Deletraz, Blomqvist Set For Road America Showdown In IMSA's Motul SportsCar Grand Prix

IMSA WeatherTech GTP Class 2025 season championship point standings Pre-Road America. Image Credit: IMSA via FB/META (2025)

Deletraz, Blomqvist Set For Road America Showdown In IMSA's Motul SportsCar Grand Prix

As the IMSA SportsCar Grand Prix sponsored by Motul at Road America looms on the horizon from July 31 to August 3, 2025, anticipation builds for Louis Deletraz and Tom Blomqvist, two drivers poised to make their mark on one of America’s most iconic circuits. Deletraz, co-driver of the No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V-Series.R, and Blomqvist, co-driver of the No. 60 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian Acura ARX-06, are gearing up for a high-stakes sprint race at a track renowned for its blistering speed and challenging layout. Both drivers, fresh off recent successes and armed with insights from their respective teams’ progress, are eager to capitalize on Road America’s unique characteristics to chase victory and build momentum in the GTP class.

Louis Deletraz and Tom Blomqvist dive into the excitement of racing at Road America, sharing their love for the track’s challenging corners and discussing driver changes and team dynamics with Motorsports Journal's Edmund Jenks ahead of the IMSA Motul SportsCar Grand Prix.

BEGIN Transcript:

Louis Deletraz

Motorsports Journal: What do you like best about Road America and if you were king of the world would you prefer to drive first or second?

“The whole track is a bit like Spa. If you compare, it has a lot of elevation, high grip, pretty smooth. So, there's a lot of nice corners like the Carousel. It's a good mix between technical, low speed, and high speed. It is a challenge to put a big lap in. It's always rewarding when you see a good lap time and you’re up front to have made a lap there. It's just a track you get on and you enjoy, and that's something that you can only describe if you’re in the car. If I had to choose to drive first or second, I mean, at the end, I don't really care as long as we have a good result, I will be very happy. The race is 2 hours, 40 minutes, so both drivers will get enough time.”

Swiss Louis Deletraz loads into his No. 40 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V-Series.R (GTP) at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Image Credit Mike Levitt via IMSA (2025)

Motorsports Journal: So, you feel pretty good about helping a driver into the seat as well as just getting out?

“Exactly. That's no issue. I think we work hard to improve our driver change times. It is important in a sprint race. You can have an early yellow and switch drivers quite early into the race. We try to get our times down. I think anything below 15 seconds is good and you try to make it as good as possible, less mistakes as possible, and make sure it's smooth, so you don't lose positions in the pits.”

Tom Blomqvist

Motorsports Journal: Tom, Meyer Shank Racing is now running two really strong programs. In fact, I guess they've got two cars squarely placed in the top ten in IndyCar. Does that have any effect on the culture, the overall culture, at Meyer Shank Racing running two cars in WeatherTech IMSA and I guess the sense of the team around you. 

“Well, it means that our bosses are typically a bit more happy, which is always a good thing. They give us less slack. so  no, I mean, it's obviously been a great year for them. It’s going well in IndyCar and they’ve picked back up with the sports car program as well was huge for the for the team and for the organization. So, from that perspective, obviously it's great and all pretty happy there. But obviously we got to keep delivering as well, right? Like still they still want to go out and win races. We know on the sports cars, we're kind of always going to the weekend fighting for the chance to win and stuff. So, yeah, it was it was obviously great as well, the last two races having got victories for not only for MSR, but also with HRC like this new sort of collaboration, so it's been a great boost for everyone really, so I hope that motivates them to keep wanting to do well and keep trying to get better.” 

Brit Tom Blomqvist, co-driver of the No. 60 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian Acura ARX-06 (GTP), drives pitlane as he enters the track at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Image Credit Mike Levitt via IMSA (2025)

Motorsports Journal: At Road America from outside of the Carousel, what are some of the parts of the track you like the most? 

“For me, I kind of like it all. I quite like heavy break zones, which is kind of boring in a way, but I like them. Yeah, I like I like that. I like five. I like eight. But in terms of like a bit more fun, I think it's actually after the kink you've got the right left, it's quite a tricky corner actually to get right, the car never feels like it's quite for whatever reason, it's just tricky corner, can't never feels amazing there. but in that you got that left, which is pretty fast. and in the last corner (Turn 14), which is a bit of an awkward, it's quite a long, sort of like awkward right hander. and I'll see it leads onto a street. So it's quite important. So yeah, that probably I enjoy. There is parts, even this first sector, the first corner is nice. Like there's so many good corners there honestly. like it's like I said, it's probably my favorite. now, thank you.” 

ENDS

For Deletraz, Road America represents both a thrilling opportunity and a new challenge with the Cadillac V-Series.R. “It’s an awesome track; so fast,” he enthused, reflecting on the circuit’s high-speed demands. Coming off a double podium for Wayne Taylor Racing at Watkins Glen, Deletraz is brimming with confidence. The team’s first podium of the season has ignited a hunger for more, with the Swiss driver eyeing a maiden win at Road America. “We want to build momentum from that,” he said, acknowledging the team’s growing synergy with the Cadillac. Despite a tough start to the year, Deletraz believes the team’s learning curve has positioned them well for Road America, a track where their data and experience could translate into a competitive edge.

