The SpeedSource Mazda team claimed a fifth place in class at the Grand AM race in Montreal this weekend.
With just a week between Watkins Glen and the annual visit to the Montreal circuit, the SpeedSource crew faced a race against time to get their cars ready. Substantial suspension damage sustained at Watkins Glen meant the crew worked tirelessly to get the Mazda RX8 back to perfect condition for the Canadian event.
Regular driver and Montreal native Sylvain Tremblay qualified the car sixth on the grid, and was able to make progress on a hectic first lap to move up into fourth in class. During an early caution period, SpeedSource elected to pit. This dropped the car to tenth, before Tremblay was able to fight his way back into contention in seventh place.
Another caution later in the race saw the entire GT class make pit stops, and SpeedSource were able to capitalise on some handy pit work to move into second place. Ultimately however, it wasn’t to be as the Mazda, now driven by Jonathan Bomarito, received contact from the #59 Porsche on the restart. The team were right to feel aggrieved; given this was the same car that took the team out of contention at Watkins Glen!
Nevertheless, despite the difficultly in overtaking at Montreal, Bomarito was able to fight back to fifth in class by the time the chequered flag came out.
The next Grand AM race will take place at Laguna Seca on 9 September. SpeedSource have high hopes of returning to the top of the podium at Mazda’s home circuit.
