Winners Crowned at Twelve Hours of Sebring

Event News March 17, 2019


A thrilling Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts took place with teams in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship adding their names to the annals of the longstanding event. Rain at the start of the racing and plentiful action throughout kept fans tuned in throughout the 12-hour sports car spectacle.

DPi: The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R team of Felipe Nasr, Pipo Derani and Eric Curran were the class of the field throughout the event, and they were rewarded with an overall victory in a grueling IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship battle on Saturday.

Morning rains and exceedingly wet track conditions prevented the green flag from flying for the first time until 40 minutes into the 12-hour race. But once it did, the No. 31 was flying, too. The team combined to lead a race-high 249 of a possible 348 laps, including all three points-scoring segments toward the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup.

It wouldn’t be an easy victory, though, as the No. 31 team had its hands full with the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R co-driven by Renger van der Zande, Matthieu Vaxiviere and Jordan Taylor over final two hours of the race.

Taylor nearly got past immediately after a pit stop with an hour and 20 minutes remaining when Nasr took over the No. 31 from Derani, but on that occasion, Nasr eventually managed to pull away. Taylor wasn’t done yet, though. He closed all the way up on Nasr with 21 minutes left in the race, getting to within 0.2 seconds, but still not quite close enough to make his move.

The fifth and final full-course caution came out with 15 minutes to go, giving Taylor one last shot on the ensuing restart with under 10 minutes remaining, but Nasr built just enough of a lead to seal a 1.030-second victory over the No. 10. It was the closest overall finish in the 67-race history of the Twelve Hours, eclipsing the 2016 margin of victory of 2.82 seconds.

“Jordan was already warmed up, he was in the car, and I got in the car knowing that he was going to be close,” Nasr said. “From the time I jumped in the car, all the procedures getting the belts on the team stopped changing tires and go – and he was right there.

“I couldn’t do a little mistake today. It was all about hitting our marks and I did that from Lap 1 to the checkered flag. There were some pretty tricky moments out there, like I caught traffic a few times and I had a four-second lead, and that last yellow flag as well that came with four laps to go, man, that was really tricky. I could see they picked up their pace, but we got the job done first.”

It was the first Sebring victory for both Nasr and Curran – who together co-drove to both the 2018 WeatherTech Championship and the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Prototype titles. It was Derani’s second consecutive Sebring victory and his third in four years, making him the first driver with three overall wins in four years since the legendary Phil Hill won in 1958, 1959 and 1961.

“It means the world,” Derani said. “Today was just one of those days where everything went perfect, but we had a lot to lose in the beginning with the rain at the beginning. Two and a half hours I was in the car and there was lot of stress because there’s a lot to lose. You’re thinking, ‘OK, there’s 11 hours to go. What should you do? Push?’ But in the end, everything worked perfectly thanks to this amazing team.”

Derani and Nasr will continue as full-season co-drivers in the No. 31, while Curran will rejoin the team for the next Michelin Endurance Cup round, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen on June 30.

“As a sports car driver, you kind of have your list of the races that you want to win on your bucket list, and the Sebring 12-hour is right up there at the top,” Curran said. “I don’t know how many years I’ve been racing the Sebring 12, but back to the ALMS days and obviously finishing second last year and finishing second prior to that, to come so close to a win, but not quite enough. So, it feels really special to now win this thing, finally, in a Whelen Cadillac.”

Joao Barbosa, Filipe Albuquerque and Brendon Hartley made it two Action Express Racing cars on the podium with a third-place run in the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi. Finishing fourth was the No. 7 Acura Team Penske ARX-05 DPi team of Ricky Taylor, Helio Castroneves and Alexander Rossi which battled back after falling off the lead lap in the wet conditions early on.

The No. 54 CORE autosport Nissan DPi of Jon Bennett, Colin Braun and Romain Dumas completed the top five. It was Nissan’s second consecutive top-five at Sebring after winning the race last year with Derani, Johannes van Overbeek and Nicolas Lapierre in the No. 22 Tequila Patrón ESM entry.

