Lime Rock, the shortest track on the calendar at just 2.414 kilometers in length, turned out to be a bit too tough for Porsche GLTM team this weekend. Best place for Porsche’s factory GT team was Patrick Pilet and Nick Tandy in the #911 Porsche 911 RSR. Unfortunately, some type of problem with their fuel supply, after 27 laps, cost them the chance of securing a better result.
Patrick Pilet (911 RSR #911): “Up until the problem with the fuel supply, the race was going well for us. But of course after having to pit twice we lost our chance to fight for a good result. It’s a shame, because after the steps we’d taken we had high hopes for Lime Rock.”
Even worse, their sister car, #912, run by the Porsche North America works squad, Earl Bamber (New Zealand) and Frédéric Makowiecki (France) were involved in an accident while fighting for 2nd place and had to end their race early.
Steffen Höllwarth, Program Manager IMSA SportsCar Championship: “This is obviously a disappointing result. After the practice we had actually worked something out, because we knew we would be strong over the distance. And this was also underlined in the race, although we had problems with the fuel supply in the number 911 car. But the 912 was able to fight for second place up until the accident. I don’t blame Earl. He attempted to overtake and the BMW closed the door. We only have a fortnight until the next race in Elkhart Lake. Despite everything, we’ll take the progress that we made here with us to Road America. Then hopefully we’ll be rewarded there for all the hard work the team has put in.”
Round eight of the IMSA SportsCar Championship will be contested on 7 August on the storied Road America racetrack at Elkhart Lake in the US state of Wisconsin.
GTLM class race results
1. Gavin/Milner (GB/USA) Chevrolet Corvette, 167 laps
2. Magnussen/Garcia (DK/E), Chevrolet Corvette, 167
3. Briscoe/Westbrook (AUS/GB), Ford GT, 167
4. Fisichella/Vilander (I/SF), Ferrari 488 GTE, 167
5. Hand/Müller (USA/D), Ford GT, 167
6. Pilet/Tandy (F/GB), Porsche 911 RSR, 159
7. Auberlen/Werner (USA/D), BMW M6, 89
8. Bamber/Makowiecki (NZ/F), Porsche 911 RSR, 89
9. Edwards/Luhr (USA/D), BMW M6, 4
GTD class race results
1. Lally/Potter (USA/USA), Audi R8, 162 laps
2. Liddell/Davis /GB/USA), Audi R8, 162
3. Bleekemolen/Keating (NL/USA), Dodge Viper GT3, 161
9. MacNeil/Keen (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 R, 161
10. Bergmeister/Lindsey (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 R, 161
12. Pappas/Pilgrim (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 R, 160
14. Farnbacher/Riberas (D/E), Porsche 911 GT3 R, 142
Points’ standings GTLM class after 7 of 11 races
Drivers
1. Millner, Gavin, Corvette, 228 points
2. Briscoe, Westbrook, Ford, 218
3. Garcia, Magnussen, Chevrolet, 197
4. Auberlen, Werner, BMW, 195
5. Fisichella, Vilander, Ferrari, 193
6. Bamber, Makowiecki, Porsche, 190
7. Hand, Müller, Ford, 186
8. Pilet, Tandy, Porsche, 179
9. Edwards, Luhr, BMW, 161
10. Serra, Ferrari, 140
Manufacturers
1. Chevrolet, 227 points
2. Ford, 217
3. Porsche, 209
4. Ferrari, 204
5. BMW, 200
Teams
1. #4 Corvette Racing, 228 points
2. #67 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing, 218
3. #3 Corvette Racing, 197
4. #25 BMW Team RLL, 195
5. #62 Risi Competizione, 193
6. #912 Porsche North America, 190
7. #66 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing, 186
8. #911 Porsche North America, 179
9. #100 BMW Team RLL, 161
10. #68 Scuderia Corsa, 140