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2021/06/24 | Stuttgart | Race reports | Press Release

Preview, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Round 5, Watkins Glen/USA

Porsche customer teams set high goals for the storied race

Stuttgart. Porsche’s customer teams head to the six-hour race of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship at Watkins Glen with high expectations. In the GTLM division, WeatherTech Racing fields one ca. 515 PS Porsche 911 RSR. In the GTD category for racing vehicles complying with FIA GT3 regulations, the customer teams Wright Motorsports, Hardpoint EBM and Pfaff Motorsports each field a 911 GT3 R. Like the classics at Daytona, Sebring and Road Atlanta, round five of the North American sports car series counts towards the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC). Porsche currently leads the manufacturers’ classification in the GTD class of this fiercely competitive endurance championship.

The race
The racetrack with the name Watkins Glen International, often called “The Glen”, has a long and illustrious history. The first race was held in 1948 in the dense forest around Seneca Lake after a motorsport-mad law student won the support of the local Chamber of Commerce. The result was a 10.6-kilometre circuit that has been extensively modified, shortened and modernised in recent decades. The current circuit length is 5.472 kilometres. From 1961 to 1980, Watkins Glen hosted Formula One, with the first endurance event for sports cars contested in 1968. Last year, the event was cancelled due to strict quarantine restrictions at that time in the US state of New York.

“The break since the last race was very long because our vehicle class – including WeatherTech Racing’s Porsche 911 RSR – didn’t compete at Mid-Ohio,” explains Steffen Höllwarth, Head of Operations GTLM. “Two races will be held at Watkins Glen within eight days: first the classic over six hours, then a week later, the race over two hours 40 minutes. There are a lot of points to be won. We’ve prepared for the upcoming challenge during two days of testing and we’re feeling well positioned. After our victory at Sebring in March, we’re heading to Watkins Glen feeling very confident.”

“Our perfected GT3 car has clearly underlined its potential with the one-two result at Sebring. We’re very well prepared for the major endurance races in the USA,” reports Sebastian Golz, Project Manager Porsche 911 GT3 R. “Our teams have worked systematically in preparing for round three of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup. With our customer teams, we’d like to score more successes, preferably as early as next week.”

The Porsche drivers and customer teams
The works drivers Mathieu Jaminet from France and Matt Campbell from Australia team up with American amateur driver Cooper MacNeil in the cockpit of WeatherTech Racing’s Porsche 911 RSR. At the wheel of their No. 79 car, the trio scored a sensational win at the Sebring 12-hour race against tough opposition from manufacturer teams. Thanks to this impressive achievement, the team travels to the race in Watkins Glen ranking second in the overall standings.

In the GTD class, the American factory pilot Patrick Long (USA) joins forces with his compatriot Trent Hindmann and Belgium’s Jan Heylen in the No. 16 cockpit. The 911 GT3 R fielded by Wright Motorsports ranks third in the championship with 874 points. Pfaff Motorsports lies fourth just two points behind. Works driver Laurens Vanthoor from Belgium, the Porsche development driver Lars Kern from Germany and Canadian Zacharie Robichon share driving duties in the No. 9 car decked out in a lumberjack livery. The three won their class at the Sebring classic in March. The two Americans Rob Ferriol and Andrew Davis as well as Katherine Legge from Great Britain crew the No. 88 Porsche 911 GT3 R run by Hardpoint EBM.

Live streaming of the race
The six-hour race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in Watkins Glen gets underway on Sunday, 27 June, at 10:40 am local time (4:40 pm CEST). The entire race can be viewed live outside the USA and Canada on www.imsa.com. Live timing is available at scoring.imsa.com.

The schedule (local time, CEST -6 hours)
Friday, 25 June
4:20 – 5:20 pm: Free practice 1

Saturday, 26 June
8:00 – 9:50 am: Free practice 2
11:50 am – 12:30 pm: Qualifying GT

Sunday, 27 June
8:00 – 8:20 am: Warmup
10:40 am – 4:40 pm: Race

Drivers’ comments before the race
Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche 911 RSR #79): “My teammate Matt and I are particularly excited because we’ve never driven at Watkins Glen. A lot of drivers say great things about the circuit and the setting. So I can’t wait to experience it all. We have our great Sebring success as motivation and that alone makes us very optimistic. We’d be keen to compete with the frontrunners in the fight against rival manufacturers. A podium spot would be great, the one at the very top would be perfect.”

Laurens Vanthoor (Porsche 911 GT3 R #9): “Watkins Glen is one of my all-time favourite events – not just because of the circuit but also because of the stunning surroundings. At our last race in Mid-Ohio, we struggled a bit and only achieved sixth place in the fierce GTD-class competition. The team has used the break since then to undertake a major test. We’re excellently prepared for the six-hour race and our main goal is to win the championship. That means we have to earn a lot of points at the next race.”

Jan Heylen (Porsche 911 GT3 R #16): “Porsche leads the overall standings in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup and our team is in second place. Our goal at the upcoming race in Watkins Glen is to earn maximum points. Wright Motorsports has tested intensively to prepare for the event. That was important because we’re facing different conditions at the Watkins Glen six-hour race compared to Daytona and Sebring. It’ll be very warm during the race weekend. We have to be ready for this. I’m sure that the team, drivers and car will be in top form.”

Katherine Legge (Porsche 911 GT3 R #88): “I’m very much looking forward to ‘The Glen’, as the event is often called. For me personally, it’s one of the most beautiful circuits in the world – of course, that’s probably because I’ve won there before. The main goal at Watkins Glen is to climb to the top step of the podium again. It’ll be hard work, but I think we’re picking up a lot of momentum as a team.”


Further information, film and photo material in the Porsche Newsroom: newsroom.porsche.com.
The Twitter channel @PorscheRaces provides live updates from Porsche Motorsport with the latest information and photos from racetracks around the world.

Holger Eckhardt

Communications, Sustainability and Politics

Spokesperson Motorsports LMDh, GT, Customer Racing

+49 (0) 170 / 911 4982

Testo

inglese (Porsche AG)

M21_2136

2021/06/24

    • Motorsport
    • Stagione 2021
    • IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
    • Comunicati Stampa
    • USA \ Watkins Glen
    • Automobili da corsa
    • 911 GT3 R
    • 911 RSR (2019)

Preview, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Round 5, Watkins Glen/USA: Porsche customer teams set high goals for the storied race

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2021/06/24
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    • Automobili da corsa
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2021/06/24
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    • 911 RSR (2019)
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