**2017 Monterey Grand Prix**
**Definition:**
The 2017 Monterey Grand Prix was a professional sports car race held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in California. It was part of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and took place on September 10, 2017.
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# 2017 Monterey Grand Prix
The 2017 Monterey Grand Prix was a key event in the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, held at the iconic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. This race marked the tenth round of the championship and featured multiple classes of sports cars competing on the challenging 2.238-mile road course. The event attracted top teams and drivers from around the world, showcasing endurance racing at its finest.
## Background
The Monterey Grand Prix has a rich history as part of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, known for its demanding track layout and enthusiastic fan base. Laguna Seca is famous for its signature „Corkscrew” turn, a steep downhill left-right combination that tests driver skill and car setup. The 2017 race was the 40th running of the Monterey Grand Prix and the 10th round of the 2017 IMSA season, which featured a diverse field of prototype and GT cars.
### IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 2017 Season
The 2017 season was the fourth under the WeatherTech sponsorship and featured two main classes: Prototype (P) and GT Le Mans (GTLM), along with the GT Daytona (GTD) class. The championship was highly competitive, with manufacturers such as Cadillac, Acura, Porsche, BMW, and Ferrari battling for supremacy. The Monterey Grand Prix was crucial for teams seeking to gain points in the championship standings as the season approached its final stages.
## Circuit
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a 2.238-mile (3.602 km) road course with 11 turns. The track is renowned for its elevation changes, particularly the „Corkscrew” at Turns 8 and 8A, which features a dramatic drop of approximately 59 feet in just 450 feet of track length. The circuit demands precision and bravery from drivers, as well as a well-balanced car setup to handle the mix of fast straights and technical corners.
## Entry List
The 2017 Monterey Grand Prix featured a full grid of IMSA competitors across the Prototype, GTLM, and GTD classes. Notable entries included:
– **Prototype (P):** Cadillac DPi-V.R, Acura ARX-05, Nissan Onroak DPi, and Mazda RT24-P.
– **GT Le Mans (GTLM):** Porsche 911 RSR, BMW M6 GTLM, Ford GT, Chevrolet Corvette C7.R, and Ferrari 488 GTE.
– **GT Daytona (GTD):** Ferrari 488 GT3, Lamborghini Huracán GT3, Audi R8 LMS, Porsche 911 GT3 R, and Mercedes-AMG GT3.
Top teams such as Wayne Taylor Racing, Action Express Racing, and Chip Ganassi Racing competed in the Prototype class, while manufacturers like Porsche, BMW, and Ford battled in GTLM.
## Practice Sessions
The race weekend began with multiple practice sessions allowing teams to fine-tune their setups and gather data on tire wear, fuel consumption, and track conditions.
– **Practice 1:** The opening session saw strong pace from the Cadillac DPi-V.R entries, with Wayne Taylor Racing setting competitive lap times. GTLM teams focused on tire management and balance, with Porsche and BMW showing early speed.
– **Practice 2:** Acura and Mazda prototypes improved their pace, closing the gap to Cadillac. In GTLM, the Ford GT demonstrated promising speed, while Corvette and Ferrari worked on race trim.
– **Final Practice:** The last session before qualifying was used to simulate race conditions. Teams tested longer stints and pit stop strategies. The Prototype class remained tightly contested, and GTLM teams finalized their setups for qualifying.
## Qualifying
Qualifying was divided by class, with each group taking to the track separately to set their fastest lap times.
– **Prototype:** Ricky Taylor of Wayne Taylor Racing secured pole position in the Cadillac DPi-V.R, demonstrating the car’s outright speed and his skill on the technical Laguna Seca circuit. Acura and Mazda prototypes qualified closely behind.
– **GT Le Mans:** Porsche’s Patrick Pilet earned pole in the 911 RSR, edging out BMW and Ford by fractions of a second. The GTLM qualifying session was highly competitive, reflecting the close performance of the manufacturers.
– **GT Daytona:** The GTD pole was claimed by the Ferrari 488 GT3 of Scuderia Corsa, with Lamborghini and Audi close behind.