Blomqvist, meanwhile, approaches Road America with a deep affinity for the circuit, calling it “probably my favorite track from an enjoyment level to drive.” His recent test at the track with Meyer Shank Racing revealed a circuit that has evolved since its resurfacing in 2023, becoming “slightly more forgiving” with less drastic grip loss offline. This suits the Acura ARX-06, which has historically performed well at Road America’s long straights and fast corners. Blomqvist’s optimism is bolstered by his team’s steady improvement throughout the season. “Every race we’re getting better with the new organization,” he noted, highlighting the integration of new personnel and the strategic challenges of running two cars. With back-to-back wins in recent races, Blomqvist is hopeful Acura can fight for another victory.

Both drivers are navigating the complexities of multi-class racing at Road America, a four-class sprint race that presents unique challenges with its mix of high-speed straights and tight corners like the Carousel and the Kink. Blomqvist sees the track’s layout as advantageous for the GTP cars, which can leverage their straight-line speed to overtake slower classes more easily than at tighter circuits like Watkins Glen. “It’s a bit easier track for us to navigate traffic,” he explained, though he cautioned that timing runs through the Kink could prove costly if mistimed. Deletraz, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of track position in a sprint race, where fewer pit stops limit strategic opportunities. Both drivers are acutely aware of the need to balance aggression with precision on this demanding circuit.

The championship picture adds another layer of intrigue to their preparations. For Deletraz, the focus is squarely on race wins rather than the drivers’ championship, which he believes is out of reach after a rocky start to the season. “We’re too far to catch up,” he admitted, but he remains committed to helping his teammates in the No. 10 Cadillac or other Cadillac entries if they have a shot at the title. Blomqvist echoed a similar sentiment, noting that while the drivers’ championship is “realistically gone,” Acura’s pursuit of the manufacturers’ championship remains a priority. With two wins already under their belt, Meyer Shank Racing is determined to keep the pressure on, leveraging Road America’s suitability to their car to close the gap.

A significant shift awaits both drivers in 2026, when Road America transitions to a six-hour endurance race. This change will demand a different approach, as Deletraz explained: “In sprint races, you need to run at the front… In an endurance race, you want to survive, cycle through the first three hours, and then get to the front.” He’s excited about the prospect, noting that Road America’s layout is well-suited for multi-class traffic over longer distances. Blomqvist shares this enthusiasm, calling the move “awesome” and praising the track’s suitability for endurance racing. He highlighted the strategic flexibility of longer races, where qualifying is less critical, and teams can position themselves for the final hours—a dynamic both drivers are eager to embrace.

Adapting to different machinery is another challenge both drivers handle with aplomb. Deletraz, who juggles GTP and LMP2 racing, sees it as an advantage. “You arrive to the next event just warmed up,” he said, noting that the transition takes just a few laps to recalibrate. Blomqvist, fresh off an LMP2 outing at CTMP, agrees, describing the initial adjustment as minor once familiar with both cars. “It’s not too difficult now,” he said, praising the LMP2’s nimble handling and high downforce. For both, the variety hones their skills, keeping them sharp and adaptable—a critical edge in IMSA’s diverse field.

For Blomqvist, returning to Meyer Shank Racing after a year in IndyCar has been a process of refamiliarization, but one he’s navigated smoothly. The team’s expansion to two cars and integration with Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) has presented challenges, but Blomqvist is encouraged by their progress. “We’re getting better each weekend,” he said, optimistic about their trajectory. Deletraz, too, is buoyed by Wayne Taylor Racing’s growing mastery of the Cadillac, with each race yielding valuable lessons. As Road America approaches, both drivers are poised to harness their teams’ momentum, their personal adaptability, and the track’s unique demands to chase glory in what promises to be a thrilling chapter of the 2025 IMSA season.

The energy management challenge, particularly at Road America’s uphill finish, adds a final layer of complexity. Blomqvist recalled the tight energy margins at Watkins Glen, but he’s confident the team’s engineers have accounted for the additional energy needed to crest Road America’s front straight. “The guys behind the computers are on top of all that stuff,” he assured. With both drivers and their teams finely tuned and ready to tackle the high-speed ballet of Road America, fans can expect a fiercely contested race where strategy, skill, and raw speed will determine who stands atop the podium.

[ht: Transcript By Tony DiZinno - IMSA Communications]

FULL ZOOM Call Interview Here >>>

The Motul SportsCar Grand Prix at Road America, set for July 31–August 3, 2025, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, promises high-speed racing action. The 2-hour, 40-minute race streams live on Peacock starting at 2:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p.m. CT) on Sunday, August 3. 

