The Porsche GT Team has concluded round five of this season’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with a return to the GTLM class podium. In an eventful race at the VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) in Alton, Virginia, Britain’s Nick Tandy and his French teammate Frédéric Makowiecki earned a third-place result instead of the victory the No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR was in contention to take. Bad luck plagued the sister car of reigning champions Earl Bamber (New Zealand) and Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium). Midway through the race, a damaged diffuser and pit stop to make repairs dropped the second factory car down the field. The No. 912 car took the flag in fifth-place. As at the previous two races, the 2019-generation Porsche 911 RSR was the fastest vehicle in the fierce GTLM-class competition among manufacturers. Once again, however, fortune did not shine on the “works” squad. In the GTD category, the Porsche 911 GT3 R fielded by the customer squad Wright Motorsports finished in sixth-place with factory driver Patrick Long (Manhattan Beach, California) and Ryan Hardwick (Atlanta, Georgia).
While in the lead, a puncture saw polesitter Makowiecki pit early after just eleven laps. As part of a safety car phase, the No. 911 managed to work its way back up the order to the front and pull clear. However, the gap of up to 18 seconds was not enough to secure the long-awaited maiden victory for the new Porsche 911 RSR in IMSA. Shortly before the end of the two-hour, 40-minute race, the No. 911 sustained a second tire puncture. The pit stop for repairs threw Tandy back to third-place. In heated pursuit over the final laps, the British racer turned the fastest lap of the GT-only race with a time of one-minute, 41.333-seconds. Despite this he was unable to close the gap to the top.
While in the lead, the ca. 515-hp works cars were able to pull clear of the field several times. Thanks to their incredible consistency at the highest level, both vehicles were good for victory, however the No. 912 car driven by defending GTLM-class champions Bamber and Vanthoor was hampered by bad luck. During a fierce duel with a BMW, the diffuser at the rear sustained damage at the restart after a safety car phase. The ensuing repairs over two pit stops dropped the vehicle three laps down in the field. Under the conditions, fifth-place was the best possible result.
In the manufacturer’s classification, Porsche heads to round six of the season at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on September 6 ranked in third-place. In the driver’s standings, Bamber and Vanthoor retain second-place. Their colleagues Makowiecki and Tandy have advanced to fourth-place as a result of the podium.
In the GTD class for vehicle complying with the FIA GT3 regulations, the Porsche 911 GT3 R fielded by the Wright Motorsports privateer effort continued its season of consistency with a sixth-place finish. Long and Hardwick put in an impressive charge in the 500+hp race car. After starting the race from the twelfth grid spot, the pair steadily worked their way through the field. The team ranks sixth in the GTD point standings.
Steffen Höllwarth, Head of Operations IMSA Championship.
“Both cars started the race from the first grid row, we were leading with both vehicles and ultimately finished in third and fifth. That’s bitterly disappointing. Two punctures on our number 911 car, extensive repairs on 912 – that was the end of our winning chances. Our pace was great, and the team worked perfectly. For the upcoming race at Road Atlanta we want to finally get through a race without hiccups and claim the first win of the year with the new Porsche 911 RSR.”
Frédéric Makowiecki, Driver, No. 911 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“I’m absolutely gutted. To be honest, this third-place is the saddest podium of my career. We were so strong this weekend. It’s just terrible that third was the best we could do. This result is so unjust for the team, the car and us drivers. And it also makes me sad that we’re falling further and further down the rankings in the championship.”
Nick Tandy, Driver, No. 911 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“Our car was truly perfect and the team did a flawless job. We can be proud of that. If you can make it to the podium against such tough competition despite two punctures, then that’s a good indication of the strength. And that’s precisely what makes me optimistic for the future.”
Laurens Vanthoor, Driver, No. 912 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“I’m utterly frustrated. Our unlucky streak just doesn’t end. During the last three races, we were on course to win only to be robbed of the fruits of our hard work. Something always crops up. The team worked perfectly, our car was ultra-fast and the drivers tapped the full potential. Sadly, there was an unlucky contact which damaged the rear. Now we’re looking ahead. At some point, we’ll be on the sunny side again.”
Earl Bamber, Driver, No. 912 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“We were looking good in the race and our pace was really strong. Then suddenly a BMW drove into the rear of my car after the restart. The diffuser was so badly damaged that the entire rear section had to be replaced. That threw us so far back that we lost all contact to the lead. It’s just sad because we really deserved to win today.”
Patrick Long, Driver, No. 16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R.
“Today was a successful one. Sixth doesn’t yield quite the result that we put together to charge from behind. Sometimes you finish off the podium and it’s still a sweet result. I’m proud of everyone for battling through. It was great to watch Ryan hold off some ten-year veterans in his stint. That put us in the position to fight inside the top-ten. It became a fuel saving game at the end of the race, and no one was really able to push. We were light on our feet and had plenty of tire left. We could have used a yellow flag, but many would tell the same story. We’ll push on to Road Atlanta for a longer race where qualifying may have less of a load bearing weight on the outcome. I’m happy with our progression and we’ll push on.”
Ryan Hardwick, Driver, No. 16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R.
“What a race! I’ve never been so proud of a sixth-place finish in my entire life! After starting from 12th on a track that is notoriously difficult to overtake on, our Wright Motorsports team made some stellar strategy calls and executed lightning fast pit stops which put us inside the top-five early in the race. It felt great for me to be in the fight and battling with the race leaders at the front of the field for most of what ended up being a double stint for myself. I had a little moment with another car on the final lap of my stint that cost us a couple positions, but I’m still very proud of our team and our final result from VIR. I’m personally gaining confidence with every lap I drive this Porsche, and I’m really looking forward to racing at my hometown track at Road Atlanta in a couple weeks!”