Absolute Racing concludes USA campaign at Laguna Seca

Absolute Racing concluded its return to racing in the United States by competing in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at the legendary 2.238-mile WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway. Anderson Tanoto and Lars Kern retired halfway through the two-hour race.

Saturday got underway with the single qualifying session ahead of the  WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca 120 race in the afternoon. Tanoto's qualifying result saw No.69 Absolute Racing Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport in P18 in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS) class field, which would later change to P17 after a post-qualifying infringement handed to a competitor. 

Tanoto took the wheel for the race start and moved three places before the race was interrupted by a safety-car period. The team decided not to take advantage of the early FCY and keep track position which subsequently saw the Cayman climb to sixth overall. Unfortunately a few minutes after the race restart, the Indonesian driver had to serve a drive-through penalty for the contact with car 877 while battling for fifth place. 

Tanoto's race would end not long after he served the penalty for unavoidable contact, and was now stuck battling the lower TCR cars. Unfortunately, a misjudged brake point and contact from a competitor in the TCR field caused too much damage and a trip to the gravel trap which resulted in the retirement for Tanoto and the Absolute Racing's crew endeavours. 

The planned two-event campaign in the United States is completed. The team will consider further outings in the country later in this season.