 

LMP2: The No. 38 Performance Tech Motorsports ORECA team scored in a seesaw battle in the early stages gave way to a dominating LMP2 class victory for drivers Kyle Masson, Cameron Cassels and Andrew Evans. At two hours and 43 minutes into the race, Anders Fjorback slowed on course with left-side suspension problems on the Motul Pole Award-winning No. 52 PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports ORECA.

The issues sent the No. 52 to the paddock for lengthy repairs, giving the No. 38 team an easy, 13-lap victory. It was the first Sebring victory for both Cassels and Evans, while it was the second for Masson, who also won in the Prototype Challenge (PC) class with the Performance Tech team back in 2017.

“Today was a really hard 12 hours,” Masson said. “Sebring is so bumpy. To get through the day with the car holding up completely, no mechanicals, it was a flawless execution. I’m just happy we brought the car home safe.

“For me, the rain was something I prayed for. I love driving in it and I love racing in it. I showed that this morning. I perform well in it is maybe the reason I love driving in it. I brought our car up to sixth overall, and to be passing the pole-sitting Penske DPi was a great feeling. I was very calm and cool, and experience builds calmness in the car. It was a lot easier today than two years ago remaining level-headed throughout the day.”



GTLM: No manufacturer has come close to Porsche’s success through the years at Sebring International Raceway, and while Saturday’s win in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts brought its win total at the track to 96, this one certainly didn’t come easy.

A bold move by Nick Tandy with just under one hour remaining to get by the No. 67 Ford GT of Ryan Briscoe – who was on his out lap after a pit stop –ultimately proved to be the winning pass for Tandy and his No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR teammates Patrick Pilet and Frederic Makowiecki.

At the time, the pass was for the second position after the No. 67 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GT dominated the majority of the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class race with Briscoe and co-drivers Richard Westbrook and Scott Dixon at the wheel.

But roughly 25 minutes after Tandy made his pass on Briscoe, the race-leading No. 3 Corvette C7.R of Antonio Garcia fell out of the lead with a scheduled pit stop, moving Tandy to the top of the leaderboard with 35 minutes remaining. Briscoe closed a four-second deficit to just one second in the closing minutes but spun on a late-race restart ensuring a second consecutive Sebring victory for the No. 911 team.

In total, the No. 911 Porsche led only 30 of the 330 laps, including the final 18 laps of the race.

“I didn’t realize the Corvette had to pit,” said Tandy. “I got ahead of them before the yellow. We had to stop a lap before them on the second to last stop and we had a bit of a tire advantage to leap frog them on the out lap. But then we were going to really have to take it easy on the fuel tank. I’m glad we didn’t have to do that at the very end.”

“Porsche is the most successful brand on this track,” added Pilet. “We never get pressure from our bosses, we put the pressure on ourselves. We wrote another line on the Porsche story. It was nice to be part of that story.”

A late-race yellow flag for the stopped BMW of Bill Auberlen set up a seven-minute sprint to the checkered flag. Briscoe spun shortly after the restart, handing the second position to his teammate Joey Hand in the No. 66 Ford GT, but by that point Tandy opened up too much of a gap. Hand settled for second with teammates Dirk Mueller and Sebastien Bourdais, 1.951 second back, while Briscoe finished sixth.

At the end of the day the four different manufacturers that make up the GTLM class full time took the top four positions with the No. 3 Corvette C7.R of Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Mike Rockenfeller rounding out the podium. The No. 24 BMW M8 GTE of finished fourth with drivers Jesse Krohn, John Edwards and Philipp Eng.

The race was slowed by five full-course cautions, including a 40-minute yellow flag to start the race due to poor track conditions from a heavy rain Saturday morning.

GTD: When it comes to endurance racing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Grasser Racing Team is unbeatable.

The Austrian team solidified its position on Saturday night as one of the top endurance racing teams in the series, winning the 67th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts in the GT Daytona (GTD) class in the No. 11 Lamborghini Huracán GT3.

GRT has made three starts in the WeatherTech Championship and has walked away from all three races with first place trophies. Including Saturday, GRT was also victorious at the prestigious Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2018 and 2019.

