Pipo Derani Tag

By IMSA Wire Service BRASELTON, Ga. – The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Racing Cadillac DPi did everything it could in an attempt to repeat as Daytona Prototype international champions in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Even by winning Saturday’s thrilling Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, the No. 31 couldn’t unseat the No. 6 Acura Team Penske Acura DPi from the 2019 season title. By placing fourth on Saturday, No. 6 drivers Dane Cameron and Juan Pablo Montoya held on for the DPi crown by five points.Read More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer BRASELTON, Georgia — Qualifying for Saturday’s Petit Le Mans featured some welcome returns to the top of the time sheets with a few surprises thrown into the mix. Felipe Nasr gave co-driver Pipo Derani an early birthday present by qualifying the No. 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac DPi on  pole position. Nasr set a new lap record for DPi cars with a lap of 1 minute, 8.457 seconds around the 2.54 mile circuit. Ricky Taylor qualified second in the No. 7 Acura Team Penske DPi, justRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer In a race that is a crime against motorsports for how short it is, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship heads to Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin for the IMSA Road Race Showcase this weekend. A two hour, 40 minute race on Sunday around the 4.048 mile road course has 35 cars that will contest the ninth race of the 2019 season with a couple of changes from the ordinary. In the DPi class, there are only 10 entries instead of the normal 11. Juncos RacingRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer The 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship heads to Watkins Glen International this weekend for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen, the third of four races in the Michelin Endurance Cup. The scenic 3.4-mile road course has 37 cars on the entry list compared to 38 for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, so let’s take a look at the differences. With this being a shorter endurance race, many teams are not opting to use a third driver in their endurance racing lineups. Acura TeamRead More

By IMSA Wire Service DETROIT – May 2019 won’t soon be forgotten by Team Penske. The month began with a victory in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio by Dane Cameron and Juan Pablo Montoya in the No. 6 Acura Team Penske ARX-05 DPi on May 5. The Mid-Ohio win came two days after Fabian Coulthard won the first race of an Australian Supercars doubleheader for the team in Perth, Australia and one day after Scott McLaughlin also won for Team Penske in the secondRead More

By IMSA Wire Service LEXINGTON, Ohio – A year ago, Acura Team Penske celebrated its first IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship victory in the Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio with a sweep of the top two podium spots. No. 6 Acura ARX-05 Daytona Prototype international (DPi) co-drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Dane Cameron came home second that day as their teammates in the No. 7, Helio Castroneves and Ricky Taylor, celebrated the victory. Following Sunday’s two-hour and 40-minute battle at the 2.258-mile Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, it was the No.Read More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer LONG BEACH, California– Juncos Racing has had a tough time getting settled in its first season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship but Saturday’s BUBBA Burger Grand Prix at Long Beach gave the team their first taste on the positive side of things. The No. 50 Cadillac DPi started 10th in the 11 car class but used a one pit stop strategy to vault them into the lead during a full course yellow period. After the No. 55 Mazda DPi came to a stop on trackRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer LONG BEACH, California– The BUBBA Burger Grand Prix at Long Beach had a two hour practice session early on Friday morning for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship where the 19-car field basically acted as street sweepers for the first official on track action of the weekend on the 11-turn, 1.968 mile street circuit. Felipe Nasr and Pipo Derani led the first practice session in the No. 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac DPi. That was a good showing for the car that won this year’s Mobil 1Read More

By IMSA Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Following last month’s announcement of the 47-car entry list for this weekend’s Roar Before the Rolex 24 At Daytona, more than 150 drivers were unveiled in an updated entry list today to participate in this weekend’s annual three-day test session for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. “The Roar” as it’s become known over the past several years, serves as the kick off to the upcoming season. This year, it takes on added significance, as the IMSA 50th Anniversary Celebration that will takeRead More

By IMSA Wire Service BRASELTON, Ga. – Pipo Derani won the pole position for Saturday’s Motul Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta – the season finale for the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – and his last race with the Tequila Patron ESM team. It was the second Motul Pole Award of 2018 for the team after also leading the field to green in Detroit back in June. “Big thank you to my entire team,’’ Derani said after turning his fastest lap of one minute, 10.437 seconds (129.817 mph). “This place isRead More