Porsche Dominates Podium at WeatherTech SportsCar Championship: Track Time Tuesday
Race marks the first victory for the Porsche 911 RSR at daunting Laguna Seca Raceway.
With racing season soon coming to a close, Porsche is going out on a high note. After a rocky start to what was undoubtedly one of the strangest years ever, Porsche has found its place. And apparently, that place is dominating the podium.
The Porsche GT Team scored its second straight win in the North American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Race car number 912 reached the finish line first on the Laguna Seca Raceway, with identical sister car number 911 finished in third place in the GTLM category.
It was an important win for Porsche and the 911 RSR, hot on the heels of their recent wins in the GTLM category at Petit Le Mans Road Atlanta and 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. And while the Porsche 911 RSR is an incredibly powerful car, the team faced a number of challenges. Laguna Seca is no easy track.
“For years, we have had some unfinished business at the Laguna Seca racetrack which we’d now like to settle,” Pascal Zurlinden, Director Factory Motorsport, said. “Our latest-generation Porsche 911 RSR should suit the special characteristics of this circuit better than its predecessors.”
The 2.238 mile track is full of twists and turns and ups and downs. It also features 11 turns, and the “Corkscrew,” a tight, combination of curves that winding down from the hillcrest.
Drivers also had to contend with the elements. With air temperatures of around 86 degrees and asphalt temperatures of almost 122 degrees on the sand-covered course in the dunes; the team had to be especially aware of tire management.
But the Porsche GT team had a plan. During the morning qualifying session, the Porsche GT Team put the number 912 car on the second grid spot, while number 911 turned only two laps in the qualifying session to run-in a set of tires for the race. While it did cost them a better starting position; the strategy was that the no. 912 would make only two pit stops, with no. 911 coming for a service stop three times. It was a risky strategy, but it paid off.
“We were determined to win today because Laguna Seca was a blank spot on the map,” said Steffen Höllwarth, Head of Operations IMSA Championship. “We’ve now managed to tick that off. We made a deliberate decision to use different strategies so that we could be prepared for all eventualities given the high temperatures. This worked perfectly with our number 912 car….”
“That was a real team effort – everyone played their part perfectly – particularly our pit crew,” said Laurens Vanthoor, no. 912 driver. “Since we had to make three pit stops, the refueling times were shorter than in a normal race. That meant that our lads had to complete the wheel changes flawlessly in record time. It worked very well, as you saw at the first pit stop when I was able to take the lead. This is the first win of the season for us in the 912 car. It’s the second in a row for Porsche. We’re finally achieving the results we deserve with the new 911 RSR.”
Porsche made a huge turnaround from the beginning of the season. Now, they are kicking it in high gear, and the results are beautiful. And if you want to know what it feels like behind the wheel of a monster Porsche, check out all the onboard action.
Photos: Porsche
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