WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 30, 2019) – CORE autosport met with heartbreak at Watkins Glen International when a gearbox mechanical failure took them out of the race just past the halfway mark of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen. The race was the sixth round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Driver Jon Bennett started the No. 54 ADT Nissan Ligier DPi from 11th on the grid and was up to seventh before the first round of pit stops. Unfortunately, he was issued a 60-second penalty for running the red light at the end of the pit lane, which dropped him to the back of the class.
Bennett handed the car over to Romain Dumas after completing a one-hour stint. Dumas was able to advance two positions during his stint and put the car back in seventh.
One hour and 30 minutes later it was Colin Braun’s turn in the car. Braun was on a tear, nearly un-lapping the car on his own, but disaster stuck shortly after the race’s three-hour mark. Braun reported he’d lost drive in the car and was at a complete stop in Turn 10.
A broken input shaft ended CORE’s day at Watkins Glen. It was tough way to end the race, especially after a strong runner-up finish in last year’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen.
The team has a tight turnaround to get the car fixed before Round Seven at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park; the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix takes place in a week, July 5 – 7.
JON BENNETT
Driver: No. 54 ADT Nissan Ligier DPi
“We were all pretty optimistic about all the races till the end of the season because they play to the strengths of our Nissan DPi. The team’s been working very hard. Things break: these are the facts of life when it comes to racing. We’ll diagnose the problem, have it sorted at Mosport and we’ll go from there.
“We had good pace this weekend and we just have to reset and head to Canada.”
COLIN BRAUN
Driver: No. 54 ADT Nissan Ligier DPi
“We were having a good day, doing our normal thing and just plugging away. Unfortunately, we had an input shaft break. There’s nothing we can really do about that other than put it back together and head to CTMP. We don’t have the pace of the Acuras or Mazdas, but I think we can definitely fight for top fives. We have faith we’ll be in contention as we continue.”
ROMAIN DUMAS
Driver: No. 54 ADT Nissan Ligier DPi
“I was able to do two stints. It was great when I was driving. It was fun. We had the pace to keep up with the cars at the front. Sadly, it’s my first DNF with CORE. It’s very frustrating.”