WATKINS GLEN, N.Y., (June 24, 2024) – Sunday’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen delivered all the excitement and action expected at the top levels of professional endurance sports car racing, and Wright Motorsports found themselves caught right in the highs and lows of the fray. The team’s incredible performance with drivers Adam Adelson, Elliott Skeer, and Jan Heylen brought the No. 120 Porsche from twelfth place to second place, only to be moved to the back of the field after the conclusion of the race due to a drive-time infraction.
“It’s such a bittersweet day for our team in the No. 120 Porsche,” said Team Owner John Wright. “The way they came together to bring the car to the front of the GTD field was incredibly impressive and I’m so proud of each and every one of them. Adam drove such an incredible stint, and Elliott and Jan built on his successes. They should all be immensely proud of the run we had. To have a Porsche cross the finish line in second at Watkins Glen in a race that delivered all the attrition this one did is remarkable.”
Historically, Watkins Glen International has not been a track that favors the balance and drivability of the Porsche 911 GT3 R, so going into the event, Wright Motorsports knew the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen would require an extra push to have a strong result. In some of the hottest temperatures of the season, Adelson qualified the car in 13th position, a satisfactory result in the 21-car GTD field. The team gained a position to start 12th when another competitor needed an engine change prior to the start of the race.
Adelson took the green flag under overcast skies but still in warm temperatures. The opening laps immediately brought out what would be the first of many cautions in the six-hour endurance race. He gained his first position of many during the race when the No. 47 car went off course, moving all cars behind up a spot. The first big jump for the team came at the close of the first hour, during the No. 47’s full course caution. Adelson brought the car into pit lane, and perfectly positioned the team to take advantage of the car’s spot.
The first pit stop gave the Wright Motorsports crew their opportunity to shine, and shine they did. The team’s excellent and swift pit stop brought Adelson out of pit lane in sixth position, effectively passing 28% of the field with just one stop. Adelson completed his trouble-free stint, logging in his required drive time, and gave command of the Porsche to Skeer.
As the skies grew darker, Skeer took over and immediately had to service a drive-through penalty for a fuel infraction from the change-over pit stop. With over two hours complete, Skeer was able to bring the car back into the top ten, and the chaos began with the appearance of rain. Two separate storm cells descended on the competitors, and Skeer took the first one head-on, without a working windshield wiper. The crew got him sorted and he rejoined the race at the halfway point from 13th place. He patiently climbed his way up to eighth, and the team’s unique fuel strategy put them in fourth for everyone on their cycle.
The second storm cell fell on the track in an instant, and Skeer pitted from third place with under two hours remaining. Heylen took over for the remaining 93 of the race, joining in third place. Due to a series of incidents on track and unsafe conditions for competitors and safety workers, the series officials red-flagged the race, bringing all competitors to a stop in pit lane. The red flag lasted for forty minutes, under which, drive time is reduced to a 2:1 ratio. The race went yellow then back to green, and the field switched to slick tires. The front of the GTD field went through a shuffle as each competitor vied for position, and Heylen maneuvered the Porsche through the chaos to cross the finish line in second place. Heylen was listed as completing one hour, and three minutes of drive time in the No. 120 Porsche, coming just six minutes short in the end.
Though the Wright Motorsports Porsche gained an impressive 10 positions during the race and crossed the finish line in a podium position, a judgment from race officials moved the green and yellow Porsche to the back of the GTD field in the final results due to minimum drive time for Heylen not being achieved.
The team currently stands in fifth place in the GTD team standings, with their next race to be revealed at a later date.
DRIVER QUOTES
Adam Adelson
It was an unbelievable race for all of us. It was one of my best stints out in a race car. Elliott killed it as he always does, and the same with Jan. That red flag was unfortunate with the drive time rules. We finished second place on track, and I know we earned that. I’m super proud of the whole team effort. It was another incredible job by Wright Motorsports. As always, Porsche gives us an incredible car.
Elliott Skeer
That was a pretty incredible race. Going into it we knew that the Porsches aren’t the strongest at Watkins Glen, so to ultimately end up with a second-place finish on track just goes to show what good execution and good strategy can do. The Wright boys made every correct call in the moment, and Adam and Jan drove unbelievable stints. I had the stints of my life out there. I’m really getting to understand what IMSA racing is all about. I’m incredibly proud of every person on this team effort. This wasn’t the most straightforward race this time, but these are the ones that can be the sweetest at the end.
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