We’re in the off-season for American sportscar racing (Sebring encore aside!), so it’s a good time to take in some features and reflect on the 2018 season.
Here’s a catch up of all of Marshall Pruett’s recent IMSA podcasts, including two in-car audio pieces and a series of interviews with the 2018 champions and some new players for the 2019 season.
First up is a short ambient sound feature with IMSA’s GT Le Mans class and all of the odd and amazing sounds produced among the BMWs, Corvettes, Fords, and Porsches during qualifying for May’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Mid-Ohio.
Next, enjoy a quick ambient audio feature as the IMSA-conquering 1988 Nissan GTP-ZX Turbo is warmed up during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. With more than 800hp on tap, the 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine played a major role in Geoff Brabham’s ability to blitz the field and amass a record-setting number of wins against Jaguar, Porsche, Toyota, and more 30 years ago.
In the first of IMSA interviews here, MP speaks to new IMSA driver/entrant Jackie Heinricher for an episode of My Racing Life and Career to share stories of her upbringing, military service, love for science and the founding of a biotech firm.
Heinricher also details how a late introduction to motor racing has led to partnering with Meyer Shank Racing and Acura for a WeatherTech SportsCar Championship program in 2019 where Katherine Legge will co-drive and a new sponsor will underwrite the effort.
New IMSA entrant James ‘Sulli’ Sullivan also called into the Marshall Pruett Podcast and it’s well worth a listen. He provides updates on the AIM Vasser Sullivan Racing team’s preparations to field two Lexus RC F GT3s in IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and teases the timeline for when more details will be known on the team’s IndyCar ambitions.
Corvette Racing programme manager Doug Fehan spoke to MP after Petit Le Mans to go inside the team’s incredible feat of winning IMSA’s GT Le Mans championship without scoring a race victory in the #3 Corvette C7.R driven by Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen.
New IMSA GTD Daytona champions Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow also shared insights on the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship title they earned for Paul Miller Racing, endurance event co-driver Corey Lewis, their age and height disparity, and how competing against a stacked field of GTD competition made their success more meaningful.
And finally, IMSA Prototype champion Felipe Nasr shared his thoughts on capturing a WeatherTech SportsCar Championship title on his first try with teammate Eric Curran and the Action Express Racing team. The ex-Formula 1 driver closes with thoughts on the IndyCar Series and whether a return to open-wheel could be in his future.
