DETROIT, (June 4, 2016) – WeatherTech Racing drivers Cooper MacNeil (Hinsdale, Ill.) and Leh Keen (Charleston, S.C.) finished seventh in GTD in today’s running of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Chevrolet Sports Car Classic presented by the Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers.
MacNeil had the wheel of the No. 22 WeatherTech Porsche for the start of the 100-minute race. Running a clean stint and handing the car over to Keen in perfect condition, he rejoined the fray in seventh. As the race progressed through four caution periods the tight racing confines of the Belle Isle Park street circuit it was nearly impossible to pass. Keen took the checker in seventh.
“I was able to run a good pace and keep up with those guys ahead of me,” MacNeil said. “I was able to move-up a couple of positions. The Alex Job Racing team did a great pit stop. Leh did a good job to run clean. Seventh is all we could do today. We have a car with all four fenders on it to load into the trailer. I am looking forward to running the Le Mans test day in about 16 hours in France.”
The tight GTD field and close performance of the cars makes it tough to pass on Belle Isle.
“I think the perfect word for it is a parade,” Keen said. “This track is very tough to pass on. The GT3 cars are all so close and combine that with a street course and that makes it racing in a line. With ABS and traction control and everyone on the same tire not many guys make mistakes. Everyone is driving on the limit as fast as they can, but you just can’t get in a position to make a quality pass. Cooper and I both had clean stints, the guys did a great pit stop and we were still mid pack.”
“Cooper and Leh ran a good race,” Team Owner Alex Job said. “The confines of a street circuit make it hard to pass. You can’t make aggressive moves because there is no run-off or grass to put a couple of wheels off on. We had four cautions and usually you can take advantage of those, but the GTD field is so tight seventh is all we could do today.”
MacNeil and Keen are immediately leaving for Le Mans, France to take part in tomorrow’s 24 Hours of Le Mans test day in the No. 89 WeatherTech Porsche RSR.
The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will take its yearly Le Mans break and then travel to Watkins Glen International Raceway for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen, June 30 – July 3.
For more information on WeatherTech Racing, including race recaps, photos and team gear, please visit the newly designed team site at www.WeatherTechRacing.com. The new team site can now be accessed on any device and is quicker, easier to navigate and features extensive photo galleries, videos, team updates and more.