The2017 Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glenwas anendurance racesanctioned by theInternational Motor Sports Association(IMSA). The race was held atWatkins Glen InternationalinWatkins Glen, New Yorkon the July 2nd, 2017. This race was the sixth round of the2017 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.[1]
Background
edit
IMSA's president Scott Atherton confirmed the 6 Hours of The Glen was part of the series' schedule for the2017 IMSA SportsCar ChampionshipatRoad America's victory lane in August 2016.[2]It was the fourth consecutive year the event was held as part of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The 2017 Sahlen's 6 Hours of the Glen was the sixth of twelve scheduled sports car races of 2017 by IMSA, and was the third round of the Patron North American Endurance Cup.[3]The race was held at the eleven-turn 3.450 mi (5.552 km)Watkins Glen Internationalcircuit on July 2, 2017.[3]After theChevrolet Sports Car Classicfour weeks earlier,Jordan TaylorandRicky Taylorled the Prototype Drivers' Championship with 177 points, ahead ofJoão BarbosaandChristian Fittipaldiwith 147 points, andDane CameronandEric Curranwith 143 points.[4]With 144 points, was led byJames FrenchandPatricio O'Wardwith a twenty six-point advantage over Don Yount.[4]Antonio GarcíaandJan Magnussenled the GTLM Drivers' Championship with 124 points, ahead ofJoey HandandDirk Müllerwith 118 points.[4]In GTD, the Drivers' Championship was led byBen KeatingandJeroen Bleekemolenwith 150 points, ahead ofAlessandro BalzanandChristina Nielsenwith 141 points.[4]Cadillac,Chevrolet,andMercedes-AMGwere leading their respective Manufacturers' Championships, whileWayne Taylor Racing,Performance Tech Motorsports,Corvette Racing,andRiley Motorsports Team AMGeach led their own Teams' Championships.[4]
Entries
editA total of 38 cars took part in the event split across 4 classes. 10 cars were entered in P, 3 in PC, 8 in GTLM, and 17 in GTD.[5]In P, Rebellion Racing missed the event due to logistical issues.[6]Olivier PlajoinedJosé Gutiérrezin thePR1/Mathiasen Motorsportsentry.[7]Ed Brownmissed the event due to injury and retired from prototype racing.[8][9]In PC,Starworks Motorsportwere absent.[10]Buddy RiceandDaniel Burkettreturned to the #20 BAR1 Motorsports entry. Brian Alder and Derek Jones joinedGustavo Yacamánin the #26 BAR1 Motorsports entry. In GTLM,Risi Competizionewere forced to miss the event due to budgetary issues following the24 Hours of Le Manswhere the teamsFerrari 488 GTEwas several damaged in an accident.[11][12]Gianmaria Brunimade his debut for Porsche joiningLaurens Vanthoorin the #912Porsche GT Teamentry.[13]In GTD,Alex Job Racing,and Dream Racing Motorsport made their first appearances since the12 Hours of Sebring.Michael Christensenand Michael de Quesada returned to Alegra Motorsports.[14]
Practice
editThere were three practice sessions preceding the start of the race on Saturday, two on Friday and one on Saturday. The first two one-hour sessions were on Friday morning and afternoon. The third on Saturday morning lasted an hour.[15]
Practice 1
editThe first practice session took place at 11:05 amETon Friday and ended withStephen Simpsontopping the charts forJDC-Miller MotorSports,with a lap time of 1:35.491.[16]
| Pos. | Class | No. | Team | Driver | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | P | 85 | JDC-Miller MotorSports | Stephen Simpson | 1:35.491 | _ |
| 2 | P | 2 | Tequila Patrón ESM | Ryan Dalziel | 1:35.530 | +0.039 |
| 3 | P | 5 | Mustang Sampling Racing | João Barbosa | 1:36.813 | +1.322 |
| Source:[17] | ||||||
Practice 2
editThe second practice session took place at 3:30 pmETon Friday and ended withPipo Deranitopping the charts forTequila Patrón ESM,with a lap time of 1:34.696.[18]
