WEC Fans Frustrated as IMSA Detroit Debut Marred by Collisions and Contact
Richard Westbrook, piloting the #85 JDC Miller MotorSports Porsche 963, voiced his disappointment about racing in downtown Detroit following a tumultuous sprint event plagued by numerous collisions. The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship made its debut on a new Detroit circuit, moving from its traditional Belle Isle location. Unfortunately, both IMSA and IndyCar events were marred by incidents, with the former featuring five caution periods during the 100-minute race.
One of the most notable incidents involved #31 Cadillac driver Jack Aitken, who hit Westbrook into a half-spin, forcing the latter to take evasive action to avoid blocking the entire circuit. Aitken was later handed a drive-through penalty. Westbrook was scathing in his assessment of the track, stating, “It’s hard for me to come up with anything positive. To be honest, the track is not suitable for racing with prototypes in the top GTP class. It was like being in a bumper car. The damage to the vehicles worsened lap-by-lap. It was unacceptable – simply unacceptable.“
Westbrook, who has fond memories of racing on the beautiful Belle Isle circuit in Detroit, expressed his frustration with the new downtown layout. “I found it frustrating. I have such fond memories of the times we competed on the beautiful Belle Isle in Detroit. I’m looking forward to Watkins Glen – now that’s a great circuit.” His teammate Tijmen van der Helm qualified the #85 Porsche in ninth place and took the wheel for the 30-minute opening stint before Westbrook completed the remainder of the race.
The duo struggled to extract competitive pace from their #85 Porsche, hindered by the circuit’s 90-degree corners, which offered limited opportunities for overtakes and made it difficult to avoid drama. Despite the promise of IMSA’s two professional categories – GTP and GTD Pro – competing on the same course, many cars across both classes suffered various levels of damage due to the contact throughout.
IMSA will regroup and look to the 6 Hours of the Glen, one week after the 24 Hours of Le Mans, to continue the WeatherTech season with the third endurance race on the 2024 schedule. As the WEC 2024 calendar takes shape, fans are eager to see a return to more traditional and demanding circuits that allow for competitive racing and fewer incidents. With the WEC 2023 calendar still underway, this latest IMSA event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of track selection and design in providing an enjoyable experience for drivers and spectators alike.
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