Mirko Bortolotti, Rolf Ineichen and Rik Breukers – co-drivers of the No. 11 Lamborghini at Sebring – have been a part of GRT’s winning lineup at each race. Competitors in the GTD class should take note, as GRT signed up for the full 2019 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup season, which in addition to Daytona and Sebring includes the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen and the 10-hour Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

“It’s so cool to be back at Sebring and we couldn’t wish for a better start to the season, winning Daytona and Sebring,” said Bortolotti. “I hope I don’t wake up in half an hour. It feels like a dream. I’m really happy, I can’t believe it right now. It was a tough race, we made no mistakes. We had some contact with some lapped cars. All other classes are fighting as well. It’s such a difficult race to win. I’m really proud of this result.”

Not only was the win significant for GRT, but also Lamborghini as a manufacturer. In the last six Michelin Endurance Cup races, Lamborghini has taken home the checkered flag four times, with Lamborghini team Paul Miller Racing winning at Sebring one year ago.

“For the brand Lamborghini, it’s unbelievable,” said Ineichen. “To win at Daytona is one thing, and to then come here and win is even more incredible. The first time to get a back-to-back win, I think in IMSA for Lamborghini. Lamborghini gave us a great car. Daytona was the first race for the GT3 Evo and we won with a brand new car. Now to win again, it’s proof what Lamborghini did, and they gave us such a good car.”

Further exemplifying Lamborghini’s strength in the WeatherTech Championship, the No. 44 Magnus Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 of John Potter, Andy Lally and Spencer Pumpelly finished second. The car came alive in the evening and seriously challenged GRT for the win, keeping within a second of the No. 11 for the majority of the final 45 minutes.

Rounding out the podium was the No. 63 WeatherTech Racing Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3 of Cooper MacNeil, Toni Vilander and Jeff Westphal.

 

Running around and taking pictures I happened upon good friends of the magazine, John Morton and Sylvia Wilkinson. Sylvia mentioned, “Walking through the paddock John said he feels like he is back at an IMSA race.” Here he is leaving pit lane in Tom Malloy’s 1988 Porsche‐Kremer 962C



Photo: Nick Lish Vintage Motorsport)

 

Another group that drew eyes and ears each time they were on track was the Masters Endurance Legends. Here is Travis Engen’s 2005 Audi R8 LMP being checked out in the hot pit after a run on the track.



Photo: Nick Lish (Vintage Motorsport)

The group ran two 40-minute sessions each day and many of the drivers were running in other groups as well. Sounds like some great seat time. More than one person I ran into mentioned the amazing sound of this 2002 Ferrari 550 GT1 from Steven Read.



Photo: Nick Lish (Vintage Motorsport)

Near the end of each day, the Masters Historic Formula One group heads out to remind folks what F1 those amazing engines sound like – and that they should probably invest in a pair of ear plugs for the weekend. Here is Charles Nearburg’s 1980 Williams FW07 B making its way to the grid.



Photo: Nick Lish (Vintage Motorsport)

 

Hurley Haywood Named Grand Marshal of Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion to celebrate 50th anniversary of IMSA

Event News February 21, 2019

Hurley Haywood has been named Grand Marshal of the 2019 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on August 15-18. Considered among the greatest drivers in endurance racing history, Haywood is a major part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), which is the featured marque at this year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.

Haywood has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times, the Rolex 24 at Daytona five times and Twelve Hours of Sebring two times. Haywood earned five major season championships, with virtually all of his success while driving Porsches.

“It is always an honor to be asked to be the Grand Marshal,” said Haywood. “This year, we celebrate IMSA’s 50th anniversary. My involvement with IMSA starting in 1971 makes me one of their most longstanding members. Laguna Seca is one of my favorite tracks – I have raced here since 1971 with many wins. I look forward to being part of an historic weekend.”

Plans for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion are in high gear as the seven-person selection committee has been evaluating entries for the 14 run groups. The entry requests received for the limited 550 grid positions are discerned by the selection committee taking on the formidable task of evaluating each car for its documented race history, authentic livery and mechanical presentation to the day it raced.

