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Mazda Sweeps To Victory At Watkins Glen

Mazda leads others in tightly bunched run into turn 7. [Joe Jennings Photo]

Mazda leads others in tightly bunched run into turn 7. [Joe Jennings Photo]

by Joe Jennings

WATKINS GLEN, N. Y. – Adhering to the “We will never give up motto,” Mazda Team Joest put it all together at Watkins Glen International, sweeping to victory in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen, a fixture event on the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship circuit.

Even more impressive, the Mazda team not only dominated the race, the two cars finished 1-2 and were separated by a scant 0.353 seconds.

Said Bomarito, “Given what we have been through this win is special and it feels so good to be on the top step today.”

Although the trio dominated from the outset of the 211-lap race, Tincknell was challenged by Acura driver Juan Pablo Montoya in the final minutes. However, the Brit wasn’t to be denied as he barged past Montoya to garner the elusive victory.

Finishing a close second in the sister No. 77 Mazda DPi were Oliver Jarvis, Tristan Nunez and Timo Bernhard.

Third went to Montoya and Dane Cameron in their Acura Team Penske Acura DPi. The pair trailed the winning car by 11 seconds.

Fourth and fifth went to the Konica Minolta Cadillac of Jordan Taylor and Renger van der Zende and the Acura of Helio Castroneves and Ricky Taylor.

The LMP2 victory went to the PR1 Mathissen Motorsports entry of Matthew McMurry, Eric Lux and Gabriel Aubry.

In the highly competitive GTLM class, the Porsche GT team advanced through the field to seal the win for the potent team. Patrick Pilet and Nick Tandy secured the win.

Corvette Racing’s Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia finished second with Ford Chip Ganassi Racing’s Ford GT of Ryan Briscoe and Richard Westbrook winding up in third.

A second Corvette was eliminated in an opening lap crash.

In GTD action, the Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 of Mario Farnbacher, Justin Marks and Trent Hindman took the class win.

A Turner Motorsport BMW finished second and the Scuderia Corsa Ferrari took third.

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