## Race Summary
The 2 hour and 40-minute race began under clear skies and warm temperatures, providing ideal conditions for teams and drivers.
### Start and Early Stages
At the start, Ricky Taylor maintained his lead from pole, with the Cadillac DPi-V.R holding off challenges from the Acura ARX-05 of Team Penske and the Mazda RT24-P. The Prototype field was tightly packed through the opening laps, with several overtakes occurring in the braking zones and the Corkscrew.
In GTLM, Patrick Pilet led the Porsche 911 RSR into the first corner, followed closely by the BMW M6 GTLM and Ford GT. The GTD class saw a fierce battle between Ferrari and Lamborghini, with multiple position changes in the opening stint.
### Mid-Race Developments
As the race progressed, pit stop strategies began to play a crucial role. Teams opted for varying fuel and tire strategies to gain track position. The Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac maintained a strong pace, but the Acura and Mazda prototypes applied pressure.
In GTLM, the Ford GT of Chip Ganassi Racing made a strategic pit stop that allowed it to leapfrog the BMW and Porsche entries temporarily. The Corvette C7.R also showed strong pace, moving up the order after a slow start.
The GTD class remained highly competitive, with the Scuderia Corsa Ferrari and the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 of Paul Miller Racing exchanging the lead multiple times.
### Incidents and Cautions
The race saw a few minor incidents, including spins and off-track excursions, but no major accidents. A brief full-course caution was deployed mid-race due to debris on the track, which compressed the field and allowed some teams to make opportunistic pit stops.
### Final Stages
In the closing stages, the Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R, driven by Ricky and Jordan Taylor, extended their lead through consistent lap times and efficient pit stops. The Acura ARX-05 of Team Penske remained in pursuit but was unable to close the gap significantly.
GTLM saw a late charge from the Porsche 911 RSR, but the Ford GT held on to secure a podium position. The Corvette and BMW entries battled for the remaining podium spots.
In GTD, the Scuderia Corsa Ferrari managed to maintain its advantage, fending off challenges from Lamborghini and Audi to take the class victory.
## Results
### Overall and Prototype Class
1. **Wayne Taylor Racing (Cadillac DPi-V.R)** – Ricky Taylor / Jordan Taylor
2. **Team Penske (Acura ARX-05)** – Hélio Castroneves / Ricky Taylor
3. **Mazda Team Joest (Mazda RT24-P)** – Jonathan Bomarito / Tristan Nunez
### GT Le Mans Class
1. **Porsche GT Team (Porsche 911 RSR)** – Patrick Pilet / Nick Tandy
2. **Ford Chip Ganassi Racing (Ford GT)** – Joey Hand / Dirk Müller
3. **BMW Team RLL (BMW M6 GTLM)** – Bill Auberlen / Alexander Sims
### GT Daytona Class
1. **Scuderia Corsa (Ferrari 488 GT3)** – Christina Nielsen / Alessandro Balzan
2. **Paul Miller Racing (Lamborghini Huracán GT3)** – Bryan Sellers / Madison Snow
3. **Audi Sport Team (Audi R8 LMS)** – Christopher Haase / Markus Winkelhock
## Championship Implications
The victory by Wayne Taylor Racing solidified their position at the top of the Prototype Drivers’ Championship, giving them a strong advantage heading into the final rounds of the season. The close battle in GTLM continued to intensify, with Porsche, Ford, and BMW all within striking distance of the championship lead. In GTD, Scuderia Corsa’s win boosted their championship hopes, setting up a dramatic conclusion to the season.
## Post-Race
Following the race, teams praised the challenging nature of Laguna Seca and the importance of strategy and consistency. Drivers highlighted the difficulty of the Corkscrew and the need for precision in traffic, especially given the multi-class format of IMSA racing.
The 2017 Monterey Grand Prix was widely regarded as an exciting and competitive event, showcasing the skill of drivers and the performance of the latest sports car technology.
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**Meta Description:**
The 2017 Monterey Grand Prix was a pivotal IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race held at Laguna Seca, featuring intense competition across Prototype, GTLM, and GTD classes. Wayne Taylor Racing claimed overall victory in a race marked by strategic battles and challenging track conditions.