The Rebel Rock Racing drivers and crew arrive at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for Round 3 of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge sitting just ten points off the series lead. This is a situation which is as encouraging as it is unexpected for the team from Deland, Florida.
Having made the switch from the comfortable familiarity of the Pratt and Miller-built Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R to the almost alien complexity of Prodrive’s 2024 Aston Martin Vantage GT4, expectations had to be managed. Nobody within the organization believed that a car arriving in the USA during the second week of January, would be capable of challenging the front runners, not initially, at least.
At at Daytona’s season opener, Team Manager and Driver, Robin Liddell’s role was to keep the team focused on what was possible and temper the natural levels of excitement that come with the shift to a brand new platform. The ninth place finish at The World Center of Racing was precisely what the Scotsman was hoping to achieve, but for two pit lane violations due to the drivers still learning the nuances of the car, that Top 10 finish could well have been significantly higher.
The six week gap between Daytona’s curtain-rasier and round two at Sebring International Raceway was the perfect time to get fully accustomed with all aspects of the Vantage GT4 from ergonomics to engine mapping. A comprehensive testing program saw drivers Frank DePew, Andrew Davis and Robin Liddell put hundreds of valuable development miles on the car.
The days spent pounding Sebring’s historic pavement paid off with a superb win there in the middle of March. The team’s understanding of the platform grew exponentially during the run up to the race although there was not a great deal to indicate that the Vantage GT4 would be a front-runner.
“We were absolutely delighted to get the win at Sebring. I think that having some success early on with the new programme really takes the pressure off all of us and proves that even with a new partner we are still a winning team. Since then we have also conducted further testing as we are still learning how to optimize the new car,” Liddell explained.
The pragmatic Scot is unwilling to let the team get carried away. “I think it’s a little early to be thinking of a championship at this stage, we just make sure that we all do what we do best every weekend and hopefully we will once again find ourselves in the mix at the end of the year.”
For Liddell’s co-driver and Team Owner, Frank DePew, this visit to the 2.24 miles of rolling Northern California hills represents a real chance for the team to make its mark at a venue that has delivered little in terms of success over the last five years.
“I am very much looking forward to Laguna, it is a technical and historic track, which is a blast to drive! I believe our new Aston will be better suited to this track than the larger Camaro in which we struggled here.”
“The start we have made this year has definitely exceeded our expectations and those of our partner, Aston Martin. While we are in our best ever points position after the first 2 races, the Michelin Pilot Challenge field is very strong and so many teams can win on any given race day. We have a long season ahead of us and need to continue to execute and maximize our points in each event. If we can stick to that strategy, we will definitely be fighting for the title this Summer and Fall.”
Coverage of Saturday’s – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca 120 is live on Peacock in the USA. For International viewers without a TV broadcaster, the race can be seen live at IMSA.TV. The Green Flag will fly at 5pm ET/2pm PT. IMSA Radio will also have non-stop live coverage of the race. For full event coverage please follow Rebel Rock Racing on Twitter at @RebelRockRacing, on Instagram at @rebelrockracing and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rebelrockracing2.0.