The temperature topped 90 degrees F Thursday at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the Promoter’s Test Day, leading up to the three-day Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda race weekend. The temperatures are expected to moderate by ten degrees each day. Good thing as the schedule calls for long days – 8am-6 or 6:30pm each day, with little or no lunch-breaks. Despite the clouds moving in and out and the on again/off again breeze, the temperatures remained high.
Thursday afternoon, after the track was cold and the air cooler, drivers took to the track for 90 minutes of driver orientation. They walked, ran, and rode bicycles. Simultaneously the GT3 Cup Series held an autograph session. Throughout the weekend, various fan-oriented activities are scheduled.
Included in the race schedule are five race series – TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama, Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Series, and Mazda MX-5Cup Presented by BFGoodrich Tires. The paddock is stretched to capacity.
Throughout the day Thursday prep work was on going through its various stages, with at least one huge transporter showing up late.
Friday’s schedule calls for all classes but the featured race series – TUDOR USCC – to practice, qualify and/or race. The Mazda’s M have a late Friday race, and a very early Saturday morning race – and then they’re done for the weekend. TUDOR cars have their first practice at 9:35AM with all four classes, and then dominate the afternoon with another practice. In between the USCC sessions the Lamborghini’s and CTSC each have a race.