Team DSC is now in Northern California for the IMSA race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, arriving in the area Wednesday evening in time to check out the Throwback Block Party in downtown Monterey, then arriving at the famous circuit on Thursday.
Though only a small handful of teams will sport throwback liveries for this weekend’s race, the ones that have been revealed look even better in person than they have in renders!
This includes the most recently-revealed Apple Computer/Garretson/Dick Barbour throwback Porsche Penske Motorsport 963s, which unloaded for the first time this morning after being wrapped in the classic Apple rainbow livery in between Long Beach and Laguna Seca.
And as part of Porsche’s relationship with Laguna Seca, the host of the most recent Rennsport Reunions and Porsche Track Experience Laguna Seca, the 718 Cayman Safety Car will also be wrapped in the classic Apple livery!
These cars would be joined in the afternoon by a replica of the original 1980 Apple Porsche 935 K3 owned by Southern California car collector Julio Torres…
…and this retro-styled Porsche 911 GT2 RS, with the 935 body kit, owned and driven by longtime Apple executive Phil Schiller.
Paul Miller Racing revealed its 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL throwback yesterday; it’s one of three GTD Pro throwback cars in the WeatherTech series field.
They’ll be joined by the Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports cars, styled like the early 2000 Chevrolet Corvette C5-R from that year’s races at Daytona, Sebring, and Le Mans…
…plus, the unique “Sketchy” from AO Racing, a hand-drawn, concept-themed take on the familiar Rexy.
In addition, recreations of several retro Laguna Seca sports car racing posters going back to the event’s days as the “Monterey Triple Crown” are going up around the circuit, keeping the theme alive.
Other teams have brought back their special West Coast liveries from Long Beach, including Acura Meyer Shank Racing’s race-winning #93 ARX-06 with the 76 petrol livery.
DragonSpeed’s collab with streetwear label Anti-Social Social Club also continues, at the venue where it began last year during the team’s 2025 alliance with Risi Competizione.
Pfaff Motorsports’ #9 Lamborghini Temerario GT3 is back in GTD Pro, but keeps its blue and white livery to celebrate the 80th anniversary of major sponsor Lithia Auto.
Recent reports in the German press have painted an aggressively bleak outlook for the Temerario GT3 even early in its life, but informal conversations with members of the team would confirm that Pfaff – which was trending for a top-five at Long Beach until a late-race incident – is tuning out the noise and pushing forward with progress on its 2026 programme.
Pilot Challenge’s last Laguna Seca run…for now
The Michelin Pilot Challenge series is gearing up for its last visit to Laguna Seca for the foreseeable future as 45 cars have entered this weekend’s two-hour race, 31 GT4 cars in the GS class, and 14 more in TCR. (PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST)
Strong contenders in the GS class include three teams based in Northern California: CarBahn with Peregrine Racing with its two BMW M4 GT4 EVOs, Murillo Racing with its Mercedes-AMG GT4, and Stephen Cameron Racing, running its Racing To End Alzheimer’s livery – and the names of 100 donors – on its Ford Mustang GT4 with two NorCal drivers in Sean Quinlan and Gregory Liefooghe.
“Racing to End Alzheimer’s continues to give me purpose,” said businessman Phil Frengs, who established Racing to End Alzheimer’s . “Knowing how this affects families, we remain committed to our mission in the name of all who are dealing with this terrible disease every day.”
In the GS standings, Winward Racing’s Bryce Ward and Daan Arrow carry a 40-point lead over the Turner Motorsport duo of Dillon Machavern and reigning Laguna Seca race winner Luca Mars, who won last year with RS1.
Mason Filippi’s plans to do double-duty have been scrapped due to DXDT Racing’s withdrawal from the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race, but he’ll still drive in TCR alongside Bryson Morris. The drivers of the #33 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai lead by 40 points, with three teams tied for second place including two other BHA entries (the #18 of Lance Bergstein/Harry Gottsacker and the #98 of Mark Wilkins/Madison Aust). VGRT’s Franco Girolami and Tyler Gonzalez are also tied for second place.
This race will feature a couple of throwback liveries in the spirit of the weekend.
Ibiza Farm Motorsports, for instance, has traded in the signature pink, yellow, and blue livery of its #44 McLaren Artura GT4 for the distinctive white with red chevrons associated with McLaren’s Formula 1 heritage.
And Gou Racing’s Audi RS 3 LMS TCR will honour its founder, the late Eduardo Gou Snr, with a throwback to the teams origins. Gou raced primarily in his home country of Mexico in the ’80s and ’90s, including the Reto Neon series, a one-make championship for the popular Chrysler/Dodge Neon.
“Being able to bring this livery back and run it at Laguna Seca means a lot to our family and our team. It is more than just a throwback, it is a tribute to the person who started it all for us,” the team wrote earlier this week.
“WAGs on the Runway” charity event for local SPCA
This afternoon, some of the IMSA grid’s wives and girlfriends participated in a special charity event in downtown Monterey, promoting and fundraising for the Monterey County SPCA animal shelter, located just on the other side of state highway 68 from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
The participating drivers’ partners put on a fashion show, with adoptable furry friends in tow, dressed by a local boutique and hosted by longtime motorsports broadcaster Ralph Sheheen.
Featured drivers at the event included Mason Filippi, Madeline Stewart, Thomas Merrill, and Will and Earl Bamber, joined by their father, Paul, all the way from New Zealand.
Images © Dailysportscar.com, Gou Racing
