2017 WEC, IMSA&ELMS thread.

[Rob]

Mixed Tyre Choice For GTE Am Runners At Le Mans

Nine Michelins, seven Dunlops

The ACO’s latest version of the Le Mans entry list has revealed the tyre choices for the GTE Am runners, with the 16 cars being split almost evenly between Dunlop and Michelin.

Interestingly, there’s three ELMS teams which will race with Michelin at La Sarthe; moving over from the spec-Dunlop tyre they use all season in the European series.

The three are Larbre Competition’s Corvette C7.R – the team historically racing on Michelin in the WEC previously – the Spirit of Race’s #55 Ferrari – taking the same rubber as its WEC counterpart – and the JMW Motorsport Ferrari 488 – historically the team has run with Dunlop, sporting art liveries as part of its partnership with the brand at the race over the years.

TF Sport, Proton Competition and Beechdean AMR meanwhile, will all continue to race with Dunlop in next month’s race, bringing the total number of Dunlop cars to seven; Michelin has nine.

Of the IMSA, Asia and one-off entries, Scuderia Corsa’s two 488 GTEs will race with Michelin, as they did last year, winning the class. As too will DH Racing and Clearwater Racing’s Ferraris. Clearwater has been racing with the French supplier in the WEC this year, and will race with Michelin in its second car.

On the list Aston Martin Racing’s #98 Vantage, which competes full-time in the WEC, is listed as a Michelin runner, but AMR has confirmed to DSC that this is a typo in the entry.

This means that all of the WEC teams will race with the tyres they have used so far this season, the teams permitted only a single change of supplier during the season.

Another interesting note from the entry is that the Mentos-Proton Racing Porsche is still marked as a reserve with Egidio Perfetti as its listed driver.

Perfetti told DSC previously that he will not be racing at Le Mans with his Mentos team, while Proton boss Christian Reid was keen to stress that the Mentos-Proton entry is under his licence, and while Perfetti will not race, he could still field the Porsche should someone pull out.

[Rob]

Le Mans 24 Hours – Rubens Barrichello’s first rendezvous – a simulator test!

Any driver who has never raced in the Le Mans 24 Hours has to spend a day on the simulator to learn the specific characteristics of the Le Mans 24-Hours circuit

Today Friday 2nd June former F1 driver Rubens Barrichello discovered the 13.6-km Sarthe circuit during a training session on the AOTech simulator as required by the Le Mans 24-Hours sporting regulations in view of his first outing in the Le Mans 24 Hours on 17-18 June.

Any driver who has never raced in the Le Mans 24 Hours or who hasn’t taken part in the event in the last five years (all the races since 2012), is classed in the Bronze category or who did not compete in the 2016 race has to spend a day on the simulator to learn the specific characteristics of the Le Mans 24-Hours circuit.

The 24 Hours are always in the radar of any racing driver, I am really happy to be here and I think we can do fine.

This simulator session is obligatory no matter what the results of the driver in question. Thus even though Barrichello holds two records in Formula 1: starts in 322 Grands Prix between 1993 and 2011, and the fastest pole position ever achieved at an average speed of 260 km/h at Monza in 2004, he had to undergo this test to take part in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

He jokes about his rookie status with good humour: " If I am doing something new, I am rookie, and it makes me younger… (laughs) ".

The Brazilian had to take in the layout as well as the day and night-time racing conditions, traffic management between prototypes and GTs, the location of the marshals posts and the safety procedures: safety car interventions and Slow Zones, the partial neutralisation of sectors of the 24-Hours circuit in which the drivers have to maintain a reduced speed following a race incident. He also discovered a few random incidents like unexpected changes in grip, because the length of the circuit means that drivers may have to race on a track that can be both wet and dry due to localised showers in a sector.

After a first test session, the pilot expressed what he felt on the eve of Test Day : " I can have an idea of the track and also the traffic, the flags, the Slow Zones and so on. Night driving calls a bit of attention, and the Slow Zones are very useful because you don't lose three minutes in a complete lap. There are some points I got right, others I got wrong but it is better I do that in the simulator than on the real track. For me it is a good thing that my simulator session takes place in the same week as the Test Day. At the simulator, the guys are really well prepared to give you the right piece of advice, so I can play by the rules in race."

As for his ambitions regarding the race, he added:" The 24 Hours are always in the radar of any racing driver, I am really happy to be here and I think we can do fine.”

