“Thankfully, I’ve had my truck driver’s license for over ten years, from once I used to drive around the globe with my father’s staff,” Porsche Penske driver Kevin Estre mentioned with amusing. After all, his reply adopted our critical query.
The Porsche 963 had a file weight of 1,100 kilograms on the IMSA race in Lengthy Seaside; at Laguna Seca Raceway this weekend, it has been decreased to 1,084 kilograms, however nonetheless is by far the heaviest GTP automotive. What can the staff do?
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After ending third and fourth at Lengthy Seaside, albeit aided by a well-timed warning, Porsche Penske Motorsport managed glorious harm limitation. Nonetheless, at Laguna Seca Raceway, issues are anticipated to be tougher. “It’s undoubtedly more difficult, particularly when braking and handing over. Each time you apply lateral forces to the automotive, it will get tougher,” Felipe Nasr informed Motorsport.com. Estre added: “It’s not simple to know the way it handles in comparison with Sebring [at 1,055 kilograms], for instance, as a result of the tracks are fully completely different. Now we have no back-to-back knowledge.”
#6 Porsche Penske Motorsport: Laurens Vanthoor, Kevin Estre
Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Lumen through Getty Photos
The Porsche 963 is already new with the Evo bundle, and on high of that, the staff lacks expertise with such a excessive base weight. However the one possibility is to make the very best of the state of affairs. This was achieved in Lengthy Seaside. But Estre is aware of the circumstances had been an enormous assist: “Given the efficiency we had, we achieved a great outcome. We had a little bit of luck, a great begin, the appropriate technique. Every part got here collectively.”
#7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Felipe Nasr, Julien Andlauer, Ricky Taylor
Photograph by: Artwork Fleischmann
Nasr factors out that the character of the road circuit in Lengthy Seaside additionally helped: “In Lengthy Seaside, you’re simply fully caught to the automotive in entrance. Whether or not you’re slower or quicker, you possibly can hardly make a move.”
“On a observe like Laguna Seca, You would in all probability develop slightly bit extra circulation. I believe, it can give us extra of a room to play with the broader technique. You will get extra observe place out of the pits with vehicles pitting earlier or later. The visitors right here additionally performs a job.”
That may even have a adverse impact, as Estre factors out: “On avenue circuits, weight is much less noticeable than on a daily race observe as a result of there are hardly any quick corners—really, none in any respect. There’s a variety of stop-and-go, and grip can be decrease, which results in much less tire put on.
“However right here, you undoubtedly discover it extra. It’s extra of a standard race the place tempo is vital, and you may overtake. If we’re too sluggish, then even when we finally get observe place by means of technique, it’ll be powerful.
“Now we have to ensure we decrease tire put on as a lot as attainable—each by way of setup and driving model. However you at all times strive to try this, regardless of how a lot weight you’re carrying. That’s why it’s simply regular driving.”
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