3GT Racing Heads Across the Lake to Road America
(EAST LANSING, MI) July 31, 2018 – The East Lansing, Michigan-based team, 3GT Racing, heads across Lake Michigan with the No. 14 and No. 15 Lexus RC F GT3 cars for the eighth race in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI.
Kyle Marcelli, driver in the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3, has stood upon the podium at Road America three times during his racing career. His focus right now is trying to get there again on Sunday, Aug. 5 in the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3.
“The faster the track, the better for our car,” Marcelli said. “And Road America is a fast track. We’ve proved over and over again that the RCF is fast when our tires are new relative to the competition. When our tires are old, relative to the competition, we struggle with it. I certainly think Road America is a faster track and the RCF likes to go fast. It likes the fast corners, the high downforce stuff. Hopefully we can find our way back to the podium.”
Marcelli and co-driver Dominik Baumann have secured a win at Mid-Ohio and a podium at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3. This will be a first time for Baumann at Road America, but nearly every track in the U.S. has been a first for the Austrian driver, and the legendary circuit in Elkhart Lake, WI is no different.
Baumann, who took the fastest lap in the GTD class at Sebring early in the season, said he’s been doing laps on his simulator at home and reviewing the video from last year to become acquainted with the four-mile track.
“It looks like it will be a good fit,” he said. “The size of it reminds me of Watkins Glen. And what I’ve heard so far, is that it’s a lot of fun to drive. As in all the sprint races, it could be possible to get to the podium if we can control the tire degradation.”
David Heinemeier Hansson returns to drive with Jack Hawksworth in the No. 15 Lexus RC F GT3. Both drivers have experience racing at the 14-turn track.
Heinemeier Hansson said he has very fond memories of Road America. He did his first ALMS race there in 2011 and won in an LMP2 at Road America in 2012.
“I haven’t been back since, but thankfully the SIM rendition I have is spot on, so I hope to show up with the track fresh in memory. It’s also a fast track that should suit the RC F,” he said. “We’ll see how much the weight that’s been added will end up mattering, but I have high hopes that we’ll be in contention.”
Hawksworth has earned three pole positions with record track times and recorded the fastest laps in the GRD class in four of the last six races (Mid-Ohio, Watkins Glen, CTMP and Lime Rock) in the No. 15 Lexus RC F GT3. He believes the high-speed corners at Road America will suit the Lexus.
“But we have to consider that there’s some tricky high-speed stuff and tire wear. So some things will suit our car, and some won’t,” he said. “It’s not a dominant track for us, but it’s a good one.”
The Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at Road America will be Sunday, Aug. 5 and can be viewed on FS1 beginning at 2:30 p.m.
About 3GT Racing
3GT Racing was formed to race the Lexus RC F GT3. Owned and operated by five-time Trans-Am Series Champion, Paul Gentilozzi and his longtime partners, Tony and John Gentilozzi, the East Lansing, Michigan-based team principals have been involved in motorsports for more than 48 years and have claimed more than 75 victories and 15 manufacturer and driver championships.