Cadillac V-Performance racing teams Konica Minolta, Whelen Engineering and Mustang Sampling are ready for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Sahlen’s Six Hours at The Glen to run June 30 – July 2.
The No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R team is going for its sixth win in a row, looking to keep its undefeated IMSA season intact. The traditional Watkins Glen International Raceway stop will be a challenge for the Wayne Taylor led team. The team last won there in 2011. Drivers Ricky and Jordan Taylor are hoping this weekend will be another chapter in the team’s undefeated season.
“I don’t see why we can’t make it six in a row this week in Watkins Glen,” Jordan Taylor said.
The No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R team is looking to win at The Glen for a second year in a row. Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi will be joined by Filipe Albuquerque for the quarter day race in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York.
“We are running three drivers because we just don’t want to be at a disadvantage,” Barbosa said. “Watkins Glen can be very hot and with the new Cadillac DPi-V.R having a lot more downforce, physically it’s going to be a challenge for the drivers so we want to be prepared and ready to be able to drive 100% for the whole six hours. It’s also great to have Filipe joining us again. I still believe Cadillac will be challenging for the win [considering BoP changes]. Not only is Cadillac a very strong prototype, but also Mustang Sampling is the best team out there. It’s a six-hour race and we know what to do. I’ve had much success in Watkins Glen. It’s one of my favorite race tracks. We are going there this weekend as last year’s winners, so we want to defend our win.”
Eric Curran and Dane Cameron want to break through to the top step of the podium in the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R this weekend. The duo have run competitively all year and want to break the Konica Minolta win streak this weekend and get a different win photo in the Cadillac prototype record books.
“I feel like the advantage of two drivers is the consistency with the team and the car,” Curran said. “Dane and I drive the Whelen No. 31 Cadillac all season long and work really well together. We raced last year with the two of us and finished second, so our history has been good. The only thing that can be tricky is really hot weather with just the two of us, but I think we’ll be fine. The Cadillac DPi has proven to be a strong contender at all types of tracks this year. With the restrictor IMSA has put on our Cadillac V-8 it could be tough on the long straights. Also IMSA has restricted our down force which is much needed at a track like Watkins Glen. Growing up in New England I’ve raced a lot at the Glen over the last 20 years. In the beginning of my SCCA days I won every Watkins race I entered. That went on for years. I’ve set track records there and raced everything from an old Volvo sedan to prototypes to NASCAR. I won my first SCCA championship in 1999 with a win and track record in a Chevrolet Camaro. I love The Glen and it’s for sure my favorite track in the country. I’m excited for this weekend!”
The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen is the third round of the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Championship (TPNAEC). The Konica Minolta team leads the TPNAEC standings with 32 points, Mustang Sampling is second and Whelen Engineering is fifth.
The IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen will hold qualifying on Saturday, July 1 at 12:55 p.m. for the prototypes and the race will take the green flag at 10:10 a.m. on Sunday, July 2. The race will air on FS1 Sunday, July 2, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT and transition to FS2 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