The run groups evolved slightly for 2019 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of IMSA. It is the first time a racing series has been so honored and will provide a dynamic atmosphere in the paddock with an unprecedented variety of cars with past and present racing personalities from throughout IMSA’s rich history.

The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is the largest event of the famed Monterey Classic Car Week held each August, which transforms scenic Monterey into the worldwide epicenter for automobile and classic car enthusiasts, as well as for automobile manufacturers looking to engage customers. There will be a week full of events for entire families, such as autograph sessions, book signings, stage interviews, pit tours and so much more. The Hagerty Marketplace will also be brimming with activities to complement the paddock and on-track racing.

 

‘Prep Shop Boys’ Ready Historic Machines for Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Behind the scenes with America's finest

Event News July 25, 2019
Bert Skidmore, Intrepid Motorcar

Each car accepted into the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion has undergone intense scrutinizing for authenticity, historical and mechanical accuracy. But for many, maintaining the car at its optimal race performance takes a team.

There are countless prep shops dotting the countryside, but for the caliber of cars running in Monterey, it takes a special set of skills. We asked principals of some of the leading shops for their take on historic racing and what they do behind the scenes to assist their clients and to ensure a safe and sound race car. Below is insight from the “Prep Shop Boys” who are annual visitors to the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion: Louie Shefchick of J&L Fabricating in Puyallup, Wash.; Bruce Canepa of Canepa Motorsport in Scotts Valley, Calif.; and Bert Skidmore of Intrepid Motorcar in Sparks, Nevada.

You offer a wide range of services, what are the three most important ones to a driver?

Shefchick: 1) Each of our customers know that we have placed their safety first above all that we do. 2) J&L is there to support each customer at whatever level they chose to compete with their race car. 3) We take all the pressure and frustration that many of them may have experienced in getting their car ready for the track, getting their car transported to the track and then keeping their car prepared throughout the race weekend while at the track.

Canepa: Our services include complete mechanical and cosmetic restoration, testing, driver coaching, track support and hospitality. 1) Pre-race mechanical preparation is extremely important for on track reliability and driver safety. Given that track time is limited, it is important that a participant has the opportunity to drive the entirety of the racing sessions. 2) Personalized team support for the driver gives the participant confidence during the event. 3) Hospitality and fun are critical to the future memories.

Skidmore: Properly prepared race cars, dependability and punctuality. No one wants a crew that doesn’t show up!

Do you evaluate your customers to determine their level of capability in handling a particular car?

Shefchick: J&L supports a wide variety of drivers and cars. Each customer drives their car at a level that allows them to enjoy “The Moment” while at the track. While that level can be different for each of them, our team is experienced and prepared to help them find that level. We help them with car set-up, finding a driver coach that fits their level and supporting them once they have found the level at which they are comfortable.

Canepa: We try and guide customers to cars that will provide them the most fun in line with their level of experience and competitive potential. At the end of the day, it’s all about the driver having a great experience. Nothing better than seeing a participant climb from his car with a big smile on his face.

Canepa Motorsports

Once at the track, what are your major roles?

Canepa: The team manager and crew know how to do all the big things, and it is our goal to show up ready – not to have to finish car prep at the track. I basically pay attention to details and spend my time checking on our customers to make sure they are ready and have a clear head before they take the green flag; continually reminding them to spend the first laps warming up tires, getting clear of initial traffic, and trying to relax and stay focused throughout the race.

Shefchick: J&L comes to the track prepared for whatever we may face throughout the race weekend. To do that, we must bring a wide variety of race support equipment. Once at the track we go through a set-up procedure that includes unloading each transporter, setting up our awnings, placing each car in a specific place under the awning so that we may service each one with efficiency and still present an appealing display for the spectator who has come to see their favorite cars. We are responsible for getting each car through a technical inspection and then keeping the car prepared for each session. We have a mechanic dedicated to each customer/car. We also have people that take care of cleaning the cars between sessions and assisting the mechanics.

Skidmore: Managing crew members, helping with setup and tech inspections. But most importantly, keeping the customer happy by paying attention to what their car needs before the next session – if anything.

How is the business changing with the needs of cars and drivers?

