The mixture of the LMP2 class being the headliner for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park subsequent weekend and the battle with the World Endurance Championship race at Interlagos in Brazil has created a wealth of alternative for GTP drivers to get a little bit totally different view. 4 GTP drivers are substituting within the 12-car LMP2 discipline within the first dash race for the category this season and the primary time LMP2 has raced on the 2.459-mile, 10-turn street course since 2019.
The total discipline comprising LMP2, GTD PRO and GTD has 35 entries.
GTP drivers within the LMP2 class embrace Renger van der Zande becoming a member of John Farano within the No. 8 Tower Motorsports ORECA; Filipe Albuquerque with Danial Goldburg within the United Autosports No. 22; Pipo Derani driving the No. 88 AF Corse entry with Luis Perez Companc; and Louis Deletraz repeating his stint from the 24 Hours of Le Mans with PJ Hyett in AO Racing’s No. 99 ORECA.
It’s the acquainted pairing of Gar Robinson and Felipe Fraga — CTMP winners in LMP3 final 12 months — who lead the factors for Riley Motorsports, 252 to 248 for Period Motorsport’s Ryan Dalziel, who shall be partnering with Stuart Wiltshire for the subsequent two races. Nick Boulle and Tom Dillman are third for Euro Interpol with PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports.
Colin Braun and George Kurtz, contemporary off a Professional-Am class victory within the 24 Hours of Spa (with Ian James and Nicky Catsburg), are searching for their first LMP2 victory in 2024. If they need to handle the feat, Braun may have a quite distinctive distinction: he’ll have received at CTMP three years in a row, every time in a special class. He received LMP3 with Jon Bennett for CORE Autosport in 2022 and took the GTP class win with Tom Blomqvist within the Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06 final 12 months. Braun has six victories at CTMP over time.
Coronary heart of Racing may have a few substitutes in its GTD PRO and GTD entries for CTMP as Alex Riberas and Ian James compete in Brazil, however they’re acquainted ones. Mario Farnbacher takes Riberas’s spot with Ross Gunn within the No. 23 GTD PRO Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo that received on the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen final trip with Riberas and Gunn. Within the GTD entry, Spencer Pumpelly joins Roman De Angelis within the No. 27 for the third time this season.
GTD PRO factors leaders Laurin Heinrich and Seb Priaulx shall be trying to rebound after a tough weekend at Watkins Glen and resume their successful methods for AO Racing. The pair have taken each dash races up to now this season within the No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R. Nevertheless, CTMP has been the spot of a lot success for Corvette Racing, with Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor taking the victory final 12 months.
Whether or not it’s factors leaders Philip Ellis and Russell Ward for Winward Racing, their closest pursuers Patrick Gallagher and Robby Foley for Tuner Motorsport, or another person, GTD is not going to have a repeat winner from final 12 months, as Madison Snow, Bryan Sellers and Paul Miller Racing have moved to GTD PRO the place they’re searching for their first victory. Winward has taken the win in 4 of 5 races this season.
Seven Canadian drivers are entered for IMSA’s annual journey north of the border. They embrace John Farano (No. 8 Tower Motorsports ORECA), Mikael Grenier (No. 32 Korthoff Preston Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3), Kyle Marcelli (No. 45 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2) and Misha Goikhberg (No. 78 Forte Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2).
The 2h40m Chevrolet Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park is scheduled to kick off at 11:10am ET on Sunday, July 14. The race in its entirety shall be broadcast on USA Community, in addition to streamed on Peacock and on IMSA.television and YouTube.com/IMSAOfficial outdoors the U.S. Qualifying shall be streamed on Peacock and IMSA.television on Saturday, July 13 at 3:55pm ET. Commentary for choose periods may also be offered by IMSA Radio on IMSA.com and RadioLeMans.com
