Louis Deletraz – Syndication Server

Records fall in Glen qualifying as Deletraz takes pole for Acura

Deprived of a proper qualifying session for last year’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen due to inclement weather, the GTP runners made up for it with an exciting session where every driver was under the existing track record, set during the race last year. Louis Deletraz came out on a top of a rapid-fire fast lap rotation to take the GTP pole with a 1m32.309s lap, good for a 132.6mph average around the 3.4-mile, 11-turn Watkins Glen International circuit.

“It’s great to be on pole,” said Deletraz. “The car was fast today — very fast — and I felt good, so I could really push straight away, get the grip and put it on pole, so that’s nice. But we know what’s important is Sunday and the race; the points are tomorrow, so to be sure winning in Sebring was nice, but it’s quite far away. We had some harder weekends in Laguna and Detroit, so we’re looking forward to bouncing back here.”

Renger van der Zande, making his first qualifying appearance for Cadillac Racing since Daytona in 2022, held the top spot briefly in the No. 01 V-Series.R before Deletraz pipped him by 0.038s. The No. 01 will start on the outside of the first row.

Jack Aitken posted a 1m32.519s lap to start the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac Racing V-Series.R on the inside of the second row. The No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963 found itself the best of the four 963s in the field courtesy of Phil Hanson’s 1m32.525s to put the car outside the second row. It will be the two Porsche Penske Motorsport 963s on the third row, Mathieu Jaminet in the No. 6 besting teammate Felipe Nasr in the No. 7 by 0.069s.

Philipp Eng, in the only BMW M Team RLL M Hybrid V8 to qualify, will start seventh, and the Lamborghini SC63 will start ninth after Andrea Caldarelli qualified the car with a time identical to Gianmaria Bruni in the No. 5 Proton Competition Porsche. Caldarelli posted his time first, so he gets the better grid position. Those identical times were 0.714s off Deletraz’s pole time, and that was the margin for the whole GTP field.

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PJ Hyett put the No. 99 AO Racing ORECA known as “Spike” on top, then kept lowering his best time to take the LMP2 pole — his second of the season — by an impressive 0.682s over Daniel Goldburg in the No. 22 United Autosports ORECA. Hyett’s 1m35.925 was good for a 127.6mph average around Watkins Glen. It’s Hyett’s second consecutive pole in three LMP2 races, the first coming at Sebring.

“I got my first racing license when I was 38 years old…I’m 41 now so haven’t been doing this for very long,” explained Hyett. “It’s one of those…unbelievably magical things about motorsports. I wouldn’t call that a perfect lap. There are still 12 things I think I could have done better about that lap, but when you see the time after you go over the start finish…yeah, it’s a magical feeling.”

Steven Thomas qualified the No. 11 TDS Racing ORECA at 1m36.609s. Nick Boulle was fourth in the No. 52 Inter Europol by PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports entry, followed by Ben Keating in the No. 2 United Autosports ORECA.

IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup team Risi Competizione will start the Six Hour on the GT pole after Daniel Serra set a new GTD PRO record in qualifying. Serra’s 1m44.203s (117.46mph) in the No. 62 Ferrari 296 GT3 beat a two-year-old record set by Connor De Phillippi in a BMW M4 GT3, as well as the GTD record set by Loris Spinelli last year in the Forte Racing Lamborghini Huracan.

“The track was quite different from this morning and everything that we changed worked very well,” said Serra as Risi looks to back up its Daytona win and second at Sebring. “I think the starting position doesn’t decide your end position in the race; it’s six hours of racing. We have a lot to do tomorrow, but of course it’s better to start in the front; track position is quite important especially at this track where it’s very difficult to overtake. I’m very happy and I have to say thank you to the team that gave me a really nice car.”

Parker Thompson was the sole GTD interloper in the GTD PRO top 10, scoring his third pole of the season in the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3. His 1m44.642s time was good for sixth overall in the GT field. He’ll start on the outside of the third row of the GT cars with a nice buffer of GTD PRO cars between him and the closest GTD competitor, putting the No. 12 in good position to defend its victory from last year.

“We know our Lexus RC F agrees with Watkins Glen. It agreed today in qualifying,” Thompson said. “This place is unbelievable for a qualifying lap. It’s fun to drive in the race, but for one lap, squeezing everything you can out of it, it’s probably the best one lap you could ever get as a race car driver — tons of commitment. Glad I got it done today for the No. 12 team, but nobody remembers who wins the pole; they only remember the guys in victory lane, so we’ve got a job to finish tomorrow.”

