STEVENSON MOTORSPORTS HEADS TO CANADA WITH BOTH WEATHERTECH SPORTS CAR CHAMPIONSHIP AND CTSC ENTRIES
Race: Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix
Race Length: 2 hours and 40 minutes
Car: No. 57 Audi R8 LMS
Drivers: Andrew Davis and Lawson Aschenbach
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park: The track previously known as Mosport, is a 2.459-mile circuit that features high speed corners that also add significant elevation changes to the challenge.
Glen Momentum: As misfortune struck the Stevenson Motorsports Audi R8 LMS in the final laps of the six hour event at Watkins Glen International, the team will take the positives out of the stout run in Upstate New York for the Canadian round at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP). A cut tire forced the No. 57 Stevenson Motorsports machine to pit with only five minutes remaining in the race after sustaining an impressive run for nearly all six hours, including leading laps for a portion of the race. The result was elusive, but the pace and team execution were there so the team will look forward to utilizing those positives as they head to CTMP.
Past CTMP Success: Stevenson Motorsports is no stranger to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park as the team has competed at the circuit since 2011. Both Lawson Aschenbach and Andrew Davisalso have experience at the track.
Since racing at the circuit with Stevenson Motorsports, Davis has generated one pole position (2014 – Continental SportsCar Challenge) as well as two podium finishes in 2015 – 3rd (Continental SportsCar Challenge) and 2016 – 2nd (WeatherTech SportsCar Championship).
Aschenbach stood atop the podium at CTMP with a race win in 2010 while driving in the American Le Mans Series in the GTC class. The previous two years, Aschenbach has raced with his Stevenson Motorsports crew, bringing home 4th (2015) and 9th (2016) place finishes.
Driver Quotes:
Lawson Aschenbach: “It’s always fun to go to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park because the fans always come out all weekend – every year they are there in full force. Not to mention that the track is super fast, has lots of elevation changes which is really fun for us, especially in the Audi R8 LMS. There are some tracks that suit our Audi R8 more than others, and with the downforce that this car generates hopefully this is one that is good for us. Last year we didn’t quite get the result that we wanted but I think that we have a great shot of doing better this year.”
Andrew Davis: “Last year our car was quite quick at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. It is a track that is similar to Watkins Glen, it’s a very fast, flowing, and long radius corners kind of track so I think our Audi will be really strong there. It’s a real joy to drive the track. The elevation changes at CTMP rival any track in the world and make most other tracks look pretty flat. I’ve been going up to the circuit for a long time – I’ve been going since my Formula 2000 days in 1999. I am looking forward to building on momentum and learning more about our Audi in hopes of getting faster and faster.”
IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge
Race: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park 120
Race Length: 2 hours
Car: No. 57 Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R
Drivers: Matt Bell and Robin Liddell
Misfortune at the Glen: Stevenson Motorsports continued to learn the ins-and-outs of the sixth generation Camaro GT4.R as the team made their second race start this year at Watkins Glen during Independence Day weekend. While the No. 57 Camaro GT4.R, driven by Robin Liddell and Matt Bell, was on the hunt to a podium finish, the race ended early when an engine failure struck in the second half of the race.
Liddell at CTMP: Liddell has quite a bit of experience racing at CTMP, dating back to 2003. Liddell has taken four podium finishes including one win in 2004 in the American Le Mans Series. Liddell looks to keep that drive going as he returns to Continental SportsCar Challenge competition this weekend.
Bell at CTMP: Bell has raced with Stevenson Motorsports in the previous three race seasons which includes a Continental SportsCar Challenge class win at the track in 2014 with co-driver Andy Lally in a Camaro Z/28.R. Bell’s other CTMP finishes include a 4th place finish in 2015 and a 9thplace finish in 2016.
Chevy Camaro GT4.R Specs:
Chassis: Rear-wheel drive, unitized body with 2-way adjustable struts & dampers and front & rear anti-roll bars
Engine: 6.2L V8 naturally aspirated direct injection
Transmission: Six-speed sequential with paddle shifters
Driver Quotes:
Matt Bell: “We’ve had success with the old Camaro GS cars at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, so we’re excited and optimistic about racing there coming off of a promising weekend at Watkins Glen. CTMP is a pretty dynamic, diverse track. It has high speed corners, low speed corners, and lots of elevation change. These are all things we can make our Camaro GT4.R handle quite well. All that said, this track also has one of the longest, fastest straights in North America, and top speed is our biggest issue with this new Camaro. We have the best team in the paddock, in my opinion, with some of the brightest minds and hardest working people in motorsport. We’re realistic about our advantages and disadvantages going up to Canada, but we certainly won’t be backing down from any fights.”
Robin Liddell: “The car is good in high speed corners and CTMP is a high speed flowing track so I think our Camaro will handle well. I think we will still fight the same issue on the straights that we had at Watkins Glen. I think CTMP, whilst it’s a balance and handling track, you also have a long drag up the back straight. I expect us to continue improving on the car and I think with a strong driver pairing with myself and Matt (Bell) we can continue to challenge for a podium.”
Source. Sunday Group
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