Live Streaming:  

Race: Peacock (U.S.) at 2:00 p.m. ET; IMSA.tv and IMSA’s YouTube channel (global)  

Qualifying: Saturday, August 2, 5:35 p.m. ET on Peacock (U.S.), IMSA.tv, and IMSA’s YouTube (global)

IMSA Radio: Live on IMSA.com and RadioLeMans.com for select sessions; SiriusXM (XM 206, Web/App 996) race coverage starts Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET

Circuit: 4.048-mile, 14-turn road course

Classes: GTP, LMP2, GTD PRO, GTD

Race Duration: 2 hours, 40 minutes

... notes from The EDJE

TAGS: IMSA, Road America, Louis Deletraz, Tom Blomqvist, Cadillac, Acura, GTP, sprint race, endurance, sportscar racing, The EDJE

More Equals Less In Upcoming GTP Championship Season

Fruits of developments between Porsche and Penske Motorsports were shown at AutoMobility LA 2022 (LA Auto Show Press Day). This will be the fourth manufacturer to join in the IMSA Series LMDh Class for 2023. This union is the second introduction by Penske Motorsport to the highest level of prototype competition, the first being the championship winning Acura - ARX–05.  Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2022)

More Equals Less In Upcoming GTP Championship Season

Last year, NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Will Power showed the world how a less equals more strategy can deliver a season series championship win (his career second). The WeatherTech GTP Class championship, however, has settled on a more equals less strategy to deliver a hybrid technology answer (more) to the reduction of carbon emissions (less) in a major professional motorsports competition series championship.

In a first of the new year ZOOM Call put on by IMSA, with the participants from teams representing the four major automotive manufacturers who will be competing in the 2023 GTP class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Series - Cadillac, Acura, BMW, and Porsche - most all of the technical team leaders expressed a few common themes.

WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP class ZOOM Call participants - Left To Right In ZOOM Call Images:

Gary Nelson, Cadillac Action Express Racing

Travis Hogue, Acura Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport

Jonathan Diuguid, Porsche Penske Motorsport

Mike O'Gara, Cadillac Racing (CGR)

Justin Harnisfager, Acura Meyer Shank Racing

Brandon Fry, BMW M Team RLL

WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP Class Teams ZOOM Call Part 1

IMSA 101 - DPi cars are being replaced by LMDh cars for 2023 >>> an LMDh (Le Mans Daytona h) is a type of sports prototype race car that will compete alongside Le Mans Hypercar entries in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship from 2023 - it also competes in the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The LMDh ruleset was created jointly by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). The cars will serve as the successor to the Daytona Prototype International class, utilizing regulations that were planned to become the next-generation Daytona Prototype International ruleset, converged with the Le Mans Hypercar ruleset, showing off the latest technology in mating traditional internal combustion engines (ICE) with electrification (Hybrid Technology) - tap for more.

[ht: WIKI/IMSA]

In addition to having to integrate hybrid electric power units to the ICE power units (internal combustion engine) one has to consider what additional impacts will this have on a team as it prepares at the team shop environment, travel, and set-up at a track for testing and competition. 

Action Express Racing's Whelen Engineering sponsored GTP Cadillac. Image Credit: Mike Levitt (2022)

Gary Nelson, Cadillac Action Express Racing, was keen to point out that in previous DPi rules configuration, the team could just load up the car, parts, toolboxes and other support gear in one transporter. Here in the LMDh rules configuration, this will require two full transporters and a trailing 5th wheel trailer. 

We’re on the threshold of a thrilling new era in endurance sports car racing and Cadillac is all in! Cadillac Racing will contest the top category of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with its V-LMDh prototype race cars as the only U.S.-based manufacturer. The 2023 sports car racing season gets underway with the Daytona Roar (January 20-22, 2023) and Rolex 24 at Daytona (January 28-29, 2023). The first event on the WEC calendar is the 1,000 miles of Sebring, on March 17th. I encourage anyone inclined to enjoy any of the 2023 IMSA or WEC races in person to buy your tickets and make your travel arrangements now! #BeIconic @cadillac @CadillacRacing #IMSA @imsa_racing #ctmp @fiawec_official #fiawec @fiawec #richardprincephotography @richardprincephoto

Jonathan Diuguid (pronounced Do-gid), Porsche Penske Motorsport ended Part 1 with the one element to this racing equation that, in the beginning of any season is on the more side, tire compound choices that will deliver the fastest times with longer runs - less pit stops with less time involved with the completion of each lap.

Motorsports Journal/EVHNews was able to ask questions from Brandon Fry of RLL about how the new RLL HQ helps the BMW GTP  Class effort & Jonathan Diuguid about working with a manufacturer to introduce a racing effort to this level of championship racing series - first Acura, and now Porsche - these questions begin this next Part 2 video.

WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP Class Teams ZOOM Call Part 2

<<< Again - Left To Right In ZOOM Call Images >>>

Gary Nelson, Cadillac Action Express Racing

Travis Hogue, Acura Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport

Jonathan Diuguid, Porsche Penske Motorsport

Mike O'Gara, Cadillac Racing (CGR)

Justin Harnisfager, Acura Meyer Shank Racing

Brandon Fry, BMW M Team RLL

Join us on our ROAD TO DAYTONA for insights into the BMW M Hybrid V8 project.

Episode 2: Tested in all conditions.

Sound on!#bmwmhybridv8 @IMSA @RLLracing pic.twitter.com/EUMQd7ymrn

— BMW Motorsport (@BMWMotorsport) January 5, 2023

Major concerns that are common with all teams and manufacturers as it relates to the level of confidence in the unknowns. Unknowns all track back to reliability during race day activities. As always, when something is new, one has no real idea if all of the bits, pieces, and tasked function parts will hold up to endurance race stresses and conditions. This is why we all push the limits of technology and application, this is why we race ... isn't it?

