Corvette teams set back by mistakes in Canada
Fourth place in the IMSA GTD PRO class was the best result that Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg in the # 4 Pratt & Miller Z06 GT3.R could achieve among the five (5) Corvette teams at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP, originally Mosport) on Sunday July 12.
Despite this lackluster performance, all ten drivers relish the chance to conquer their fears for this “old school” 2.46-mile race track opened in 1961. To quote Corvette racing legend Johnny O’Connell “The blind corners, ups and downs and the long uphill straight will take your breath away.” It’s hard to understand until you try it, perhaps with an instructor.
Both Pratt & Miller Corvettes had the pace but Milner, by his own admission, lost time with his belts on the driver change to Catsburg.
Ninth place by Antonio Garcia and Alexander Simms in the # 4 Pratt & Miller Z06 GT3.R was also the result of a slow stop, this one under yellow, and missing the speed when it counted for most during the 240-minute race.
Blame the strategy to be specific. Track position earned from qualifying third was squandered to cars that were saving fuel during the first stint to make a run for the finish.
Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat in the # 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 scored their second straight GTD Pro win after Watkins Glen.
Giacomo Altoe and Casper Steveson in the DragonSpeed # 81 Z06 GT3.R finished 10th in the GTD class, set back mid-race by a drive-through penalty for jumping their restart.
Matt Bell and Orey Fidani in the Autosport13 # 13 Z06 GT3.R were simply outgunned, finishing 12th in class and one lap shy of 118 laps completed by the leaders.
Mason Filippi in the DXDT # 36 Z06 GT3.R was holding his own until the throttle-return spring fell off during the pit stop handover to Robert Wickens. The repair cost them three laps and finished 13th (last) in GTD.
Wickens, the popular Canadian racer, disabled in an Indy Car race at Pocono, stoically admitted the mishap was his fault.
Everyone looks to improve at the IMSA Weathertech series Motul SportsCar Endurance Grand Prix at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin on Sunday, August 2.
