This Sunday at Road America, the drivers will ride for victory, but also with the 2022 IMSA season title in mind. The Wisconsin circuit is indeed the scene of the penultimate round of this exercise, the penultimate for the prototypes, since VIR on August 28 will be reserved for GT cars. At Eikhart Lake, the DPi will meet for their penultimate meeting of 2022, before Petit Le Mans on October 2. In the championship, Oliver Jarvis and Tom Blomqvist lead the way for Meyer Shank Racing (2,737 points) ahead of Filipe Albuquerque and Ricky Taylor of Wayne Taylor Racing (2,681 pts).
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“This weekend is a critical race in the championship, explains the American pilot of the WTR. Victory is mandatory for us to fight for the championship. Road America is a fantastic track for the Acura, but we have to capitalize. The track is fast and where you have to be opportunistic to overtake in traffic. It’s a track where people can get moving and make things happen. I expect this to be another epic battle for victory. Filipe Albuquerque is keen to claim his first victory at Road America and head to the final on a high note. »
“Road America is an incredible track, adds teammate Filipe Albuquerque. Last year we were unlucky with a puncture, but we were driving well so we know the car can be good there. We are in a situation where we have to finish ahead of our main rivals, the other Acuras. So our objective is very simple, finish ahead of them and obviously aim for victory. It’s all about championship points with just two races to go, so we want to maximize that, and Wayne Taylor Racing have never won at Road America, so we’re looking to get our fourth win of the season there. We had a lot of ups and downs in the season, but we have three wins, which is the most of any team this season. It shows that we can do the job. »
For two races, Meyer Shank Racing has been unable to finish the job, having been surprised in the last minutes by Wayne Taylor Racing at Watkins Glen and by Cadillac Racing at Bowmanville. “We ran in the lead, won races, we feel strong, judges Frenchman Sébastien Bourdais of Cadillac. « Renger (van der Zande, his teammate. Editor’s note) put in an incredible performance at Mosport (Bowmanville, July 3. Ed) in really difficult conditions. He attacked, especially in traffic, which was really great. Looking forward to trying to repeat that at Road America. »
Le Manceau will find a track where it won at the time of the Champ Car, in 2007. “It’s a beautiful circuit, continues the Cadillac driver. I only managed to win there once in the Champ Car days, but I have a lot of great memories. This is one of those places that is extremely rewarding if you take the right tour. It’s one of those cases where it’s really great when you go for a lap, and hopefully we can do it in qualifying and have a great race. »
37 cars are expected for the round of Road America, divided into the five categories of the North American championship.
Check out the entry list HERE
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