WeatherTech Mercedes Reclassifying to GTD; Michelin Names Director of Motorsports
By Mark Robinson
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – IMSA and Lime Rock Park will celebrate a milestone anniversary this weekend. The FCP Euro Northeast Grand Prix comes 50 years after the first IMSA-sanctioned event at the road course in Lakeville, Connecticut.
The first IMSA race at Lime Rock took place on Memorial Day in 1972 and featured four classes: GTO (Grand Touring cars with engines over 2.5 liters), GTU (under 2.5 liters), TO (Touring cars with engines over 2.5 liters) and TU (under 2.5 liters). A different model won each class – Corvette in GTO, Porsche in GTU, Camaro in TO and Alfa Romeo in TU.
The Porsche 911S driven by Bob Bailey and Jim Locke took the overall and GTU class wins, by three laps (photo credit: Greg Rickes). To honor the 50th anniversary of that historic day, Bailey will serve as grand marshal of this weekend’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race.
Lime Rock has been a fixture on the annual calendar nearly every year since 1972, sometimes hosting more than one race a year and occasionally serving as site of the season finale. Among the noted winners at the track have been Peter Gregg, Al Holbert, Sam Posey, Brian Redman, Juan Manuel Fangio II, Geoff Brabham, Johnny O’Connell and Bill Auberlen.
The 2022 FCP Euro Northeast Grand Prix features both Grand Touring classes, GTD PRO and GT Daytona (GTD). Live coverage of the race starts at 3 p.m. ET Saturday on Peacock and IMSA Radio. USA Network has television coverage starting at 5 p.m.
No. 79 Mercedes Moves to GTD Class
WeatherTech Racing announced Tuesday that the No. 79 Mercedes-AMG GT3 will compete in the GTD class for the remainder of the 2022 season after starting the year in GTD PRO. Cooper MacNeil will team with Jules Gounon in the car this weekend at Lime Rock.
“Lime Rock is the ‘bullring’ of the IMSA WeatherTech schedule,” MacNeil said. “With around a 50-second lap time, you really have no time to take a break. The fast lap also means there is no room for error on the track or on pit road. If you make one small mistake, you’re going down a lap. We are hopeful that the tight layout and fact that there are six right-hand turns will suit our WeatherTech Racing Mercedes-AMG.”
Gounon has driven in the WeatherTech Mercedes twice this season, including a third-place GTD PRO finish at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts, but he will be racing for the first time at the 1.474.-mile Lime Rock circuit.
“I’ve never raced at Lime Rock before, but I am looking forward to driving at this short and fast circuit,” Gounon said. “I will be looking to Cooper to give me some tips, then we can work together to get the pace out of the WeatherTech Racing Mercedes. On the (simulator), I really like the flow of the circuit and especially the last downhill section.”
Anzalone Named New Michelin Director of Motorsports
Michelin North America, Inc. has named Jason Anzalone its director of motorsports, effective Aug. 1. Anzalone succeeds Tony Ménard, who is returning to Michelin headquarters in France after three years in North America.
“Tony has been instrumental to our motorsports success in North America, nurturing the heritage of Michelin and BFGoodrich racing through iconic race victories and technical leadership in endurance and desert racing,” said Matthieu Bonardel, global director for Michelin Group’s motorsports business entity. “We appreciate his leadership and dedication, steering the motorsports team through tough pandemic periods by not only persevering, but growing the business with new partnerships. The North American motorsports team is stronger than ever, with many opportunities to accelerate innovation and serve the company’s ambition.”
Anzalone has served in several positions during his 11-year Michelin career, most recently as a strategic account director for Discount Tire and Tire Rack. Anzalone started his career in the automotive industry as a mechanic, working predominantly with Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari. He has worked closely with the motorsport teams since May to help prepare for his new role.
Michelin is an Official Partner of IMSA and is the exclusive tire supplier to five IMSA-sanctioned series: the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, IMSA Prototype Challenge and Porsche Carrera Cup North America Presented by the Cayman Islands with the Michelin brand, and for the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by BFGoodrich Tires with the BFGoodrich brand.