The 2018 Monterey Grand Prix was a sports car race sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). The race was held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey County, California, on held on September 9, 2018, at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, United States. The race was eleventh the round of the 2018 IMSA SportsCar Championship.

Background

International Motor Sports Association's (IMSA) president Scott Atherton confirmed the race was part of the schedule for the 2018 IMSA SportsCar Championship (IMSA SCC) in August 2017. It was the fifth consecutive year the event was held as part of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The 2018 Monterey Grand Prix was the eleventh of twelve scheduled sports car races of 2018 by IMSA, and was the eighth round not held on the held as part of the North American Endurance Cup. The race was held at the eleven-turn WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on September 9, 2018.

After the Oak Tree Grand Prix three weeks earlier, Eric Curran and Felipe Nasr led the Prototype Drivers' Championship with 228 points, ahead of Filipe Albuquerque with 221 points, and Jon Bennett and Colin Braun with 218 points. With 269 points, the GTLM Drivers' Championship was led by Antonio García and Jan Magnussen with a four-point advantage over Ryan Briscoe and Richard Westbrook. In GTD, the Drivers' Championship was led by Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow with a thirteen-point advantage over Katherine Legge with 262 points. Cadillac, Ford, and Lamborghini were leading their respective Manufacturers' Championships, while Whelen Engineering Racing, Corvette Racing, and Paul Miller Racing each led their own Teams' Championships.

IMSA released two separate technical bulletins regarding the Balance of Performance for the event. The first one was released on August 30, 2018, for the Prototype (P) class. The Oreca 07, Ligier JS P217, Dallara P217, and Riley-Multimatic MkXXX were given a 10 kilogram weight increase and a fuel capacity reduction of 3 liters. The Mazda RT24-P was given a 10 kilogram weight reduction and a fuel capacity increase of 2 liters. The Acura ARX-05, Cadillac DPi-V.R, and Nissan Onroak DPi were also given a fuel capacity increase of 2 liters. The second technical bulletin was released on September 5, 2018, which regarded the Balance of Performance in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) and GT Daytona (GTD) classes for the event. In GTD, The Ferrari 488 GT3 received an increase in turbo boost as well as a fuel capacity increase of 2 liters. No changes were made in GTLM.

Entries

A total of 34 cars took part in the event. 13 cars were entered in P, 8 in GTLM, and 13 in GTD. In P, AFS/PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports switched from the Ligier JS P217 to the Oreca 07. In GTD, Park Place Motorsports and Squadra Corse Garage Italia returned after skipping the Virginia International Raceway event. Scuderia Corsa added a second entry. SunEnergy1 Racing withdrew from the event due to Kenny Habul having an illness.

Practice There were three practice sessions preceding the start of the race on Sunday, two on Friday and one on Saturday. The first two one-hour sessions were on Friday morning and afternoon. The third on Saturday morning lasted an hour.

Practice 1 The first practice session took place at 10:55 am PT on Friday and ended with Renger van der Zande topping the charts for Wayne Taylor Racing, with a lap time of 1:16.832. ClassTeamDriverTime1P10Wayne Taylor RacingRenger van der Zande1:16.832_2P6Acura Team PenskeDane Cameron1:17.533 +0.6513P22Tequila Patrón ESMPipo Derani1:17.975 +1.093Source:

Practice 2 The second practice session took place at 3:15 pm PT on Friday and ended with Dane Cameron topping the charts for Acura Team Penske, with a lap time of 1:16.865. ClassTeamDriverTime1P6Acura Team PenskeDane Cameron1:16.865_2P7Acura Team PenskeHélio Castroneves1:16.980 +0.1153P5Mustang Sampling RacingFilipe Albuquerque1:17.248 +0.383Source:

Practice 3 The third and final practice session took place at 8:30 am PT on Saturday and ended with Renger van der Zande topping the charts for Wayne Taylor Racing, with a lap time of 1:16.605. ClassTeamDriverTime1P10Wayne Taylor RacingRenger van der Zande1:16.605_2P77Mazda Team JoestOliver Jarvis1:16.686 +0.0813P7Acura Team PenskeHélio Castroneves1:16.750 +0.145Source:

Qualifying Saturday afternoon's 65-minute qualifying session was divided into three groups. All three categories had 15-minute individual sessions, and regulations stipulated teams to nominate a single driver to qualify their cars. The competitors' fastest lap times determined the starting order with the grid arranged to put the Prototype and GTLM cars ahead of all GTD entries.

