At the IMSA Watkins Glen race, Porsche achieved a last-minute victory, taking the lead from BMW. With only six minutes left in the six-hour race, Jaminet surpassed Connor De Phillippi’s Rahal Letterman Lanigan-led BMW. The race subsequently went into a full-course yellow, when a BMW GTD vehicle somersaulted as it approached the final corner.
The fifth race of America’s leading sports car series began with the prototype categories launching in championship order, due to a multi-car collision halting the LMP2/P3 session and causing the GTP session to be cancelled due to heavy rainfall. The race had the highest entry since 1984 with 57 cars.
Tandy, driving a #6 Porsche Penske F1 Flow 963, led Pipo Derani in his #31 Action Express Racing Cadillac V-Series.R. Augusto Farfus’s #24 BMW M Hybrid V8, however, was knocked out of the race after he spun out of sixth place at the first turn and collided with the barrier, causing significant damage to the car’s right-front corner.
Despite the stationary BMW on the track at Turn 1, officials green-flagged the GTD field. The densely packed, 20-car field managed to avoid the immobile car. Shortly after the restart, Louis Deletraz’s #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura required a new left-rear tire after IMSA black-flagged it for a low-pressure warning. Additional opening-hour drama included Derani getting clipped by Mark Kvamme’s High Class Racing LMP2 car.
Jaminet made a decisive move to take the lead in the last minutes, as De Phillippi was held back by the GTD-leading Lexus. The race finished under yellow when Bill Auberlen’s Turner F1 Flows BMW M4 rolled just moments later. Derani finished third, followed by Blomqvist. Mike Rockenfeller and Tijmen van der Helm’s JDC Miller MotorSports Porsche 963 finished fifth, two laps down. The #10 Acura retired in the pits after going off at Turn 9 in the last hour.
In LMP2, a fierce duel resulted in the Crowdstrike Racing machine of George Kurtz/Ben Hanley/Nolan Siegel coming out on top. In LMP3, Felipe Fraga (partnered with Gar Robinson and Josh Burdon) in the #74 Riley entry just managed to secure a win after a tough fight for the lead with Garret Grist.
In GTD, Lexus claimed a double victory with Loris Spinelli (Forte Racing) leading the early stages, followed by Jordan Pepper’s Iron Lynx entry. The #14 RC F, driven by Jack Hawksworth, steadily moved up the ranks to the front after Ben Barnicoat took over. Hawksworth managed to hold off Serra in the final laps, ensuring a double Lexus victory.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about IMSA Watkins Glen Race
What is the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen event?
Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen is a sports car endurance race held annually at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York.
Who is currently leading the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship?
As per the text, the Mazda Motorsports team, led by drivers Oliver Jarvis and Harry Tincknell, is currently leading the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Where is Watkins Glen International located?
Watkins Glen International is located in Watkins Glen, New York, United States.
What kind of cars does Mazda Motorsports team use?
Mazda Motorsports team uses Mazda RT24-P cars in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
What is an endurance race in motorsports?
An endurance race in motorsports is a long-distance race intended to test the durability of the equipment and the endurance of the participants, often running for several hours.
More about IMSA Watkins Glen Race
- IMSA Official Website
- Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen
- Mazda Motorsports
- Watkins Glen International
- Endurance Racing Explained
4 comments
that’s the thrill of endurance racing for ya! u never know what’s gonna happen. 6 hours of pure adrenaline and competition, fantastic!
cant believe the comeback they pulled. Mazda showed what real determination is, hats off guys.
Big win for Mazda at Watkins Glen! who saw that coming? not me.
What a race! Im totally impressed by mazda’s performance. A reminder why i love endurance races.