Every WeatherTech Championship GT Daytona Full-Time Manufacturer Has Visited Victory Lane In 2016
- plugged2racing
- Sep 2, 2016
- 2 min read
When the No. 48 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 fielded by Paul Miller Racing took the checkered flag in last Sunday’s Michelin GT Challenge at VIRginia International Raceway, it represented the sixth different manufacturer to win a race in the highly competitive IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Daytona (GTD) class. In fact, all manufacturers competing full-time in the GTD class now have won at least one race.
Co-drivers Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow brought Lamborghini its first victory in WeatherTech Championship competition, in the Italian manufacturer’s first year in the class. In the process, Lamborghini joined an illustrious list of manufacturers to celebrate GTD victories this season:
Audi (Daytona International Speedway, Lime Rock Park)
Ferrari (Sebring International Raceway, Watkins Glen International)
Porsche (Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca)
Dodge (Detroit’s Belle Isle Park, Road America)
BMW (Canadian Tire Motorsport Park)
Lamborghini (VIRginia International Raceway)
“It’s nice to see the variety of winners, and that one manufacturer is not dominating the class,” said Turner Motorsport owner Will Turner, whose No. 96 BMW M6 GT3 won the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. “It’s nice to know that – on any race weekend – now it seems like any manufacturer can win. That’s a big positive when you’re headed to the race track, having put so much effort into the program.”
The variety of GTD race winners has manifested itself in a close battle for the GTD manufacturers championship. With two races remaining on the schedule, Audi leads the standings with 248 points, followed by Porsche with 241. Ferrari is third, just one point behind Porsche.
“I think the difference in winners shows how competitive the GTD field is,” said No. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3 driver Christina Nielsen, who currently leads the GTD driver championship standings and owns 2016 victories at Sebring and Watkins Glen. “Our races are about executing well in terms of setting up the car, driving, strategy and pit stops. It is not easy to get it all right and that's why you don't have one manufacturer dominating the top step. Everyone is trying to outsmart each other all the time; to try and gain that extra little advantage.”
Next up for the WeatherTech Championship is the Lone Star Le Mans at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas on Saturday, Sept. 17. All four classes will be in action for the two-hour, 40-minute race on the 3.4-mile circuit. The race will be televised live on FS2 beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Contact:
nsiebens@imsa.com
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