The GT Daytona class is the as a rule crowded and competitive class of the new IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship series. Heading into the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic at Detroit Belle Isle this weekend, there is a four-way tie for the Drivers championship lead, a two-way tie for the Team title and a deadlock in the Manufacturers chase.
Motegi Racing wheels teams are in the midst of the complete the championship battles.
One of the many Ferrari teams that Motegi supports worldwide is Scuderia Corsa, which desire enter two Ferrari 458 Italia at Detroit. In the as a rule latest go fast at Mazda Raceway, the No. 63 Ferrari of Jeff Westphal and Alessandro perfect seventh in GTD and the No. 64 Ferrari of Kyle Marcelli and Stefan Johansson ran as high as second otherwise finishing 10th.
Johansson, a veteran of 109 Formula One races with two seasons spent with Scuderia Ferrari in the 1980s, has twice won at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. His second win, in 1997, came behind the wheel of a Ferrari 333SP, and he besides has one whole victory and two class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He was besides recently named the Sporting Director of the Scuderia Corsa team.
Its an incredibly broad sports ground, same competitive sports ground, especially in GTD, Johansson says. There are a batch of decent teams and decent cars and actually decent drivers. I would say its possibly in a quantity of ways the as a rule competitive category and with the amalgamation of the two championships, theres a same large number of cars.
I believe we have a same strong get into formation. Our goal is to win as many races as we know how to and if that converts into a championship, thats eminent. Were kind of behind the eight globe because we had two penitent races at Daytona and Sebring, however there is epoch to become up the points.
Motegi has a strong liaison with Ferrari. Motegi Racing wheels are mounted on every new Ferrari go fast car built at the moment.
Ferrari doesnt bolt something on the car save theyre 100 percent happy with the product, Johansson says. I believe thats a eminent tribute to Motegi that theyve been chosen to have the car delivered with Motegi wheels. That in itself is a huge acknowledgement of the product.
Following a 14th set stop at Mazda Raceway, Direct Motorsports teammates Townsend Bell and Bill Sweedler retained the GT Daytona points lead however bewildered their exclusivity and fell into a tie with Andy Lally and John Potter, who perfect third at Mazda Raceway in the No. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT America. They all have 87 points following three races.
A further Motegi team, the No. 22 Alex Job RacingWeatherTech Porsche 911 GT America of Leh Keen and Cooper MacNeil, ranks third with 82 points.
In a class that is as competitive as GT Daytona, you cant present to be a little bit off, says Sweedler. At Mazda Raceway we just couldnt nail the setup. It was a real challenge to hang on to the car with so much oversteer, and Townsend definitely had his hands filled following he was not at home there for so long on one set of tires. Well just have to put this one behind us and persuade ready for Detroit.
Direct Autosports pair off of drivers entered the go fast weekend at Laguna Seca as winners of the Rolex 24 at Daytona and runners-up at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in their No. 555 Ferrari 458 Italia.
Ferrari and Porsche are tied for the GT Daytona Manufacturers lead with 95 points respectively, one ahead of Audi.