After each day’s training AOTech sends a report on each driver to the ACO. These enable the sporting management to keep a close eye on the evolution of the drivers in question during the test day.

Rubens Barrichello was the last of the 2017 drivers to take the simulator test at AOTech. After the session in the Parisian region he will head for the 24-Hours circuit for the test day on Sunday 4th June. He will drive the no. 29 Dallara-Gibson entered by the Racing Team Nederland in the LM P2 category. He will share the car with two Dutchmen Jan Lammers (who also had to take the simulator test earlier in the season as he had not raced in the Le Mans 24 Hours since 2011) with 22 starts in the Le Mans 24 Hours including victory in the Sarthe in 1988 in a Jaguar, and Frits Van Eerd.

The 85th Le Mans 24 will take place on Saturday-Sunday 17-18 June.

[jgonzalesm6]

All 180 names have now been confirmed for the 85th LeMans 24: (PDF link file)

http://bo.fiawec.com/assets/ressourc...-mans-2017.pdf …

some interesting names in the lot.

[jgonzalesm6]

Full free Qualifying results (1) from the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours at the Circuit de la Sarthe

1. Conway/Kobayashi/Sarrazin JPN Toyota Gazoo S040 Hybrid 3m 18.793s LMP1
2. Davidson/Buemi/Nakajima JPN Toyota Gazoo TS040 Hybrid 3m 19.431s LMP1
3. Bernhard/Bamber/Hartley GER Porsche 919 Hybrid 3m 19.710s LMP1
4. Lopez/Kunimoto/Lapierre JPN Toyota Gazoo TS040 Hybrid 3m 19.958s LMP1
5. Jani/Tandy/Lotterer GER Porsche 919 Hybrid 3m 21.165s LMP1
6. Kraihamer/Webb/Rossiter AUT ByKolles ENSO CLM P1/01 Nismo 3m 28.887s LMP1
7. Collard/Perrodo/Vaxiviere FRA TDS Racing Oreca 07 3m 29.333s LMP2
8. Prost/Senna/Canal SUI Vaillante Rebellion Oreca 07 3m 29.851s LMP2
9. Gonzalez/Trummer/Petrov CHN CEFC Manor TRS Oreca 07 3m 30.502s LMP2
10. Graves/Hirschi/Vergne CHN CEFC Manor TRS Oreca 07 3m 30.847s LMP2
11. Jarvis/Laurent/Tung CHN Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca 07 3m 31.024s LMP2
12. Menezes/Rao/Dumas FRA Signatech Alpine Matmut Alpine A4713 3m 31.065s LMP2
13. Panciatici/Ragues/Negaro FRA Signatech Alpine Matmut Alpine A470 3m 31.439s LMP2
14. Piquet/Beche/Heinemeier-Hansson SUI Vaillante Rebellion Oreca 07 3m 31.636s LMP2
15. Rusinov/Thiriet/Lynn RUS G-Drive Racing Oreca 07 3m 31.945s LMP2
16. Rojas/Hirakawa/Gutierrez RUS G-Drive Racing Oreca 07 3m 31.963s LMP2
17. Allen/Matelli/Bradley FRA Graff Oreca 07 3m 32.477s LMP2
18. Guibbert/Trouillet/Winslow FRA Graff Oreca 07 3m 32.987s LMP2
19. Lammers/van Eerd/Barrichello NED Racing Team Nederland Dallara PS217 3m 33.796s LMP2
20. Hedman/Hanley/Rosenqvist USA Dragonspeed – 10 Star Oreca 07 3m 34.046s LMP2
21. Owen/de Sadeleer/Albuquerque USA United Autosports Ligier JSP217 3m 34.166s LMP2
22. Aleshin/Sirotkin/Shaytar RUS SMP Racing Dallara PS217 3m 34.407s LMP2
23. Lacorte/Sernagiotto/Belicchi ITA Cetilar Villorba Corse Dallara P217 3m 34.846s LMP2
24. Barthez/Buret/Berthon FRA Panis Barthez Competition Ligier JSP217 3m 35.559s LMP2
25. Konopka/Calko/Breukers SVK ARC Bratislava Ligier JSP217 3m 37.226s LMP2
26. Patterson/McMurray/Capillaire POR Algarve Pro Racing Ligier JSP217 3m 37.814s LMP2
27. Lafargue/Lafargue/Zollinger FRA Idec Sport Racing Ligier JSP217 3m 40.162s LMP2
28. Keating/Bleekemolen/Taylor USA Keating Motorsports Riley MK30 3m 40.813s LMP2
29. Cheng/Brundle/Gommendy CHN Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca 07 3m 41.393s LMP2
