Another podium finish for the Mazda Prototype team

The No. 55 Mazda Prototype car was never the fastest on the race track at Watkins Glen International for the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen, but with nearly flawless execution by the drivers and pit crew and an ever-improving car, they finished third in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race last Sunday. This marks the second-straight podium finish for the Mazda Prototype team, which is a first. (The No. 70 Mazda was third at the previous race in Detroit.) Tristan Nunez qualified and then started the race before handing over to Jonathan Bomarito. With quick and consistent pit stops, the team made it's way forward from a ninth-place starting spot. IndyCar racer Spencer Pigot drove a triple-stint in the middle segments of the six-hours, eventually taking the race lead on an exchange of pit stops. With a little more than an hour remaining, he handed off to Bomarito for the spirited final sprint to the finish. The trio covered 200 laps of the 3.4-mile road course in the six-hour race.

It wasn't such a successful day for the sister car, the Castrol Edge/ModSpace No. 70 Mazda with drivers Joel Miller, Tom Long and Marino Franchitti. After a penalty at the start of the race (for having to change tires on the grid), Joel Miller sliced through most of the field to rejoin the Prototype battle at the on-hour mark, only to have the car lose speed due to a mechanical failure that hampered the turbocharger. After attempting repairs, the car was retired from the race.

The goal of three consecutive podium finishes is ahead next weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) for round seven (of 10) in the WeatherTech Championship.

Read the full story at MazdaMotorsports.com