| Pos. | Class | No. | Team | Driver | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | P | 2 | Tequila Patrón ESM | Pipo Derani | 1:34.696 | _ |
| 2 | P | 22 | Tequila Patrón ESM | Bruno Senna | 1:35.293 | +0.597 |
| 3 | P | 52 | PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports | Olivier Pla | 1:35.377 | +0.681 |
| Source:[19] | ||||||
Practice 3
editThe third and final practice session took place at 8:00 amETon Saturday and ended withOlivier Platopping the charts forPR1/Mathiasen Motorsports,with a lap time of 1:48.566.[20]
| Pos. | Class | No. | Team | Driver | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | P | 52 | PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports | Olivier Pla | 1:48.566 | _ |
| 2 | P | 5 | Mustang Sampling Racing | Christian Fittipaldi | 1:49.281 | +0.715 |
| 3 | P | 90 | VisitFlorida Racing | Renger van der Zande | 1:50.769 | +2.203 |
| Source:[21] | ||||||
Qualifying
editIn Saturday afternoon's 90-minute four-group qualifying, each category had separate 15-minute sessions. Regulations stipulated that teams nominate one qualifying driver, with the fastest laps determining each class' starting order. IMSA arranged the grid to put Prototypes ahead of the PC, GTLM and GTD cars.[22][15]
The first was for cars in GTD class.Andy Lallyqualified on pole for the class driving the #93Meyer-Shank RacingwithCurb-Agajanian,beatingLawson Aschenbachin the #57 Stevenson Motorsports entry.[23]
The second session of qualifying was for cars in the GTLM class.Joey Handqualified on pole driving the #66Ford Chip Ganassi Racingentry, bestingAlexander Simsin the #25BMW Team RLLentry by just over three tenths of a second.[24]
The third session of qualifying was for cars in the PC class.James Frenchset the fastest time driving the #38 Performance Tech Motorsports entry.[25]
The final session of qualifying was for the P class.Pipo Deraniqualified on pole, bestingOlivier Plain the #52PR1/Mathiasen Motorsportsentry.[25][26]
Qualifying Results
editPole positionsin each class are indicated inboldand by ‡.
| Pos. | Class | No. | Team | Driver | Time | Gap | Grid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DPi | 2 |  Tequila Patrón ESM
|
 Pipo Derani
|
1:34.405 | _ | 1 ‡ |
| 2 | DPi | 52 | PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports
|
 Olivier Pla
|
1:34.567 | +0.162 | 2 |
| 3 | DPi | 5 | Mustang Sampling Racing
|
Christian Fittipaldi
|
1:35.306 | +0.901 | 3 |
| 4 | DPi | 10 | Wayne Taylor Racing
|
Ricky Taylor
|
1:35.496 | +1.091 | 4 |
| 5 | DPi | 22 | Tequila Patrón ESM
|
Johannes van Overbeek
|
1:35.637 | +1.119 | 5 |
| 6 | DPi | 31 | Whelen Engineering Racing
|
Eric Curran
|
1:36.103 | +1.698 | 6 |
| 7 | DPi | 90 | VisitFlorida Racing
|
 Renger van der Zande
|
1:36.129 | +1.724 | 7 |
| 8 | DPi | 85 | JDC-Miller MotorSports
|
 Misha Goikhberg
|
1:36.799 | +2.394 | 8 |
| 9 | DPi | 55 |  Mazda Motorsports
|
Tristan Nunez
|
1:36.886 | +2.481 | 9 |
| 10 | DPi | 70 | Mazda Motorsports
|
Joel Miller
|
1:36.981 | +2.576 | 10 |
| 11 | PC | 38 | Performance Tech Motorsports
|
James French
|
1:40.049 | +5.644 | 11 ‡ |
| 12 | PC | 20 | BAR1 Motorsports
|
Don Yount
|
1:42.125 | +7.720 | 12 |
| 13 | GTLM | 66 | Ford Chip Ganassi Racing
|
Joey Hand
|
1:42.507 | +8.102 | 14 ‡ |
| 14 | GTLM | 25 | BMW Team RLL
|
 Alexander Sims
|
1:42.813 | +8.408 | 15 |
| 15 | GTLM | 24 | BMW Team RLL
|
 Martin Tomczyk
|
1:42.881 | +8.476 | 16 |
| 16 | GTLM | 67 | Ford Chip Ganassi Racing
|
Richard Westbrook
|
1:42.884 | +8.479 | 17 |
| 17 | GTLM | 911 | Porsche GT Team
|
Patrick Pilet
|
1:43.140 | +8.735 | 18 |
| 18 | GTLM | 4 | Corvette Racing
|
Tommy Milner
|
1:43.189 | +8.784 | 19 |
| 19 | GTLM | 912 | Porsche GT Team
|
 Laurens Vanthoor
|
1:43.192 | +8.787 | 20 |
| 20 | GTLM | 3 | Corvette Racing
|
 Antonio García
|
1:43.243 | +8.838 | 21 |
| 21 | PC | 26 | BAR1 Motorsports
|
Brian Alder
|
