For the second consecutive IMSA Prototype Challenge Presented by Mazda race, Michal Chlumecky will start from the pole in the Mazda Prototype Challenge (MPC) class. Chlumecky scorched the MPC field Saturday, earning the top spot in the No. 31 Eurosport Racing Elan DP02 by 1.189 seconds over series points leader Dr. Robert Masson.
“The car’s been fantastic and the guys at Eurosport Racing always have always given me a car that really plants itself wherever I need it to,” said Chlumecky, who went on to win from the pole at Barber Motorsports Park. “Now it’s up to me to carry it through to the finish line tomorrow. An hour and 45 minutes at this track is tough, I’m not gonna lie. This is a very physical and very demanding track.”
Chlumecky’s lap of one minute, 17.143 seconds (114.753 mph) was good enough for 10th overall and topped the best laps of six LMP3 cars. His closest competition, however, will come from the driver starting right next to him on the MPC front row.
Dr. Masson welcomes a new co-driver for the final three races in son and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship regular Kyle Masson. A former series champion, Kyle Masson will help to do the same for his father who currently holds a two-point lead over Dave House and the duo of Bart Wolf and Tazio Ottis.
“I don’t think sharing the car will be different for us in terms of how we interact and teach each other,” Kyle said. “When we were racing against each other we were still teammates, so we were always helping each other out to learn and get better.
“Now, the only difference is I am going to be racing with his championship on the line instead of mine.”
Wolf and Ottis will start third in the No. 28 Wolf Motorsports entry, while House starts fourth in the No. 86 for ONE Motorsports.