1981 WMC - round 6

	Heats
	1981 Le Mans 24h
1980 Watkins Glen	Go

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Watkins Glen 6 hours

Watkins Glen Grand Prix Course, Watkins Glen, New York, USA

Date: 12/7/1981
Track length: 5.435 m
Attendance:
Entries accepted: 38
Starters: 30
Finishers: 10

Pole position: Whittington B. in 1.48,583 = 180,186 kmh
Fastest lap: Paul Jr in 1.52,831 = 173,402 kmh

Distance: 6 hours
Average speed: 156,499 kmh
Weather: Hot and dry
Ruleset: Group 1-5/76, IMSA
Car info: 1981 Cars

Lancia had flown three cars to the States, two should attack and one should stay a little behind; it was the World Title which was for grabs here, if Lancia would win their class.
After the start the Porsches took the lead, with Field and Moretti treating the thing like a sprint race - and Fitzpatrick stayed close behind these two.
After an hour, problems seemed to befall Lancia: Ghinzani came in with a damaged car and about 30 metres of catch fencing behind it. The car was repaired, but tactics changed: Patrese/Alboreto would charge, the rest not. But Porsche had troubles too: Fitzpatrick broke a pulley, the Akin car had to get its rear suspension repaired three times after three identical punctures, Field had to replace a turbo, Haywood too (thrice really) and the Moretti-Moby Dick had injection problems. The Group C Lola rolled which got the pace car out for 20 minutes, and the Hobbs/Surer BMW M1 found itself in the lead, with the Lancias circulating like clockwork. Team manager Fiorio ordered the softest slicks available to beat the BMW, which succeeded - though the M1 retired with engine failure. A double victory in the end for Lancia - and the second World Title.

Overall result

Pos Pos in class # Team / Entrant
Car- Engine Drivers, Nationality Engine
vol. (cc) Engine
Type Group Distance,
time Qualifying position Qualifying time Fastest lap Reason out,
remarks

1 1/1 1 Martini Lancia Racing
Lancia Beta Montecarlo Riccardo Patrese, I
Michele Alboreto, I
1425 tc L4 Group 5/Div. 1 173 laps, 6:00.28,053 4 1.51,161

2 2/2 5 Martini Lancia Racing
Lancia Beta Montecarlo Andrea de Cesaris, I
Henri Pescarolo, F
1425 tc L4 Group 5/Div. 2 171 6 1.52,206

3 3/1 9 Garretson Racing
Porsche 935 K3 Rick Mears, USA
Bob Garretson, USA
Johnny Rutherford, USA
B6 Group 5/Div. 2 168 11 1.55,37

4 4/2 11 John Fitzpatrick racing
Porsche 935 K3-80 John Fitzpatrick, GB
Jim Busby, USA
B6 Group 5/Div. 2 160 13 1.58,093

5 5/3 22 Marty Hinze Racing
Porsche 935 K3 Marty Hinze, USA
Dale Whittington, USA
Preston Henn, USA
B6 Group 5/Div. 2 157 15 1.58,353

6 6/4 30 Momo Accessories, Inc
Porsche 935J 78/81 Gianpiero Moretti, I
Bobby Rahal, USA
B6 Group 5/Div. 2 157 3 1.49,271

7 1 91 Electrodyne, Inc.
Porsche 934 Chet Vincentz, USA
Lance Van Every, USA
John Wood, USA
2993 tc B6 IMSA GTO 156 20 2.05,232

8 7/5 43 Bob Akin Motor Racing
Porsche 935 K3-80 Bob Akin, USA
Craig Siebert, USA
Vivian Candy, IRL
B6 Group 5/Div. 2 146 10 1.55,196

9 2 13 Southard Motor Racing
Porsche 911 Carrera Steve Southard, USA
Mark Altman, USA
Gary Altman, USA
B6 IMSA GTO 146 25 2.13,741

10 3 26
Porsche 911 Carrera Tim Selby, USA
Earl Roe, USA
3600 B6 IMSA GTO 138 26 2.14,98

DNF 44 Stratagraph Inc.
Chevrolet Camaro Billy Hagan, USA
Bill Cooper, USA
V8 IMSA AAGT 137 16 2.02,488

DNF 10
Chevrolet Camaro Tom Frank, USA
Dave Heinz, USA
V8 IMSA GTO 135 17 2.04,918 Engine

DNF 47 Loud Car Racing
Mazda RX-7 Jim Mullen, USA
Walt Bohren, USA
2 x 573 R2 IMSA GTU 127 22 2.07,146 Engine

DNF 2 BMW of North America, Inc
BMW M1 David Hobbs, GB
Marc Surer, CH
3498 L6 Group 5/Div. 2 113 9 1.54,358 Engine

DNF 4 Martini Lancia Racing
Lancia Beta Montecarlo Piercarlo Ghinzani, I
Beppe Gabbiani, I
1425 tc L4 Group 5/Div. 1 109 8 1.53,394 Accident