... notes from The EDJE

FEATURED ARTICLE >>>

TAGS: WeatherTech, SportCar, IMSA, GTP, LMDh, BMW, Porsche, Acura, Cadillac, ICE. Hybrid EV, Le Mans, Daytona, 2023, The EDJE

IMSA DPi Cadillac's Westbrook, Derani, & ACURA's Albuquerque Share Thoughts On Race 03 At Long Beach Streets

Wayne Taylor Racing's No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 Acura DPi at the apex of the famed passing turn at the end of the Seaside Straight, Firestone Turn 9. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2021)

IMSA DPi Cadillac's Westbrook, Derani, & ACURA's Albuquerque Share Thoughts On Race 03 At Long Beach Streets

A ZOOM Call interview was held on March 29 with select DPi drivers to preview the third race of the season held on the temporary street course at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 8-9, 2022.

The 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit encircles the Long Beach Convention Center and runs down scenic Shoreline Drive. It offers numerous overtaking opportunities, including Turn 1 (Toyota) - Turn 6 (Tecate Turn) - Turn 8 - Turn 9 (Firestone) - but getting the hairpin Turn 11, just before the frontstretch, right is critical as this sets up Turn 1.

Richard Westbrook, co-driver of the No. 5 JDC Miller MotorSports Cadillac DPi-V.R, Pipo Derani, co-driver of the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R, and Filipe Albuquerque, co-driver of the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 Acura DPi remain excited over competing through the concrete canyons on the shores of the Pacific Ocean during Southern California's primary rites-of-spring event.

CADILLAC RACING LONG BEACH PREVIEW: ZOOM TRANSCRIPT

In advance of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race April 9 on the 1.968-mile, 11-turn street circuit in Long Beach, California, Pipo Derani (No.31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) -- who co-drove to the 2021 victory to lead a Cadillac sweep of the podium -- and Richard Westbrook (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R), co-driver of the DPi championship points-leading team, met with the media March 29 via Zoom conference.

RICHARD WESTBROOK (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R):

THE MUSTANG SAMPLING COLORS HAVE WON AT LONG BEACH, BUT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR YOUR FIRST WIN THERE. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO BRING IT HOME FOR YOU AND TRISTAN VAUTIER?

“It’s going to be incredibly tough, obviously. Going into the third round that starts off at Daytona, a completely different circuit, and then the polar opposite going to Sebring and then completely different yet again going to Long Beach. I feel like every time I’m going to a new track with this car – the track I know but it’s the first time in this car – it’s almost like I’ve never been there before because the car is so different than a GT and the last time I raced in prototype. It’s a massive learning curve, but there’s a lot you can take from Sebring to Long Beach setup-wise and we obviously had a good car there. I’m quietly confident and just really pleased to get the 36 hours of Florida out of the way because that was my target – to get through those two events and get some decent points on the board, learn as much as I can, try to fit into the team as best I can and get myself a platform for the short-race season. That’s what we’ve done. To come out of those two rounds with leading the championship, I sort of have to pinch myself. Obviously, it’s early days and lots of race to go, but we’ve given ourselves a good platform. I’m looking forward to Long Beach, but a completely different challenge.”

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALIFYING ON A STREET CIRCUIT WITH A SHORT RACE?

“Street circuit qualifying is nuts. You have to sort of go to places that you don’t really want to go to in practice. You have to step out for sure and take the car past its limit in some way. I prefer to be finishing that race.”

QUESTION FROM MOTORSPORTS JOURNAL >>>

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SECTION OF THE LONG BEACH TRACK AND WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GAINING FROM THAT SECTION?

“I guess the last two corners because when you have sections of circuits where you can give up a little bit to have a good run through the last corners – where you can sacrifice a bit to gain something somewhere else. That whole last section where you’ve got the right and then the long left and then the final hairpin, you can go quicker in one but you’re going to have to sacrifice in the next. It’s sort of connecting the three and I like that sort of challenge in any circuit. We turn up for the first practice at 9 o’clock in the morning and it’s kind of a meaningless session because you’re just cleaning the circuit and the track just evolves, evolves and it’s a completely different circuit come race day. I remember that race day is normally quicker (lap times) than qualifying because the track just continues to evolve. You have to be ready for that. You sort of have to adapt yourself. You can’t go into each session with the mindset that ‘I need to improve in that corner, maybe I’ll try that.’ The track next session is completely different, so you have to be open-minded in how you set out to work. I’ve never won at Long Beach, so it's about time I did.”

ENDS

IS THIS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET MORE IN TUNE WITH YOUR NEW TEAMMATE?

“When you get a new teammate, the first few races you’re sort of working out what does he like to eat, where are we going to have dinner tonight. It’s getting used to all that stuff. The chemistry with Tristan (Vautier) and Loic (Duval) has been really strong. We’re definitely working toward the same goal in terms of setup on the car; we like a similar setup. For me, it’s only going to get stronger. I can’t say enough about Tristan. I’ve been super pleased with how he performs, and his one-lap pace is incredible. Hopefully, he puts that to good use all year.”

PIPO DERANI (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R):

FOND MEMORIES OF LONG BEACH LAST YEAR. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO REPEAT WITH YOUR NEW TEAMMATE TRISTAN NUNEZ?

