DOUBLE PODIUM FINISH FOR FORD AT ROAD AMERICA
ELKHART LAKE, WI – August 6, 2018 – Richard Westbrook and Ryan Briscoe took the No. 67, Ford GT to the top of the podium to mark the fourth win in a row for Ford Chip Ganassi Racing (FCGR) and Ford Performance, in the IMSA Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at Road America.
“Congratulations to Chip and the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team, along with Volt Racing team,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “We’ve seen some close races in the past, but these two came down to the wire during the final laps. Ford Chip Ganassi Racing and Volt Racing both had strong cars this weekend and with the team’s race strategies and never give up attitudes these teams succeeded.”
The Ford GTs started the race side-by-side on the front row. Dirk Müller in the No 66 (2:02.479), captured their third pole in a row at Road America, while teammate Briscoe (2:02.650) in the No. 67 qualified second.
The direct injection, 3.6L, twin-turbo Ford EcoBoost V6 race engine performed perfectly during the two-hour, 40-minute road race sprint. The Roush Yates Engines’ Engineering team, alongside their Ford Performance teammates monitored the engines and cars, to maximize the power and performance of the Ford EcoBoost throughout the 276-mile race.
The in-class racing was fierce and would come down to the final laps of the race. Starting with the second to the last lap of the race, the No. 67 regained the lead. Westbrook, managing his tires and fuel, brought the battle worn Ford GT across the finish line to take the checkered flag and regain the championship points lead.
“It’s just an incredible run we’re having right now,” Westbrook said. “Confidence is so high. The wins aren’t coming easy by any stretch of the imagination. We’re having to work for them. This is a track that really suits our car, but it was tough at the end. The BMW was fast, but I guess they short-fueled too much. We’re just delighted to get the win. It’s such a great run for the whole program, Ford CGR. It’s a hell of a ride right now and we’re just enjoying every moment of it.”
GTLM Driver Points Standings
1st No.67 | Briscoe & Westbrook
3rd No.66 | Hand & Müller
FCGR has led the GTLM standings since the No. 67 car won the season-opener at the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
The Ford Mustang GT4, powered by the Ford Mustang 5.2L V8, also had a successful weekend in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, GS class.
Alan Brynjolfsson and Trent Hindman earned their first win in the No. 7 Volt Racing Ford Mustang GT4 at Road America in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge. This was the first win for Volt Racing in the GS Class.
“It’s our first win in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge,” Brynjolfsson, Team Owner and Co-Driver said. “The team put together a great car, but more importantly, Mike had a brilliant strategy that put us in position, then Trent was the guy wonder who just took it home and did a great job. It’s a great morale booster, because we knew we could do it. We should be there, and we’ve had a lot of unfortunate things happen throughout the year that put us out, but this is the first time we’ve given Trent a proper car with a chance and this is what he can do with the right car.”
In a hotly contested race the six Ford Mustangs started off fast and furious in the 25-car field. The two-hour race came down to fuel savings and brake management, along with keeping yourself in contention.
With three laps to go, multiple cars pitted for a splash of fuel, but Volt Racing calculated their fuel strategy down to the last ounce and was able to stay out and take over the lead. The No. 7 took the white flag with only fumes left in the tank. Hindman paced the car perfectly to complete the final 4.048-mile track and take the checkered flag.
The No. 80 MBRP Performance Exhaust car finished P6, the No. 8 ModSpace car finished P7, the No. 59 Roush Performance/KohR Motorsports car finished P11, the No. 15 Multimatic car of Scott Maxwell and Ford development drive Ty Majeski finished P12 while the No. 60 Roush Performance/KohR Motorsports finished P13.
The teams will take this momentum as they head into the last three races of the season; Virginia International Raceway, Laguna Seca and Road Atlanta.
14 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 341 WINS – 306 POLES!