34 Entries for Laguna Seca as GTD Pro Returns to Action

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

A total of 34 entries are set for next weekend’s Monterey SportsCar Championship, the fourth round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.

Following a GTP-GTD only sprint race on the streets of Long Beach, the GTD Pro class returns to action for next Sunday’s first two-hour and 40-minute race of the season.

The GTD Pro class will feature nine entries for its first sprint outing of the season, all consisting of full season teams.

Co-championship leaders Manthey Racing, as expected, has not altered its plan of contesting the Michelin Endurance Cup-only races with its Nos. 911 and 912 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evos not on the Laguna entry list.

It means Paul Miller Racing’s Connor De Phillippi and Neil Verhagen will enter the event with an effective 30-point lead over Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports’ Nicky Catsburg and Tommy Milner.

The 11-car GTP class is largely unchanged from Long Beach, which was won by the No. 93 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06 of Renger van der Zande and Nick Yelloly, who have moved into fifth in the points standings.

They trail Rolex 24 at Daytona and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring winners Felipe Nasr and Julien Andlauer, with Laurin Heinrich, who will be back in JDC-Miller Motorsports’ Porsche 963 next weekend, third in the standings, and ahead of the No. 6 Porsche Penske pairing of Laurens Vanthoor and Kevin Estre.

The only driver change in GTP since Long Beach is the return of Earl Bamber to the No. 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac V-Series.R, who was on FIA World Endurance Championship duty at Imola and subbed by Frederik Vesti.

Fourteen GTD cars, meanwhile, are set to do battle at Laguna, down from the 17 that were in Long Beach due to the extra one-offs from GTD Pro teams AO Racing, Vasser Sullivan Racing and Pfaff Motorsports.

As confirmed on Tuesday, Lorenzo Patrese will sub for Manny Franco in the No. 34 Conquest Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, while Felipe Fraga will, after all, be at the wheel of Myers Riley Motorsports’ Ford Mustang GT3 EVO.

It’s understood a deal has been reached for the Brazilian to prioritize his WeatherTech Championship commitment next weekend instead of his LMP2 Pro-Am drive in the European Le Mans Series with CLX Motorsport.

While Tom Gamble, who missed Long Beach due to his WEC commitments, returns to the No. 27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, which continues to lead the points standings with Eduardo Barrichello, the No. 19 Van der Steur Racing Aston Martin will see Scott Andrews fill in for Valentin Haase-Clot, who will be on ELMS duty.

Track action for the event, billed as a ‘throwback’ weekend that will see multiple historic-themed liveries, kicks off on Fri. May 1 with a 90-minute practice session, with final practice and qualifying on tap for the following day. The race takes the green on Sun. May 3 at 1:10 p.m. PST (4:10 p.m. EST).

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