The IMSA Detroit Grand Prix promised another chapter in Porsche Penske Motorsport’s dominant 2025 season in the IMSA Sportscar Championship.
With four consecutive wins under their belt, the Stuttgart giants seemed unstoppable. Yet, as the checkered flag waved over the Motor City, it was Acura Meyer Shank Racing that stood atop the podium, shattering Porsche Penske's winning streak and writing a thrilling new narrative.
Phil Oakley
The unraveling of a perfect race
Porsche Penske, as expected, came out swinging. Nick Tandy in the #6 Porsche 963 masterfully gained positions at the start, and both Porsche entries demonstrated impeccable strategy by delaying their pit stops, benefiting from clean air. The pit lane saw Porsche Penske execute flawlessly.
Felipe Nasr, behind the wheel of the #7 Porsche, emerged in second, perfectly positioned. Their strategy was textbook, even accounting for the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac’s delayed stop, which eventually put Nasr in the lead.
For a remarkable 35 laps, Nasr commanded the race, looking destined to deliver a fifth straight victory for the powerhouse team.
But racing, as we all know, is a cruel mistress. A full-course yellow, called with just 36 minutes remaining, evaporated Nasr’s comfortable four-second lead. This was the turning point, the moment the tides began to shift.
With 13 minutes left on the clock, the unthinkable happened. Nasr, struggling to find pace, lost three positions in two corners. The #10 Cadillac of Ricky Taylor executed a bold pass, followed swiftly by the #93 Acura of Renger van der Zande and even the sister #6 Porsche.
Porsche's tyre conundrum
The post-race debrief shed light on Porsche Penske’s Achilles' heel in Detroit: tyre issues.
Nasr himself confirmed the struggle. 'Unfortunately, after a caution period about 30 minutes before the flag, we lost pace because we couldn't get the front tyres into the optimal operating window,' said the Brazilian.
This inability to regain optimal tyre performance after the caution proved to be their undoing, a chink in the armour of an otherwise dominant machine.
Van der Zande's make-or-break move
While Porsche Penske grappled with their unexpected tyre challenges, Acura Meyer Shank Racing smelled blood in the water. Renger van der Zande, in the #93 Acura, showcased a masterclass in opportunistic driving. With four minutes remaining, he made his move on Ricky Taylor in the #10 Cadillac.
'I was very strong every time in Turn 1, and he [R. Taylor] had some traffic,' van der Zande explained.
'I thought, "If I'm going to have a chance, it's going to be in Turn 1". I asked the team, and they said, "Go for it".'
With a weaker exit from the last corner for R. Taylor, van der Zande saw his opening and pounced.
'Just: boom, I went for it,' he recounted, the excitement palpable. 'Hey, when you have to go for it, you have to go for it. When I made the pass for the win, I was excited in the car, like a little child.'
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That audacious move secured Acura and Meyer Shank Racing their first win of the season, a well-deserved triumph that ended Porsche Penske’s remarkable run.
For his part, R. Taylor was sad not to have taken Wayne Taylor Racing's first win in Motor City.
'A little sadness from me because we were so close to our first win with Cadillac in the GM race with everybody here,' he said after the race.
James Jackson
'To get the 100th Cadillac podium in IMSA prototype competition feels amazing, but that one step would have been nice. It was a great fight, the WTR team did an amazing job. The strategy was incredible.
'Filipe did a great start. I think everything for our race went perfectly for us to go from eighth to second and almost winning. I can’t say enough about the team and the execution. It’s nice to take this solid result into Le Mans.'
Looking ahead to Le Mans
Despite the setback, Porsche Penske Motorsport still extended their championship lead, a testament to their consistent performance throughout the season.
'It was a fantastic race on the streets of Detroit,' said Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport.
'Our strategy and pit stops were excellent, but unfortunately, the tyres didn’t quite deliver the grip we needed at the end, so we couldn’t hold on to the lead.
'Still, it was a good day overall, and we even extended our championship lead slightly. Next week, we head to Le Mans for the crucial test day ahead of the big race.'
The sting of losing in Detroit will undoubtedly fuel Porsche's preparations and motivation for the Le Mans test day, when teams and drivers begin to get dialled in for the French endurance classic.
While Detroit served as a stark reminder that even the most dominant teams can face unexpected challenges, it also sets the stage for an even more intense battle as the IMSA season progresses. Acura’s victory in Detroit wasn't just a win; it was a statement, a declaration that Porsche Penske can be beaten in IMSA.
Feature image: Acura Meyer Shank Racing
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