Testing Day for Gradient Racing at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

Sometimes your pit crew make the difference between winning and losing. Last weekend the superheroes that make up the Gradient Racing crew were the difference between a whimpering exit and what felt like a triumphant finish.

How? Well Sheena Monk was hit from behind just six corners into the Motul Course de Monterey; the fourth round of the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship at California’s Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca and sustained significant damage.

Once the JG Wentworth Acura NSX GT3 Evo 22 made it back to the pits, the technical team sprung into action, surveying the damage and deducing swiftly that, despite appearing terminal, repairs would get #66 machine back on track.

In just 22 laps a new left-rear halfshaft, upright and various other elements had been replaced and Sheena was sent back out; primarily as an extended test session, but also to try to scoop up any extra points we could.

“The crew did an incredible job to get the car out,” said Team Manager Andris Laivins mid-race. It’s driveable, but far from optimal so for the rest of the day it’s about staying out and getting as many points as possible.”

Running on pace with the front half of the GTD field, Sheena and later Katherine Legge set about lapping consistently and were able to pick up two positions – and 20 bonus championship points – through the second half of the race for an eventual 13th-place finish.

For driver, Katherine Legge, the race was about what could have been. “The team performed flawlessly as did our JG Wentworth Acura NSX GT3. We fought hard to stay in the race after the crew patched her back up and sent us out to prove that Gradient Racing have every bit of fight left in us. The car was fast, and I believe we would have had a great finish if we could have actually raced the GTD field instead of trying to run around, out of the way, multiple laps down to take the checkered. Kudos to the crew for their speedy recovery and great car. Sheena and I will get em next time!”

How crucial will those 20 points be come the end of the season? Who’s to know? One thing’s for certain though; when it’s a win on the line (Petit Le Mans anyone?), there’s nobody else we’d rather have in our corner