DNF Interscope Racing
Porsche 935 K3-80 Ted Field, USA
Bill Whittington, USA
B6 Group 5/Div. 2 95 1 1.48,583 Engine

DNF 86 Bayside Disposal Racing
Porsche 935/80 Hurley Haywood, USA
Bruce Leven, USA
B6 Group 5/Div. 2 80 5 1.51,547 Turbocharger

DNF 7 Heimrath Racing
Porsche 935 Ludwig Heimrath, CDN
Ludwig Heimrath Jr, CDN
B6 Group 5/Div. 2 64 12 1.56,317 Driveshaft

DNF 60 Banco Occidental Ultramar Team Lola
Lola T600-Ford Emilio de Villota, E
Guy Edwards, GB
3298 V8 IMSA GTP 57 7 1.53,367 Accident

DNF 21 Alps Restoration
VW-Porsche 914/6 Peter Aschenbrenner, CDN
Peter Moennick, CDN
B6 IMSA GTU 27 29 no time Spin

DNF 79 Promotion Ltd./Whitehall Capital
Porsche 924 Carrera GTR Tom Winters, USA
Bob Bergstrom, USA
1984 tc L4 IMSA GTO 23 18 2.05,179 Driveshaft

DNF 18 JLP Racing
Porsche 935 JLP-3 John Paul Jr, USA
John Paul Sr, USA
B6 Group 5/Div. 2 2 2 1.48,583 1.52,831 Engine

DSQ 3 Hallett Motor Racing Circuit
Lancia Stratos Anatoly Arutunoff, USA
José Marina, USA
2418 V6 IMSA GTU 16 31 no time Disq: illegal refuel

DSQ 23
Porsche 911 Stephen Lax, CDN
Herman Lausberg, CDN
B6 IMSA GTU 12 32 no time Disq: too slow (!)

DNF 33 Toyota Village
Porsche 934 Werner Frank, USA
Rudi Bartling, CDN
2993 tc B6 IMSA GTO 9 23 2.08,125 Oil line

DNF 74
Porsche 911 Ted Hulse, USA
Bob Speakman, USA
B6 IMSA GTU 8 28 2.15,774 Suspension

DNF 36 Herman & Miller
Porsche 924 Carrera GTR Paul Miller, USA
Kenper Miller, USA
1984 tc L4 IMSA GTO 4 21 2.05,996 Overheating

DNF 95 EMKA Productions
BMW M1 Derek Bell, GB
Steve O'Rourke, GB
3498 L6 Group 5/Div. 2 3 14 1.58,201 Engine

DNF 90 Ryone Industries
Chevrolet Corvette David Kicak, USA
Tom Rynone, USA
James Mancuso, USA
V8 IMSA GTO 1 24 2.09,022 Engine

DNF 12
Chevrolet Camaro James Burrows, GB
Ted Sullivan, USA
V8 IMSA GTO 30 no time Spin

DNS 98
Chevrolet Corvette Tom Frank, USA
Dave Heinz, USA
V8 IMSA GTO 19 2.05,215 Withdrawn

DNS 93 Little Foreign Car Shop
Chevrolet Corvette Michael Oleyar, USA
Bill Craine, USA
Kerry Hitt, USA
V8 IMSA GTO 27 2.15,145