Shefchick: We have found that our customer base has remained very solid. The era of cars has definitely shifted to include the ‘80s through the 2010s. I think it is vital that we keep our beginning roots of “Pre-War” and on, but just as important to remember that the demographics are changing and the younger generation wants to see the cars that they have, and are growing up with. It’s the great thing about the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, there is something for everyone to associate with.

Skidmore: It seems like the vintage race car drivers are either retiring or passing away; we need new blood.

Canepa: We are starting to see participants with more interest in newer cars – ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, etc. We also see where new participants are expecting a 5-star experience – team, hospitality, vehicle support, social activities, etc.



What’s your favorite race car?

Canepa: I have been fortunate to experience a number of different cars thanks to my business and our customers. It is really impossible to pick just one. As a racing class and overall group of participants, I have to say the Trans-Am group. As to a specific car, it is the Porsche 935 – especially given I drove this car from 1979-1981 in IMSA and still drive it today in the historic races. I never tire of the sound of the turbocharged engine or the challenges to drive it near its limits.

Skidmore: Would have to say a 1976 Lola T286 (Macumba), followed by the 1978 Lotus 79.

Shefchick: 1966 Ford GT40 Mk2.

 

IMSA To Be Featured Marque At 2019 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 50 Years of IMSA History to be Celebrated at Popular WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Event

Event News August 9, 2018

Sam Posey (No. 25 BMW) leads Peter Gregg (No. 59 Porsche) at the 1975 Monterey Triple Crown. The inaugural Monterey Triple Crown in 1974 kicked off a long and fruitful relationship between the premier sports car racing series in North America and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca that continues today with the annual Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix featuring AMERICA'S TIRE 250.
Officials from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) today announced that IMSA will be the featured marque for the 2019 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion to be held at the world-renowned facility in Monterey, California on the weekend of Aug. 15-18, 2019.

The event will feature 50 years of IMSA history with a variety of race cars and personalities from throughout the series’ rich history, which includes several races on the famed, 2.238-mile WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca circuit.

“To be the featured marque of the 2019 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion will be one of the many highlights of our 50th anniversary next year,” IMSA President Scott Atherton said. “IMSA’s long history at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has spanned over five decades and we are flattered to be among the premier brands that have shared this honor over the years. I can assure you the whole of IMSA – teams, drivers, sponsors and staff are looking forward to celebrating our 50th anniversary with an unprecedented gathering next year of cars and stars from IMSA’s past and present.”

The annual gathering features 550 historic and period-correct race cars from every IMSA era. The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is akin to a museum revving to life by celebrating motorsport history for four full racing days for fans’ enjoyment.

“Celebrating the achievements and history of IMSA on the occasion of its 50th anniversary is fitting for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion,” commented Timothy McGrane, CEO of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. “IMSA and our facility have long been intertwined and we look forward to working with the team to create a dynamic and entertaining weekend experience for all to enjoy.”

Supporting the on-track racing is a bustling paddock that is open to everyone, Q&A sessions with IMSA legends, special exhibition laps and a full marketplace of vendors exhibiting a wide range of automobilia and products. For motoring enthusiasts, there is no better place to be in the world than at the Monterey Classic Car Week.

The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion was recently recognized by the FIA, which awarded the FIA Founding Members’ Club Heritage Cup to the event held annually at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. It is the first time such an honor has been awarded to an organization in the United States.

 

Reliving the Rotary Wail

Mazda will celebrate its racing success past and present at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion

In 1979, Yojiro Terada, Yoshimi Katayama and Takashi Yorino drove an RX-7 to fifth overall and first in GTU in the 24 Hours of Daytona, beginning a long string of successes for the RX-7 in headline IMSA competition, including five straight GTU titles, a GTO championship and 10 straight class victories at Daytona. That Mazda success continues today with the Mazda RT24-P Daytona Prototype international program run by Mazda Team Joest.

But for this weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, it’s the past that will be celebrated at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion, and especially the 50-year history of the International Motor Sports Association, which Mazda has been a part of for 49 years.

