Credit: LAT Images / Copyright: © 2023 Jake Galstad
WeatherTech Racing acquired their fourth IMSA GTD Pro victory this year, having started with a victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona, and finished the season with a Petit Le Mans win and the Endurance Cup title.
The Proton-run #79 Mercedes-AMG also claimed the team’s fourth Petit Le Mans win in their history.
Despite not being able to close the gap to the GTD Pro championship winners after the #14 Vasser Sullivan team won at lights out, the #79 charged to the win and claimed the Endurance Cup title on 42 points.
Misfortune for their rivals played a role in the #79’s success, as the #14 Lexus RC F suffered major front-end damage when Ben Barnicoat had a brief off-track excursion at Turn 4.
He hit a sponsor banner held down by sandbags which dropped down a curb and clung off the whole front end of the Lexus.
Meanwhile, the #3 Corvette led in the hands of Tommy Milner before it retired with transmission issues within two hours prior to the chequered flag.
“We came into this race with big hopes… ” Jules Gounon said.
“We started the year with the amazing win at Daytona and then at Sebring we did our best and finished third.
(L to R) Daniel Juncadella, Jules Gounon, Maro Engel, Cooper MacNeil – Credit: LAT Images / Copyright: © 2023 Michael L. Levitt
“Petit Le Mans is an amazing race and one that every driver wants on their C.V.
“None of us had won here, and for me it was my first time here and to get a win is just great.
“I want to thank the MacNeil family, David and Cooper for all of the effort to build this project around us.
“To win Daytona, Petit Le Mans and two sprint races was great.
“We are proud of the WeatherTech Racing/Proton team for all their hard work.”
“We had a tough middle of the season, but we had a great car today,” Juncadella added.
“It made my life easy to bring it home for the win in my last stint,” after having to fend off the #9 Pfaff Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3.R of Kevin Estre, before the two caution periods were utilised within the final hour.
“It was great to win the IMEC Championship, Rolex 24 and the two sprint races and then to finish with a big win today is amazing.”
“An amazing end to the season and my first Petit Le Mans win,” Maro Engel said.
“Thanks to David and Cooper [MacNeil] and everyone at WeatherTech for this amazing program.
“It has been an amazing season, first by winning the big one at Daytona and now winning Petit Le Mans. To cap it off getting the IMEC Championship for Dani and Jules is great as well.”
Cooper MacNeil concluded: “Stellar season by the entire WeatherTech Racing/Proton crew.
“Dani and Jules did the heavy lifting this year running in the car for the full season.
“Hats off to them for finishing second in the GTD Pro championship. Four wins on the season and the IMEC win is spectacular.
“The WeatherTech brand has four Petit Le Mans win trophies, and I have three of those as a driver.”
Keyword: Fourth Petit LM and Endurance Cup win ‘spectacular’ for WeatherTech Racing