The Song Remains the Same
There is something about the return of IMSA sports car racing to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca that signals for us that everyone is all right in the motor racing world. The pinnacle of sports car racing at our favorite track in one of the most beautiful places in California. A reminder that we are privileged to live within a few hours driving of an icon of Motorsports and location of some of our greatest memories.
Let us begin with the ending. In what must be a statistical anomaly the No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963, No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R and No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3, claimed victories for the second consecutive year. For the Porsche Penske team the return to the top podium step was a continuation of the dominance they have shown this season marking their 4th straight victory of the 2025 season. The AO Racing 911 GT3 R in the hands of Laurie Heinrich and Klaus Bachler would win its third straight. In the GTD class the Mobile 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring winners Philip Ellis and Russel Ward would take victory in the Windward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.
The race winner for the GTP class and overall victory wasn’t clear leading into the main event. Dries Vanthoor in the No. 24 BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8 put the BMW on pole for the 4th consecutive race the day before with the Porsche Penske Porsch team taking the second and third spots in qualifying. The entire GTP field from pole position to eleventh position were covered by only .864 seconds. The race result on Sunday would mean that no pole position winner in GTP has gone on to win in two years!
No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963,
Sunday’s headline event delivered on every ounce of fan anticipation, offering a multi-class showcase that highlighted the essence of endurance racing. With 36 entries spread across three fiercely competitive categories, the grid was stacked with talent and tension. Remarkably, just one car failed to go the distance.
The GTP prototypes, with their blistering pace and precision, carved their way through traffic in commanding fashion, threading between the GTD Pro and GTD fields on the edge of adhesion. Meanwhile, the GTD and GTD Pro competitors waged their own intense battles—not only with each other, but with the ever-present challenge of monitoring their mirrors as the prototype leaders came charging through. It was a ballet of endurance and speed.
The race reached its dramatic moment on the 124th and final lap, where as usual Laguna Seca Raceway delivered late drama. As the leading prototypes navigated heavy GT traffic, Mathieu Jaminet executed a decisive maneuver through Turn 10, slipping past a slower car and momentarily disrupting the rhythm of Nick Tandy just behind.
That split-second hesitation was all the opportunity Dries Vanthoor needed. From pole position in the No. 24 BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8, Vanthoor launched a bold attack around the outside in a bid to reclaim the lead. But in the attempt to make the move, contact between the two sent the BMW off-track dashing the hopes of the weekend.
Vanthoor managed to nurse the car across the finish line in third, the car wounded from the encounter. Following the incident, IMSA officials reviewed the clash but ultimately deemed no further action was necessary.
TO THE CHECKERED FLAG !!! 😵 pic.twitter.com/Lzdew9CpwI
— IMSA (@IMSA) May 11, 2025
In a thrilling continuation of one of motorsport’s most storied rivalries, Porsche and Ferrari once again went head-to-head in a fiercely contested battle in the GTD Pro class. The #77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R (992), affectionately dubbed “Roxy,” delivered a commanding performance in the hands of Klaus Bachler and Laurin Heinrich, crossing the line just 8.660 seconds ahead of the chasing #81 DragonSpeed Ferrari 296 GT3 piloted by Giacomo Altoè and Albert Costa.
Roxy
The intensity at the front left little doubt about the pace of the leaders, who ultimately finished a full lap clear of the third-place #3 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R from Pratt Miller Motorsports. Pfaff Motorsports brought home a respectable fourth-place finish in class, but it was the drama in the final moments that elevated their run to the spotlight. As the #4 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 became entangled in a last-lap scramble, that would establish the outcome of the final race results.
The GTD class once again delivered a memorable finish, capping off the weekend with another tightly contested result. Philip Ellis and Rodger Ward brought the #57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 home in 16th overall, securing a hard-fought class victory after a relentless race-long duel.
#57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3
Hot on their heels was the #12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3, with Parker Thompson and Jack Hawksworth pushing to the limit in pursuit. Despite their efforts, the Lexus duo ultimately had to settle for second in class, crossing the line just behind the Mercedes. It was a classic GTD showdown—measured in tenths, fought over every corner, and decided in the final
Honorable Mention:
The weekend included three Cadillac V-Series.R entries, two from Wayne Taylor Racing and one from Cadillac Whelen which would go to be the highest finishing Cadillac with a sixth place finish. While the results were not what the Cadillac teams and drivers wanted they remain a fan favorite and spectacle of electric power combined with a naturally aspirated V8 engine pumping out the sound of Thor’s hammer crushing cinder block walls. Leaving the pits it’s the silent whine of electric power until the pit exit when the V8 cranks on and the sound of hell is unleashed. Check this video for more of that sound.
Aston Martin Valkyrie GTP
The Valkyrie made its US competitive debut in the IMSA series this year with its first race at the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring. The Valkyrie is a Lemans HYpercar and the only car in IMSA’s GTP category derived from a road-legal hypercar.
Developed with a 6.5 liter V12 that revs to 11,000 RPM with over 1000bhp it’s throw out the rule book form. For the IMSA series it adheres to the 680bhp limit of the hypercar regulations. The Aston Martin THOR Team would finish 10th. Yet, the sound of the V12 reverberating through the hills around Laguna Seca was among the most entertaining things of the weekend. At any motorsport event there always seems to be a car or team that draws the most fan attention. This year, it was the Valkyrie. Whether in the paddock or on track it captured our full attention.
There’s never been a better time to be a motorsports enthusiast. The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship continues to set the benchmark for multi-class competition, delivering a spectacle that blends cutting-edge technology, international talent, and unrivaled fan access.
But what truly sets IMSA apart is its commitment to fan engagement. General admission grants you access to the paddock, allowing you to get up close to the cars and interact with the drivers. Grid walks before races provide an intimate glimpse into the teams' preparations, making the experience immersive and personal.
In an era where many racing series keep fans at arm's length, IMSA invites you into the heart of the action. The only downside? The series visits WeatherTech Raceway only once per year.
It was the same as it always was, and that’s what made it great. A weekend of sunny skies, competitive racing, and our favorite track. Playing the hits is always a good thing.
GALLERY:
