The day started out bright, sunny and fresh at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the Monterey Sports Car Championships. It had rained overnight, so the air was fresh, clear and sparkling. The skies were clear blue and the weather was mild with a fall tinge. By mid-morning, the fog started making attempts to intrude, but hung out on the fringes.
In the American Le Mans Series warm-up Saturday morning, HAYANARI SHIMODA was fastest overall and in LMP1. LUCAS LUHR was tops in the LMP2 class and third overall in the field of 28 cars. DAVID BRABHAM's Aston Martin was the quickest GT1 car, in tenth place, and ROBIN LIDDELL was first in GT2.
Besides the American Le Mans Series season's finale, there are several other races.
The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear has 42 entries. JAMES HINCHCLIFFE won from the pole. Andersen Walko Racing team-mates were second and third - JONATHAN KLEIN was runner-up, followed by second-generation driver, GRAHAM RAHAL. Third generation racer, MARCO ANDRETTI finished sixth behind rookie ROBBIE PECORARI and RYAN JUSTICE.
There were 41 starters out of 42 entries, 31 finished on the lead lap, and no-one was hurt in the first lap incident involving DAN TOMLIN Jr.
RAPHAEL MATOS of Brazil finished eighth, but won the championship. Pecorari was second in the standings and rookie of the year.
Star Mazda is one of the development series under the IMSA umbrella. International Motor Sport Association is the sanctioning body for ALMS and provides the officials for the events. The Mazdas are a spec series with a carbon-fibre chassis, six speed sequential gearbox, and sealed 240bhp Mazda 'Renesis' rotary engine. The official tyre is Goodyear.