Despite having a puncture on the left rear of the No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Z06 GT3.R and losing the carcass on the track as the checker fell on the session, Alexander Sims qualified on the outside of the front GT row with a time 0.114s off Serra’s. Ross Gunn put the No. 23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo on the inside of the second row with a 1m44.387s. Jack Hawksworth will start alongside Gunn in the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus RC F. The second Corvette, the No. 4 Z06 GT3.R qualified by Nicky Catsburg, will be inside Thompson’s Lexus on the third row.

Onofrio Triarsi put in his best qualifying performance to qualify the No. 023 Triarsi Competizone Ferrari 296 second in GTD with a 1m45.242s (identical to the time Franck Perera turned in the No. 19 GTD PRO Iron Lynx Lamborghini). The time was the twelfth-fastest in the GT field as a whole, and the Ferrari will start outside the sixth row. It’s two GTD Mercedes AMGs in the row behind; the seventh row will be the No. 32 Korthoff Preston Motorsports entry (Mikael Grenier) and the No. 57 Winward Racing car (Russell Ward).

The Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen is scheduled for a green flag at 11:10 a.m. ET on Sunday.

RESULTS

Final Sebring stint catapults Deletraz to IMSA stardom

A little more than a year ago, Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti sent the new guy to buy a vacuum cleaner for the team motor home. On Saturday night, they were crediting him with winning the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring – the team’s first victory …

“Louis’ closing stint is what made the difference today. The team did a good job to keep us in the fight. He really fought for that win and got it for us,” said Jordan Taylor, describing teammate Louis Deletraz’s role in capturing a Sebring victory for the trio driving the No. 40 WTRAndretti Acura ARX-06 – himself, Deletraz and Colton Herta.

Deletraz had already made a mark on sports car racing with a pair of European Le Mans Series LMP2 titles and several IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship wins when he was tabbed as the endurance addition for Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque in the No. 10 Acura for 2023. The Swiss driver captured his first WEC LMP2 title last year as well. Now the former Haas F1 test driver is the full-timer alongside Jordan in the second ARX-06 the team added this year.

As the race entered its closing stages, Deletraz was third as the green waved for a restart. He dispatched Felipe Nasr in the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 rather quickly. But then he had a bigger obstacle in front of him — Sebastien Bourdais in Cadillac V-Series.R that had been strong all race. Deletraz had one advantage — fresher tires by a few laps thanks to different pit sequences. The Cadillac had pitted a few laps before the yellow that would produce everyone’s last stop, and went for a short fill and no tires to gain track position, as did the PPM squad with the No. 7.

It took a couple of extra cautions for debris before the battle truly began, but once it did, it was on in earnest. Deletraz attempted a bold move on the outside of Turn 17, but couldn’t make it stick. Jordan Taylor would later note that they had studied other drivers and teams, and Bourdais was one of the strongest in Turn 17, so for Deletraz to nearly pull off a pass there was impressive.

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Bourdais was on the defense, especially in some of the slower corners. But Deletraz was observing. When Bourdais once again took the middle of the track in defense on the approach to the Hairpin, Deletraz went all the way to the right, took away Bourdais’ apex, and a couple of turns and several bumps later, had the lead that would deliver a victory.

“The car was really strong in the end,” Deletraz said. “I knew we were in a position to win, which, to be fair, was a lot of pressure. I’ve never really done that. Daytona was my first time. That’s my second time finishing a race. I just obviously wanted to win and bring points for the championship. I saw I had the opportunity. Seb was tough, but fair, so thanks to him. Yeah, in the end I saw the gap, I went for it. I had more pace and we won. That’s fantastic. I think I’ll remember this one for a long time.”

The manner of the victory made it all the sweeter for Deletraz. Jake Galstad/Lumen

Bourdais made it known that he thought there was a bit too much contact in the battle, but in the end both cars made it to the finish without trouble. Up to the point of that fight, Deletraz’s teammates had done their part, as had Deletraz, in keeping the No. 40 in contention. Still, they had great praise for the finishing driver, especially since the victory put them in a tie for the points lead for the season championship after a third-place finish in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

“I can’t say enough about what Louis did in the last stint to bring it home, what type of pressure he was under, able to perform through it and put a pretty spicy move on Seb,” said Herta.

Deletraz seemed slightly embarrassed by the praise, yet his smile revealed he was also proud of the remarks from his accomplished teammates.

