Bruno Spengler has won the second round of the IMSA iRacing Pro Series at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca after a frantic finale that saw multiple front runners get involved in clashes with backmarkers.
The BMW driver made his way up to the front after the pitstop cycle put BMW’s factory drivers, which dominated the previous round at Sebring, up front. Spengler, Philipp Eng and Nick Catsburg were then running in formation, seemingly heading for a 1-2-3 finish until a series of dramatic events unfolded that threw the battle for the lead on its head.
First, Spengler lost the lead to Eng when the Canadian had to brake and avoid a rejoining Paul Holton, which allowed Eng to slip past. Eng was then leading until he got involved in a big crash when the Austrian and backmarker Parker Chase both hit Corey Fergus, whose Ferrari was in the middle of the track after spinning at the Rahal Straight, dropping Eng out of victory contention.
Spengler retook the lead in his #7 BMW M8 GTE and was able to hold off a charging Shane van Gisbergen for victory. SVG finishes second in his #97 AIM Vasser Sullivan-liveried BMW, with Nicky Catsburg finishing third in the #10 BMW.
Mirko Bortolotti held onto fourth place in a frantic final few laps, with Porsche junior Ayhancan Güven putting in a strong performance to come home in fifth as the best Porsche driver in the #913 Porsche 911 RSR. Eng came home in sixth in the #26 BMW after pitting for repairs.
Robby Foley finished seventh in the #96 Turner Motorsports BMW M8 GTE, ahead of the #48 Ford GT of Corey Lewis and Richard Westbrook in the #67 Ford GT.
Westbrook was an early front runner, battling with the BMW front runners until a crash in the early stages dropped him down the order. He recovered and was looking at a sixth place finish, but a late spin meant he had to settle for ninth. Shinya Michimi completed the top ten.