“I fell in love with the Mazda brand in ’79 when the first RX-7s came to Daytona and won,” says John Doonan, Director, Mazda Motorsports. “We went to IMSA races, and it was right at that time in the mid-’80s when the Nissan GTP program got kicked off, Bob Tullius and Group 44 were showcasing Jaguar, and there was the Corvette with Doc Bundy and Sarel Van Der Merwe – you started to see these factory teams. Porsche, of course, was pretty much customer racing, although a couple of those were considered factory teams. Mazda, though, didn’t really have a factory effort until the early ’90s.”

First came the privateers racing RX-2s, RX-3s, and eventually RX-7s. The RX-7 propelled drivers to eight GT championships in the ’80s and ’90s. One of those was the Malibu Grand Prix-sponsored Mazda RX-7 driven by Tommy Kendall, a car Doonan says he remembers watching at Road America and Mid-Ohio. Kendall has been working with good friend and Corvette Racing crew chief Dan Binks to restore the car, which is the most-winning RX-7 in IMSA history. It’s not in concours condition, but it’s in the same condition as when Kendall last raced it, and Kendall will be driving it at the Motorsports Reunion.

Another championship RX-7, one that Mazda has been bringing to the reunion for several years, will also be on track: the four-rotor, second-generation GTO RX-7 that Pete Halsmer took to the title in 1991. Joel Miller will be driving that car, in addition to another race car that grew out of that program and the 787B Group C and Le Mans program, the RX-792P. The RX-792P was Mazda’s first IMSA-specific prototype, and while the program ended after only one season, it in many ways it set the stage for Mazda’s current winning prototype program.

“The chief mechanics and team manger for the weekend will be myself and [Mazda North American Operations Vice President] Robert Davis,” enthuses Doonan. “Robert is a key part of our executive team, and in his spare time, he’s always liked working on these cars. We’re trying to celebrate what has been an amazing journey for us in IMSA and celebrate some key milestones. We have each of the decades represented and it should be a real blast.”

Doonan goes down the roll of those who contributed to Mazda’s early IMSA success, such as Jim Downing, Roger Mandeville, Amos Johnson and Kendall, who went on to win several Trans Am titles and race GTP cars in IMSA. Downing raced and won in IMSA Lights in his Mazda-powered Kudzus. It illustrates, Doonan says, the launching platform Mazda has been for a surprising number of successful racers, as it continues to do today.

“Guys like Dave Lemon, Dave Jolly and Joe Varde, who is still a race strategist in IMSA and an engineer, raced Mazdas. Bill Auberlen and Scott Pruett; their first IMSA races were in Mazdas. And there’s Joey Hand, John Edwards, who’s now driving the Rahal BMW, and Connor de Phillipi, who is also in a Rahal car. I think more than the casual observer knows, Mazda, albeit a small-market-share player in the auto industry, has played a key role in at least being a springboard for a lot of drivers’ careers.

“You start looking at a cross section of the grid, and so many of these drivers got their start with Mazda. We’ve been really proud to provide those kinds of platforms and be a springboard for these racing careers.”

The RX-792P will run in a special class for IMSA prototypes at this weekend’s Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The GTO and GTU RX-7s will run in an all-GTO/GTU class. In addition, Mazda will have several historic IMSA cars along with the current RT24-P and a collection of road cars on display at the event.

 

IMSA.tv will be live streaming this weekend’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

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For those unable to make it to this year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, IMSA (the featured marque of this year’s event), will offer 8 hours of free coverage Saturday and Sunday via their IMSA.tv streaming service.

Photo: Nick Lish (Vintage Motorsport)

Coverage will begin at 8 a.m. Pacific Time on Saturday, Aug. 17 and 8:45 a.m. PT on Sunday, Aug. 18. It will be hosted by Rick Debruhl (ABC, ESPN) with color by Dick Sisich, who has been announcing at WRLS since 1962.

 

Legends of IMSA entertain fans at Rolex Reunion

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By: IMSA Wire Service | 18 hours ago


Saturday at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is historically the biggest day of the week at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. This Saturday easily lived up to that history as the IMSA Pavilion was the place to be throughout the day as some of the greatest drivers in the series history stopped by to tell stories and meet their fans.

