2017 Pirelli World Challenge Rounds 14 & 15: Utah Motorsports Campus

[Mechanic Z]

Next up for Pirelli World Challenge is it's annual trip to Utah Motorsports Campus and it's beautiful mountainous backdrop. After two rounds of classic PWC Sprint racing, this round marks a return to Sprint-X (Cue Wilhelm Scream).

As previously announced, Michael Lewis will join Bryan Sellers in the #6 McLaren. Impressive. Most impressive.

Gainsco will make their Sprint-X debut with Jon Fogarty alongside Porsche Jedi Wolf Henzler. Do not underestimate the power of the Wolf.

Mathieu Jaminet replaces Laurens Vanthoor in the #14 with James Sofronas.

Local team DXDT joins the Pro/Am field with their Mercedes.

Both Absolute cars return, good news for those of us who found Mid Ohio's lack of Bentleys disturbing. The second Absolute Bentley is now driven by Andrew Kim and former F1 driver Will Stevens.

GTS features the return of the Ian Lacy Ginettas, making up for the absence of the PMG cars.

GMG and NOLAsport are each bringing a Porsche to the GTS field.

In the TC classes, the biggest news is the US debut of the Toyota 86 Cup car for Craig Stanton in TCA.

Last year's GT Qualifying Record by Alvaro Parente was 1:47.492, or almost fast enough to make the Kessel Run in less than 12 Parsecs.

As it's a Sprint-X weekend all races should be streamed, which means you'll be able to find the races you're looking for.

Schedule

Entry List

Live Stream (World Challenge site)

Live Stream (motortrendondemand.com)

Live Timing and Scoring

It's a Map!

Weather (racecastweather.com)

Weather (National Weather Service)

Tickets

Series Twitter Account

[Bcarr6]

So that's what Will Stevens is doing then, following his ousting from his Audi to fit Andre Lotterer in at Spa 24


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[Mechanic Z]

According to Sportscar365, it's his first start with Bentley. I wonder if this is a one-off, or if he's going to be a Bentley driver from now on?

[nasportscar]

Pick Em http://nasportscar.com/pwc-pick-em/

[Mechanic Z]

Looks like TRG will be bringing one of their Astons, either for GTS or Sprint-X.

The Racers Group‏Verified account @theracersgroup 5h5 hours ago




Clues. We've got a driver announcement for @MMP_Utah we think you're gonna like. But who could it be? #pwc @WCRacing #astonmartin Hmmm.

[cbbrit]

Originally Posted by Mechanic Z

Looks like TRG will be bringing one of their Astons, either for GTS or Sprint-X.

According to the entry list, Derek DeBoer and Jason Alexandridis are already entered in SprintX GTS Am/Am with a Vantage GT4.

[Mechanic Z]

Originally Posted by cbbrit

According to the entry list, Derek DeBoer and Jason Alexandridis are already entered in SprintX GTS Am/Am with a Vantage GT4.

Yep, looks like that's the one TRG's Twitter is talking about.

R. Ferri's old 458 GT3 is on the entry list as well, with its drivers listed as Drew Regitz and Kris Wilson.

[jjvincent]

Only 6 GTS cars? What's the deal with that?

[TRspitfirefan]

Originally Posted by jjvincent

Only 6 GTS cars? What's the deal with that?

Good Question! GTS is such a great class with some really cool cars, you'd think there would be more entries. There are 12 additional GTS cars in the Am class, so I guess we could do worse than 18 total. However a few more would always be welcome.

[TRspitfirefan]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

So that's what Will Stevens is doing then, following his ousting from his Audi to fit Andre Lotterer in at Spa 24


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Cool! Miller Motorsport Park should be a great track for the Bentleys.

[Mechanic Z]

Testing today seems to have T&S.

GTS session 1: 99, 3, 12, 14, 04
GT session 1: 54, 2, 93, 6, 58

[TRspitfirefan]

http://sportscar365.com/world-challe...ay-notebook-2/
A lot of interesting bits of information in SC365's Thursday notebook.

[Mechanic Z]

The #31 TR3 Ferrari topped both Sprint-X practice sessions. They look pretty quick this weekend.
http://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=PW...3206fp1pwx.pdf
http://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=PW...3206fp2pwx.pdf
Still more than a second behind Parente's qualifying lap record from last year, but with the BOP classification change, it's hard to tell what sort of pace the GT cars will have.

Flying Lizard Porsches and the G3 Ginetta looking strong in GTS.
http://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=PW...3206fp1pw4.pdf
http://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=PW...3206fp2pw4.pdf

[Mechanic Z]

Baptista put the #3 Lizards Porsche on top in GTS qualifying. http://sportscar365.com/world-challe...ht-qualifying/

[jjvincent]

Originally Posted by TRspitfirefan

http://sportscar365.com/world-challe...ay-notebook-2/
A lot of interesting bits of information in SC365's Thursday notebook.

Mantella has been kicked out of PWC again? Maybe he should go race in Trans-Am as Drissi got reinstated even though they booted him out earlier this year.

75% of the TC field are BMW's. That's a pretty high percentage for just one model of car. 21 BMW's, 4 Audis and 3 Other.

[TRspitfirefan]

Originally Posted by Mechanic Z

Baptista put the #3 Lizards Porsche on top in GTS qualifying. http://sportscar365.com/world-challe...ht-qualifying/

GO LIZARDS!!!!!
Starting 1st and 4th, should be a good race.

[Mechanic Z]

Kox on pole for Sprint-X, followed by Mancinelli & Long. Category H BOP seems to have hit both Bentley & McLaren hard, Fong is 8th, Parente is 9th, almost 1.5 secs off his record lap from last year. Sellers was 12th.
http://sportscar365.com/world-challe...-pole-at-utah/
http://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=PW...3206grdpwx.pdf

[Akrapovic]

Good finish that. It's the first Sprint-X race I've seen. Do people still dislike it?

Race seemed fairly spread out. Track isn't very nice. Race seemed good.

[TRspitfirefan]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Good finish that. It's the first Sprint-X race I've seen. Do people still dislike it?

Race seemed fairly spread out. Track isn't very nice. Race seemed good.

Really fun race, especially in the early laps + the lead battle at the finish. It was a bit spread out, but that was due to the lack of cautions.
Up next GTS!

[TF110]

I think the track is fine. Nothing fancy but being in Utah the only scenery is mountains and scrub land. The layout isn't too bad either. Congrats to Acura and Realtime for getting their first win in the NSX.

[Mechanic Z]

Yeah, Sprint-X was excellent, cool to see Kox and Wilkins take it in the #93.

GTS race was also pretty solid, good clean scrap between Baptista and Barkey for most of it. Great win for the Lizards.

[Mechanic Z]

Originally Posted by TF110

I think the track is fine. Nothing fancy but being in Utah the only scenery is mountains and scrub land. The layout isn't too bad either. Congrats to Acura and Realtime for getting their first win in the NSX.

For a somewhat recently built track, it already has some pretty cool history as well. IIRC, the ALMS races held there were fantastic.

[Mechanic Z]

GTS Race 2 should be starting in around 15 minutes: http://world-challenge.com/streamvideo/

[cbbrit]

GTS Race 2 results:

http://tsl-timing.com/file/?f=PWC/2017/173206rc2pw4.pdf

[TRspitfirefan]

Sundays races were both action packed, with a lot of really aggressive racing. The GTS Panoz has really hit its stride with four wins in the last six races! The GT race was stellar, although the Mclarens and the Bentleys really suffered a lot from the altitude Bop adjustments this year. Overall a really good weekend for PWC.