In winning its fifth-consecutive IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTLM class race of 2019, the Porsche GT Team set a new series record for most consecutive race wins by a manufacturer. The Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix victory at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Canada) was the third win of the year by factory drivers Earl Bamber (New Zealand) and Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium), the fifth in six races by the two-car Porsche works team with the 2018 Porsche 911 RSR. Their sister car, the No. 911, with Patrick Pilet (France) and Nick Tandy (Great Britain), rounded off the outstanding team result with third-place at the historic track in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada.
Thanks to this fifth win in the first six rounds of the 2019 IMSA season, Porsche further extends its lead in the manufacturers’ point standings. Bamber and Vanthoor, popularly known as #Bamhoor, have taken the top points position from their works driver colleagues Pilet and Tandy, who now rank second.
In the GTD class, the Porsche factory driver Patrick Long (Manhattan Beach, California) and driver/owner Patrick Lindsey (Santa Barbara, California) narrowly missed the podium earning a fourth-place finish in the Pro-Am style class. The pair, sharing the No. 73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R, was only 0.373-seconds from their second podium result of the year. The identical 500+hp GT3 car fielded by the local customer squad Pfaff Motorsports brought home fifth-place. The two Canadians, Porsche Selected Driver Scott Hargrove and Zacharie Robichon, had raced as high as second-place at their home race, but dropped down the running order after being handed a drive-through penalty.
Steffen Höllwarth, Program Manager, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
“First of all, I’m really pleased that nothing serious happened to the driver in the terrible accident involving the prototype car. That’s the most important thing. As far as our race result is concerned, I’m simply proud of everyone. We very deliberately implemented two different strategies to be prepared for all eventualities. In terms of the team and the drivers, the race was perfectly executed. Five wins in a row is the well-deserved reward for the great work over these intense weeks.”
Earl Bamber, Driver, No. 912 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“Porsche is the first manufacturer to achieve five straight wins – an incredible record considering the tough competition. The path to victory was paved not only by our perfectly set-up 911 RSR but, above all, by implementing optimal strategies. The sprint at the end was not for the fainthearted. We headed into the final ten laps with cold tires, and we needed to turn qualifying laps. It was intense, exciting, exhausting and ultimately successful – simply perfect!”
Laurens Vanthoor, Driver, No. 912 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“The best thing about this victory is that we fought hard for it and the team and drivers did a perfect job. That was the key. Again we didn’t have the fastest car on the track, but again we made the most of what was possible. Five straight wins from six races so far this season is an incredible record. In the drivers’ championship, we’ve taken over the lead again. The duel against our colleagues will certainly continue to be intense over the coming weeks.”
Patrick Pilet, Driver, No. 911 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“It’s another banner day for Porsche. The team implemented different strategies for our two cars. While we had luck on our side with the tactics at the previous round at Watkins Glen, this time we were behind. Perhaps we could switch roles again at the next race. We’re happy with third-place, and five wins in a row for Porsche is simply sensational.”
Nick Tandy, Driver, No. 911 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“Scoring five victories in a row, which are divided almost equally between the two driver crews, clearly underline that Porsche has two irons in the fire at each race. It’s always the details that make all the difference. Today our strategy was slightly worse, and the tires on our car deteriorated a little more than those on the sister car. It’s great that the No. 912 car was in the right spot to win.”
