CTMP CTSC Weekend Notebook

Photo: Wes Duenkel/Ford

***A second new-gen Ford Mustang is making its debut this weekend, with VOLT Racing switching from its McLaren 570S GT4, which it started the season with. Alan Brynjolfsson and Chris Hall will pilot the No. 7 car in this afternoon’s race, with the car having just completed its build at Multimatic earlier this week. The team borrowed KohR’s Mustang for an evaluation run in the recent Pirelli World Challenge round at Lime Rock Park.

***Team TGM packed up early on Friday after accidents from both of its Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsports. Hugh Plumb crashed the No. 4 car in Thursday’s test day, triggered by a reported electrical issue, while contact from the RS1 Porsche Cayman of Spencer Pumpelly put team owner/driver Ted Giovanis hard into the wall in Friday’s opening practice session.

***While Giovanis was evaluated and released by the trackside medical team, it’s understood he is seeking additional medical treatment and could be a question for the remainder of the season.

***An accident by Ari Balogh in opening practice on Friday has also ruled out the No. 81 BimmerWorld Racing BMW 328i from action this weekend. 

***The double withdrawal has resulted in a 11-car GS field for this afternoon’s race, with a handful of cars present at Watkins Glen last week not making the trip North of the Border, including Automatic Racing’s Aston Martin Vantage GT4. 

***The No. 68 Motorsports In Action McLaren 570S GT4 will also not race, despite the car being on-site. Efforts to put JF Dumoulin in the car alongside Kenny Wilden did not materialize due to Dumoulin’s commitments in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series this weekend at Circuit ICAR. Full season driver Rod Randall was unavailable due to business reasons.

***After joining the Montreal-based team at Watkins Glen, Ian and Keith Willis of AIM Autosport are again working with MIA this weekend, with the hope of extending their relationship through the rest of the Continental Tire Challenge season.

***Scott Maxwell has been a late addition to this weekend’s race, replacing Dean Martin in the No. 59 KohR Motorsports Mustang. The reigning Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge GS champion gave the new-generation Mustang its maiden win at Sebring in March. “It’s been four months since I’ve been in this environment. There’s been a lot of testing but it’s different when you come to a race track,” he told Sportscar365.

***Maxwell was due to fly to the UK on Friday evening for a Mustang GT4 customer test at the Anglesey Circuit in Wales early next week but will now instead fly tonight after the race. The two-day event, organized for prospective customers, comes on the heels of the car’s European debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend.

***It’s understood longtime Ford WRC partner M-Sport is in negotiations to become the European technical support partner for the Mustang GT4, and is assisting with the organization of the customer event.

***While KohR is set to take delivery of a second new Mustang later this month, Maxwell said it hasn’t been discussed whether he could be part of the team’s lineup in additional Continental Tire Challenge races this season.

***Other entry list changes since The Glen includes Mark Drennan in the No 27 Freedom Autosport Mazda MX-5 alongside Britt Casey Jr., Cavan O’Keefe replacing Alain Lauziere in the No. 47 Team Octane MINI JCW and Nate Norenberg in for Mark Pombo in the No. 52 MINI.

***Freedom’s No. 25 Mazda has been repaired since Stevan McAleer’s accident last weekend, which forced he and Chad McCumbee to revert to Alara Motorsports’ spare MX-5 for the race. The pairing pulled off an 11th place class finish in the borrowed car.

***Bodymotion Racing will be giving an opportunity to a Canadian service member to join the team and participate in today’s race as a crew member through a new charity called Operation Motorsport. The charity is designed to educate disabled veterans about motorsports and provide an opportunity for employment in the industry.

***Check out Andy Blackmore’s spotters guide for this afternoon’s race. Click Here to download the guide, which also includes cars competing in Sunday’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race as well.

***Watch the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park 120 live at IMSA.tv starting at 2:40 p.m. ET with commentary from IMSA Radio. FOX Sports 1 will air the race on Sun. July 15 at 1 p.m. ET.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John