Since IMSA’s founding over 50 years ago, Porsche remains the sole manufacturer to enter every GT event held by North America’s premier sports car racing series. That record-extending streak will continue at the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic on the Belle Isle Street Course, June 11 – 12. The 100-minute IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race, a round of the GTD-only class Sprint Cup Championship, will see the No. 88 Team Hardpoint EBM Porsche 911 GT3 R race car carry the banner for the German sports car manufacturer into the heart of the North American automobile industry, Detroit, Michigan.
Porsche is the all-time leader in IMSA race wins with 579 class and overall victories. Having won the first IMSA race held – 1971 at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) with a Porsche 914/6 GT driven by Hurley Haywood and Peter Gregg – Porsche has captured 236 more race victories than its nearest competitor. The most recent series win for Porsche came at the Mobil1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March when it captured both the GTLM class (WeatherTech Racing Porsche 911 RSR) and the GTD class (Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R) titles extending its winning record at the Florida classic.
It will be a challenge for the single Porsche entry driven by Rob Ferriol (Fayetteville, North Carolina) and Katherine Legge (United Kingdom) to earn the marque’s 580th victory. The 2.3-mile, 14-turn temporary circuit has become a mainstay on the IMSA schedule but is one of the few race courses at which Porsche does not hold the most victories. The brand has three class victories in Detroit: 2007 (Porsche RS Spyder LMP2 class), 2008 (Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, GT2) and 2015 (Porsche 911 GT America, GTD). Legge provides Porsche with a secret weapon at the circuit. The popular Brit has two GTD class victories on Belle Isle (2017, 2018).
Live flag-to-flag television coverage is scheduled for Saturday, June 12 beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Practice and qualifying will be held on Friday, June 11 with coverage on IMSA.com.
Comments before the race
Rob Ferriol, Driver/Team Principal, No. 88 Team Hardpoint EBM Porsche 911 GT3 R.
“Being the lone Porsche on the grid will have its own added pressures. We know the GT3 R has been strong there in the past and we want to represent the brand well. As a driver, I’ll be drinking from the firehose with the compact schedule, but between Katherine’s experience and success at Detroit, and all the preparation the team has put into this week, I’m confident we’ll be bringing our best to the streets of Belle Isle.”
Katherine Legge, Driver, No. 88 Team Hardpoint EBM Porsche 911 GT3 R.
“I love street racing. My first race in the USA was a win at Long Beach in Atlantics [open wheel support series], so they hold a special place in my heart. Detroit is its own special bumpy animal, and success here is a combination of a great car, confidence, strategy and luck. Street courses evolve and change slightly year to year and that’s part of the fun. I’m really looking forward to it!”
