WeatherTech Racing drivers Cooper MacNeil (Hinsdale, Ill), Maro Engel (Germany), and Mikael Grenier (Canada) are ready for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen to run at Watkins Glen International, June 24-26.
MacNeil is coming off a second-place finish at Le Mans just a week ago with Engel and Grenier coming off the Imola round of the DTM Championship. The 3.4-mile, 11-turn Watkins Glen International circuit located in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York is a driver favorite. The undulating layout rewards a well-balanced car and driver lineup. The WeatherTech Racing/Proton Competition team will have to have a clean run and be in a position to fight for the podium in the last hour of the race.
MacNeil still feels a little sting from Le Mans nine days ago but is motivated.
“It was tough at Le Mans,” MacNeil said. “We led most of the race and were in a position to win and then got unlucky with the last safety car. Second was a good finish, but you always want to win the big ones.
“The Glen six hours has always seemed to elude us for one reason or another. We have won at Sebring and Petit Le Mans, but the six hours has been a tough event for our team. I think we have the car and the drivers to get up on the podium come Sunday afternoon. Maro is always fast and crafty, and I am looking forward to running with Mikael for the first time. All three of us have good seat time at The Glen, so hopefully this is the year for a good finish.”
Engel drove with the team to a third place at Sebring in March.
“Last year was my first time at the The Glen,” Engel said. “It is an amazing track with so much history. Seeing the old photos of the US Formula 1 Grand Prix there is so cool. The track has an amazing flow to it which makes it enjoyable to drive. It is generally a track that suits the traits of the WeatherTech Racing Mercedes-AMG. We should be able to set it up in a window that makes it fast.
“Obviously, the last time I was out with the WeatherTech Racing Mercedes team we finished third at Sebring. Hopefully we can build upon that and take at least another podium. Of course, we would love to win. Cooper had a great run at Le Mans so we are fully motivated to give it our best shot this weekend.”
Grenier also has Watkins Glen experience.
“I am for sure very happy to drive the WeatherTech Racing Mercedes-AMG at The Glen,” Grenier said. “I obviously know very well the car as it is very popular in IMSA, so I am looking forward to driving it for the first time. I’ve raced The Glen twice in IMSA and once in World Challenge also in the Mercedes-AMG. I know the track very well and how the car feels there. It is a great track for us, top speed is always a bit of a weakness on the long straights, but in Sector Two we are normally very strong as we have good downforce so it will be interesting to see where we are but I think we will have a great effort.
“I have shared the car many times with Maro and we always had good results and podiums together and he is also my teammate in DTM in Europe so it will be a fun weekend. I am also very much looking forward to driving with Cooper for the first time. We will need to stay out of trouble to be there in the last hours anything can happen. We will for sure give it our maximum effort.”
Source. Kyle Chura
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