1:43.575 | +9.170 | 131 |
| 22 | GTD | 93 | Michael Shank RacingwithCurb-Agajanian
|
Andy Lally
|
1:46.051 | +11.646 | 22 ‡ |
| 23 | GTD | 57 | Stevenson Motorsports
|
Lawson Aschenbach
|
1:46.271 | +11.866 | 23 |
| 24 | GTD | 15 | 3GT Racing
|
Jack Hawksworth
|
1:46.724 | +12.319 | 24 |
| 25 | GTD | 86 | Michael Shank RacingwithCurb-Agajanian
|
Jeff Segal
|
1:46.816 | +12.411 | 25 |
| 26 | GTD | 27 | Dream Racing Motorsport
|
 Paolo Ruberti
|
1:47.490 | +13.085 | 26 |
| 27 | GTD | 96 | Turner Motorsport
|
Justin Marks
|
1:47.551 | +13.146 | 27 |
| 28 | GTD | 16 | Change Racing
|
Corey Lewis
|
1:47.774 | +13.369 | 28 |
| 29 | GTD | 48 | Paul Miller Racing
|
Madison Snow
|
1:47.826 | +13.421 | 29 |
| 30 | GTD | 14 | 3GT Racing
|
Sage Karam
|
1:48.058 | +13.653 | 382 |
| 31 | GTD | 63 | Scuderia Corsa
|
 Christina Nielsen
|
1:48.098 | +13.693 | 30 |
| 32 | GTD | 33 | Riley Motorsports – Team AMG
|
Ben Keating
|
1:48.282 | +13.877 | 31 |
| 33 | GTD | 75 |  SunEnergy1 Racing
|
Boris Said
|
1:48.778 | +14.373 | 32 |
| 34 | GTD | 73 | Park Place Motorsports
|
Matt McMurry
|
1:48.895 | +14.490 | 33 |
| 35 | GTD | 28 | Alegra Motorsports
|
Michael de Quesada
|
1:49.131 | +14.726 | 34 |
| 36 | GTD | 50 | Riley Motorsports – WeatherTech Racing
|
Cooper MacNeil
|
1:49.878 | +15.474 | 35 |
| 37 | GTD | 23 | Alex Job Racing
|
Townsend Bell
|
1:50.647 | +16.242 | 36 |
| 38 | GTD | 54 | CORE Autosport
|
Jon Bennett
|
1:50.973 | +16.568 | 373 |
| Sources:[27][28][29] | |||||||
- 1The No. 26 BAR1 Motorsports entry was moved to the back of the PC field as per Articles 43.5 and 43.6 of the Sporting regulations (Change of starting driver) and (Change of starting tires).[22]
- 2The No. 14 3GT Racing entry was moved to the back of the GTD field as per Article 43.6 of the Sporting regulations (Change of starting tires).[22]
- 3The No. 54 CORE Autosport entry was moved to the back of the GTD field as per Article 43.6 of the Sporting regulations (Change of starting tires).[22]
Race
editPost-race
editThe result kept Jordan Taylor and Ricky Taylor atop the Prototype Drivers' Championship. Goikhberg and Simpson moved to third after being fourth coming into Watkins Glen.[30]In the PC Drivers' Championship, French and O'Ward extended their points lead to thirty points over Yount, while Yacamán advanced from seventh to fifth.[30]In the GTLM Drivers' Championship, Garcia and Magnussen further increased their gap to eighteen points ahead of Müller and Hand. Auberlen and Sims advanced from fourth to third while Pilet and Werner dropped to fifth. By finishing second in GTD, Balzan and Nielsen took the lead of the GTD Drivers' Championship while Lally and Legge moved from sixth to third.[30]Cadillac, Chevrolet, and Mercedes-AMG continued to top their respective Manufacturers' Championships, while Wayne Taylor Racing, Performance Tech Motorsports, and Corvette Racing kept their respective advantages in the Teams' Championships with six rounds remaining.[30]Scuderia Corsa took the lead of the GTD Teams' Championship going into the next race atCanadian Tire Motorsports Park.[30]
Results
editClass winners are denoted inboldand ‡.
Statistics
editFastest Lap - #52 Oliper Pla - 1:33.314[33]
Standings after the race
edit
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|
|
|
|
|
- Note:Only the top five positions are included for all sets of standings.
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|
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- Note:Only the top five positions are included for all sets of standings.
|
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|
- Note:Only the top five positions are included for all sets of standings.
References
edit- ^"Watkins Glen 6 Hours 2017".RacingSportsCars.com.2017-07-02.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-11-21.Retrieved2020-09-14.