Overall result
Pos	Pos in class	#	Team / Entrant Car- Engine	Drivers, Nationality	Engine vol. (cc)	Engine Type	Group	Distance, time	Qualifying position	Qualifying time	Fastest lap	Reason out, remarks
1	1/1	1	Martini Lancia Racing Lancia Beta Montecarlo	Riccardo Patrese, I Michele Alboreto, I	1425 tc	L4	Group 5/Div. 1	173 laps, 6:00.28,053	4	1.51,161
2	2/2	5	Martini Lancia Racing Lancia Beta Montecarlo	Andrea de Cesaris, I Henri Pescarolo, F	1425 tc	L4	Group 5/Div. 2	171	6	1.52,206
3	3/1	9	Garretson Racing Porsche 935 K3	Rick Mears, USA Bob Garretson, USA Johnny Rutherford, USA		B6	Group 5/Div. 2	168	11	1.55,37
4	4/2	11	John Fitzpatrick racing Porsche 935 K3-80	John Fitzpatrick, GB Jim Busby, USA		B6	Group 5/Div. 2	160	13	1.58,093
5	5/3	22	Marty Hinze Racing Porsche 935 K3	Marty Hinze, USA Dale Whittington, USA Preston Henn, USA		B6	Group 5/Div. 2	157	15	1.58,353
6	6/4	30	Momo Accessories, Inc Porsche 935J 78/81	Gianpiero Moretti, I Bobby Rahal, USA		B6	Group 5/Div. 2	157	3	1.49,271
7	1	91	Electrodyne, Inc. Porsche 934	Chet Vincentz, USA Lance Van Every, USA John Wood, USA	2993 tc	B6	IMSA GTO	156	20	2.05,232
8	7/5	43	Bob Akin Motor Racing Porsche 935 K3-80	Bob Akin, USA Craig Siebert, USA Vivian Candy, IRL		B6	Group 5/Div. 2	146	10	1.55,196
9	2	13	Southard Motor Racing Porsche 911 Carrera	Steve Southard, USA Mark Altman, USA Gary Altman, USA		B6	IMSA GTO	146	25	2.13,741
10	3	26	Porsche 911 Carrera	Tim Selby, USA Earl Roe, USA	3600	B6	IMSA GTO	138	26	2.14,98
DNF		44	Stratagraph Inc. Chevrolet Camaro	Billy Hagan, USA Bill Cooper, USA		V8	IMSA AAGT	137	16	2.02,488
DNF		10	Chevrolet Camaro	Tom Frank, USA Dave Heinz, USA		V8	IMSA GTO	135	17	2.04,918		Engine
DNF		47	Loud Car Racing Mazda RX-7	Jim Mullen, USA Walt Bohren, USA	2 x 573	R2	IMSA GTU	127	22	2.07,146		Engine
DNF		2	BMW of North America, Inc BMW M1	David Hobbs, GB Marc Surer, CH	3498	L6	Group 5/Div. 2	113	9	1.54,358		Engine
DNF		4	Martini Lancia Racing Lancia Beta Montecarlo	Piercarlo Ghinzani, I Beppe Gabbiani, I	1425 tc	L4	Group 5/Div. 1	109	8	1.53,394		Accident
DNF			Interscope Racing Porsche 935 K3-80	Ted Field, USA Bill Whittington, USA		B6	Group 5/Div. 2	95	1	1.48,583		Engine
DNF		86	Bayside Disposal Racing Porsche 935/80	Hurley Haywood, USA Bruce Leven, USA		B6	Group 5/Div. 2	80	5	1.51,547		Turbocharger
DNF		7	Heimrath Racing Porsche 935	Ludwig Heimrath, CDN Ludwig Heimrath Jr, CDN		B6	Group 5/Div. 2	64	12	1.56,317		Driveshaft
DNF		60	Banco Occidental Ultramar Team Lola Lola T600-Ford	Emilio de Villota, E Guy Edwards, GB	3298	V8	IMSA GTP	57	7	1.53,367		Accident
DNF		21	Alps Restoration VW-Porsche 914/6	Peter Aschenbrenner, CDN Peter Moennick, CDN		B6	IMSA GTU	27	29	no time		Spin
DNF		79	Promotion Ltd./Whitehall Capital Porsche 924 Carrera GTR	Tom Winters, USA Bob Bergstrom, USA	1984 tc	L4	IMSA GTO	23	18	2.05,179		Driveshaft
DNF		18	JLP Racing Porsche 935 JLP-3	John Paul Jr, USA John Paul Sr, USA		B6	Group 5/Div. 2	2	2	1.48,583	1.52,831	Engine
DSQ		3	Hallett Motor Racing Circuit Lancia Stratos	Anatoly Arutunoff, USA José Marina, USA	2418	V6	IMSA GTU	16	31	no time		Disq: illegal refuel
DSQ		23	Porsche 911	Stephen Lax, CDN Herman Lausberg, CDN		B6	IMSA GTU	12	32	no time		Disq: too slow (!)
DNF		33	Toyota Village Porsche 934	Werner Frank, USA Rudi Bartling, CDN	2993 tc	B6	IMSA GTO	9	23	2.08,125		Oil line
DNF		74	Porsche 911	Ted Hulse, USA Bob Speakman, USA		B6	IMSA GTU	8	28	2.15,774		Suspension
DNF		36	Herman & Miller Porsche 924 Carrera GTR	Paul Miller, USA Kenper Miller, USA	1984 tc	L4	IMSA GTO	4	21	2.05,996		Overheating
DNF		95	EMKA Productions BMW M1	Derek Bell, GB Steve O'Rourke, GB	3498	L6	Group 5/Div. 2	3	14	1.58,201		Engine
DNF		90	Ryone Industries Chevrolet Corvette	David Kicak, USA Tom Rynone, USA James Mancuso, USA		V8	IMSA GTO	1	24	2.09,022		Engine
DNF		12	Chevrolet Camaro	James Burrows, GB Ted Sullivan, USA		V8	IMSA GTO		30	no time		Spin
DNS		98	Chevrolet Corvette	Tom Frank, USA Dave Heinz, USA		V8	IMSA GTO		19	2.05,215		Withdrawn
DNS		93	Little Foreign Car Shop Chevrolet Corvette	Michael Oleyar, USA Bill Craine, USA Kerry Hitt, USA		V8	IMSA GTO		27	2.15,145