DICKEN SCORES HIS BEST FINISH OF SEASON SO FAR AT BARBER
ANSA Motorsports traveled to Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama last week to race in rounds 3 and 4 of the 2017 IMSA Prototype Challenge Presented by Mazda series.
Matt Dicken, who is in his first racing season in an LMP3 prototype and his first in the IMSA Prototype Challenge Presented by Mazda series, started the season well with double top-ten results at Sebring International Raceway in March. Barber is a totally different racetrack than Sebring, and despite the fact that Dicken practiced in a GT car at Barber earlier in his racing career, the 17-turn Alabama 2.38-mile road course is a tough track to learn, especially in a closed-cockpit, V8, 420-horsepower prototype race car.
Following the promoter test day on Thursday, Dicken’s Barber event started with two free practice sessions that helped the ANSA Motorsports Ligier driver prepare for qualifying.
On Friday, Dicken qualified eighth in the LMP3 class. For race 1, Dicken was looking for a good result, but did not have the race he was hoping for. The driver from Louisville, Kentucky, encountered problems with his tires early and had to fight hard to finish the 45-minute race. Dicken finished 11th in race 1.
On Saturday in race 2, Dicken took a good start with his No. 4 Strategic Wealth Designers Ligier JS P3 and was able quickly to race in the top ten. He gained positions throughout the race, crossing the finish line in 7th, which is his best result of the season so far.
Dicken is making progress race after race, and he and his coach, Corey Lewis, are happy with the result.
Up next for the IMSA Prototype Challenge Presented by Mazda series are Rounds 5 and 6, which will take place June 29 to July 2 at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York, as part of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen weekend.
Delayed television coverage of the IMSA Prototype Challenge Races at Barber Motorsports Park will be broadcast on May 4 on Fox Sports 2 (FS2). The broadcast will also be available on YouTube 24 hours after it airs on television.
Following the promoter test day on Thursday, Dicken’s Barber event started with two free practice sessions that helped the ANSA Motorsports Ligier driver prepare for qualifying.
On Friday, Dicken qualified eighth in the LMP3 class. For race 1, Dicken was looking for a good result, but did not have the race he was hoping for. The driver from Louisville, Kentucky, encountered problems with his tires early and had to fight hard to finish the 45-minute race. Dicken finished 11th in race 1.
On Saturday in race 2, Dicken took a good start with his No. 4 Strategic Wealth Designers Ligier JS P3 and was able quickly to race in the top ten. He gained positions throughout the race, crossing the finish line in 7th, which is his best result of the season so far.
Dicken is making progress race after race, and he and his coach, Corey Lewis, are happy with the result.
Up next for the IMSA Prototype Challenge Presented by Mazda series are Rounds 5 and 6, which will take place June 29 to July 2 at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York, as part of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen weekend.
Delayed television coverage of the IMSA Prototype Challenge Races at Barber Motorsports Park will be broadcast on May 4 on Fox Sports 2 (FS2). The broadcast will also be available on YouTube 24 hours after it airs on television.