Pirelli World Challenge Round 20: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Mechanic Z · 7 Sep 2015, 18:12 (Ref:3572239)

Pirelli World Challenge wraps up it's season this weekend at Laguna Seca, just two weeks after Sonoma. Laguna is, of course, a truly classic sports car racing venue, site of many great battles throughout the years.

The championship is coming right down to the wire, with O'Connell leading and Beretta close behind. An excellent article on the points scenarios can be found on nasportscar's site here.

Not a lot of changes to the GT entry list, but GTS sees the return of Maserati-with four cars for Vafa Kordestani, Patrick Byrne, Freddie Hunt and Derek Hill.

Schedule

Entry List

Live Streaming (www.world-challengetv.com)

Live Streaming (TorqueTV)

Live Timing and Scoring

Track Maps

Weather (RacecastWeather Site)

Weather (National Weather Service)

Series Twitter

nasportscar · 8 Sep 2015, 20:37 (Ref:3572547)

Pick 'Em http://nasportscar.com/2014-pwc-pick-em/

cbbrit · 8 Sep 2015, 22:24 (Ref:3572565)

Actually there are two big changes in GT, with the addition of the two NGT Motorsports Ferrari 458 Italias, usually entered in GT(A) and driven by Eduardo Cisneros (#29) and Henrique Cisneros (#30), and now being driven by Alessandro Balzan (#29) and Alessandro Pier Guidi (#30). All this being done to help Olivier Beretta collect enough points to be crowned the GT Champion by having them take points away from his rivals! Should be a good one! Too bad there is only one race remaining though!

Mechanic Z · 9 Sep 2015, 02:21 (Ref:3572617)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbbrit

Actually there are two big changes in GT, with the addition of the two NGT Motorsports Ferrari 458 Italias, usually entered in GT(A) and driven by Eduardo Cisneros (#29) and Henrique Cisneros (#30), and now being driven by Alessandro Balzan (#29) and Alessandro Pier Guidi (#30).

Wow, the Cisneros bros. were still listed on it when I wrote the first post. A very big change indeed!

Quote:

All this being done to help Olivier Beretta collect enough points to be crowned the GT Champion by having them take points away from his rivals! Should be a good one! Too bad there is only one race remaining though!

R. Ferri had their second car in their garage at both Road America and Mid-Ohio, I'm kinda surprised they didn't run a second car themselves.
Sunday's race should be fantastic!

rich07 · 9 Sep 2015, 03:44 (Ref:3572629)

Do you think Ferrari has a hand in these changes or Ferri is so desperate to help Beretta that they've enlisted NGT to help them. Pier Guidi has done this before with Matteo Bobbi in FIA GT for Vitaphone. I believe they won at Zolder in 2009 and helped Bartels and Bertolini win the championship.

schmidder · 9 Sep 2015, 21:19 (Ref:3572797)

Let's move this to the stickies!!! Getting excited..

TRspitfirefan · 9 Sep 2015, 22:58 (Ref:3572806)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbbrit

Actually there are two big changes in GT, with the addition of the two NGT Motorsports Ferrari 458 Italias, usually entered in GT(A) and driven by Eduardo Cisneros (#29) and Henrique Cisneros (#30), and now being driven by Alessandro Balzan (#29) and Alessandro Pier Guidi (#30). All this being done to help Olivier Beretta collect enough points to be crowned the GT Champion by having them take points away from his rivals! Should be a good one! Too bad there is only one race remaining though!

The plot thickens.
Those MOMO Ferraris are going to be a bit of a wildcard.

**joeb** · 10 Sep 2015, 01:42 (Ref:3572845)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRspitfirefan

The plot thickens.
Those MOMO Ferraris are going to be a bit of a wildcard.

Hopefully not a Tommy Drissi style wildcard!

merak1974 · 10 Sep 2015, 08:19 (Ref:3572878)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechanic Z

Pirelli World Challenge wraps up it's season this weekend at Laguna Seca, just two weeks after Sonoma. Laguna is, of course, a truly classic sports car racing venue, site of many great battles throughout the years.

The championship is coming right down to the wire, with O'Connell leading and Beretta close behind. An excellent article on the points scenarios can be found on nasportscar's site here.

Not a lot of changes to the GT entry list, but GTS sees the return of Maserati-with four cars for Vafa Kordestani, Patrick Byrne, Freddie Hunt and Derek Hill.

Fantastic with four Maseratis on the entry list - and all four entered by Maserati Corse. Given Maseratis lukewarm enthusiasm for racing in the last five years (apart from the Trofeo series), what is the reason for this sudden initiative? Anyone knows more?

Coach Ep · 10 Sep 2015, 13:46 (Ref:3572925)

I guess it's because the Maserati Trophy is one of the support series sharing the weekend. Same thing happened at Road America earlier this year I believe.

nasportscar · 10 Sep 2015, 13:56 (Ref:3572927)

Not sure if this photo will show, but here are the interesting notes from the BoP changes. Ferrari loses weight, Nissan gains boost, Camaro gets a smaller restrictor

Mechanic Z · 10 Sep 2015, 17:35 (Ref:3572968)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

I guess it's because the Maserati Trophy is one of the support series sharing the weekend. Same thing happened at Road America earlier this year I believe.

Looks like Trofeo actually isn't on the weekend schedule.

Speaking of schedules, appears it's been changed since the first post. Here's the updated one:
http://www.world-challenge.com/image...90915-1-pg.pdf

nasportscar · 11 Sep 2015, 00:40 (Ref:3573039)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechanic Z

Looks like Trofeo actually isn't on the weekend schedule.