Qualifying results Pole positions in each class are indicated in bold and by . ClassTeamDriverTime1P10 Wayne Taylor Racing Renger van der Zande1:16.181_12P6 Acura Team Penske Dane Cameron1:16.576 +0.39523P7 Acura Team Penske Hélio Castroneves1:16.662 +0.48134P22 Tequila Patrón ESM Pipo Derani1:16.766 +0.585135P54 CORE Autosport Colin Braun1:16.774 +0.593126P55 Mazda Team Joest Jonathan Bomarito1:16.793 +0.61247P85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Robert Alon1:16.989 +0.80858P77 Mazda Team Joest Oliver Jarvis1:17.249 +1.06869P31 Whelen Engineering Racing Eric Curran1:17.415 +1.234710P52 AFS/PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports Sebastián Saavedra1:17.485 +1.304811P5 Mustang Sampling Racing João Barbosa1:17.525 +1.344912P2 Tequila Patrón ESM Scott Sharp1:17.679 +1.4981013P99 JDC-Miller MotorSports Misha Goikhberg1:18.067 +1.8861114GTLM4 Corvette Racing Oliver Gavin1:22.700+6.5191415GTLM66 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Dirk Müller1:22.787 +6.6061516GTLM3 Corvette Racing Jan Magnussen1:22.806 +6.6251617GTLM67 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ryan Briscoe1:22.850 +6.6691718GTLM25 BMW Team RLL Alexander Sims1:22.972 +6.7911819GTLM911 Porsche GT Team Nick Tandy1:22.990 +6.8091920GTLM912 Porsche GT Team Earl Bamber1:23.140 +6.9592021GTLM24 BMW Team RLL Jesse Krohn1:23.527 +7.3462122GTD86 Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanin Katherine Legge 1:24.456+8.2752223GTD48 Paul Miller Racing Madison Snow1:24.595 +8.4142324GTD33 Mercedes-AMG Team Riley Motorsport Jeroen Bleekemolen1:24.644 +8.4632425GTD58 Wright Motorsports Patrick Long1:24.871 +8.6902526GTD73 Park Place Motorsports Patrick Lindsey1:24.904 +8.7232627GTD14 3GT Racing Kyle Marcelli1:25.010 +8.8292728GTD96 Turner Motorsport Bill Auberlen1:25.034 +8.8532829GTD15 3GT Racing Jack Hawksworth1:25.170 +8.9892930GTD63 Scuderia Corsa Cooper MacNeil1:25.404 +9.2233031GTD93 Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanin Justin Marks1:25.629 +9.4483132GTD64 Scuderia Corsa Frankie Montecalvo1:26.107 +9.9263233GTD44 Magnus Racing John Potter1:26.411 +10.2303434GTD51 Squadra Corse Garage Italia Francesco Piovanetti1:27.731 +11.55033Sources:

The No. 22 Tequila Patrón ESM entry was moved to the back of the P field for starting the race with a different driver than who qualified. The No. 54 CORE Autosport entry was moved to the back of the P field for starting the race with a different driver than who qualified. The No. 44 Magnus Racing entry was moved to the back of the GTD field after the team elected to change tires after qualifying.

Race

Post-race The result kept Curran and Nasr atop the Prototype Drivers' Championship with 299 points. Bennett and Braun advanced from third to second while Cameron and Montoya jumped from sixth to fourth. The result kept García and Magnussen atop the GTLM Drivers' Championship with 299 points, 9 points ahead of Briscoe and Westbrook. The result kept Sellers and Snow atop the GTD Drivers' Championship with 303 points, 6 points ahead of Legge. Cadillac, Ford, and Lamborghini continued to top their respective Manufacturers' Championships while Whelen Engineering Racing, Corvette Racing, and Paul Miller Racing kept their respective advantages in the Teams' Championships with one round left in the season.

Results Class winners are denoted in bold and .

