6 Hours of The Glen Preview: Membership of the Lodge

Since the creation of its original 6.5 mile road course in 1948, Watkins Glen, in Upstate New York, has played a pivotal role in the development of road racing in North America. Built that same year, Seneca Lodge overlooks Old Corning Hill, the final complex on that original road course, and is as integral a part of the history and lore of ‘The Glen’ as any corner on any of the multiple variations of layout that have existed for the last 75 years.

Winning at Watkins Glen is something that every driver, with any regard for the history of the sport, wants to do. It means you gain access to a club whose members include very best of the best including Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Jim Clark, Emerson Fittipaldi, Niki Lauda, Gilles Villeneuve, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Juan Pablo Montoya to name but a few. Many of their winners' trophies and wreaths can still be found hanging on the wall behind the bar in the Lodge’s Tavern Room.

Katherine Legge, knows what it feels like to spray the champagne at ‘The Glen’ and she can lean on winning experience in the Acura NSX. “The 6 Hour race is one of the greats, not only is it on everyone’s favorite track list, but the surrounding area is beautiful and the fans are amazing. The track is challenging but so much fun to drive, I love the old school nature of tracks like the Glen. I have had great success there in the NSX with a win and a second place, and we are looking for the same success to kickstart the season with a solid performance for the JG Wentworth Acura.

Katherine Legge (left) and Sheena Monk having fun with fans.

Legge’s season-long partner, Sheena Monk, is a keen student of the sport and relishes every opportunity to race on a track that has changed very little in character for more than five decades. “Watkins Glen has always been a favorite track of mine because it retains the nostalgia of many of America’s oldest tracks. High speed, aggressive lateral forces from tarmac that follows the stunning Finger Lakes terrain, and of course, the risk reward paradigm of navigating the limit within the barriers. As a driver, few tracks allow you to push that balance and give the satisfaction that Watkins Glen does. Although I have driven there many times, I’m excited to make my debut in the 6 Hour race.”

The race is Round 3 of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup and will see Gradient Racing regular, Marc Miller, rejoin the driving lineup of the #66 JG Wentworth Acura NSX GT3 Evo22. “Watkins Glen has always offered unique challenges. It is one of the highest grip, highest average speed tracks in North America and June often brings high heat and punishing humidity. Having said all that, it is one of my favorite circuits in the world and is reminiscent of many classic tracks that reward commitment even though the stakes are high. It seems like an eternity since the last time I was behind the wheel of the JG Wentworth NSX, but in reality we have all stayed very busy and focused on the task at hand, to capitalize on the fact we have a solid driver line-up, a competitive car and a great team in Gradient Racing.”

Marc Miller rejoins the lineup for the 6 Hours of The Glen

For Team Manager, Andris Laivins, his eyes will be less on history and more on the National Weather Service. “In all the years I've been coming to Watkins Glen, I've lost count of how many times I've sat on pit lane refreshing a radar feed watching blobs of rain heading towards the track, or guessing what tire to start on. It looks like this week may be more of the same, but the flip side of that is we've been successful here in bad weather, so that's what I hope will continue. This season has been a little mixed for Gradient so far, and this week feels like a great opportunity for a reset and I think we're going to be up front regardless of the forecast.”

Team Manager, Andris Laivins, will have one eye on the weather this weekend.

Whatever the weather, the goal remains the same, taking the checkered flag on Sunday afternoon and celebrating amongst the racing deities at Seneca Lodge later that evening.

Coverage of Sunday’s Sahlen’s 6 Hours of the Glen is live on Peacock and USA Network in the United States.. 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/.