Matt Campbell says that WeatherTech Racing wasn’t sure if the decision to alter their fuel strategy at Road America, which ultimately gave the team victory, was the right choice.
Campbell and Cooper MacNeil pulled off an upset win in their #79 Porsche 911 RSR-19 by beating the two factory Corvettes with an off-sequence strategy call. The team brought Campbell in for a second stop after previously pitting under yellow, giving the Australian a significant gap to the cars behind.
In order to make it to the line first, however, Campbell had to complete the final hour of racing on a single tank of fuel. It required the Porsche factory ace to do some serious fuel saving, but he ultimately made it.
“The race came down to the strategy and the fuel saving between us and the Corvettes,” Campbell said. “In the end the Proton guys made the right decision to stop when we did for fuel.
“At the time we thought maybe it was the wrong call. But in the end obviously it all worked out. It was a real fuel race to the end. I am happy for Cooper, David and the whole WeatherTech team on a great win today.”
Crucial to the team’s victory hopes was fuel management, with Campbell lifting and coasting in the closing stages in the hopes of making it to the line.
“It definitely wasn’t easy at times,” Campbell continued. “The team was always updating me and giving me the information I needed to be able to do what I had to do with getting the fuel mileage we needed to be able to make it to the end of the race. We did the job we needed to.
“We haven’t had the best of runs since Sebring, and now to get our second win, it’s a fantastic result,” the 26-year-old Australian said. “Especially the way we did it is pretty special by beating the two Corvettes, it’s always harder.”
For WeatherTech and MacNeil, both hailing out of nearby lllinois, the victory at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin was practically a home victory and the team’s second win after taking victory in the Twelve Hours of Sebring in March.
“This win feels just as good as Sebring,” MacNeil said. “To win at my favorite track, in front of our home crowd and friends and family is great.
“We have about 300 employees here celebrating with us too, that is very cool. Winning at Road America is always special. This gives us some strong momentum going into Le Mans next week.”
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