30. Chandhok/Moore/Hanson GBR Tockwith Motorsports 3m 41.660s LMP2
31. Nicolet/Nicolet/Maris PHL Eurasia Motorsport Ligier JSP217 3m 42.117s LMP2
32. Thiim/Sorensen/Stanaway GBR Aston Martin Racing Vantage GTE 3m 53. 117s GTE Pro
33. Rigon/Bird/Molina ITA AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT 3m 53.235s GTE Pro
34. Calado/Pier Guidi/Rugolo ITA AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE 3m 53.123s GTE Pro
35. Turner/Adam/Serra GBR Aston Martin Racing Vantage GTE 3m 53.296 GTE Pro
36. Priaulx/Tincknell/Derani USA Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK Ford GT 3m 54.118s GTE Pro
37. Christensen/Estre/Werner GER Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR 3m 54.243s GTE Pro
38. Vilander/Fisichella/Kaffer USA Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE 3m 54.305s GTE Pro
39. Lietz/Makowiecki/Pilet GER Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR 3m 54.564s GTE Pro
40. Gavin/Milner/Fassler USA Corvette Racing Corvette C7.R 3m 54.876s GTE Pro
41. Magnussen/Garcia/Taylor USA Corvette Racing Corvette C7.R 3m 55.047s GTE Pro
42. Hand/Muller/Kanaan USA Ford Chip Ganassi Team USA Ford GT 3m 55.059s GTE Pro
43. Dalla Lana/Lamy/Lauda GBR Aston Martin Racing Vantage GTE 3m 55.134s GTE Am
44. Briscoe/Westbrook/Dixon USA Ford Chip Ganassi Team USA Ford GT 3m 55.553s GTE Pro
45. Ried/Dienst/Cairoli GER Dempsey-Proton Porsche 911 RSR 3m 55.692s GTE Am
46. Johnson/Mucke/Pla USA Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK Ford GT 3m 55.803s GTE Pro
47. Yoluc/Hankey/Bell GBR TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage 3m 55.953s GTE Am
48. Krohn/Jonsson/Bertolini HNK DH Racing Ferrari 488 GTE 3m 55.966s GTE Am
49. Rees/Brandela/Philippon FRA Larbre Chevrolet Corvette C7.R 3m 56.259s GTE Am
50. Mok/Sawa/Griffin SIN Clearwater Ferrari 488 GTE 3m 56.333s GTE Am
51. Bachelor/Lemert/Al Qubaisi GER Proton Competition Porsche 911 RSR 3m 57.507s GTE Am
52. Smith/Stevens/Vanthoor GBR JWM Motorsport Ferrari 488 GTE 3m 57.890s GTE Am
53. Mac Neil/Sweedler/Bell USA Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GTE 3m 57.267s GTE Am
54. Wee/Katoh/Parente SIN Clearwater Ferrari 488 GTE 3m 57.321s GTE Am
55. Howard/Gunn/Bryant GBR Beechdean AMR Aston Martin Vantage 4m 57.463s GTE Am
56. Long/Al Faisal/Hedlund GER Proton Competition Porsche 911 RSR 4m 58.196s GTE Am
57. Nielsen/Balzan/Bret USA Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GTE 3m 58.249s GTE Am
58. Wainwright/Barker/Foster GBR Gulf Racing Porsche 911 RSR 3m 58.427s GTE Am
59. Flohr/Castellacci/Beretta CHE Spirit of Race Ferrari 488 GTE 3m 58.904s GTE Am
60. Cameron/Scott/Cioci CHE Spirit of Race Ferrari 488 GTE 4m 01.098s GTE Am


2 488 teams (#33 & #34) behind the Aston teams

[The Architect]

3:14.791 from Kamui Kobayashi - what a lap!

[jgonzalesm6]

3:14.791 from Kamui Kobayashi - what a lap!

yup


Le Mans 24h: Kobayashi smashes lap record in second qualifying

https://www.motorsport.com/lemans/ne...ifying-919017/


2nd Qualifying results of all classes

https://www.motorsport.com/wec/results/

[jgonzalesm6]

3:14.791! #7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Kamui Kobayashi just did the best time ever around Le Mans24 (video 3min 45sec)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy91BcB8pRQ

Flying lap!!...on medium tyres....almost touches 340kph/200mph down the Mulsanne.

