Preview: iRacing 6 Hours of the Glen
One of the premier endurance classics every year, the iRacing 6 Hours of the Glen awaits Fischer Motorsport this weekend at Watkins Glen. For the first time, Fischer Motorsport will enter a LMP2 prototype in a race, additionally to its well known two Porsche 911 RSR GTE.
Fischer Motorsport recently was rumored to add a new LMP2 program, which was finally officially confirmed by the organization on Thursday, ahead of the fifth edition of the iRacing 6 Hours of the Glen.
The LMP2 prototype entry will also run under the banner of Fischer Motorsport North America, as the organization has confirmed that its LMP2 program will be based in a new purpose-built site of the team in California.
Kyle Birnie and Jason Birnie, the brothers from San Jose, California will be the two pilots of the No. 14 Dallara P217 LMP2 prototype in the organization’s debut in the highest class of competition in the iRacing IMSA Hagerty Series and also this six-hour special event.
“We’re thrilled, obviously, to expand our team. We were working on this for a long time to make sure this is solid and not hasty. It also was a priority to us, that this doesn’t come at the cost of our GT program.”, team manager Benjamin Fischer said.
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© 2021 Fischer Motorsport
Fischer Motorsport North America will enter the No. 14 Dallara P217 LMP2 Prototype in the 6 Hours of the Glen - a first for the organization
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“We decided to open a new site for our LMP2 program in California and Kyle Birnie will be heading the LMP2 program for us locally, as a team manager and driver. Obviously this was very challenging from a logistics point of view. But we feel like we’re ready for this new chapter.”, Fischer added.
“The guys have done a phenomenal job. I expect us to be very competitive at Watkins Glen. It’s all very new for us and we’ll have a learning curve. But I know that with the team we have, the sky is the limit.”
Kyle Birnie agreed: “Absolutely. I’m about as optimistic as I’ve been in a while. Not just our LMP2 program in general, but also this weekend specifically. As soon as we unloaded the car, we had really good pace. Obviously, anything can happen in a long race like this, but I’m very optimistic that my brother and I can run upfront here.”
Not to be forgotten are the team’s two entries in the GTLM class. Benjamin Fischer and newly hired Denmark driver Niclas Pedersen will share the cockpit of the No. 84 Porsche 911 RSR – the first time ever the two drivers team up in a race.
Pascal Theis and Tobias Abel meanwhile will grid the sister car No. 85 Porsche 911 RSR.
After a successful 2020 season in the iRacing NEC and an impressive season-opener with the Fischer Motorsport Porsche Junior team in May of this year, this weekend mark’s Abel’s debut with the team in the GTLM class and his first start in the Porsche 911 RSR.
“This is really special to me, obviously. The Porsche 911 RSR is an absolute dream car. To have a chance to be here this weekend, together with the team, that is an incredible opportunity for me. I fully intend to make the most of it. So far, everything’s been great in the official practice sessions. I’m feeling very comfortable in the car, even though the track is quite slippery at times.”, explained Abel.
The six-hour event starts Saturday 14:40 CEST / 8:40 am EDT and will feature a grid of 55 cars from the LMP2, GTLM and GTD classes.
With the event taking place in the second half of June, it is famously known for being one of the hottest races of the year, with high track temperatures making for a very slick racing surface, which adds another challenge for man and machine in a true classic of endurance racing.