For the second weekend in a row, Porsche’s IMSA teams did all the right work and had a decently quick car, but couldn’t convert that into a proper race-winning effort. After setting the pole lap in qualifying with a new lap record for GTLM cars, and following that up with a long time in the class leading position, Patrick Pilet and Nick Tandy narrowly missed out on a podium position, coming home in fourth. Earl Bamber and Laurens Vanthoor, paired in the sister Porsche, at many points in the race orchestrated a Porsche 1-2. Thanks to many yellow flag situations and a lot of bad luck with pit strategy, they could finish no better than sixth.
Tandy started the race from pole position, and Vanthoor moved up from his starting point of fourth to third in short order. Across the first hour of the race, the safety car was called out to pace the field three times. By the end of the two hours and 45 minute event, that safety car would be called out three additional times. Porsche teams used the first safety car to perfect strategic advantage and regained the lead of the GTLM class in short order. It was during both teams’ second pit stop, the driver change stop, that trouble ensued. Nearly every team dove for pit lane on the same lap, causing an extreme pit lane pile up, causing both Porsche drivers to lose positions. Even worse, the #912 car suffered issues with their starter slowing them down as the Porsche wouldn’t restart following the stop. The #911 returned in fourth with Patrick Pilet at the wheel, and the #912 rejoined in 8th with Earl Bamber driving. Just a few laps later, Bamber was coming back to the pits with a punctured tire, costing him even more spots.
Pilet had fought his way back into second, but was blocked hard while attempting to overtake a lapped car. With huge momentum lost, two competitors behind took their opportunity and dropped Pilet down to fourth just a few laps from the finish.
Comments on the race
Steffen Höllwarth, Porsche Programme Manager IMSA SportsCar Championship:
“This result is obviously very disappointing. We had the fastest car in the field and initially had control of the race. Our rivals took a high risk strategy in the pits and didn’t fully refuel their vehicles so that they could make up positions. On top of that, a puncture threw our #912 car back. We knew that under normal circumstances we would have had the shortest pit time at the last stop. Unfortunately our rivals were then luckier than us during the subsequent safety car phases, so that our strategy today didn’t work for us.”
Patrick Pilet (Porsche 911 RSR #911):
“I’m a bit disappointed because things were looking good for us at the beginning of the race. Nick even managed to eke out an advantage. The car was very fast and it felt really good. Unfortunately our plan didn’t pan out today. We now have to analyse exactly what happened and learn from it. Next up is Lime Rock, a racetrack that very much suits our 911. Since the prototypes won’t be racing there, we will be aiming for overall victory.”
Laurens Vanthoor (Porsche 911 RSR #912):
“I’m disappointed with the result, of course, especially since we were on first and second at times. Unfortunately we had a technical problem during the pit stop and then a puncture cost us additional time. My stint was actually very good and I managed to overtake several cars. We then tried everything but it just wasn’t possible to get ahead. Unfortunately our strategy didn’t work.”
Race result GTLM class
1. Briscoe/Westbrook (AUS/GB), Ford GT, 112 laps
2. Magnussen/Garcia (DK/E), Chevrolet Corvette C7.R, 112 laps
3. Gavin/Milner (GB/USA), Chevrolet Corvette C7.R, 112 laps
4. Tandy/Pilet (GB/F), Porsche 911 RSR, 112 laps
5. Hand/Müller (USA/D), Ford GT, 112 laps
6. Vanthoor/Bamber (B/NZ), Porsche 911 RSR, 112 laps
7. Sims/De Phillippi (GB/USA), BMW M8 GTE, 112 laps
8. Krohn/Edwards (FIN/USA), BMW M8 GTE, 61 laps
Race result GTD class
1. Keating/Bleekemolen (USA/NL), Mercedes-AMG GT3, 107 laps
2. Marcelli/Baumann (CAN/A), Lexus RC F GT3, 107 laps
3. Potter/Lally (USA/USA), Audi R8 LMS GT3, 107 laps
9. Long/Nielsen (USA/DK), Porsche 911 GT3 R, 106 laps
10. Schein/Henzler (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 R, 73 laps