the tools and a great driver roster so I think we have a big opportunity to fight for podiums. It marks my return to the WEC and I’m really looking forward to being back in the paddock among many familiar faces.”This news follows the announcement that Sergey Sirotkin will also join the Russian team to replace Matevos Isaakyan in the team’s No. 17 BR1 to race alongside Stephane Sarrazin and Egor Orudzhev at Sebring.

By: Trans Am | March 2, 2019 8:36 PM Lawrence Loshak captured the TA pole, edging teammate Tomy Drissi and giving Burtin Racing’s gold Chevrolet Camaros a sweep of the front row in qualifying for Sunday’s Trans Am presented by Pirelli 2019 season-opening event at Sebring International Raceway.Loshak toured the historic 3.74-mile circuit in 2m00.427s to grab the pole in the No. 3 Pennzoil/Go Share Camaro, edging Drissi’s No. 8 Axalta Camaro by almost a full second.“It was a dream lap,” Loshak said. “We drivers are always working with the engineers to get that one perfect, impossible lap, and we’re always trying to go faster. In a series like this, the guy behind you is going to pass you if you get complacent.“The guys gave me an incredible car all weekend. We were P-1 in every session, and then they sprinkled a little special sauce on it for qualifying. They have all the confidence in me, and I came through with a dream lap — and an all-gold front row at Sebring.”

More Trans Am!

Speeding penalty costs Kyle Busch a three-race weekend sweep

Loshak flag to flag in Sebring Trans Am opener

Loud and Loshak - video highlights from the Trans Am opener

Defending TA champ Ernie Francis Jr. was third in the No. 98 Frameless Shower Doors Ford Mustang, while Chris Dyson — who finished second behind Francis in the 2018 race at Sebring — qualified fourth in the No. 20 Plaid Ford Mustang.“This is Ernie’s home track,” Loshak said. “We might be fast in one lap, but we’re not going to take [the race] lightly. I’m comfortable [here at] Sebring, but I’ve got to be clean and mistake free. I know Ernie, Tomy and Chris aren’t going to make it easy.”Francis Jr., last year’s race winner, will have a great view of the start from third on the grid, and has the last lap rather than the first lap in mind for tomorrow.“I’m not worried about not being on the front row. I think we did a great job for a small team,” said Francis, Jr. “We are running stuff that we work on ourselves. The lap times the leaders turned today will be hard to maintain in the race, and we’ve got a good consistent car for tomorrow.“I know this place well,” Francis continued, “and I think it is going to be a good race.”

TA2: Defending champion Rafa Matos led TA2 powered by AEM qualifying with a lap of 2m08.269s in the No. 88 3Dimensional Services Group Chevrolet Camaro.“[In qualifying], the track was very different from the morning’s practice, so I was expecting to be a little bit quicker,” Matos said. “It was very hot and the track was slippery, but I had a good enough pace. “Our car feels very good and balanced, and I think we will have a real good race car for tomorrow.”Tony Buffomante was close behind, clocking the second-fastest TA2 lap time in the No. 34 Mike Cope Racing Ford Mustang, with Marc Miller third in the Prefix/Miller Racing Dodge Challenger, a new-to-him car. Last year, Miller passed Matos with two laps remaining to win the Trans Am opener at Sebring.Super GT/ GT: The SGT and GT classes will race concurrently with TA in Sunday afternoon’s event. Mark Boden was fastest in SGT, seeking his fourth career and third-consecutive SGT triumph at Sebring in the No. 46 Beverage Flavors International Porsche 991 GT3 Cup.“The temperature cooled down today, and I was really able to take advantage of the changing conditions,” said Boden, who qualified at 2m09.825s. “We had it set up for a one-shot deal, and I didn’t make any mistakes. Now I’m in front when it goes green.” Tom Herb made it an all-Fall-Line Motorsports front row, qualifying second in the No. 16 Porsche, followed by Lee Saunders’ V10PWR Racing Dodge Viper.Jeff Courtney led the GT competitors with a best lap of 2m15.536s in the No. 88 Matrix/RecStuff.com/Kendra Maserati GT4, edging Steven Davidson’s Davinci Plastic Surgery Aston Martin Vantage. “It was an uneventful lap — the way we like it,” said the GT class fastest qualifier. “I was hoping for a clear space and a clean lap, and I got it. I didn’t actually get the tires up to the sweet spot, but we did the lap and now we can save the tires for the race.”

