The Paul Miller Racing team heads to the second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Sprint Cup this weekend as the series rolls into Motor City for the Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle.
The No. 48 1st Phorm TOTAL Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo of Bryan Sellers and Ryan Hardwick is fresh off a podium finish at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and currently sitting third in the Sprint Cup standings. The focus for the weekend will be advancing the team’s standing within the Sprint Cup, as points will not be awarded towards the full-season IMSA championship.
The team has been working hard this month to prepare for the unique challenges of Belle Isle’s rough street circuit. With a race set up that is completely different from any other event, the 2.2 mile track will present a challenge even to the most seasoned teams.
The Paul Miller Racing team has found success at the track before, scoring back to back podium finishes at Belle Isle in 2017 and 2018 and pole positions in 2016 and 2018.
On-track action will begin on Friday, May 31 with GTD practice starting at 8:45 AM Eastern, followed by a second practice at 2:40 PM and GTD qualifying at 5:20 PM. The green flag will fall on Saturday’s race at 12:40 PM.
“The Detroit Grand Prix is a fantastic event all around. Roger Penske and his team have done an incredible job with the facilities and the crowds are always huge and enthusiastic,” Paul Miller Racing team founder Paul Miller said.
“Being both a street race and the shortest race on the calendar, good qualifying is key to a strong finish at Belle Isle.
“Last year our Detroit finish was one of five podium finishes in a row for the team, leading us to the 2018 Championship. With the podium finish at Mid Ohio, the first of the IMSA Sprint Cup Series events, we’re looking to continue that streak in Detroit.”
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DRIVER QUOTES
Ryan Hardwick
“I am super excited to race at Belle Isle! This will be my first time ever racing on a street circuit, and it’s something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time. I take my race preparation very seriously, and it’s been especially important heading into my first street course. I’ve been spending time on the simulator as well as studying all the onboard video and data from our team’s successful runs over the last few years at Detroit.
“Bryan has been a huge help with teaching me so many little things to pay attention to in every corner around the track. I don’t think there is anyone who knows this circuit better than Bryan! Our team has some momentum coming into this second race for the new IMSA Sprint Cup, and our goal is another solid podium finish.”
Bryan Sellers
“Detroit is one of my favorite events of the year. It’s one of the shortest weekends, yet one of the most complex. The race distance is short but the track is demanding. We have had a lot of good results as a program here and I hope that this year we are able to do the same. This race is one I know we all look forward to every season.”
