Acura Teams Looking To Move Forward at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

• Acura ARX-06 pair qualifies seventh, eighth at newly-repaved Laguna Seca

•Gradient Racing hoping to replicate Long Beach charge, starting P13

The Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Global Acura ARX-06 duos will be looking to move through the field in tomorrow's two-hour, 40-minute Motul Course de Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

The #10 ARX-06 in the hands of Ricky Taylor qualified seventh. He and co-driver Filipe Albuquerque are chasing their first podium finish of the season. The sister #40 ARX-06 of Jordan Taylor and Louis Deletraz will roll off eighth. The pair are winners already this year—alongside Honda INDYCAR driver Colton Herta—at the 12 Hours of Sebring.

In the production-based GTD class, the Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 will be looking to replicate their charge through the field last time out at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. In the Long Beach event, co-drivers Sheena Monk and Stevan McAleer drove from 17th on the grid to fourth at the checkered flag. The pair will be starting P13 tomorrow.

Motul Course de Monterey Acura Qualifying Results

•Qualified 7th overall - #10 Ricky Taylor, Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura ARX-06. Co-driver will be Filipe Albuquerque

•Qualified 8th overall - #40 Louis Deletraz, Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura ARX-06. Co-driver is Jordan Taylor

•Qualified 13th in GTD - #66 Sheena Monk, Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo22. Co-driver will be Stevan McAleer

Quotes

Louis Deletraz (#40 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura ARX-06) Qualified eighth: 'Tough quali. I think we were lacking some pace today. But, the important points are in the race, so we're going to try to do our best to be fast and score the most points tomorrow. It definitely was hard to bring the tires in and it felt like the lap time just wasn't coming today. But, it's just quali. We look forward to tomorrow.'

Sheena Monk (#66 Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo22) qualified 13th in GTD: 'I'm really disappointed. I was on my fast lap at the end of the session and nailed every turn and felt in perfect sync with the car, but then I made a mistake in the last corner. It's frustrating because I know we could have had a better finish.'

Fast Facts

•Acura Motorsports and HPD (now Honda Racing Corporation USA) have a long, successful history at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, recording 19 victories – more than at any other racing circuit – in Camel Lights, LMP1, LMP2, Prototype, GTD and DPi competition from 1992-2022.

•Acura's most recent victory at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca came in 2022, when Filipe Albuquerque and Ricky Taylor took their Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-05 to victory for Acura's fourth consecutive win at the legendary circuit.

Where to Watch the Motul Course de Monterey

Television coverage from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca begins at 3 p.m. ET Sunday with complete, flag-to-flag coverage on NBC and streaming on NBC Peacock.

Fans can listen to audio commentary via IMSA.com, RadioLeMans.com and Sirius XM Radio; and follow the race live via in-car cameras, IMSA Radio and timing & scoring available worldwide on IMSA.com and the IMSA mobile device App.

Photo credit: Acura
posted on conceptcarz.com