After an incident in qualifying the No. 16 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport started the race from 21st position, but Hardwick had a strong opening start, passing several cars in the first laps of the race. A series of cautions and penalties also played into the team’s hands, and the car gained nine positions in the first ten minutes. He closed out his stint in eleventh, and true to team form, a fast and efficient pit stop with a fuel fill, driver change, and the addition of tires, brought Jan Heylen into the race in seventh position. Despite saving fuel, Heylen put in strong opening lap times as the Michelin tires came up to temperature. Racing three-wide at times, he climbed up to fourth as the field’s level of aggression increased each minute closer to the checkered flag. In the final 20 minutes, various cars had contact or went off course, while the No. 16 Porsche raced smartly for position, solidly holding a third-place result to the end of the race. The strong result brings the team to tie for first in the Michelin Pilot Challenge GS point championship.

Both series next head to the fan-favorite circuit of Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin for the next pair of sprint races. On-track activities will begin Friday, August 6th, with Michelin Pilot Challenge’s race taking place on Saturday evening, followed by the IMSA WeatherTech headlining races on the afternoon of Sunday, August 8th. The team’s three-car Porsche Carrera Cup North America Presented by the Cayman Islands operation will also return to action for the one-make championship’s seventh and eighth rounds on the four-mile circuit. For more information, visit imsa.com.

Driver Quotes | Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport

Ryan Hardwick

What an unbelievable finish. I’ll remember this race for a long time. From dealing with the mistake I made yesterday to come from dead last all the way to third place was remarkable. It was one of the greatest races of my life, for sure. We owe it all to the team for getting the car prepared. It was great and brilliant to drive. Credit also goes to Jan Heylen. He put in a mega stint at the end to push us up to the podium. I feel fortunate for this finish, and to be leaving halfway through the season tied for the championship with the BMW. I’m super excited for Road America to see how the season finishes from here.

Jan Heylen

I was really looking forward to coming to Lime Rock Park. There are always good battles here. Starting from the back, it was going to be a tough race for us, but this is a fun place to come through the field. The team had really good strategy and Ryan Hardwick drove a good stint. He definitely did half of the work. We had good pace in practice in the long runs, and in the race, I saved my tires and settled in, and it all came together in the end. Third place is a good result, and we’re tied for the points lead. It’s a super weekend for us. We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing and keep chipping away at it.