Weathertech Racing back to Porsche for Road America

WeatherTech Switches to Porsche for Road America in BoP Dispute - Sportscar365

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/142676-weathertech-racing-to-run-porsche-at-road-america

So... Cooper Mac throwing his toys out of the pram (again) or legitimate protest over the 231 lbs Mercedes have been saddled with since Daytona?

 

Uhhh didn't they switch TO the Mercedes for this exact same reason????

 

Something about the Porsche being undriveable. LOL

 

Interestingly that while the McNeils considered the Porsche undriveable the GTD Porsches were still able to set the fastest lap times in the GTD class.

Road America: GTD Class Winner fastest lap was 2:08:190. Park Place and AJR both beat that with fastest laps of 2:07:643 and 2:07:896 respectively.

Post Weathertech pull-out:

VIR: GTD class winner fastest lap was 1:45:030 but AJR only managed a 1:45:702.
COTA: GTD class winner fastest lap was 2:09:639. Park Place and AJR both topped that with 2:09:461 and 2:09:165 respectively.
PLM: GTD class winner fastest lap was 1:21:517. Alex Job Racing managed a 1:21:546 while Park Place could only do a 1:22:046.

It's hard to see the GTD Porsche as undriveable given the numbers although "Autoweek" did support that stand with this from an article last September:
"Here’s the problem: The new Porsche GT3 car is hard to drive. To compete with the other cars in the class, you must drive it on a knife edge every lap. Professional drivers like “Super” Mario Farnbacher can handle it, but for gentleman drivers like Cooper MacNeil and Lindsey, it’s very difficult. Consequently, the drivers who are essentially paying the bills feel they have no chance to win. Apparently in the Pirelli World Challenge series, the MacNeils figure their chances are better."

 

if the Mercedes is so uncompetitive, why are they second in MFR points, with the Keating/Bleekmolen team second in driver points?

 

I'd love to ask Tristan Vautier for his take on this - and since he's a friend maybe I will. lol

 

you summed it up in your first post

 

Oh, I know. ;-)

 

When I was at lime rock watching the Weathertech race all 3 of the Mercedes were at the back of the pack and ended up finishing at the back. Interestingly when I just looked at the best lap times the Mercedes was on pace with the leaders at 53.1 (and faster the the GTD winning porsches fastest time of 53.2). Perhaps the weight is making the MB fall off quicker.

 

Yes it is a bit difficult reconciling how the Mercedes have had fastest laps and yet fallen off so dramatically. Watching them at Lime Rock was hard.