“Long Beach last year was definitely a key moment in our championship. It was a fantastic race because the year before we almost won the race; in the end we wound up losing the wheel after leading the race up to the last pit stop. To capitalize last year and make sure we win that one when it slipped away the year before was great. Long Beach is a great track to drive. The event is a fantastic together with INDYCAR to have a lot of fans around. A street track is always challenging to be so close to the walls. It’s going to be again a very challenging and a very tight field and difficult race to win as usual in IMSA. Our Cadillac DPi runs really well at that track. Looking forward to it with a new teammate Tristan (Nunez). He’s driven there before and hopefully he’ll hit the ground running with the Cadillac. After two races under his belt, he’s getting more used to the Cadillac DPi. I’m looking forward to heading west and having our two races there at Long Beach and then later at Monterrey.”

YOU CAME BACK LAST YEAR TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER A ROUGH START. DO YOU HAVE A PHILOSOPHY ABOUT IT OR ARE YOU EVEN THINKING ABOUT IT?

“I think last year was a little bit chaotic in the beginning for us. I’d like to think this year has started much smoother than last year. Last year, we had a gearbox problem at Daytona, a horrible Sebring and we made our lives very difficult toward the end of the season to win the championship the way we did. I think we won the championship by 11 points, so it was really tight and difficult to overcome the difficult beginning. This year, not ideal to finish fourth at Daytona, but getting our first podium at Sebring I think we are much closer to the championship leaders than we were last year. Of course, we would like to be further up. There’s no philosophy in starting slow and trying to finish strong. I think a championship is built not only on the second half of the season but trying to make sure you get the points early on as well. The championship is so strong; we had a really strong race at Daytona this year and came up short at the end when it counted. We didn’t quite have the pace in the last 30 minutes and there were three cars that were stronger than us that finished ahead of us. In a championship, we try to maximize points when we can. If we can’t win, then take second or third or even fourth. I think we’re within 30 or 40 points from the lead so better than last year. Hopefully, it’s a good beginning to be stronger toward the rest of the championship.”

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES TO HAVING THREE DIFFERENT SETUPS FOR THE FIRST THREE RACES?

“It shows the diversity of the championship. You go from Daytona – very big track – to Sebring – very bumpy track – and then to a street track in California. I think it brings something to the championship and for the teams to adapt quickly to these changes. They are great tracks to drive; each have their own peculiarity. Daytona being the beginning of the season and so many long straights and then going to Sebring, a track that was so strong for Cadillac. You have a brand like Acura that dominated at Daytona and then Cadillac dominating at Sebring. And now going into Long Beach – a track that has been quite even between the two manufacturers over the last few years. We got pole position last year and won the race. It’s great to have such a great combination of tracks where you have to keep yourself and your team on your toes and do the best job possible to stay ahead.”

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALIFYING ON A STREET CIRCUIT WITH A SHORT RACE?

“It’s a track that is hard to pass. Also, you can get a little bit lucky because you see others making mistakes, hitting the walls and eventually you can be a little bit lucky with a yellow, but you don’t want to count on that at all. In an hour, 40-minute race, I think you need to maximize your chances and that starts with qualifying. That’s the beauty of the sport; you have to put it together early and hope that the race stays green.”

WHAT MAKES THE CADILLAC SUCH A GOOD CAR AT LONG BEACH?

“I think Cadillac has shown to be very good when the track is bumpy. Not last year, but the year before Acura qualified on pole with a Penske car and I think they had the pace to win just like we did. Last year, it seemed like we had some advantage over the Wayne Taylor car and the Shank car, but they seemed to have stepped up this year in terms of performance, so I’m expecting a close fight. But the Cadillac is a fantastic car over the bumps. We saw that at Sebring. It’s a car that copes well with a bump track and normally street tracks tend to be a little bit more bumpy than a normal track. I think this is one of the strong points of our Cadillac DPi and hopefully we can use that to our advantage over the race weekend at Long Beach.”

QUESTION FROM MOTORSPORTS JOURNAL >>>

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SECTION OF THE LONG BEACH TRACK AND WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GAINING FROM THAT SECTION?

“A fun part of Long Beach is the roundabout where it’s quite tight, it’s interesting how you have to go around the roundabout but at the same time try to clip a little bit of the curb. You have nice pictures there; sometimes it looks as if the car is on top of the grass.”

ENDS

IS THIS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET MORE IN TUNE WITH YOUR NEW TEAMMATE?

“I think it’s been a learning curve after three years with Felipe (Nasr) when you get to learn and understand each other so well. Having Tristan (Nunez) come on board this year has been refreshing. It’s been two races where Tristan has allowed himself to adapt to the team. It’s always good to have Daytona and Sebring as the first two races of the season because you have so much track time and you have time to find all those details you need for a good relationship with your teammate. It’s not easy to just step into DPi with the car that just won the championship to perform at the highest level, but so far he's doing a fantastic job. I think we’re heading into a different type of race of the championship that is much shorter and I’m sure he’s going to do really well. We’ll continue to develop this relationship and hopefully bring some wins to the team and bring another championship.”

