Performance Tech Motorsports Mazda Raceway Pre-Race Report

Performance Tech Motorsports hopes to build a streak of podium appearances May 1-3 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca after a third-place finish in its last TUDOR United SportsCar Championship start, the 12 Hours of Sebring in mid-March.This weekend the podium hopes of the No. 38 Prototype Challenge fall on the shoulders of Performance Tech regular James French and returnee Mike Hedlund, who is filling in for Conor Daly, who has Indianapolis 500 testing duties this weekend.Daly plans to compete for Performance Tech at Detroit, Watkins Glen, Road America and Road Atlanta. He turned in a strong debut performance for the team at Sebring helping earn the third place finish.French will take on Mazda Raceway as a more refined driver after completing his first 12-hour race at Sebring. The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA)-sanctioned Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix, a two-hour, 40-minute race, brings different challenges as a sprint event on a smooth, undulating circuit compared to the 12-hour race on the rough, flat Sebring International Raceway course."I think this track will suit James's style," Team Principal Brent O'Neill said. "I think he's improved now having the 12-Hour behind him, and having Conor (Daly) around really helped everyone. This is a track everyone enjoys coming to and driving. It's a cool track, and it has a lot of history with the 'Corkscrew' turn. That's why everyone loves it.Hedlund, from Woodside, California, will try to win at his home track with Performance Tech. He last ran with Performance Tech in 2014 at Watkins Glen International for the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen. The team finished fourth in the PC class."We're happy to have Mike on board with us," O'Neill said. "He did a great job at The Glen, and Laguna is home track, so we expect him to have a great race this weekend, as well. With James' improvement and Hedlund's knowledge of the track, I think they'll make a good pair this week. We've got a good shot."Performance Tech's last podium finish at Mazda Raceway came in 2013, when the team finished third.The Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix takes place at 4:05 p.m. (ET) Sunday, May 3. The race will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 starting at 4 p.m. Live timing is available at IMSA.com.

Keep up with Performance Tech Motorsports by following the team on  Facebook and Twitter at @Perf_Tech. For more information on the team, visit performancetechmotorsports.com.