Podium Finish Pushes Performance Tech Motorsports in Championship Lead
Performance Tech Motorsports adorns its resume with its’ second, second-place finish of the season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship deeming the team championship leaders.
Performance Tech Motorsports has a history of success at Road America furthered the story this weekend finishing second in both IMSA Prototype Challenge and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The podium finish pushes the team into the LMP2 championship lead by three points.
For Team Principal Brent O’Neill a consistent finish was exactly what the team needed as it enters the second half of the season.
“This was a good weekend for us,” O’Neill said. “While we always want to win, we have to look at the big picture, the championship. Cameron and James both did a great job keeping it clean and bringing home the points we need to close to take the championship lead.”
Cameron Cassels, British Columbia, entered the weekend primed for an uphill battle running in two series at the longest and most grueling track of the year. He showcased his strengths as he effortlessly switched between his Ligier LMP3 and his ORECA LMP2, qualifying third for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship event at Road America. Cassels took the green flag focused on keeping his nose clean and pace consistent to ensure James French, Sheboygan, was delivered a podium contending car at his home track.
French climbed aboard the No. 38 with 90-minutes remaining, officially making his WeatherTech SportsCar Championship return. He settled in and establish his rhythm just in time for the extreme weather conditions, typical to Road America, to hit. With 55-minutes remaining pouring rain and pounding hail began to fall sending drivers off course in all corners of the track.
French gracefully maneuvered the treacherous track, as only a hometown hero could, for 10 minutes before the red flag was displayed. The clock was stopped with 30-minutes remaining followed by a 23-minute full course yellow. With seven minutes remaining, the green flag flew once more allowing French to move into second place where he would finish.
The team next heads to VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) with IMSA Prototype Challenge, August 21-22. The series was not set to compete at VIR this season, however, changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic saw the event added in order to fulfill a six-race schedule. The weekend also will be the first without limited fans permitted on-premise since IMSA’s return to racing. For more information and schedule, details visit https://www.imsa.com/events/michelin-gt-challenge-at-vir/.
Quote Board
Cameron Cassels, Driver of the No. 38 Centinel Spine ORECA LMP2
“The start went well for me,” Cassels said. “Unfortunately I was unable to really translate that into a stellar stint. James had the tough stint though as the torrential rain mixed with some hail fell. He did a killer job of bringing the car safely home in second. The big picture answer is that the weekend went well. Especially from a championship points perspective. As always, everyone at Performance Tech did a great job.”
James French, Driver of the No. 38 Centinel Spine ORECA LMP2
“It was great to be reunited with Performance Tech Motorsports once again for my home race,” French said. “I think we can all be proud of the result we achieved today. Cameron had a great start and opening stint, handing the car off in pristine condition and ready to battle. The entire team responded brilliantly to mother nature’s many curve balls and were able to secure a second place finish and the championship lead. I’m thankful to Brent and the whole team for this opportunity and that we were able to bring the car home after a wild race.”