IMSA Laguna Seca Race Report: Jaminet and Campbell Secure Victory for Porsche
Laguna Seca, CA – The #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport duo of Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell triumphed at Laguna Seca, halting the three-race winning streak of their teammates in the #7 car. This marks a significant milestone for the team in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class.
Key Highlights
- Victory Details: Jaminet and Campbell clinched victory after an intense final stretch, where Jaminet fended off a challenge from Nick Tandy, who was racing in the #7 Porsche. Tandy engaged in a last-lap battle that resulted in contact with Dries Vanthoor’s #24 BMW M Team RLL, pushing the BMW off track and securing Jaminet’s win.
- Race Results: The race concluded with Jaminet taking the top spot, Campbell securing the team’s first victory this season, and Tandy finishing third despite the earlier clash. The #24 BMW, previously the pole-sitter, was unable to convert that position into a podium finish.
Technical Insights
Jaminet’s victory was influenced by strategic pit stops; the #6 crew executed an undercut that allowed them to seize the lead. In contrast, a rare misstep by Tandy exiting the pit lane provided Jaminet with the necessary advantage to navigate the closing stages ahead of the pack.
Driver Quotes
Matt Campbell remarked on their performance, stating, “It’s great to finally get a win with car #6 this season. We needed this for PPM and the championship.” He acknowledged the race’s challenges: “We lacked a bit of speed, but thanks to the team and strategy, we came out on top.”
Competitive Landscape
The race underscored the fierce competition within the GTP class, particularly as the #7 Porsche and #24 BMW traded positions in the latter laps. The incident involving Tandy and Vanthoor remains notable, as race officials opted not to impose any penalties, consistent with recent trends where pole sitters struggle to convert their advantage into victory.
GTD and GTD PRO Update
In the GTD PRO category, the #77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, piloted by Klaus Bachler and Laurin Heinrich, finished first, outpacing Giacomo Altoè and Albert Costa in the #81 Ferrari 296 GT3 by nearly nine seconds. The #3 Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette rounded out the top three, a full lap behind the leaders.
Lastly, Philip Ellis and Rodger Ward secured the top spot in GTD with their #57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3, finishing ahead of the #12 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus RC F GT3.
The Laguna Seca race showcased strategic brilliance and fierce competition, setting the stage for the remainder of the IMSA season.
