2017 IMSA, America's Tires 250 Laguna Seca, GT Daytona.

The GTD class winning Ferrari leads a GTD Audi and a Cadillac DPi at Turn 4 during the race.

As usual the GT Daytona cars were the largest part of the field entered for the IMSA WeatherTech Sport Car Championship race at Laguna Seca.  There were sixteen GTD cars with eight marques represented.   The fastest car in practice, the Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracan, led the race early on but as a result of a first lap incident with a GTLM Corvette eventually had to pit to repair the damage.  Thereafter it was a close contest for the lead with various cars involved including the Porsches, one of the Acuras and the Turner Motorsports BMW.  Eventually, fuel consumption played a big part as a number of the leaders had to make a splash and dash.  Suddenly, Alexandro Balzan and Christina Nielsen inherited the lead in the Ferrari which they held to the end.  It was Ladies first and second as Katherine Legge shared the driving of the second placed Acura.

GTD car battle exiting the iconic Corkscrew.

One of the Acuras takes to the gravel under braking for turn ten as the WeatherTech Porsche speeds by.

GT Daytona Drivers

Top, Left - Ben Keating, Riley Motorsports Team AMG.
Top, Center - Katherine Legge, Michael Shank Racing.
Top, Right - Jeroen Bleekemolen, Riley Motorsports Team AMG.
Middle, Left - Oswaldo Negri Jnr, Michael Shank Racing.
Middle, Center - Christina Nielsen, Scuderia Corse.
Middle, Right - Jeff Segal, Michael Shank Racing.
Bottom, Left - Andrew Davis, Stevenson Motorsports.
Bottom, Center - Brian Sellers, Paul Miller Racing.
Bottom, Right - Patrick Long, Alegra Motorsports.

The WeatherTech girls pose with the WeatherTech drivers Cooper MacNeil and Gunnar Jeannette. 

It was good to see Scott Pruett in the pit lane. Scott of course has driven in Indy Car, Nascar and Sport Cars and now drives the Lexus GTD cars.

The GTD Results

The sixteen GT Daytona cars all finished between 18th and 33rd overall.

1st in class, Scuderia Corse, Alessandro Balzan/Christina Nielsen, Ferrari 488 GT3, 107 laps.

The winning Ferrari in the Rainey Curve during the race.

2nd in class, Michael Shank Racing, Andy Lally/Katherine Legge, Acura NSX GT3, 107 laps.

The Second placed Acura leading another during the race.

3rd in class, Park Place Motorsports, Patrick Lindsay/Jorg Bergmeister, Porsche 911 GT3 R, 107 laps.

The Park Place Motorsports Porsche exiting Turn Ten.

4th in class, CoreMotorsport, Colin Braun/Jonathan Bennett, Porsche GT3 R, 106 laps.

The Core Motorsport Porsche during qualifying at Turn Six. 

5th in class, Turner Motorsport, Jesse Krohn/Jens Klingmann, BMW M6 GT3, 106 laps.

The Turner Motorsports BMW cutting the apex at Turn Ten.

6th in class, Riley Motorsports WeatherTech Racing, Cooper MacNeil/Gunnar Jeannette, Porsche 911 GT3 R, 106 laps.

The WeatherTech Porsche exiting the Corkscrew.

7th in class, Paul Miller Racing, Bryan Sellers/Madison Snow, Lamborghini Huracan GT3, 106 laps.

The Paul Miller Lamborghini showing signs of its first lap accident.

8th in class, Riley Motorsports Team AMG, Jeroen Bleekemolen/Ben Keating, Mercedes AMG GT3, 106 laps.

Mercedes cutting the Corkscrew apex during the race.

9th in class, Change Racing,  Corey Lewis/Jeroen Mul, Lamborghini Huracan GT3, 106 laps.

Change Racing Lamborghini about to be lappeg by a LMGT Corvette.

10th in class, Michael Shank Racing, Jeff Segal/Oswaldo Negri, Acura NSX GT3, 106 laps.

Acura on the Fan Grid Walk.

11th in class, Stevenson Motorsports, Andrew Davis/Lawson Aschenbach, Audi R8 LM3 GT3, 106 laps.

Audi leads Porsche through the Corkscrew.

12th in class, Sun Energy1 Racing, Tristan Vautier/Kenny Habul, Mercedes AMG GT3, 106 laps.

Mercedes speeds down the Corkscrew in practice.

13th in class, 3GT Racing, Scott Pruett/Jack Hawksworth, Lexus RCF GT3, 106 laps.

The Scott Pruett Lexus.

14th in class, 3GT Racing, Sage Karam/Robert Alon, Lexus RCFGT3, 105 laps.

Lexus leading the winning Ferrari

15th in class, Lone Star Racing, Mike Skeem/Dan Knox, Mercedes AMG GT3, 105 laps.

Lone Star Racing Pit Stop.

16th in class, Alegra Motorsports, Patrick Long/Daniel Morad, Porsche 911 GT3 R, 47 laps.

The Patrick Long Porsche in practice at Turn Ten on Saturday.

For the GTLM cars at Laguna Seca, click here.

For the IMSA Prototype cars at Laguna Seca, click here.

For the Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars at Laguna Seca, click here.

For the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup, click here.

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John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.