Tandy, Nasr Credit “Awesome Execution” for Third Porsche Win

Photo: Jordan Lenssen/Porsche

Nick Tandy credited Porsche Penske Motorsport’s execution in the race that helped deliver the team’s third consecutive IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship victory.

Tandy and Felipe Nasr continued their undefeated mark in the GTP season on Saturday at Long Beach by scoring another convincing victory, in a second straight 1-2 finish for the German manufacturer.

It came after a front row sweep in qualifying for BMW M Team RLL, which topped every on-track session heading into the 100-minute street race, yet was unable to match the ultimate race pace from the pair of Porsche 963s.

“It’s just awesome execution again,” said Tandy. “I think it goes to show what a high level this team is operating at the moment.

“We’re lucky enough to be in front three times but if the 7 car is not there, then the 6 [car] is there and vice-versa.

“We’ve always got two bullets in the gun and both sides of the garage are operating just absolutely flawlessly.

“The pace today was awesome. I think we managed to save energy when it really counted.”

The No. 7 Porsche managed to come out in the lead of the race following the one-and-only round of GTP pit stops after running third, behind the two BMW M Hybrid V8s.

“We had a short stop when everyone came in, and jumped the leaders with an awesome pit stop,” said Tandy. “Everyone was then managing energy trying to get to the end, which Felipe did expertly.

“Once it went green in the last yellow, I think everyone was in a race to go fast again, without so much energy concern.

“The car just had pace. We saw it in practice. Our single lap stuff wasn’t superb but we were confident on our tire deg and our long run pace.

“It proved to be. I’m just super proud to be on this roll we’re on.”

Nasr echoed Tandy’s comments on the team being able to deliver not only on the track but in the pit lane.

“The execution level that Porsche Penske has been able to show in these past three events has been outstanding,” he said.

“For us drivers, it’s a unique feeling to see everything coming together.

“They gave us a fast car and again it was great execution all race long. That was the only way we could really fight the BMWs, if something came down to the stop and we had enough fuel save/energy to play something different in the strategy.

“That’s exactly what we did. We took a bigger, more aggressive approach because we didn’t change tires. Managing that was also key and I have to say the car was really quick when it had to be.”

When asked by Sportscar365 on why he thinks BMW was unable to challenge in the race, with the pole-sitting No. 24 car of Dries Vanthoor and Philip Eng finishing third, Nasr said it came down to full stint pace.

“In practice we could see already they had a single lap pace every time they were out on track.

“In FP2 we tried to do a longer run and understand how the balance was going on, so I think that gave us an idea of how to prepare the car for the race.

“I think that’s where we had a bit of an edge on them on the tire management and everything that came within the race package, I felt our car was very competitive.”

Nasr and Tandy now hold a sizable 123-point lead in the GTP drivers’ championship over their teammates Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell, with BMW’s Vanthoor and Eng third but 265 points adrift.

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