“Worst-Case Scenario” for WTR in Trouble-Filled Race

Photo: Rick Dole/IMSA

Renger van der Zande said Sunday’s Monterey Sports Car Championship ended up being the “worst-case scenario” for he and Ryan Briscoe, having lost the lead of the IMSA DPi championship following a trouble-filled weekend for the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac DPi.V.R.

Van der Zande and Briscoe recorded a sixth place finish in the penultimate round of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season after struggling with an unidentified electrical-related issue all weekend according to team owner Wayne Taylor.

The duo, who entered the event with an eight-point lead following their win at Motul Petit Le Mans, leave WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca two points behind new points leaders Ricky Taylor and Helio Castroneves, courtesy of team orders by Acura Team Penske.

“Today we had some great pace in the car, then we had no pace in one of the stints and we don’t know why,” said van der Zande.

“I think Ryan did a good job in the beginning and we were moving forward. The pit stops were good, I just had no grip in the middle stint, and we lost a lot of time there.

“Then on the restart I made a move to get up to fifth position. At least we were in the fight to move forward, but it’s the worst-case scenario for the championship.”

Briscoe added that the electrical issues have been “haunting” the team for the last few races, despite the Petit Le Mans win.

“It was pretty scary because the car shut off a couple times and had to reset the dash with Renger in the car,” Briscoe said.

“He did a good job on the last restart and moved us up to fifth and the car started having problems.

“Thankfully we were able to build up a lap over the other Cadillacs and we were able to bring it home in sixth, but it’s a pretty disappointing result today.”

Van der Zande believes it will be a tough fight at Sebring with the No. 7 Acura DPi, which has been on a roll with four wins in the last five races.

“The Acuras have been on a streak for so long now,” he said.

“After the gremlins we had in the last stint we cruised home and now we have to figure out how to fix it and now we only have one shot at Sebring to clinch the championship.”

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