No Transcript As Yet For >>>

Filipe Albuquerque, co-driver of the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 Acura DPi

QUESTION FROM MOTORSPORTS JOURNAL >>>

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SECTION OF THE LONG BEACH TRACK AND WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GAINING FROM THAT SECTION?

Answer Spooled Up In Video Above >>>

ENDS

... notes from The EDJE


FEATURED ARTICLE >>>

TAGS: IMSA, DPi, Cadillac, ACURA, No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura, No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac, No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac, Westbrook, Derani, Albuquerque, The EDJE

Full 2022 Endurance Racing Driver Line-Up Announcement For Wayne Taylor Racing

The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 as it negotiates The Hairpin - Turn 11 at the Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien - Motor Driven Images (2021)

Full 2022 Endurance Racing Driver Line-Up Announcement For Wayne Taylor Racing

Wayne Taylor Racing announces full-time drivers, Michelin Endurance Cup and Rolex 24 driver lineup for the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar DPi championship season in the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05.

Drivers announced include the 2021 Michelin Endurance Cup Champions and 2021 IMSA WeatherTech DPi Vice Champions Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque returning as full-time co-pilots of the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 in 2022 with hopes of back-to-back wins at the 2022 Rolex 24 at Daytona. 

Keeping continuity for the Endurance Cup, the 2021 Michelin Endurance Cup Champion for WTR and standout INDYCAR pilot Alexander Rossi will once again assist the team as it looks to make history during this iconic 24-hour endurance battle of wits, stamina and strategy. Filling out the racing line-up card has veteran driver from England and Rossi’s former Formula 1 teammate, Will Stevens, joining WTR as the team’s endurance co-driver at the Rolex 24 at DAYTONA, the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, and Motul Petit Le Mans for the 2022 season.

“I’m excited to finally announce our 2022 driver lineup for the full season, the Michelin Endurance Cup and for the Rolex 24 at DAYTONA,” expressed team owner Wayne Taylor. “Each year, we speak with many drivers as we develop our driver lineup, and I feel very good to officially announce everyone. Ricky and Filipe will be back as full-time co-drivers. Continuity is always a good thing and both of them work really well together. We have Alexander Rossi joining us again. He did a great job with us last year helping us win the Rolex 24. Will Stevens will be running all Michelin Endurance Cup races for us. He’s been someone that we’ve been watching over the last year or two and gathering info on. Alex and he were teammates in Formula 1 years ago, so the drivers meshed very well at the recent two day test in Daytona where Will came up to speed very quickly. The most important thing is having everybody with the same goal which is to win. Thank you to Acura, HPD, Konica Minolta, Harrison Contracting and CIT who have all helped to make this happen and I can’t wait to get back to Daytona.”

Established in 2007, Wayne Taylor Racing has asserted itself as a perennial leading force in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The 2021 Michelin Endurance Cup Champions have won three IMSA Driver Championships and nine IMSA Manufacturer Titles since their formation. In the team’s 15 seasons, they have seized four of the last five Rolex 24 at DAYTONA titles, two 12 Hours of Sebring victories and three Petit Le Mans wins. The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 team will look to make history by winning four Rolex 24 at DAYTONA events in a row with their exceptional driver line-up for 2022.

Ricky Taylor returns to Wayne Taylor Racing for the second consecutive year and his fifteenth season in topflight sports car racing. The IMSA veteran won the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2017 and 2020 and brought his team within one corner of the overall title on their way to an Endurance Cup victory in 2021. Statistically one of the greatest drivers in IMSA history, Taylor boasts a record of 27 victories, 23 pole positions, and 64 podium finishes including wins at all the series’ marquee endurance events—the Rolex 24 at DAYTONA, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Six Hours of the Glen and Petit Le Mans.

“2022 is going to be a fantastic season,” commented Ricky Taylor, the two-time IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Champion. “WTR, Konica Minolta, Harrison Contracting and CIT came out of the gates so strongly with the ARX-05 in their first season running it, already fighting for a championship. Along with Filipe and Alex rejoining the team, we should have some really strong continuity moving into next season to keep building on our success with HPD and Acura. It’s also great having Will on board with us. He is a world class sportscar driver and we are lucky to have him join the team. He has already contributed greatly to the team, and I think our Rolex 24 lineup is as strong as ever. The competition will be tough with the addition of a second Ganassi Cadillac, but we will welcome it and look forward to fighting for another championship.”

Full-time pilot Filipe Albuquerque continues his tenure with the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 team for the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship multiple race winner, 2020 European Le Mans Champion and LMP2 WEC Champion carries a resume as diverse as it is impressive. His 2021 run with WTR produced a trio of wins, including the Rolex 24 at DAYTONA, en route to the Endurance Cup title.

“The IMSA offseason break is not so long, especially this year, given that the last race was a bit later than normal,” said Filipe Albuquerque. “For someone that enjoys racing, as I do, that is great. I am looking forward to 2022 with my great teammate Ricky. Now that we have more experience with the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05, maybe we can grab that one extra point that made us miss the DPi title in 2021. We came off a fantastic test with the whole team a few weeks ago with Alex and our new team member Will Stevens, I am happy to have Will onboard. He has a lot of experience; we had many fights in the past in ELMS and WEC, so I know how good he is. I hope we can achieve many victories together.”

