The #911 Porsche 911 RSR scored sixth place in the GTLM class at round seven of the IMSA SportsCar Championship in Lime Rock Park on Saturday. On the racetrack in the US state of Connecticut, the reigning IMSA GT champion Patrick Pilet (France) and Nick Tandy (Great Britain) shared the cockpit of the 470 hp GT racer from Weissach. A problem with the fuel supply after 27 laps cost the winners of the Long Beach race the chance of securing a better result. At the wheel of the sister 911 RSR (#912) run by the Porsche North America works squad, Earl Bamber (New Zealand) and Frédéric Makowiecki (France) had to throw in the towel after an accident while fighting for second place. In temperatures of over 30 degrees Celsius, the pair was ultimately classified as eighth after the 2.40-hour race. At just 2.414-kilometres long, this racetrack was the shortest on the calendar.
Race quotesSteffen Höllwarth, Program Manager IMSA SportsCar Championship: “This is obviously a disappointing result. After the practice we had actually worked something out, because we knew we would be strong over the distance. And this was also underlined in the race, although we had problems with the fuel supply in the number 911 car. But the 912 was able to fight for second place up until the accident. I don’t blame Earl. He attempted to overtake and the BMW closed the door. We only have a fortnight until the next race in Elkhart Lake. Despite everything, we’ll take the progress that we made here with us to Road America. Then hopefully we’ll be rewarded there for all the hard work the team has put in.”Patrick Pilet (911 RSR #911): “Up until the problem with the fuel supply, the race was going well for us. But of course after having to pit twice we lost our chance to fight for a good result. It’s a shame, because after the steps we’d taken we had high hopes for Lime Rock.”Nick Tandy (911 RSR #911): “When I took over the 911 RSR from Patrick we were running eight laps down. There was nothing else to do than to try to get through the heavy traffic unscathed and bring home important championship points. We succeeded in doing this.” Earl Bamber (911 RSR #912): “Initially we were looking good in the race and were able to work our way up to third place. Our 911 RSR was perfectly setup for this demanding racetrack. The accident happened when I tried to overtake the BMW in front of me. I was already beside him on the inside when he also pulled to the inside and left me no room. We touched and I hit the tyre wall quite hard.”Frédéric Makowiecki (911 RSR #912): “Such things happen on this short, tight circuit quicker than anywhere else. With 30 almost equally fast cars you normally can’t overtake. Those who try take a higher risk. Until the accident we were looking good for a top result, but unfortunately we couldn’t finish the race. It’s a pity because we were on the right track. Now we’ll focus on the next race at Elkhart Lake.”
Round eight of the IMSA SportsCar Championship will be contested on 7 August on the storied Road America racetrack at Elkhart Lake in the US state of Wisconsin.
Race resultGTLM class1. Gavin/Milner (GB/USA) Chevrolet Corvette, 167 laps2. Magnussen/Garcia (DK/E), Chevrolet Corvette, 1673. Briscoe/Westbrook (AUS/GB), Ford GT, 1674. Fisichella/Vilander (I/SF), Ferrari 488 GTE, 1675. Hand/Müller (USA/D), Ford GT, 1676. Pilet/Tandy (F/GB), Porsche 911 RSR, 1597. Auberlen/Werner (USA/D), BMW M6, 898. Bamber/Makowiecki (NZ/F), Porsche 911 RSR, 899. Edwards/Luhr (USA/D), BMW M6, 4
GTD class1. Lally/Potter (USA/USA), Audi R8, 162 laps2. Liddell/Davis /GB/USA), Audi R8, 1623. Bleekemolen/Keating (NL/USA), Dodge Viper GT3, 1619. MacNeil/Keen (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 R, 16110. Bergmeister/Lindsey (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 R, 16112. Pappas/Pilgrim (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 R, 16014. Farnbacher/Riberas (D/E), Porsche 911 GT3 R, 142
Points’ standings GTLM class after 7 of 11 racesDrivers1. Millner, Gavin, Corvette, 228 points2. Briscoe, Westbrook, Ford, 2183. Garcia, Magnussen, Chevrolet, 1974. Auberlen, Werner, BMW, 1955. Fisichella, Vilander, Ferrari, 1936. Bamber, Makowiecki, Porsche, 1907. Hand, Müller, Ford, 1868. Pilet, Tandy, Porsche, 1799. Edwards, Luhr, BMW, 16110. Serra, Ferrari, 140
Manufacturers1. Chevrolet, 227 points2. Ford, 2173. Porsche, 209 4. Ferrari, 2045. BMW, 200
Teams1. #4 Corvette Racing, 228 points2. #67 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing, 2183. #3 Corvette Racing, 1974. #25 BMW Team RLL, 1955. #62 Risi Competizione, 1936. #912 Porsche North America, 1907. #66 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing, 1868. #911 Porsche North America, 1799. #100 BMW Team RLL, 16110. #68 Scuderia Corsa, 140
