{"id":32811,"date":"2024-05-31T10:41:58","date_gmt":"2024-05-31T14:41:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=32811"},"modified":"2024-05-31T15:16:36","modified_gmt":"2024-05-31T19:16:36","slug":"gp-in-the-d-motown-brands-dominate-the-detroit-grand-prix-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/gp-in-the-d-motown-brands-dominate-the-detroit-grand-prix-weekend","title":{"rendered":"GP in the D: Motown brands dominate the Detroit Grand Prix weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

Detroit \u2014<\/em>\u00a0The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear returns to city streets this weekend, and it will be a showcase for Motown automakers.<\/p>\n

Joining the NTT IndyCar series and IndyNXT open-wheel series will be the Weathertech IMSA Sportscar series and a who\u2019s who of Motown brands going wheel-to-wheel for glory. For the first time in Detroit, Chevy Corvette and Ford Mustang sportscar icons will lock horns in the highly competitive GT3 class. At the head of the field, Bloomfield Hills-based Team Penske will do battle in a pair of Porsche 963s against IMSA prototype competitor Cadillac.<\/p>\n

In the IndyCar engine wars, Chevrolet is coming off a dominating performance against Honda at the Indy brickyard and will try to win again in its own backyard. There will be plenty of other (non-Detroit) brands in action, including McLaren, BMW, Porsche, Lexus, Acura and Ferrari.<\/p>\n

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Detroit GP: Ford Mustang GT3, Ford, Ford<\/em><\/div>\n

\u201cRacing has always revolved around Detroit automakers, who use it as a technology transfer from the track to the street,\u201d said Detroit GP President Michael Montri in the Detroit GP\u2019s dual pit lane ahead of this year\u2019s race. \u201cWhat better place to do that than a street track in downtown Detroit?\u201d<\/p>\n

Chevrolet sponsors a race that is run on a 1.7-mile course that circles General Motors Co.\u2019s world headquarters, the Renaissance Center. With Ford Motor Co. and Penske Corp. also headquartered just a few miles away, the race takes on added significance for automakers and their suppliers. With so many employees, executives and technology located here, winning the home race is a point of pride.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an iconic city for our sport,\u201d said veteran North America sportscar racer Bryan Sellers, who grew up in Dayton, Ohio. \u201cDetroit is the birthplace of the American automobile. There\u2019s just something special about being a part of a race here. Even when the race was on Belle Isle, I loved coming into the city.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sellers now races a BMW M4 for Paul Miller Racing and will try to play spoiler to Motor City favorites Mustang and Corvette as they race for their home crown.<\/p>\n

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The Ford Mustang GT3 will be taking on its Chevy rival, the Corvette, at this weekend’s Detroit Grand Prix. Ford, Ford<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Of the 11 entries in the GT class, two will be Ford Mustang GT3 cars.<\/p>\n

The \u2018Stang brings its familiar V-8 sound to the city streets, but the car is much more sinister looking than its production-based GT. A huge rear wing and front spoiler help suck the carbon fiber-skinned beast to the ground as its hits speeds in excess of 180 mph down the main Jefferson Avenue straight.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m really looking forward to racing in downtown Detroit for the first time,\u201d said Mustang driver Harry Tincknell, who shares driver duties with Mike Rockenfeller. \u201cStreet tracks are always special because of the atmosphere the fans create, and then there\u2019s the naughty child in me who really enjoys driving really fast, breaking the speed limit as we go through traffic lights and stop signs on normal roads.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also breaking the speed limit will be the Corvette Z06 GT3.R, prepared for the factory by Wixom-based Pratt Miller Motorsports.<\/p>\n

A pair of yellow \u2018Vettes will take the green flag for Saturday\u2019s IMSA race with Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg in the #4 car and Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims in the #3 car.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The #4 Corvette undergoes a pit stop during the at Rolex 24 Daytona. It will be on the streets of downtown Detroit on Saturday. Michael L. Levitt, LAT Images<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve driven (the track) in person in a rental car and (done) some simulator work also,\u201d said Milner. \u201cIt\u2019s exciting to be in the downtown part of Detroit. Racing in the shadow of the RenCen is very cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

Team Penske is on a roll in sportscar racing and IndyCar. Chairman Roger \u201cThe Captain\u201d Penske celebrated his 20th<\/sup>\u00a0Indy 500 win last weekend \u2014 just a few months after recording his first Daytona 24 Hour sportscar win since 1969 in Porsche\u2019s latest hybrid 963 prototype GTP car.<\/p>\n