Speaking of schedules, appears it's been changed since the first post. Here's the updated one:
http://www.world-challenge.com/image...90915-1-pg.pdf

Maserati Trofeo only races their US rounds at Road America and VIR. There's a lot of teams looking to run these cars BoP'd into the GTS class next season. They ran in Trofeo trim at RA, but needed to be brought down from that spec. So, here it is in "GTS" spec...Could be some cool teams taking a stab w/ them in 2016

cbbrit · 11 Sep 2015, 04:25 (Ref:3573086)

Quote:

Originally Posted by merak1974

Fantastic with four Maseratis on the entry list - and all four entered by Maserati Corse. Given Maseratis lukewarm enthusiasm for racing in the last five years (apart from the Trofeo series), what is the reason for this sudden initiative? Anyone knows more?

Actually there are five Maseratis entered:
#21 Vafa Kordestani
#24 Patrick Byrne
#26 Freddie Hunt
#27 Derek Hill
#66 Jeff Courtney

Also #95 Turner BMW Z4 was driven by Dane Cameron in P1 today
#25 Blancpain Lamborghini (Nicky Catsburg) was a no-show again due to the team transporter being involved in an accident en route from Miller Motorsports Park, Utah to Sears Point, California two weeks ago. No info concerning the cars condition afterwards.

merak1974 · 11 Sep 2015, 08:27 (Ref:3573124)

Quote:

Originally Posted by nasportscar

Maserati Trofeo only races their US rounds at Road America and VIR. There's a lot of teams looking to run these cars BoP'd into the GTS class next season. They ran in Trofeo trim at RA, but needed to be brought down from that spec. So, here it is in "GTS" spec...Could be some cool teams taking a stab w/ them in 2016

From the 1st practice times yesterday, the Maseratis have to find one second or so per lap to challenge the best in the GTS class. The top Maserati yesterday (Derek Hill) was 1.37 seconds behind the best lap time. Not bad I suppose, taking into consideration that the car is a novice in the series.

cbbrit · 11 Sep 2015, 14:28 (Ref:3573180)

According to sportscar365.com, the reason that Nicky Catsburg isn't driving this weekend is due to a WTCC conflict in Japan.

merak1974 · 11 Sep 2015, 20:31 (Ref:3573250)

Quote:

Originally Posted by merak1974

From the 1st practice times yesterday, the Maseratis have to find one second or so per lap to challenge the best in the GTS class. The top Maserati yesterday (Derek Hill) was 1.37 seconds behind the best lap time. Not bad I suppose, taking into consideration that the car is a novice in the series.

Great to see that P2 went quite well for the Maseratis: http://www.world-challenge.com/image...-Session-2.PDF. Four of them packed together from position 8 to position 13, but the gap to the fastest car in P2 is still 1.4 seconds..

Also, great to see such a variety of marques in the GTS class!

schmidder · 12 Sep 2015, 15:27 (Ref:3573386)

Wishing mr. Hedlund good luck this weekend too. Ever any explanation from mike about what happened in race 2 at sonoma?

YZFrider · 12 Sep 2015, 19:15 (Ref:3573412)

Greetings from Mazda Raceway! Met Mike Hedlund awhile ago, fun guy to chat with, such a good attitude when talking with fans. The amount of make and models is what is impressive with this series. The addition to GTS with the Aston Martin, Hundai, Maserati, and the Lotus is awesome. KTM and SIN coming next year. I also happened apon a car called the Supersport Mk.2 on display here in the pits. More info about this car here: http://www.999motorsportsusa.com/photo-gallery/ They are currently running around in SCCA regionals and made it's debut racing in NARRA. A manufacturer spec series is the goal with this car with other possiblilities in the future

. GT qualifying wrapped up as I type this. I was also chatting with a Realtime Acura mechanic. Here is the latest with them: They will be returning with the TLX next year. Rear-wheel drive and better aero is the plan. But it still won't be a GT3 car, the guy said it can never be being it's a sedan. As for 2017, he told me will be a decision to continue with the TLX or go with the NSX.

PointDSM · 12 Sep 2015, 19:34 (Ref:3573420)

Quote:

Originally Posted by schmidder

Wishing mr. Hedlund good luck this weekend too. Ever any explanation from mike about what happened in race 2 at sonoma?

It was reported during the broadcast (Race 2) that it was heat exhaustion from Race 1. Basically a medical decision not to race in Race 2 @ Sonoma.

schmidder · 12 Sep 2015, 20:29 (Ref:3573431)

Thanks..

divxx · 13 Sep 2015, 19:20 (Ref:3573641)

Finding it pretty funny that they've had a picture of the IMSA series on their upcoming stream page all day.

Starfish Primer · 13 Sep 2015, 19:51 (Ref:3573645)

Yesterday TC race was superb with the Mazda and the Cayman battling a lot of laps. Clean race a lots of suspense for the first place, top racing. Overtaking as it should, difficult and challenging.

Danske · 13 Sep 2015, 19:52 (Ref:3573647)

Quote:

Originally Posted by divxx

Finding it pretty funny that they've had a picture of the IMSA series on their upcoming stream page all day.

You mean "Another Series" as it is officially known in broadcast commentary.

J Jay · 13 Sep 2015, 20:31 (Ref:3573650)

It's about to get started. The Ferrari ringers have done their job locking out the front row, but Beretta is back in 12th while O'Connell is fifth.

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