BOLINGBROOK, Illinois (April 26, 2016) - WeatherTech Racing drivers Cooper MacNeil (Hinsdale, Ill.) and Leh Keen (Charleston, S.C.) are ready for round three of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The series will travel to the Monterey Peninsula for the Continental Tire Monterey grand Prix presented by Mazda to run this weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, April 29 - May 1.
The WeatherTech Championship is transitioning from the two longest races on the schedule to the more sprint type format. This weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca IMSA will run split races. Prototype and GTLM cars will run for two hours and in a separate race Prototype Challenge and GTD cars will run for two hours. This format will open up the track for increased GTD competition, with 17 cars entered. Seven cars will compete in PC. MacNeil and Keen are currently sixth in the GTD standings and looking for a strong weekend on the Monterey Peninsula.
"I am looking forward to racing our new WeatherTech Porsche GT3R at Laguna Seca," MacNeil said. "The track and facilities are so nice that it makes for a pleasant weekend for everyone attending the race. The Monterey/Pebble Beach/Carmel area is one of the most beautiful places one could put a race track. Our team has had decent success there in the past, scoring a few podium finishes. The car is really good everywhere, especially at a track where the surface is very smooth. Our new Porsche should have no problem running 11/10th's for two hours straight. I'm excited to put her up to the sprint race test."
Keen is ready to get the new Porsche on a handling track.
"We are switching gears a bit now with the shorter rave format," Keen said. "Laguna Seca is always a good way to start the regular season. It's a great venue with the California sea side nearby. Everyone enjoys it. The race classes are cut in half and our race is really late in the day. So that will mix things up a bit. I have been really excited to get this Alex Job Racing prepared Weathertech GT3R on a handling track like Laguna Seca. There is barely any straights, and other than Lime Rock we see the lowest speeds and most turning we will do in a single lap. I love the way this new car handles and want to feel it through some of the tricky corners that Laguna throws at you. My last win at Laguna was in 2011 in Rolex GT. So it's really time to get another win out there."
Team owner, Alex Job, is looking forward to a very competitive weekend.
"I think the split race format is going to bring a different dynamic to the GTD race," Job said. "The GTD field is very competitive and it will be interesting to see these cars really racing each other as opposed to constantly being worried about faster Prototype and GTLM cars coming up from behind. Cooper and Leh have always done well at Laguna Seca so we are looking for a top finish."
The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will be televised live on FOX Sports 2, Sunday, May 1, starting at 6 p.m. ET.