The day of presentations in the IMSA Pavilion started with a visit from IMSA’s all-time victory leader Scott Pruett entertaining the many fans with stories from his long-time career in the championship.

“When I said ‘Hi to my family at home’ I was always speaking to my family,” he said. “But so many fans also thought I was talking to them because they were following my career and were a fan of what we were doing. It is those types of interactions that makes IMSA the special place that it is.”

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Longtime BMW driver Brian Redman recounted some memories of the 1976 Rolex 24 At Daytona and how he, not the mechanics, worked on the car when it was stopped on the track.

“Back then the mechanics weren’t allowed out to work on the cars,” he said. “Our car stopped heading out of the pits and I pushed it back to our pit and worked on it for 10-15 minutes and got it going again. I got to the horseshoe and it stopped again. I ended up on the inside, so I ran across to the pits and got the necessary tools. A mechanic came with me back to the car and told me what to do and we got it going again.

“I got the car up on the banking and it stopped again!” he added. “Well, this time I started to yell to the spectators to help get me some jumper cables. When I tried to start the car, there was no sound as the cables were faulty. By the time we got going we had lost at least 30 minutes. But then the race officials scored the race back an hour and we were back in the lead!”


Acura was represented by current Team Penske driver Ricky Taylor and former champion Parker Johnstone.

“I am happy where I am now,” Taylor said of his switch from his father’s team to Penske. “As a driver you never know when you are going to win your first race or your next race. When I had the opportunity to go to Team Penske, it was a tough decision but in the same breath it was good time to make the switch after achieving all of our goals with my dad (Wayne) and brother (Jordan). It was an exciting time for IMSA with a new entry in Acura Team Penske. Acura has made a beautiful car that is also very fast.

“All I have really driven are sports cars. My dad had been in it for 35 years so it was easy to follow that. It has been in my blood since the day I was born. I am excited where IMSA is currently. It is at a peak with all the manufacturers involved and to be a part of a great organization and to have the best equipment is special.”

“One of the things that is different in the cars are the changes like the steering wheel,” Johnstone said after he got spend some time with Ricky earlier this weekend. “When Ricky got into my car he asked where the buttons are. I went from nothing on the wheel to all the things that are there now and I helped develop that technology. It was great to have Ricky walk me through the Penske steering wheel. There is actually a quiz that they give to drivers about all of the buttons. I can’t believe that!

Nine-time Le Mans and six-time Sebring winner Tom Kristensen spoke about what it was like to come to the United States to race.

“When I came here to run in the American Le Mans Series we joined with American teams and it was a fantastic time,” he said. “That was a special time and the winning was part of that journey and that is close to my heart. Racing in the United States has been a wonderful journey and has been really fantastic.

“You see how loyal people come to the Audi brand and the people and mechanics working on these cars,” he added. “When they decided to make a sports car you can tell the legacy that they put into it. The history that goes into the Audi race cars is what makes them special.”

Johnny O’Connell is one of the most successful drivers in IMSA history. He enjoyed a long career and was an easy choice to the “50 Great Drivers” list last year.

“In North America I would have to go with Sebring as my favorite track,” he said. “For some reason or another I raced there 20 times, got to the podium 12 and won it eight times. There aren’t many guys that have something over Tom Kristensen. But I know he has anger because he has six wins there. You like your records to last and I think that one has a chance.”

“My first time at Daytona was in 1989 as a spectator and I slept in my car,” he remembered about his first IMSA experience. “That was the year they had to red-flag the race due to fog. What I remember it was early in the morning and the cars were stunning. I was just a young person and I said to myself ‘There is Hurley Haywood!’ or ‘That guy drives in F1,’ and that is what makes it special to me is that kind of memory.”

“This is such a great series. The history of it. The number of great drivers and to be amongst those is amazing and I am honored to be one of those 50 Great Drivers.”

The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion moves to its final day Sunday. Eight hours of live streaming on IMSA.tv begins at 11:45 a.m. ET.


Monterey Motorsports Reunion, IMSA, Vintage Motorsport / Historic