By: Trans Am 5 hours ago A late-race restart proved to be no problem for Lawrence Loshak, who drove to a flag-to-flag victory in the opening race of the 2019 Trans Am presented by Pirelli championship at Sebring International Raceway on Sunday.Defending champion Ernie Francis Jr. pressured Loshak for the opening six laps before pitting with a transmission issue, costing him 12 laps.A late caution set the stage Chris Dyson’s charge in his Plaid Ford Mustang, but Loshak prevailed in the five-lap shootout and won his third career TA class race event by 3.047 seconds.Completing the podium was R.J. Lopez, who wheeled the No. 06 TinaBazucaCraftAle Corvette.“Finally, I won at Sebring! This place has always been bad luck for me,” said Loshak, driver of Burtin Racing’s Pennzoil/GoShare Chevrolet Camaro. “We’ve been fast all weekend, but we’ve been fast here before, only to have some gremlins take us out. “To start the season with a win — well, that’s what this team deserves.”

More Trans Am!

Speeding penalty costs Kyle Busch a three-race weekend sweep

Loud and Loshak - video highlights from the Trans Am opener

Matos earns redemption with Sebring TA2 win

Memories of his past misfortune at the historic but bumpy 3.74-mile circuit came flooding back when the late-race full-course caution cost him his advantage.“It’s always nerve-wracking when you build up a lead, dial back into conserve mode, and then have to start all over again,” said the Milwaukee driver. “Especially with [Chris] Dyson in P-2! Who has more laps and experience at Sebring than Chris? “I knew he was coming, so it was all about not making mistakes. I made a handful out there, but they weren’t big ones.“Hey, it was tough for everybody out there today, but we were able to bring the Axalta gold car home for the gold,” a happy Loshak exclaimed. Dyson started fifth but charged up to second early on, closing his day out with a podium start to his 2019 Trans Am campaign.“We struggled with the car until qualifying, to be honest,” Dyson said. “We missed it a little bit in the race, but we kept digging out there. We were starting to make up ground, but those darn yellows … They were a bit quicker on the restarts than we were.“This shows you that the racing in this series is tremendous, along with the quality of the cars that are coming out. We’re absolutely fighting at it tooth and nail out there.” The race featured three classes in action, with SGT and GT class entries also doing battle on Sunday.The second of two full-course cautions proved to be the key for Lee Saunders, who scored a come-from-behind victory in the SGT class driving the No. 84 V10PWR Racing Dodge Viper.Polewinner Mark Boden lost his advantage to Saunders at the start, but managed to work his Beverage Flavors International Porsche 911 GT3 Cup back into the lead by lap 18 – shortly before the caution gave Saunders another opportunity.“It was a good, clean, amazing race,” Saunders said. “My hat’s off to Mark [Boden]. He had a flying car, but we were just a little stronger on the restarts. On the long runs, he was definitely faster, so we probably got a little lucky at the end with the restart. “This win is for my crew: They did a heroic rear-end swap just before qualifying.”Jeff Courtney’s Matrix/RecStuff.com/Kendra Maserati GT4 took the GT victory, besting Steven Davison’s Davinci Plastic Surgery Aston Martin Vantage.“Actually, there was more drama out there than I expected,” Courtney said. “I thought Steven jumped the restart after the first caution [on lap 10]. Then, on the next caution, he kind of overcooked it in Turn 17. Kind of a give-back, but I would rather have raced for it.“We were catching him, but I had to go to the dirt to avoid two TA cars. I got a lot of debris on the tires, but then I was able to click off a few good laps.”Kerry Hitt won the Masters award in the TA class following a 10th-place finish in the Advanced Composite Products Inc. Cadillac CTSV, while Milton Grant won SGT Masters, placing fifth in the SentrySelfStorage/Fairfield Inn Porsche 991 GT3 Cup. The Coolshirt Cool Move of the race went to Jon Leavy.

The Trans Am presented by Pirelli next travels to Road Atlanta, for the Atlanta SpeedFest Tour event on March 29-31.