GTP: Laguna Seca IMSA Broadcast Compilation

The 2009 American Le Mans Series just came to a close at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and in honor of that thrilling season finale, let’s take a look back at some of the exciting IMSA GTP races from the classic track’s past.

All videos are courtesy of the American Le Mans Series.

We’ll start with the 1985 edition.

GTP: 1985 Laguna Seca Race Broadcast from GrandTouringPrototype.com on Vimeo.

1986

GTP: 1986 Laguna Seca IMSA GTP Race Broadcast from GrandTouringPrototype.com on Vimeo.

1987

GTP: 1987 Laguna Seca Race Broadcast from GrandTouringPrototype.com on Vimeo.

1993

GTP: 1993 Laguna Seca Race Broadcast pt1 from GrandTouringPrototype.com on Vimeo.

GTP: 1993 Laguna Seca Race Broadcast pt2 from GrandTouringPrototype.com on Vimeo.

GTP: 1986 Daytona Finale IMSA GTP Race pt1

The final win for Bob Tullius in the GTP series also marks the first win for Chip Robinson in part 1 of the 1986 Daytona finale.

Courtesy of the American Le Mans Series.

GTP: 1986 Daytona Finale IMSA GTP Race Broadcast pt1 from GrandTouringPrototype.com on Vimeo.

GTP: 1986 Daytona Finale IMSA GTP Race pt2

The final win for Bob Tullius in the GTP series also marks the first win for Chip Robinson in part 2 of the 1986 Daytona finale.

Courtesy of the American Le Mans Series.

GTP: 1986 Daytona Finale IMSA GTP Race Broadcast pt2 from GrandTouringPrototype.com on Vimeo.

GTP: 1989 Portland IMSA GTP Race Broadcast

Spend 97 minutes with Geoff Brabham, Price Cobb, Davy Jones and the rest of the players in the 1989 Portland IMSA GTP race…one that went down in great controversy after the checkered flag was displayed early.

Jaguar’s Price Cobb crossed the finish line first as the checkered flag waved prematurely, and Geoff Brabham crossed it last just when it was scheduled to fall. Despite Nissan’s victory circle celebrations, the win would be overturned and given to Cobb.

While it made for great drama at the time; it’s all IMSA fans spoke about, but the altered outcome did little to sway the championship as the Nissan/Brabham freight train carried onto their second consecutive GTP title.

1st Lammers / Cobb Jaguar XJR-10 Castrol Jaguar Racing
2nd Geoff Brabham Nissan GTP ZX-T Electramotive Engineering
3rd Chip Robinson Nissan GTP ZX-T Electramotive Engineering
4th Nielsen / Jones Jaguar XJR-9 Castrol Jaguar Racing
5th Miller / Earl Spice SE89P Chevrolet Jim Miller Racing
6th Andretti / Wollek Porsche 962 Busby Racing
7th Moran / Ribbs Eagle HF89 Toyota All American Racers
8th Mass Porsche 962C Bayside Racing/Bruce Leven
9th Adams Porsche 962 Hotchkis Racing
10th Gianpiero Moretti Porsche 962C Momo/Gebhardt Racing

GTP: 1989 Portland IMSA GTP Race Broadcast from GrandTouringPrototype.com on Vimeo.

GTP: Hotchkis Porsche 962 In-Car, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Mark Hotchkis leads the GTP race from pole during the 36th annual Rolex Monterey Historics held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, winning handily and lapping cars by the 5th tour in this 10-lap race.

In what might be a first, Hotchkis races the 962 with a helmet-mounted camera, giving the viewer the same view he has from inside the cockpit of the famed German prototype.

Driving his family owned 962, the purple Wynn’s Porsche was purchased new and raced by the family in 1986 and has remained in their hands ever since.

With the majority of the 962s having changed hands multiple times throughout the years, their story is unique in that the GTP car was first driver by John Hotchkis Sr, then John Hotchkis Jr, and now now by the youngest son, former Indy Lights star, Mark Hotchkis.

Despite the polite nature vintage racing has associated with it, Mark does anything but treat his 962 with kid gloves.

Hotchkis managed to lap almost half the field in the 10-lap event where he was chased home by ALMS star Gunnar Jeanette in a 1994 Kremer-Porsche K8. Rudy Junco finished third in his 1988 962, Patrick Dempsey took 4th with the stunning Mazda RX-792P, and Tom Malloy earned fifth in his Leyton House-liveried 1988 962.

Enjoy the full race below from Mark’s perspective. He used the adjustable boost knob on the bottom left as necessary on the straights, and also holds his foot on the brake pedal as he leads the field to the start in order to build 50+ psi of turbo boost.

The sounds of the chirping wastegate is pure heaven…

GTP: Hotchkis Porsche 962 In-Car, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca from GrandTouringPrototype.com on Vimeo.

GTP: 1992 Mazda RX-792P In-Car Video, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Spend 20 minutes atop the incredible fire-breathing 4-rotor Mazda RX-792P IMSA GTP car during practice at the Monterey Historics, August 14th, 2009.

Courtesy of Mazda.

GTP: 1992 Mazda RX-792P In-Car Video, Laguna Seca from GrandTouringPrototype.com on Vimeo.

GTP: 1981 Mosport IMSA GT Race Broadcast

GTP: 1981 Mosport IMSA GT Race Broadcast from GrandTouringPrototype.com on Vimeo.

The 1981 IMSA GT race broadcast from Mosport near Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Georgia.

Courtesy of the American Le Mans Series.

GTP: 1982 IMSA Daytona Finale Race Broadcast

GTP: 1982 IMSA Daytona Finale Race Broadcast from GrandTouringPrototype.com on Vimeo.

The 1982 IMSA race broadcast from Daytona in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Courtesy of the American Le Mans Series.

GTP: 1984 Miami GTP Race Broadcast

GTP: 1984 Miami GTP Race Broadcast from GrandTouringPrototype.com on Vimeo.

The 1984 IMSA GTP race broadcast from Miami in Miami, Florida.

Courtesy of the American Le Mans Series.

GTP: 1985 Charlotte IMSA GTP Race Broadcast pt 1

GTP: 1985 Charlotte IMSA GTP Race Broadcast pt 1 from GrandTouringPrototype.com on Vimeo.

Part one of the 1985 IMSA GTP race from the Charlotte ‘Roval’.

Courtesy of the American Le Mans Series.

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