WeatherTech Raceway Preview: Getting to Grips with Laguna Seca

With nearly 38 hours of racing completed in the first three events of the IMSA WeatherTech Season, Gradient Racing heads North from the streets of Long Beach to rolling hills of the Monterey Peninsula and the first of the ‘regular’ race of the 2023 season. The two hour and forty minute MOTUL Course de Monterey.

In reality there is nothing remotely regular about the 2.28 miles and eleven turns of WeatherTech Raceway. From the thick fog that threatens to delay proceedings almost every morning to the fine film of sand and dust that can blanket the circuit, the challenges are distinct, unique and constantly changing.

“WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is probably the track on the schedule that gives me the biggest headache,” Gradient Racing Team Manager, Andris Laivins, explained. “It's a difficult low grip circuit and the addition of the dust means it can be very hard to achieve a balance that truly works for both drivers. There is always some level of compromise and it challenges you during every single session on track.”

For Sheena Monk, driver of the #66 Gradient Racing JG Wentworth Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 Laguna Seca brings its own motivations and mental challenges. “As a driver, there are a few marquee events that everyone wants to win but sometimes as an individual, you have races where you want success for other reasons.” Having had a huge incident at the infamous Turn 7/8 Corkscrew during the IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo series in 2018, the racer from Newtown Pennsylvania is keen to create significantly more positive memories of racing on the Peninsula. “It's certainly not like a podium at any other race track is less important or special to me but when I look at the course of my life and the desire to make a stamp on something, I am still fiercely chasing that monumental moment at Laguna Seca. I don't like to focus on it or add any undue pressure but the significance of that achievement to me would transcend racing.”

Monk is relishing the opportunity to further develop as a driver and will once again lean heavily on the knowledge and experience of her English teammate. “Katherine is aggressively pushing me beyond my comfort zone and as she helps strengthen my approach, it elevates our entire effort. I'm very grateful for how she is investing herself in the bigger picture and I'm eager to continue this progression at Laguna Seca in our JG Wentworth Acura.

rine Legge, the venue with sixty six years of history is a happy hunting ground. “Laguna Seca is such an iconic venue that it’s impossible not to be excited to race here. It’s steeped in lore and if you are a race fan you have definitely heard of the corkscrew! I got my first pole position in the Acura NSX here a few years ago and have been fortunate to have enjoyed their podium celebrations multiple times!”

The performances of her co-driver over the first three rounds of the season have given Legge a lot of confidence. “After Sheena's leap into GT3 racing she’s been learning the ropes and improving a lot over the course of the early season. Laguna will be another experience for her, with the markedly different surface we race on there, but I have no doubt she’s up to the challenge. The car has always been good at Laguna so I have high hopes for us as a team this coming weekend. I can’t wait to get going!”

Practice for the 2023 MOTUL Course de Monterey begins at 7:05pm ET on Friday, May 12th with the Green Flag falling for the race at 3:10pm ET on Sunday, May 14th.

Coverage of Sunday’s race is live on NBC and is also streaming live on Peacock in the USA. For International viewers without a TV broadcaster, the race can be seen live at IMSA.TV. IMSA Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio will also have non-stop live coverage of the race. For full event coverage please follow Gradient Racing on Twitter at @GradientRacing, on Instagram at @gradientracing and on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/GradientRacing/.