[458 Italia]

If things go wrong for a couple of front runners; It is not beyond the realms of possibility that an LMP2 car could wind up on the podium at the end of 24 hours.

Also I'm annoyed again this year at how other marques have been able to play by different rules to Ferrari.

[Rob]

Havent been on here for few days. Been busy with the AF Corse fanpage. Sorry.

What a week, seen the lap record smashed, well in all classes lap records smashed. Everyone is happy with the cars and set ups. I spoke to Francesco yesterday morning, asked if he and car was ok after spin on Thursday night. He said, he good, he tried to take the first corner flatout. He also said, the car is setup for quick race pace. Very happy. I also spoke to couple friends who work on #71 #51 cars. They all pumped up for this, Cars are right where they want them. Felt sorry or Lucas Di, but we got super sub Michele in. He did text me Thursday, we had nice little chat. He is super excited.

Looking forward to this.

[Rob]

If things go wrong for a couple of front runners; It is not beyond the realms of possibility that an LMP2 car could wind up on the podium at the end of 24 hours.

Also I'm annoyed again this year at how other marques have been able to play by different rules to Ferrari.

No games been played this year. I spoke to Pierre Fillon. Asking what would happen if Ford were caught playing games. All he said was serious penalties would be applied.

[jgonzalesm6]

Weather is beautiful today.....

[Rob]

Weather is beautiful today.....

have started a race thread.

[Rob]

STATEMENT FROM GIUSEPPE RISI REGARDING RISI COMPETIZIONE TEAM FUTURE

(Houston, Texas, June 23, 2017) ...Giuseppe Risi, owner of the Risi Competizione race team, announced today that the team will withdraw from some of the upcoming International Motor Sport Association (IMSA) races this year.

"Following an extremely challenging first half of 2017, most recently at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, I have decided to withdraw the Risi Competizione race team from part of the 2017 IMSA season in order to consolidate resources and to reflect on future racing programs," said Team Principal Giuseppe Risi.

The Team, which has been a successful, championship-winning part of the U.S. sports car racing scene for many decades, proudly representing Ferrari, and fully intends to return to competition in 2017. The Risi Team's future plans will be revealed in due course.

The Risi Competizione Team started the 2017 season with third place podium finishes at both the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. The following two IMSA sprint races at Long Beach and Circuit of the Americas saw the team knocked out by follow competitors and suffer damage to the Ferrari 488 GTLM. A big hit by another class competitor at the 24 Hours of Le Mans forced the Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE-Pro class car into the barrier causing extensive damage after the fifth hour of the race.

The Risi Competizione team is a former multiple American Le Mans Series class champion, as well as winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans endurance races, and numerous U.S. sprint races.

[458 Italia]

Hey Rob, Saddened to read that.

How are AF Crose feeling ahead of the Nurburgring? It's a few weeks away I know, but has the team been affected by the result at Le Mans?

[Rob]

Hey Rob, Saddened to read that.

How are AF Crose feeling ahead of the Nurburgring? It's a few weeks away I know, but has the team been affected by the result at Le Mans?

Was told about Risi on the Sunday before the end of the race. Sad indeed, but he will be back, im sure.

As for AF Corse boys, that was last weekend, they alll at Paul Ricard 1000km for Blancpain.

[Rob]

TONI VILANDER TO REPLACE BIRD ON THE #71 FERRARI AT NURBURGRING

Maranello, 27 June 2017 – Finnish driver Toni Vilander will replace Sam Bird in the Ferrari 488 GTE number 71 of AF Corse team at the 6 Hours of Nürburgring on July 16. Toni will race alongside Davide Rigon, while Bird will take part in the concurrent New York E-Prix.

It’s a return to the FIA World Endurance Championship for Vilander, who raced there since the 2012 season and earned nine victories, including two editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, besides the 2014 Drivers’ title.

“I’m happy to be able to return to the FIA WEC with the 488 GTE of AF Corse team”, Toni Vilander stated, “This is my chance to cancel the disappointment of the 24 Hours of Le Mans as soon as possible. Car number 71 is in the top places of the championship standings, and I will give all I have to achieve the best possible result at Nürburgring, to help Ferrari in the Manufacturers’ Championship and Davide Rigon in the Drivers’ ranking”.

