IMSA GT3 - PNR And Hansson Take First Podium

LIME ROCK, July 10, 2011: Porsche Napleton Racing (PNR) and driver David Heinemeier Hansson had their best result in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama to date in the No. 37 PNR/37signals Porsche GT3 this past weekend at Lime Rock Park in the Northeast Grand Prix, July 8 – 9.

Saturday’s first doubleheader of the season saw Hansson and PNR charge from 18th to eighth in the morning sprint before scoring a season-best third-place finish in the second and final race that afternoon. The third-place showing topped a fourth-place finish in the finale at Miller Motorsports Park in early May.

Hansson and PNR were making their first GT3 Cup Challenge starts in over two months since the Miller race and their first appearance at Lime Rock.

“Lime Rock was much harder to learn that it looked,” Hansson said. “Lots of fuzzy corners with no clear turn-in and apex markers. I still don't think I entirely made friends with Turn 1 at the end. Given the difficulties of learning the track with only one 20-minute dry session, I'm really happy with how we ended up.”

Hansson qualified 18th in Friday’s wet qualifying session but that ended up being his worst showing of the weekend.

In Saturday’s first race, Hansson quickly sliced through the field only to spin and then do it all over again.

“The first race was a rollercoaster,” Hansson said. “I started 18th, got up to ninth, spun the car, dropped to 20th and then finished eighth. I was kicking myself for spinning the car while I was on such a bull run, but I love working my way through traffic, so it was all good in the end.”

The charging performance also gave Hansson a sixth-place starting spot in the day’s second race based on overall fastest race laps in the first event. Hansson stayed clean from the drop of the green flag and made his moves while others crashed out in front.

“Race two was much more clear cut,” Hansson said. “I just kept my head down and cranked out consistent laps. Nowhere near as much action, but it felt great to finally be on that podium.”