Porsche 963 Secures Second And Third Positions In Thrilling Qualifying At Laguna Seca

Under clear skies and mild temperatures, the qualifying session for the latest round of the IMSA series at Laguna Seca delivered an exhilarating performance from the Porsche 963 team. With track conditions proving challenging due to high asphalt temperatures, the drivers pushed their limits, resulting in a nail-biting finish.

Key Takeaways

• Porsche 963 drivers Matt Campbell and Felipe Nasr qualified second and third, respectively.

• The top four cars were separated by less than two-tenths of a second, highlighting the competitive nature of the field.

• The race is set to take place on Sunday, May 11, at 12:10 PM local time.

Qualifying Highlights

The qualifying session was marked by intense competition, with the newly resurfaced track at Laguna Seca presenting both opportunities and challenges. Despite the ideal weather conditions, the high track temperatures, reaching up to 54 degrees Celsius, made it difficult for teams to improve their lap times as the session progressed.

Felipe Nasr, driving the No. 7 Porsche 963, initially set a strong pace, achieving the fastest time on his third flying lap. However, as the session continued, the car began to slide, and the Michelin tires lost their peak grip, resulting in a final qualifying position of third.

Matt Campbell, in the No. 6 Porsche 963, narrowly missed out on pole position, finishing just five-thousandths of a second behind the leading BMW. Campbell expressed confidence in the car's performance, stating, "We’re on the front row, and that’s what really matters on a track where overtaking is so tricky."

Team Insights

Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport, praised the drivers' efforts, noting the extremely close times among the top competitors. He remarked, "With slightly different conditions, we might have had a shot at pole, but we were just 0.005 seconds short. Still, the team has been performing at a consistently high level all season, and we’re aiming to carry that momentum into the race."

The No. 85 Porsche 963, fielded by JDC-Miller MotorSports, will start from tenth on the grid, with Gianmaria Bruni and Tijmen van der Helm sharing driving duties.

GT Classes Performance

In the GTD Pro class, Klaus Bachler qualified the AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R in fourth place, while Adam Adelson secured eleventh for Wright Motorsports in the GTD class. The competitive nature of the GT classes was evident, with tight gaps between the top contenders.

Upcoming Race Details

The 2-hour and 40-minute race will commence on Sunday, May 11, at 12:10 PM local time (9:10 PM CEST). Fans can catch the action via a free livestream on imsa.tv, with live timing available at scoring.imsa.com.

Drivers' Reactions

• Matt Campbell (Porsche 963 #6): "Second place and just five-thousandths of a second behind the leading BMW. Our Porsche 963 definitely had the pace for pole.

• Felipe Nasr (Porsche 963 #7): "It was an exciting qualifying session with incredibly close gaps between the top cars. Starting second and third puts us in a strong position for the race."

• Gianmaria Bruni (Porsche 963 #85): "We made the most of what was possible. We’ve closed the gap to the frontrunners."

• Klaus Bachler (Porsche 911 GT3 R #77): "Our qualifying was good. We weren’t far off the front, and I’m confident anything is possible in the race."

As the teams prepare for the race, all eyes will be on the Porsche 963 drivers as they aim to convert their strong qualifying positions into a podium finish.