[Rob]

Watkins Glenn this weekend, Gimmi makes his Porshe debut.

Will wath the race, but watching him will be abit like seeing an EX girlfriend with new partner. Happy for them, but very sad.

[The Architect]

Bruni is dead to me...

Was at Goodwood yesterday. Good WEC representation and pleased to see the 488 GTE in person for the first time. A shame that Ferrari could have saved money and sent the 430 GT (also present) against the dinosaur handed victory instead. It would have stood a better chance. Otherwise, amazing to see so many legendary cars to celebrate Ferrari's 70th anniversary in one place - 330 P4, F2007, 250 GTO and so many others. Sheer sensory overload. I could post some pictures if anyone's interested and not down there already.

I'm bemused by the 2020 LMP1 rules. If they want more resource restriction then fine, but bringing gimmicks to the race track such as running off electric energy for the first kilometre after a pit stop and finishing under electric power are arbitrary and ridiculous. There has to be some integrity to the racing - it's like Pirelli all over again. Unfortunately, it'll probably happen as the FIA are spineless and the remaining LMP teams are too influential due to their scarcity.

[Rob]

Bruni is dead to me...

Was at Goodwood yesterday. Good WEC representation and pleased to see the 488 GTE in person for the first time. A shame that Ferrari could have saved money and sent the 430 GT (also present) against the dinosaur handed victory instead. It would have stood a better chance. Otherwise, amazing to see so many legendary cars to celebrate Ferrari's 70th anniversary in one place - 330 P4, F2007, 250 GTO and so many others. Sheer sensory overload. I could post some pictures if anyone's interested and not down there already.

I'm bemused by the 2020 LMP1 rules. If they want more resource restriction then fine, but bringing gimmicks to the race track such as running off electric energy for the first kilometre after a pit stop and finishing under electric power are arbitrary and ridiculous. There has to be some integrity to the racing - it's like Pirelli all over again. Unfortunately, it'll probably happen as the FIA are spineless and the remaining LMP teams are too influential due to their scarcity.

Would love to see pictures. I was there few years ago. Went 2-3 years in a row. A friend go tme free tickets, i drove an Abarth 500 up the hill

2020 LMP Regs
http://assets.lemans.org/explorer/pd...6a-e31e18448f-


Im not sure either, too many gimmicks. In my eyes, there not much point of hybrids anymore now we have Formula E. Endurance racing doesnt need gimmicks to "spice up" the show. Its one big show.

488 GTE is a beast huh? still cannt beat the 458 GTE engine singing, but the 488 GTE engine is still beautiful sound, different but

As for Gimmi, we good friends. So, will watch and wish him good luck. But next year, when he racing against our boys in WEC, maybe different story.

[wisepie]

I was at Goodwood on Thursday too, those Ferrari F1 and sports cars right back to the early days were a sight to behold, shark-noses and P3/4 were so beautiful and the 512 a real beast, only got to see an older AF Corse 458 and somehow missed the 488GTB, how did that happen? Great day out and shame I couldn't have seen and heard them all in action.

[The Architect]

A small selection of shots from the many hundreds I took: http://imgur.com/a/zWjGB

It's not everyday I get close to (and even touch) cars worth millions. Seeing the legendary 330 P4 and F2007 were particular highlights for me.

[Rob]

A small selection of shots from the many hundreds I took: http://imgur.com/a/zWjGB

It's not everyday I get close to (and even touch) cars worth millions. Seeing the legendary 330 P4 and F2007 were particular highlights for me.

Thankyou for sharing. Great photos. Lovely selection of Ferraris, the blue FXX K James ran her up the hill think it was Friday.

[The Architect]

Thankyou for sharing. Great photos. Lovely selection of Ferraris, the blue FXX K James ran her up the hill think it was Friday.

Looking through my photos and going by the helmet, it seems James was indeed driving on Friday. Something I appreciated by being there was the difference in sound between engines. V8s were not bad, but the V12s were just incredible. The FXX K and the early 90s F1 cars were something truly special. A shame I didn't get to see the F2002 in action. Maybe I can convince the missus to go to a race sometime as she enjoyed the day too.

