As can Porsche Add to it’s Wins total at Le Mans?
This is just intended to hopefully be a
somewhat “brief” rundown on some of the various racing drivers and teams with
IndyCar connections. Beginning with the Mack Daddy’ Hypercar entries, All being
under the IMSA GTP LMDH guise, i.e.; Le Mans Daytona Hybrid specifications.
CADILLAC (3)
Cadillac
V-Series.R
Engine: 5.5-litre normally aspirated V-8 (Hybrid)
TEAMS
Nos. 2-3 Chip Ganassi Racing
#311 Action Express Racing
For some, the big news for Ganassi’s No. 2 FIA
World Endurance Championship (WEC) entry is the inclusion of reigning IndyCar
Champion Alex Palou, who I believe is making His Le Mans debut. As the Spaniard
will join regular drivers Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn behind the keyboard.
Ganassi will bring their No. 3 IMSA GTP
WeatherTech SportsCar Championship entry to Circuit de la Sarthe with season
drivers Sebastien Bourdais, Render van der Zande joined by IndyCar driver Scott
Dixon.
The #311 Action Express Racing (AXR) Caddy’ features
regular season drivers Pipo Derani and Jack Aitken joined by Aston Martin F1
reserve driver Felipe Drugovich.
LAMBORGHINI (2)
Lamborghini
SC63
Engine: 3.8-litre twin turbo V-8 (Hybrid)
TEAM
Nos. 19 & 63 Iron Lynx
It’s always interesting learning about some
obscure bit ‘O history when trying to learn about a new racecar. As reportedly
the Lamborghini SC63, so named in honour of the company’s Squadra Corse racing
department, along with celebrating it’s 60th Anniversary. Claims it’s
predecessor to be the totally unknown Lamborghini Countach QVX, Huh? A Group C
racer utilizing a Spice chassis Wayback in 1986…
The SC63 is the first IMSA GTP chassis to be
produced by Ligier, with the other LMP2 based chassis racecars being built by
Dallara, Multimatic and Oreca.
Unlike it’s Cadillac, Porsche and BMW LMDH Brethren.
Lamborghini has designed a brand new 3.8-litre 32 valve DOHC twin turbocharged
engine for the SC63. Reportedly utilizing a “cold” turbo layout, meaning the
turbochargers sit outside of the engine itself. Mated to a seven speed
sequential gearbox and the spec Williams Advanced Engineering Bosch Hybrid
power unit.
Iron Lynx will run a single SC63 entry apiece
in WEC and IMSA Competizione, albeit running two cars at Circuit de la Sarthe,
and potentially at the forthcoming Circuit Of The Americas (COTA) WEC round.
With the SC63 having made it’s competition debut at the Qatar 1,812km season
opener…
The No. 19 IMSA GTP entry features Matteo
Cairoli, Andrea Caldarelli and Juncos Hollinger Racing IndyCar driver Romain
Grosjean at its controls.
Whilst the appropriately numbered #63 WEC entry
sees Mirko Bortolotti, Edoardo Mortara and former Red Bull and Scuderia Toro
Rosso Formula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat behind its keyboard.
PORSCHE (3)
Porsche
963
Engine: 4.6-litre twin turbo V-8 (Hybrid)
TEAM
Nos. 4-5-6 Porsche Penske Motorsport
Porsche has started out strong this year, first
with Penske winning the Rolex 24 in January. Followed by it’s No. 6 WEC entry
scoring the marque’s debutante Hypercar victory! When the Porsche 963
unexpectedly swept the inaugural Qatar 1,812km season opening race. With Hertz
Team Jota’s No. 12 entry with Callum Ilott at the wheel being the
Weinerschnitzel in a Penske sandwich! Leading the Pole sitting No. 5 entry
across the stripe by a scant one second!
And the No. 6 entry driven by Kevin Estre,
Andre Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor finished runner-up at Imola, just 7.8
seconds adrift of the winning No. 7 Toyota.
While Matt Campbell, who put the No. 5 Porsche
963 on Pole at Qatar, competes with Michael Christensen and Frederic Makowiecki,
who also finished third at Imola.
Meanwhile, there was speculation that after
Quadruple Weldmeister, nee four-times Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel
had tested a Porsche 963, that the German would become one of Penske’s third
No. 4 entry’s drivers. Yet instead, Mathieu Jaminet, Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy
will be it’s Pilotes this June, in the third IMSA GTP entry.
And Yes, I’m aware
Thars’ a total of six Porsche 963 Panzerwagens competing in this year’s race.
But this riveting No fenders yarn is simply about teams or drivers with
Stateside IndyCar connections, Ja Volt!
Especially since Hertz Team Jota with Callum
Ilott at the wheel scored the first privateer victory in the Six Hours of Spa
ahead of the No. 6 Penske Porsche 963! As the No. 6 leads the points standings
heading into Le Mans…
Whilst Nick Tandy pounced on Jack “Achey
Breaky” Aitken at Laguna Seca towards race’s end, judging the right way past
traffic and taking the win over an obviously disappointed Aitken! Giving
Porsche it’s 600th win in IMSA competition.
Arse-suming the race this weekend, i.e.; June 15-16 will be aired on Motor Trend TV Stateside. Or Y’all can tune-in via RS2 or whatever Radio Le Mans frequency. Where I’ll be listening to copious amounts of John Hindhaugh and Company…