Weekend Recap: Tech Infraction Strips Porsche of Watkins Glen Win & More
Catch up on busy weekend of IMSA-sanctioned racing at Watkins Glen International...
Penske Porsche Loses Watkins Glen Win in Tech Infraction
The No. 6 Penske Porsche 963 has lost its victory in Sunday’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen due to a technical infraction, provisionally handing the win to BMW M Team RLL’s Connor De Phillippi and Nick Yelloly.
Confirmed by IMSA on Sunday evening, the Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet-driven Porsche was found with a skid block measuring less than the permitted minimum thickness during post-race technical inspection.
As a result, the car has been moved to the rear of the GTP class finishing order, promoting the No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8 to top overall honors in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup round.
Porsche Penske, meanwhile, plans to protest the penalty.
It provisionally marks the first prototype win for BMW in more than 23 years, with its last overall triumph in IMSA competition having come in the 2000 American Le Mans Series race at Silverstone with the BMW V12 LMR.
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Vasser Sullivan, Lexus Double Up With GTD Pro, GTD Wins
James ‘Sulli’ Sullivan characterized Sunday’s double victory as a “picture perfect” day for Vasser Sullivan and Lexus in becoming only the second team in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship history to claim GTD Pro and GTD class victories in the same race.
The team’s No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 of Aaron Telitz, Frankie Montecalvo and Parker Thompson led home a 1-2 finish in the production-based ranks for the organization, winning the GTD class ahead of the Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat-driven No. 14 Lexus that picked up top class honors in GTD Pro.
It came on a day that saw top-level executives from Lexus in attendance to witness the history-making moment for the team.
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Foley Leads Turner BMW Sweep in Michelin Pilot Challenge
Robby Foley led home a 1-2 sweep for Turner Motorsport in Saturday’s incident-filled Sahlen’s 120 at The Glen.
Foley, in the No. 96 BMW M4 GT4, took a 0.680-second win over the sister No. 95 entry of Cameron Lawrence and Robert Megennis following a series of late-race restarts, including a final four-minute shootout to the checkered flag.
It marked Foley and co-driver Vin Barletta’s second IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge victory of the season after taking top honors at Sebring International Raceway in March.
The No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Christian Szymczak dropped to fifth following the final restart, promoting the No. 64 Team TGM Aston Martin Vantage GT4 of Owen Trinkler and Ted Giovanis to third overall and in the GS class.
However the third and fourth-place finishing Astons were both dropped to the rear of the GS finishing order after flunking post-race technical inspection.
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Marcelli, Formal Maintain Unbeaten Start in Lamborghini Super Trofeo
Kyle Marcelli and Danny Formal won the second Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America race at Watkins Glen as the Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport duo maintained their unbeaten start to the season.
Marcelli successfully defended from Ryan Norman’s second-stint challenge to win Saturday’s 50-minute race and chalk up a fourth consecutive victory for the No. 1 Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2.
Formal started from pole position after the grid for Race 2 was determined by the results of the second practice session, due to an interruption in qualifying.
The Costa Rican driver established a four-second lead over Pro-Am leader Alexandre Premat before switching out for Marcelli, who continued at the head of the field.
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Redemption for Martin in Porsche Carrera Cup Race 2
Will Martin claimed victory in the second Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America race of the weekend at Watkins Glen International, which ended under yellow.
The JDX Racing driver led flag-to-flag in Saturday’s 40-minute contest, finishing ahead of the No. 53 Kellymoss Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car of Riley Dickinson, in a race that concluded behind the safety car due to cleanup from an accident by Chris Bellomo.
In a near carbon copy move from the start of Race 1, Dickinson ran wide in the Turn 1 run-off after attempting to overtake the Englishman, although slotted into second for the duration of the race, which saw Martin hold a consistent two-second advantage until the race’s neutralization.
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