IMSA Preview: Monterey SportsCar Race Weekend

Written by Sean McKean

Credit: Jake Galstad / LAT Images & IMSA

After the first “sprint” in Long Beach, the IMSA field will take to the iconic Laguna Seca for the fourth round of the season. Following a weekend without GTD Pro, they return this weekend alongside GTP and GTD. 

There are 36 entries expected: 11 in GTP, 10 in GTD Pro and 15 in GTD.

This event will be 160 minutes long.

Completely sweeping the opening three races of the season, the No. 7 Porsche of Nick Tandy and Felipe Nasr have been the class of the field. Their strong form to begin the season is second to none, leading the GTP standings by over 120 points.

But it only requires a look across the garage to see their biggest challenger: the No. 6 Porsche of Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell. Finishing second in all but one race so far this season, this car has showcased plenty of speed, so it will only be a matter of time until this car finds its way into victory lane. 

In the GTD Pro class, there hasn’t been an outright favourite. The most consistent of them all, however, has been the No. 1 BMW of Madison Snow and Neil Verhagen. The pair – assisted by Connor De Philippi – opened the season with a fourth in Daytona and third in Sebring. Simply being there at the end could put them in prime position to take a strong finish in Monterey. 

The GTD class is a different story, with the No. 57 Mercedes of Russell Ward and Philip Ellis continuing their dominant form from 2024. Although they missed out on podiums in Daytona and Long Beach, the American and Swiss drivers’ win in Sebring sees them leading the standings yet again.