With endurance racing back on the IMSA docket after a trio of sprint races, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen features a 56-car entry list swollen with IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC) entries. That includes the return of Iron Lynx Lamborghini’s SC63 with Andrea Caldarelli and Matteo Cairoli handling driving duties, bringing the GTP field to 11.
The six-hour format on the 3.4-mile, 11-turn Watkins Glen International circuit allows pro teams in GTP and GTD PRO to choose to run three drivers, or only two. Most have opted to keep their two core drivers, although a few will bring in their endurance addition. That includes Whelen Cadillac Racing adding Tom Blomqvist to Pipo Derani and Jack Aitken, the IMEC leaders in GTP, and JDC-Miller MotorSports bringing back Phil Hanson.
Connor De Phillippi and Nick Yelloly are the defending winners in GTP, the BMW M Team RLL No. 25 M Hybrid V8 having been awarded the victory after the No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 was found to be out of compliance with a too-worn skid plank.
In GTD PRO, only Paul Miller Racing will run three drivers, again adding Neil Verhagen to the regular lineup of Madison Snow and Bryan Sellers. The trio is leading the IMEC points after Daytona and Sebring. Eleven GTD PRO entries will contest Watkins Glen with the return of Daytona winners Risi Competizione and the No. 62 Ferrari 296 GT3 (Daniel Serra and Davide Rigon), along with Iron Lynx and the No. 19 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 for Franck Perera and Jordan Pepper.
AO Racing’s Seb Priaulx and Laurin Heinrich are leading the overall GTD PRO Championship after back-to-back victories at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Detroit.
Back in action for the first time since Sebring, LMP2 will have 13 cars. Only Era Racing has won so far in 2024, and they’ll be looking to keep that streak alive. Being one of the few teams whose driving squads, in whole or part, didn’t contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans along with Riley Motorsports’ Gar Robinson, Felipe Fraga and Josh Burdon, could be a blessing, as they come in fresher; or it could be a curse depending on how long it takes to shake the rust off.