Seven-time INDYCAR race winner and 2016 Indianapolis 500 champion Alexander Rossi rejoins Wayne Taylor Racing after a productive run across all the four endurance races with the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 team. Having captured a Rolex 24 victory, Baja 1000 win and the Michelin Endurance Cup title last season, he’ll look to build on 2021’s successes in 2022.

“I am thrilled to be returning to Daytona with Wayne Taylor Racing and Acura,” said Alexander Rossi. “It was such a privilege to be able to continue driving with Ricky for what was our third year together and the addition of Filipe couldn’t have gone any better as shown by the result that we were able to achieve last year. It is great to work again with Will Stevens as we were actually teammates back in our F1 days and we were able to get straight back to business after not seeing each other for six years. I can’t wait to get back to the track and hopefully deliver Wayne his 5th 24-hour win in 6 years.”

Will Stevens is currently a Formula 1 Test & Development Driver for McLaren and a standout in the World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series. Will has held roles with various F1 teams dating back to 2008 and made his Grand Prix debut in 2014 before earning a full-time seat with Manor Marussia F1 Team for 2015. His recent career highlights include class wins in the World Endurance Championship and a runner-up campaign in the Blancpain GT Series.

“I’m super excited to join the Wayne Taylor Racing family and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for Daytona, Sebring and Petit Le Mans,” said Stevens. “This team is very respected and one that I’ve always wanted to be part of. IMSA Is a huge market in motorsport that is growing massively and it’s a relationship that I want to build on for the future. I have known Ricky, Filipe and Alexander a little bit over the past few years, so it’s nice to have that relationship already with the guys. It’s an honor to be part of this exceptional No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 team and to help with the success for this year.”

In 2022, Konica Minolta and Wayne Taylor Racing continue their storied history together. Michael Mathe, President, International Operation, Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA, Inc. has been a driving force in the strong relationship between WTR and Konica Minolta.

“We are very excited to start another season supporting WTR!” exclaimed Michael Mathe.” We are really thrilled with the driver line-up this year and look forward to many wins and to challenge for the IMSA WeatherTech DPi Championship.”

After a historic 2021, HPD looks forward to another year of victories with the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 team.

“Winning both the Rolex 24 and the Michelin Endurance Cup last year were important milestones for Acura’s IMSA racing program,” said David Salters, President and Technical Director of Honda Performance Development, the North American racing arm for Acura Motorsports. “In just the first year of our association, Wayne Taylor Racing has proven to be an important partner in our IMSA effort, and the WTR driver lineup for 2022 is extraordinarily strong. It’s a great racing team, Wayne leads from the front and all our engineers just work well together and want to go racing. We look forward to seeing these very talented drivers in Victory Circle next year for Acura.”

Harrison Contracting enters their third year as an important partner with Wayne Taylor Racing, who also fields standout Ashton Harrison and the No. 25 Harrison Contracting Huracan in the North America Lamborghini Super Trofeo Series for the Painting and Contracting Services company.

“I’m really glad that Harrison Contracting Company (HCC) is once again partnering with WTR and Konica Minolta because of the professionalism and winning spirit they possess,” said Bill Harrison, President and Co-Founder. “Our outlook at HCC is the same as WTR when it comes to quality and the desire to be the best we can be. The efforts on both sides are endless when striving to be number one. At HCC, we provide it through the painting and maintenance services, while WTR does it through racing—and we both do it by building lasting relationships. In our world of business, image is everything, and Wayne and Travis Houge (Vice President and General Manager of WTR) see things in the same fashion that we do here at HCC. The level of what they are providing, and the level of driver development we’ve experienced with Ashton Harrison, is a major part of our desire to reunite again this year with WTR and Konica Minolta. Likewise, working with Acura and Honda is another reason why we wanted to come back this year and rejoin the team. Working alongside their proven success worldwide, and their passion for supporting all levels in racing, helps us know that this is where we want to be on the manufacturer’s side.”

(ht: WTR)

The 2022 season officially begins in less than two months ... on January 21 at Daytona International Speedway for the annual Roar Before the 24 with the momentous Rolex 24 at DAYTONA immediately following. Practice begins on Thursday, January 27 with the race running January 29-30. The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 will work to win a historic four 24-hour events in a row.

... notes from The EDJE


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TAGS: Konica Minolta, Acura, Wayne Taylor Racing, IMSA, 2022, WeatherTech SportsCar DPi championship season, The EDJE

As Official Artist, Randy Owens Named Poster Artist For 45th Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach

As Official Artist, Randy Owens Named Poster Artist For 45th Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach 

Prolific American racing artist Randy Owens has been named Official Race Artist for the 2019 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

As Official Race Artist, Owens has created the poster artwork for the 45th annual event, which will also grace the covers of the event program, Fan Guide, T-shirts and other race-related materials.

Owens has established himself in the American racing art scene, having produced over 300 handmade serigraph editions in his realistic style -- modern and evolutionary, with color and motion as the central theme.