“It means a lot,” he said of the comments. “I think winning this coming here was an objective, but for sure was going to be hard work. To do it this way means really a lot. I got the car in a very good position. It’s thanks to these two – Jordan and Colton didn’t do any mistakes, gave me the car up there, then I could fight. Obviously with them having won so much in their career, having them by my side, I can learn from different categories and keep improving. That’s always the goal in the end.”

Deletraz, J. Taylor, Herta claim Sebring 12 Hour victory for WTR

With a series of late yellows negating any strategy, victory in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Cadillac came down to pace in the final hour, which Louis Deletraz and the No. 40 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-06 had enough. In the final hour, he passed Felipe Nasr in the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsports 963 and, in a battle royale, Sebastien Bourdais in the No. 01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R to claim victory for himself, Jordan Taylor and Colton Herta.

The No. 1 Cadillac of Bourdais, Renger van der Zande and Scott Dixon was second, with Nasr, Dane Cameron and Matt Campbell third.

Era Racing, after a winless season in 2023, opened 2024 with victory in the 36 Hours of Florida, claiming wins at both the Rolex 24 at Daytona and now Sebring. Strategy after an early puncture and great pace got them to the front as Connor Zilisch closed out a victory for himself, Dwight Merriman and Ryan Dalziel.

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In less than a lap, Jack Hawksworth battled from third to the lead in the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 he shared with Ben Barnicoat and Kyle Kirkwood to claim a GTD PRO victory for the Vasser Sullivan Racing squad — a nice recovery from a disastrous Rolex 24 that saw them out of the race early. The defending champion had to get by Daniel Juncadella in the No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Z06 GT3.R and then Daniel Serra in the No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3 within several corners. Serra, Davide Rigon and James Calado were second. A late-race battle between Juncadella and Laurin Heinrich in the No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R sent Juncadella off track and out of the race, while Heinrich would receive a drive-through penalty, handing third to the Iron Lynx Lamborghini squad of Mirko Bortolotti, Jordan Pepper and Frank Perera.

There were two 36 Hours of Florida winners this year, as Winward Racing controlled GTD for most of the race. The No. 57 Mercedes AMG and drivers Russell Ward, Philip Ellis and Indy Dontje were near flawless all race to claim their second victory of the season. The No. 47 Cetilar Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 of Roberto Lacorte, Antonio Fuoco and Giorgio Sernagiotto were second, coming oh-so-close to following up Cetilar’s 2022 victory in the race. Elliot Skeer, Adam Adelson and Jan Heylen brought the No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche home third.

Full reports to follow.

RESULTS

Rolex 24, Halfway: More electrical oddities for WTR Acura

Halfway at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The eery stillness of full course yellow reared its ugly head once again for the bulk of the twelfth hour, this time at the hands of yet more drama for Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport. Just over 20 …

Just over 20 minutes into the hour, the circuit drew quiet for heaps of debris on track near Turn 5, potentially from the No. 40 Acura of Louis Deletraz, ceasing Jack Aitken’s deft use of traffic to keep Dane Cameron’s Porsche 963 1.2s behind the Whelen Cadillac not long after Aitken executed a masterful pass for the overall lead.

Come time for the pits to open for leaders, the Rahal Letterman Lanigan BMW team made good use of the unseasonably warm weather, taking no tires are firing both cars away ahead of the two Penske Porsches, relegating Cameron and teammate Laurens Vanthoor to P4 and P5 respectively. WTR swapped a new nose onto the No. 40 before a spot of drama as the No. 78 GTD Lamborghini attempted to leave pitlane with the fuel hose still attached, causing a small fire which was mercifully brief but would eventually yield a penalty for leaving the box with equipment still attached.

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Green returned with just 15 minutes remaining before half distance, the threatening rain having still not arrived. Almost instantly, Vanthoor muscled back past both RLL BMWs to move back to second overall.

The action lasted only briefly, though. Only minutes later WTR’s woes returned once again in almost the same manner suffered earlier by the No. 10 Acura. As Deletraz approached the infield exit, the No. 40 went dark and coasted to a stop, bringing a full course yellow out once again. Oddly, Deletraz managed to restart the car minutes later while the AMR Safety Team attended and made his way, at speed, back around the field readying to claw time back.

Post pit cycle, Tom Dillman now leads LMP2 in the No. 52 ORECA ahead of Connor Zilisch (No. 18) and Malthe Jakobsen (No. 04) with previous leader Ben Keating having slid to fifth in class.

Alessandro Pier Guidi remains in the GTD PRO lead in the No. 62 Risi Ferrari with Alexander Sims still stalking just 1.5s behind.

GTD is led by Frederik Schandorff in the No. 70 McLaren 720S Evo.

HOUR 12 STANDINGS