Muehlner’s Kranz, Hoerr Win IPC Season Opener

Muehlner Motorsports claimed victory in Saturday’s Scouts of America 145 IMSA Prototype Challenge season-opener at Daytona International Speedway.

Moritz Kranz and Laurents Hoerr cruised to victory in the No. 21 Duqueine D08 Nissan by a gap of nearly 20 seconds on the famed 3.56-mile road course.

Kranz put the Duqueine on pole in morning qualifying and pull away early in the one-hour, 45-minute race.

The race got off to a shaky start with a pair of full-course cautions, one when five cars were involved in an incident in Turn 2 after the No. 34 Conquest Racing/JMF Motorsports Duqueine driven by Peter Ludwig spun when cars checked up in front of him.

Once those were cleared, Kranz plowed away from the field under green-flag conditions.

He turned over the car to Hoerr for the final 45 minutes and the fellow German was never challenged.

Dakota Dickerson brought the No. 54 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS P320 Nissan home second, 19.886 seconds back.

Brothers Keith and David Grant finished third overall and took home first place in the Bronze Cup class.

Keith Grant started second in the No. 40 JDC Motorsports Duqueine and turned the car over to his brother in fourth position. David Grant was able to get the car back on the overall podium in the closing stint.

In the LMP3-2 class for previous-generation cars, veteran Tonis Kasemets put on a show when he closed the race in the No. 60 Wulver Racing Ligier JS P3 Nissan.

Despite a horsepower disadvantage to the newer cars in LMP3-1, Kasemets chased down and passed several to finish seventh overall and win the class with co-driver Bruce Hamilton.

RESULTS: Scouts of America 145