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Preview
After the break in racing due to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the IMSA SportsCar Championship picks up the pace again. One of the most storied sports car races in America will be contested on 3 July in Watkins Glen. As the defending champions in the GTLM class, the most well-supported category with five manufacturers, the
The race
The 5.472-kilometre-long Watkins Glen International racetrack, nicknamed by experts and fans as “The Glen”, is located in the US State of New York. It was built around a forested hilltop and opened in 1956. From 1961 to 1980 the Formula 1 circus also pitched its tents near the tranquil town of Watkins Glen for the United States Grand Prix.
The
Driving the
The
For 2016, the 470 hp winning racer from Weissach received modifications to the aerodynamics to comply with the new regulations. The position of the rear wing was moved further to the back, with the rear diffuser now considerably larger. Moreover, the fastest ever nine-eleven received a new factory design. The 911 GT3 R was built by
The schedule
The six-hour race takes off on Sunday, 3 July, at 10.10 hours local time (16.10 hours CEST) and will be broadcast live outside the USA on www.imsa.com.
Pre-race quotes
Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, Head of
Marco Ujhasi, Overall Project Leader GT Works Motorsport: “Given that the Watkins Glen racetrack now has a new surface it was important that we went testing there prior to the race. Despite the whole timing pressure with Le Mans, we did this. Thanks to Patrick and Earl we were able to collect a raft of useful data and experiences, which we will use in the setting up of our 911 RSR for this demanding circuit.”
Patrick Pilet (911 RSR #911): “A year ago when
Nick Tandy (911 RSR #911): “It’s great that the season continues at last for us in the USA after a two-month break. I love traditional racetracks like Watkins Glen. Legendary drivers like Jim Clark and Graham Hill have won Formula 1 races here. It’s also a great pleasure to drive our 911 RSR on this circuit.”
Earl Bamber (911 RSR #912): “It bucketed down last year in Watkins Glen. That was a really crazy race. I got the chance to test on the new track surface recently. The grip is definitely better, and there are sure to be faster lap times in the race. Fans can look forward to some exciting duels.”
Frédéric Makowiecki (911 RSR #912): “So far this season we’ve contested four races in the United States – and we finished three of them on third place. I think it’s time for the first victory. Our team used the Le Mans break to test on the Watkins Glen circuit. That was important because the track has been resurfaced. We’re heading into the race well prepared.”
Jörg Bergmeister (911 GT3 R #73): “Watkins Glen is a real sports car classic in the USA and for me a highlight of the IMSA SportsCar Championship. The weather can play a decisive role, it’s often very changeable in this region. But I’m sure that we have good chances in dry and wet conditions.”
This is the IMSA SportsCar Championship
The IMSA SportsCar Championship is a sports car race series contested in the USA and Canada, which was run in 2014 for the first time. The series was formed from the merger of the American Le Mans Series and the Grand-Am Series. Sports prototypes and sports cars start in four different classes: GTLM (GT Le Mans), GTD (GT Daytona), P (Prototype) and PC (Prototype Challenge). The
Model range 911 (Type 991 II): Fuel consumption combined 9.3 – 7.4 l/100 km; CO2 emissions 216 - 169 g/km; efficiency class (Germany): F – D
911 GT3 RS: Fuel consumption combined 12.7 l/100 km; urban 19.2 l/100 km; extra urban 8.9 l/100 km; CO2 emissions 296 g/km; efficiency class (Germany): G
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