He has created poster art for Long Beach races eight times, including the Grand Prix’s 40th anniversary edition in 2014, as well as posters for the Miami Grand Prix, US Grand Prix at Indianapolis, Road America Historic Races and the Bahrain International Circuit.  And, since 1991, he has also produced an annual motor racing calendar for Bridgestone. ​

Randy Owens poster of the 40th Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach. Image Credit: GPALB

Born in Baltimore, Md., Owens grew up in Virginia and majored in fine art at Northern Virginia Community College. He was drawn to the vibrant colors, clean form and crisp edges of serigraphy (silkscreen printmaking), and after being introduced to auto racing in 1978 began making serigraphs of motor racing subjects in his own unique style.

Over the years, Owens has staged over 200 exhibitions of his work in five countries, including the Axis Galleries in Tokyo and 10-year retrospective shows at the famous l’art et l’automobile Gallery in New York City and the National Automobile Museum in Reno, NV.

Owens will have a display booth at the 2019 Acura Grand Prix and will be available to sign posters for race fans throughout the weekend. Official posters will sell for $10 at the event, as well as in the weeks prior to the event at gplb.com.

The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will be headlined by the fourth round of the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series, as well as the BUBBA burger Sports Car Grand Prix, featuring the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. In addition, the weekend will include the Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge under the lights on Friday and Saturday nights; SPEED Energy Stadium Super Trucks, the powerful sports cars of the Pirelli GT4 America and the new-for-2019 Historic IMSA GTO Challenge. There will also be concerts, free to race ticket holders, on Friday and Saturday nights.

Fans can select and pay for their Grand Prix seats, parking and paddock passes online at gplb.com. Ticket orders can also be placed by calling the toll-free ticket hotline, (888) 827-7333.  Also featured on gplb.com is the latest Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach news and racetrack information, photos and ongoing announcements of special race week activities.

Ticket prices range from $33 for a Friday General Admission ticket to $147 for a three-day ticket that includes Sat./Sun. reserved seating in grandstand upper levels.  Pre-paid parking packages are also available, along with handicapped seating, NTT IndyCar Series Paddock passes, Super Photo tickets and a wide variety of hospitality packages.

Fans can also follow the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Facebook (GrandPrixLB), Twitter @GPLongBeach (#AGPLB) and Instagram @GPLongBeach.
[ht: AGPLB]

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: Randy Owens, Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach, 45th, AGPLB, Race Artist, Acura, The EDJE

LA Auto Show Announces A Debut Event Of 40+ Vehicles

All electric Cadillac Converj concept on display at the 2011 LA Auto Show. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)  

LA Auto Show Announces A Debut Event Of 40+ Vehicles

The Los Angeles Auto Show announced today July 12, 2012 that more than 40 vehicles are anticipated to debut at the Show during the 2012 Press Days, held Nov. 28-29.

With four and a half months until the Show (beginning with Press Days - Nov. 28-29), it is noteworthy that at least 20 world debuts have already been confirmed by automakers. This breaking news, as well as other automotive trends, will be unveiled to a global audience consisting of media from more than 50 countries.

The debut lineup this year also promises a compelling mix of the hottest trends and cutting-edge innovations driving today's resurgent automotive industry, including world firsts from Chevrolet as well as European automakers such as BMW, Fiat and Volkswagen. Los Angeles attendees will also see global unveiling previews of new designs from Asian brands, including models from Acura, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan and Toyota.

The all natural gas-powered 2012 Honda Accord Green Car of the Year for 2012. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)


Green and alternative fuel technologies represented by types powered through fuel hybrid and all-electric vehicles, will be featured in several world debuts at the Show. There also will be an increasing number of high-mileage internal combustion vehicles, including clean diesel, on display.

Additionally, several automakers will unveil emerging technologies that are dramatically changing the modern driving experience and making it safer.

These technology-laden vehicles will share the media spotlight with a well-represented lineup of luxury and performance models underscoring the L.A. region's status as the largest market for these segments in the country. Of the 40 debuts slated, at least a dozen will come from these two categories, including unveilings from the likes of Acura, Bentley, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover and Porsche.

As stated by Andy Fuzesi, general manager, L.A. Auto Show - "As the first major North American show of the season, L.A. sets the tone for 2013 and we expect that automakers will pull out all the stops to excite new-car buyers. In virtually every category from the greenest electric vehicle to high-horsepower performance models, the technological advancements we are seeing today eclipse all previous automotive eras."

With California established as a global center for alternative fuel and advanced technology innovations, it should come as no surprise that the L.A. Auto Show will be a prime venue for breaking news on all the latest developments. The entirely new Automotive Technology Showcase, presented by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, is a Press Days expo designed to connect automotive technology companies with automakers, media, analysts, and other potential customers and partners. It will serve as a one-stop dedicated showcase covering advancements such as digital speech recognition, accident avoidance technology, navigation systems, real-time traffic data and solutions designed to mitigate distracted driving concerns.

Supporting the Showcase will be an expanded Ride and Drive called the Green & Advanced Technology Ride and Drive. This Press Days' event will include both "green" vehicles as well as those featuring in-car advancements such as automatic park assist, radar-based object detection systems and driver assist technologies. The Show's "green" credibility is further sustained with the Green Car Journal's annual Green Car of the Year® and Nielsen Automotive Green Marketer of the Year awards.

... notes from The EDJE


** Article first published as LA Auto Show Announces A Debut Event Of 40+ Vehicles on Technorati **