LMPC DEBUT & PODIUM

Watkins Glen, NY — At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Matt McMurry’s mind was focused on Thursday’s and Friday’s the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda races at Watkins Glen. Little did he know that he’d add another race to the agenda, and a podium, in his first-ever race in the Tudor United Sportscar Championship’s LMPC class. But that’s exactly what happened.

“I had driven an LMPC 16 months ago at Palm Beach International Raceway, when I was preparing for the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans youngest driver record and first learning how to drive big prototypes,” said Matt. “So, it had been a while, though I figured it wouldn’t be too big of an adjustment.”

Conditions we’re mixed all weekend. And with just two LMPC practice sessions prior to qualifying, and a three driver lineup, there was a premium on getting up to speed quickly.

“I’ve raced against Matt in the Prototype Lites, so I’ve seen firsthand how quick he is and how cleanly he manages the car.” - Brian Alder, Team Owner, BAR1

“Matt really didn’t get a chance to do more than a handful of laps in the car until the warm-up session two hours before the race,” added team owner Brian Alder. “I knew he’d be fine with all the experience he’s accumulated.”

One of Matt’s co-drivers was a teammate from 2013 in US F2000 open wheel racing, Daniel Burkett. The other was INDYCAR and sportscar veteran Martin Plowman, creating a combination that Alder thought was among the strongest in the Pro-Am LMPC field, adding, “I thought we had a definite edge on the Am drivers and that if they could put pressure on our competitors early, we’d have a strong outcome.”

Burkett opened up a 50 second lead by the end of his double stint, confirming Alder’s prediction. Matt ran second in the order and held the lead gap as team’s cycled in there stronger silver-rated drivers.

“I’ve raced against Matt in the Prototype Lites, so I’ve seen firsthand how quick he is and how cleanly he manages the car. He turned his quickest lap of the weekend during his stint, was gaining time on drivers with a lot more experience, and was definitely one of the quickest guys during his stints,” said Alder.

Then shortly after Matt handed off the car to Plowman, all manner of weather broke loose, leading to multiple full course cautions, downpours, treacherous conditions at best, and red flags that allowed competitors to gratuitously erase the gap that had been built up.

“At one point in the race,” Alder continued, “we had a 1/2 lap lead on second place car while the 3rd place car was a full lap down, unfortunately there were quite a number of caution periods, allowing the teams to easily make up their laps. Between the weather and cautions, at the end of the race there were no less than five cars on the lead lap… all with a shot at the win.”

As it ended, the trio scored a third place finish, which was quite an accomplishment considering two of the three drivers had never run in the LMPC class previously. For 17-year-old McMurry, he was able to add another record to his growing list: youngest person to ever podium in the United Sportscar Championship and North American Endurance Championship. His podium rate is 23% over 92 races.

“I really enjoyed the LMPC. Driving it at fast, flowing Watkins Glen gave me a new perspective on the car that I hadn’t appreciated when I tested the LMPC in Florida in early 2014. I’m really looking forward to racing in the class in the months ahead,” said McMurry, who was previously invited by his Prototype Lites team – JDC Motorsports – to race in the team’s LMPC at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park on July 12 and Circuit of the America’s on Sept. 19.