[Rob]

BMW RETURNS TO WEATHERTECH CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY LANE AT WATKINS GLEN

BMW returned to victory lane in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition Sunday in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International. Alexander Sims held off the Ford GT of Richard Westbrook over the course of a final 25-minute shootout to win the prestigious endurance race in the No. 25 BMW Team RLL BMW M6 alongside co-driver Bill Auberlen by 4.416 seconds.

It was BMW’s first win in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class since Circuit of The Americas in 2015 and the first win for the M6 GTLM in IMSA competition.

“We finally get the win we’ve been hunting for with this M6 GTLM since it came out last year,” said Auberlen, who scored his 56th career victory, putting him four wins behind Scott Pruett as the winningest driver in North American endurance sports racing history. “You don’t win championships when you start off high and go down. We started down and now we’re climbing back up. Those are the ways you win championships.”

BMW also won the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup round. The Patrón Endurance Cup encompasses the four endurance races on the WeatherTech Championship schedule: the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida, Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen and Motul Petit Le Mans (Oct. 7).

The runner-up finish for the No. 67 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GT of Westbrook and co-driver Ryan Briscoe tied the team’s best result of the season. The team also was the recipient of the DEKRA Green Challenge for having the “cleanest, fastest and most efficient car” on the day.

As is often the case in the GTLM class, the race was wide open with seven of the eight cars in the class leading at least one lap. Three different manufacturers finished on the podium with the No. 3 Corvette Racing Corvette C7.R of Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen rounding out the top-three to extend its points lead in the class.

Lally, Legge Score Watkins Glen Win, Second Consecutive Acura Triumph

In a role reversal from the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen one year ago, Andy Lally held off Alessandro Balzan in the closing minutes at Watkins Glen to pick up the second consecutive GT Daytona (GTD) class victory for Acura and co-driver Katherine Legge in the No. 93 Michael Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian Acura NSX GT3.



Lally beat the No. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3 of Balzan to the stripe by 0.592 seconds in the victory. The win followed up Acura’s historic first worldwide win for the NSX GT3 one race ago at Belle Isle Park in Detroit.

“Last year, I got on the bumper of Balzan and he did a great job holding me off,” said Lally. “When I heard he got around [Jeroen] Bleekemolen right there at the end, I knew the pressure was coming on. That’s when you take a little extra in the bus stops, and you start putting it on a little deeper into each corner. It gets a little crazy.”

Balzan was joined by co-drivers Christina Nielsen and Matteo Cressoni in the runner-up effort. It was the third consecutive second-place finish for Balzan and Nielsen and the duo’s fourth in the last five races. The Scuderia Corsa team did, however, win the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup round – which awarded points at the halfway mark and the finish – by virtue of running second at the end of both segments.

“It’s great to lead the championship and to lead the Patrón Endurance Cup,” said Balzan. “Scuderia Corsa gave me a perfect car, the Ferrari 488 GT3 was working really great throughout my entire stint.”

Five different manufacturers made up the top-five spots in the class with the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 of Justin Marks and Jens Klingmann rounding out the podium.

The No. 50 WeatherTech Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Cooper MacNeil, Gunnar Jeannette and Shane Van Gisbergen, and No. 15 3GT Racing Lexus RC F of Robert Alon, Jack Hawksworth and Austin Cindric also finished in the top-five.

The next WeatherTech Championship race is next weekend’s Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on Sunday, July 9. The race can be seen live flag-to-flag on FS1 beginning at noon ET.

[fratelliferrari]

Not to make you jealous Rob, but I will be @ Nurburgring tomorrow evening to support the AF Corse team with my shirts!

[Rob]

Not to make you jealous Rob, but I will be @ Nurburgring tomorrow evening to support the AF Corse team with my shirts!

[Rob]

James no battling for lead.

[Rob]

looks like fratelli you are the AF good luck charm.

[Rob]

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ss #51 wns GTE PRO James's 2nd win at Nurbergring and Ales first WEC win. So happy.

#54 2nd in GTE AM, Miquel needed 2-3 more laps to catch the #77, finally my buddy Francesco on podium.

[wisepie]

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ss #51 wns GTE PRO James's 2nd win at Nurbergring and Ales first WEC win. So happy.

#54 2nd in GTE AM, Miquel needed 2-3 more laps to catch the #77, finally my buddy Francesco on podium.

Great news, Rob, after the afternoon from hell in F1. Marnix must have been beside himself! Well done #51, bravi ragazzi!