WeatherTech Racing drivers Cooper MacNeil (Hinsdale, Ill) and Daniel Juncadella (Spain) are ready for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship IMSA Fastlane Sportscar Weekend to run at Road America, August 4-7.
The WeatherTech Racing/Proton Competition team won the race last year in the GTLM Class. This year, returning with the No. 79 WeatherTech Racing Mercedes-AMG with Mercedes-Benz of Billings, Montana, the goal is the same. MacNeil has countless miles around the 4-mile, 14-turn rolling road course located an hour north of Milwaukee. The 37-car field will take the green earlier in the day at 11:30 a.m. ET with live TV coverage on the USA Network.
“Road America is my favorite track, with Le Mans a close second,” MacNeil said. “I was up in Elkhart Lake in May getting in some laps as I prepared for Le Mans and to get reacclimated for the IMSA race.
“The racing in the GTD category is always extremely close. For us, the difference is going to come down to the pit stops as well as if our Mercedes will be able to hang onto the GTD field down the straights. Our car likes the high-speed sections like the Kink, Carrousel, and Turn 7, but we may lose a couple of car lengths into Canada Corner and on the front straight. We will see how we stack up pretty quickly in that first practice on Friday.”
For Juncadella he will be a Road America rookie visiting the track for the first time. The Spaniard is coming off a win at the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa last weekend.
“I know it’s Cooper’s favorite track and I will look forward to his help this weekend learning that amazing circuit,” Juncadella said. “I had another opportunity in Europe, but I’ve always wanted to race at Road America, so it was a no brainer.
“I love the layout. I think the part I like the most is the run from the last corner to Turn 1 and Turn 2. I’ve been doing my best to learn the track online watching videos and on the SIM. With the Mercedes we should be able to attack, but let’s see how we go on Friday.”
Source. Kyle Chura/WeatherTech Racing
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