But can anybody stop Porsche from winning the
Championship
This year’s 27th running of the Motul Petit Le
Mans at Road Atlanta Saturday, October 12th will once again see the crowning of
this year’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s four categories title
winners, i.e.; GTP, LMP2, GTD Pro and GTD.
As it appears to essentially be a two Horse
title fight between the two Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 Panzerwagens,
Ja Volt!
As the No. 7 leads the points standings with
2,630 vs. it’s Seester’ No. 6 with 2,616 points, Crikeys!
As Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr in the #7 have
scored a total of six podiums, including two wins at Daytona and Watkins Glen,
both endurance rounds. While the #6 duo of Mathieu Jaminet and Nick Tandy have
claimed five podiums, including wins at Laguna Seca and Road America.
The #01 Cadillac of Chip Ganassi Racing with
Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande lies third overall with 2,466
points. Having won at Long Beach and amassed four podiums to date.
Yet that was before learning that the third
place No. 6 Penske and fourth place No. 40 WTR Andretti Acura had been
penalized for being out of compliance following the IMSA GTP Impound after the
Battle on The Bricks! With the #6 Porsche 963 falling afoul of having an unapproved
wiring harness and the #40 Acura having unapproved brake ducting.
Both failing to meet their chassis Homologation
requirements, and dropping to the rear of the field in tenth & eleventh
respectively.
Thus the No. 7 Penske now has a “robust” 124
points lead over the No. 6. (2,650 vs. 2,526) and the #01 trailing the two
Porsches with 2,486 points. Meaning it would be sort of “Funny” if Ganassi
could steal the championship in it’s final race for Cadillac…
If I’ve read the points system correctly,
there’s a maximum of 385 points on offer at Petit Le Mans. With Pole position
paying 35-points and a win equals 350 points. But I’m not gonna even try doing
all of the permeations necessary!
The LMP2 category is led by Nick Boulle and Tom
Dillmann, driving for Inter Europol by PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports. With the No.
52 Oreca Having won once and claimed three podiums with 1,919 points. Followed
closely by Gar Robinson and Felipe Fraga in the No. 74 Riley with 1,821 points.
Whilst Ryan “Razzle Dazzle” Dalziel sits alone in third place aboard the #18
ERA Motorsport entry, with 1,796 points.
GTD Pro sees Laurin Heinrich atop the
standings, behind the keyboard of the No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R with
2,887 points. Followed by Ross Gunn in the #23 Heart of Racing Team’s Aston
Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo with 2,788 points. With Heinrich having three W’s
vs. Gunn’s solitary win.
While you can never count out the championship
winning duo of Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow aboard the #1 Paul Miller Racing
BMW M4 GT3 lurking in third overall with 2,668 points. And the defending GTD
Pro champion Vasser Sullivan No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 duo of Jack Hawksworth and
Ben Barnicoat are fourth with 2,659 points.
As Heart of Racing will once again enter two
Vantages in the GTD Pro class with the No. 23 and No. 027 to attempt bolstering
Gunn’s outside chance of winning the title. As Roman de Angelis joins Ross Gunn
and Andre Riberas in the #23. Whilst Mario Farnbacher, Zacharie Robichon and Marco
Sorensen man the #027.
And DragonSpeed which made it’s GT debut at
Indianapolis, now moves up to GTD Pro with it’s Ferrari 296 GT3 entry…
The GT Daytona (GTD) class is headed by Philip
Ellis and Russell Ward driving the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.
Having claimed four wins and a total of six podiums, with a worst finish of
seventh! Seeing the duo amass 3,006 points. And holding a healthy advantage of 222
“markers” over the second place challengers Robby Foley and Patrick Galligher
of Turner Motorsports. As the No. 96 BMW M4 GT3 pairing trails with 2,784
points.
Being the season finale’s ten hours endurance
race, everybody will be running a minimum three driver lineup. Meaning that
Ganassi will see Soctt Dixon as it’s third driver. With Romain Grosjean and
company in the Lamborghini SP63, which is just contesting the Michelin
Endurance Cup rounds this season. Which will also be decided at Road Atlanta.
No idea if Kyle Kirkwood or Hunter McElrea will
be on hand? Or any other IndyCar drivers?
Have read conflicting reports over the four
categories breakdown. But believe it’s 11 GTP’s, 10 LMP2, 13 GTD Pro and 20 GT
Daytona entries, if I’ve done my math correctly?
According to Racer.com, the “Maxed-out” field
of 54 entries will take the green flag at 12:10PM, Arse-sumedly being Eastern time. Meaning the race will end at
10:10PM EST, or during dinner here on the west coast…
Also Arse-suming the race will be available on
it’s typical Cabbage Patch menagerie ‘O media platforms, i.e.; Peacock, USA
Network and Big NBC? Plus my personal favourite, IMSA Radio, which is available
All ten hours!
Since According to my Zap-2-It TV guide, the first three hours airs upon Big NBC; from 9AM-Noon Pacific. Then disappears to Peacock for three hours, Frick! Before the final fours hours of the race and beyond air upon USA Network; from 3-7:30PM Pacific.
But as Always, Check your local listings!