+Final race classificationClassTeamDriversChassisTireTime/RetiredEngine1P22 Tequila Patrón ESM Pipo Derani Johannes van OverbeekNissan Onroak DPi1032:41.23.487Nissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Turbo V62P54 CORE Autosport Jon Bennett Colin BraunOreca 07103 +10.900Gibson GK428 4.2 L V83P6 Acura Team Penske Dane Cameron Juan Pablo MontoyaAcura ARX-05103 +13.396Acura AR35TT 3.5 L Turbo V64P55 Mazda Team Joest Jonathan Bomarito Harry TincknellMazda RT24-P103 +16.872Mazda MZ-2.0T 2.0L Turbo I45P31 Whelen Engineering Racing Felipe Nasr Eric CurranCadillac DPi-V.R103 +30.034Cadillac 5.5 L V86P99 JDC-Miller MotorSports Misha Goikhberg Stephen SimpsonOreca 07103 +40.775Gibson GK428 4.2 L V87P85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Robert Alon Simon TrummerOreca 07103 +51.236Gibson GK428 4.2 L V88P52 AFS/PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports Sebastián Saavedra Gustavo YacamánOreca 07102 +1 lapGibson GK428 4.2 L V89P77 Mazda Team Joest Oliver Jarvis Tristan NunezMazda RT24-P101 +2 LapsMazda MZ-2.0T 2.0L Turbo I410GTLM25 BMW Team RLL Connor De Phillippi Alexander SimsBMW M8 GTE100+3 LapsBMW S63 4.0 L Turbo V811GTLM912 Porsche GT Team Earl Bamber Laurens VanthoorPorsche 911 RSR100 +3 LapsPorsche 4.0 L Flat-612GTLM3 Corvette Racing Antonio García Jan MagnussenChevrolet Corvette C7.R100 +3 LapsChevrolet LT5.5 5.5 L V813GTLM24 BMW Team RLL John Edwards Jesse KrohnBMW M8 GTE100 +3 LapsBMW S63 4.0 L Turbo V814GTLM4 Corvette Racing Oliver Gavin Tommy MilnerChevrolet Corvette C7.R100 +3 LapsChevrolet LT5.5 5.5 L V815P7 Acura Team Penske Hélio Castroneves Ricky TaylorAcura ARX-0599 +4 LapsAcura AR35TT 3.5 L Turbo V616GTD86 Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanin Katherine Legge Álvaro ParenteAcura NSX GT397+6 LapsAcura 3.5 L Turbo V617GTD73 Park Place Motorsports Jörg Bergmeister Patrick LindseyPorsche 911 GT3 R97 +6 LapsPorsche 4.0 L Flat-618GTD33 Mercedes-AMG Team Riley Motorsport Jeroen Bleekemolen Ben KeatingMercedes AMG GT397 +6 LapsMercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V819GTD48 Paul Miller Racing Bryan Sellers Madison SnowLamborghini Huracán GT397 +6 LapsLamborghini 5.2 L V1020GTD44 Magnus Racing John Potter Andy LallyAudi R8 LMS96 +7 LapsAudi 5.2L V1021GTD51 Squadra Corse Garage Italia Francesco Piovanetti Oswaldo Negri Jr.Ferrari 488 GT396 +7 LapsFerrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V822GTD15 3GT Racing Jack Hawksworth David Heinemeier HanssonLexus RC F GT396 +7 LapsLexus 5.0L V823GTD63 Scuderia Corsa Cooper MacNeil Gunnar JeannetteFerrari 488 GT396 +7 LapsFerrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V824GTD64 Scuderia Corsa Townsend Bell Frankie MontecalvoFerrari 488 GT396 +7 LapsFerrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V825GTD14 3GT Racing Dominik Baumann Kyle MarcelliLexus RC F GT396 +7 LapsLexus 5.0L V826GTD58 Wright Motorsports Patrick Long Christina NielsenPorsche 911 GT3 R96 +7 LapsPorsche 4.0 L Flat-627 DNFP2 Tequila Patrón ESM Ryan Dalziel Scott SharpNissan Onroak DPi90SuspensionNissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Turbo V628 DNFGTLM67 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ryan Briscoe Richard WestbrookFord GT71Steering ArnFord EcoBoost 3.5 L Turbo V629 DNFGTD96 Turner Motorsport Robby Foley Bill AuberlenBMW M6 GT341TransmissionBMW 4.4 L Turbo V830 DNFP10 Wayne Taylor Racing Jordan Taylor Renger van der ZandeCadillac DPi-V.R18Lost PowerCadillac 5.5 L V831 DNFGTD93 Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanin Justin Marks Lawson AschenbachAcura NSX GT36CrashAcura 3.5 L Turbo V632 DNFGTLM66 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Joey Hand Dirk MüllerFord GT2CrashFord EcoBoost 3.5 L Turbo V633 DNFGTLM911 Porsche GT Team Patrick Pilet Nick TandyPorsche 911 RSR0CrashPorsche 4.0 L Flat-634P5 Mustang Sampling Racing Filipe Albuquerque João BarbosaCadillac DPi-V.R --Did Not StartCadillac 5.5 L V8Sources:+ Tyre manufacturers Key Symbol Tyre manufacturer Continental Michelin

Notes

Standings after the race

+Prototype Drivers' Championship standings +/– Driver Points 1 Eric Curran Felipe Nasr 254 2 1 Jon Bennett Colin Braun 250 3 1 Jordan Taylor Renger van der Zande 235 4 2 Dane Cameron Juan Pablo Montoya 233 5 Misha Goikhberg Stephen Simpson 231