- ^Dagys, John (August 5, 2016)."2017 WeatherTech Championship Schedule Released".sportscar365.com.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
- ^abDagys, John (November 15, 2016)."2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship schedule released".foxsports.com.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
- ^abcde"2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Point Standings: After Round 5"(PDF).IMSA.6 June 2017. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 16 July 2023.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
- ^Kilshaw, Jake (June 21, 2017)."39 Entries for Watkins Glen, Third Round of TPNAEC".sportscar365.com.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
- ^Dagys, John (June 7, 2017)."Rebellion to Skip Watkins Glen".sportscar365.com.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
- ^Dagys, John (June 20, 2017)."Pla Joins PR1/Mathiasen for Watkins Glen".sportscar365.com.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
- ^Pruett, Marshall (June 29, 2017)."Injury forces Patron ESM's Brown out of final drive".sportscar365.com.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
- ^Kilshaw, Jake (June 26, 2017)."Brown Retires from Prototypes; Replaced by Derani".sportscar365.com.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
- ^Dagys, John (June 29, 2017)."Watkins Glen Thursday Notebook".sportscar365.com.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
- ^Pruett, Marshall (June 22, 2017)."Risi to miss at least three IMSA races".racer.com.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
- ^"Risi vows return to IMSA grid in 2017".racer.com.June 23, 2017.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
- ^Pruett, Marshall (June 27, 2017)."Bruni ready for Porsche GT Team debut".racer.com.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
- ^Dagys, John (June 21, 2017)."Christensen Set for Return to Alegra for Watkins Glen".sportscar365.com.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
- ^abDagys, John (June 29, 2017)."Continental Tire Keys to the Race: Watkins Glen".sportscar365.com.RetrievedJuly 13,2023.
- ^Dagys, John (June 30, 2017)."Simpson, JDC-Miller Top Opening Practice at Watkins Glen".sportscar365.com.RetrievedJuly 13,2023.
- ^"03_Results.PDF"(PDF).results.imsa.com.June 30, 2017.RetrievedJuly 13,2023.
- ^Dagys, John (June 30, 2017)."Derani Leads ESM Nissan Sweep on Friday at Watkins Glen".sportscar365.com.John Dagys Media.RetrievedJuly 13,2023.
- ^"03_Results.PDF"(PDF).results.imsa.com.June 30, 2017.RetrievedJuly 13,2023.
- ^Dagys, John (July 1, 2017)."Pla Quickest in Mixed-Condition Practice 3".sportscar365.com.RetrievedJuly 13,2023.
- ^"03_Results.PDF"(PDF).results.imsa.com.July 1, 2017.RetrievedJuly 13,2023.
- ^abcd"2017 IMSA Sporting Regulations & Series Supplementary Regulations of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship sanctioned by IMSA"(PDF).IMSA.April 10, 2017. pp. 39, 81–83, 125.Archived(PDF)from the original on August 6, 2022.RetrievedAugust 6,2022.
- ^Malsher-Lopez, David (July 1, 2017)."Watkins Glen IMSA: Nissan, Ford and Acura take poles".us.motorsport.com.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
- ^Dagys, John (July 1, 2017)."Hand Snags Watkins Glen GTLM Pole".sportscar365.com.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
- ^abPruett, Marshall (July 1, 2017)."Derani's lap record earns Glen IMSA pole".racer.com.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
- ^Dagys, John (July 1, 2017)."Derani, ESM on Pole for 6H Watkins Glen".sportscar365.com.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
- ^"Watkins Glen 6 Hours 2017 Photo Gallery - Qualifying Times".RacingSportsCars.com.2017-07-02.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-11-22.Retrieved2020-09-14.
- ^"Qualifying Results"(PDF).IMSA.1 July 2017.Archived(PDF)from the original on 7 March 2022.Retrieved30 November2020.
- ^"01_Starting Grid - Official.PDF"(PDF).IMSA.2 July 2017. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 13 July 2023.RetrievedJuly 13,2023.
- ^abcdefghijklmnop"2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Point Standings: After Round 6"(PDF).IMSA.6 July 2017. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 17 July 2023.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
- ^"Watkins Glen 6 Hours 2017 Photo Gallery - Race Results".RacingSportsCars.com.2017-07-02.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-10-17.Retrieved2020-09-14.
- ^"Race Results - 2017 Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen".Racing-Reference.info.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-06-30.
- ^"IMSA - Timing Results".imsa.alkamelsystems.com.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-03-07.Retrieved2022-03-07.