# 2016 Northeast Grand Prix

The 2016 Northeast Grand Prix was a sports car race sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). The race was held at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut on July 23, 2016. The race was the eighth round of the 2016 IMSA SportsCar Championship.

## Background
### Preview

International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) president Scott Atherton confirmed the race was part of the schedule for the 2016 IMSA SportsCar Championship (IMSA SCC) in August 2015. It was the second consecutive year the event was held as part of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the twenty-fifth annual running of the race. The 2016 Northeast Grand Prix was the eighth of twelve scheduled sports car races of 2016 by IMSA, and was the fifth round not held on the held as part of the North American Endurance Cup. The race was held at the seven-turn 1.530 mi (2.462 km) Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut on July 23, 2016. The GTLM category would participate in the event for the first time since the 2013 running.
IMSA altered the balance of performance to try to create parity within the GTLM category. The BMW M6 GTLM received a reduction in turbo boost pressure and a 2-litre fuel capacity reduction. The Ferrari 488 GTE received an increase in turbo boost pressure, and a 2-litre fuel capacity increase as well as a 1.0 mm refuelling hose restrictor reduction increase. The Ford GT received a 0.1 mm refuelling hose restrictor reduction. The Porsche 911 RSR had its weight increased by 20 kg (44 lb).
Before the race, Alex Popow and Renger van der Zande led the Prototype Challenge Drivers' Championship with 231 points, ahead of Robert Alon and Tom Kimber-Smith in second by 14 points, and Stephen Simpson and Misha Goikhberg in third with 209 points. With 192 points, Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner led the GTLM Drivers' Championship, 5 points ahead of Ryan Briscoe and Richard Westbrook. In GTD, the Drivers' Championship was led by Alessandro Balzan and Christina Nielsen with 191 points; the duo held a twenty two-point advantage over Mario Farnbacher and Alex Riberas. Chevrolet and Ferrari were leading their respective Manufacturers' Championships, while Starworks Motorsport, Corvette Racing, and Scuderia Corsa each led their own Teams' Championships.

### Entry list

Thirty-one cars were officially entered for the Northeast Grand Prix, with most of the entries being in the Grand Touring Le Mans (GTLM) and Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) categories. The Prototype Challenge (PC) class was composed of eight Oreca FLM09 cars: three from Starworks Motorsports. BAR1 Motorsports, CORE Autosport, JDC-Miller MotorSports, Performance Tech and PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports entered one car each. GTLM was represented by nine entries from five different brands. In the list of GTD entrants, fourteen GT3-specification vehicles were represented by six different manufacturers. With the absence of the Prototype (P) class from the field, only three racing classes were represented in Lime Rock.

## Practice

There were two practice sessions preceding the start of the race on Saturday, both on Friday. The two one-hour sessions were on Friday afternoon.
In the first practice session, Renger van der Zande set the fastest time in the No. 8 Starworks car with a time of 48.808 seconds, 0.214 seconds faster than Colin Braun's No. 54 CORE Autosport vehicle, and Stephen Simpson's No. 85 car was third. The GTLM class was topped by the No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R of Oliver Gavin. Joey Hand in the No. 66 Ford GT was second and Toni Vilander's Risi Ferrari was third. Audi paced GTD with Magnus Racing's R8 of Lally lapping at 52.807, followed by Jens Klingmann's No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M6. The session was stopped for 10 minutes when John Edwards No.100 RLL BMW M6 stopped on track due to a driveline failure.
Braun led the final practice session in CORE's No. 54 car with a lap of 48.990 seconds. Kimber-Smith's No. 52 PR/1's vehicle was second fastest. Marcelli was third fastest for Performance Tech. BMW topped GTLM with Werner's No. 25 car lapping at 51.164 seconds. Vilander was second fastest for Risi Competizione and Milner's No. 4 Corvette was third. Farnbacher led the GTD class in the No. 23 Porsche, followed by Liddell's No. 6 Stevenson Motorsport Audi R8.

## Qualifying

Friday afternoon's 65-minute three-group qualifying session gave 15-minute sessions to all categories. Cars in GTD were sent out first before those grouped in GTLM, and PC had two separate identically timed sessions. Regulations stipulated teams to nominate one qualifying driver, with the fastest laps determining each classes starting order. IMSA would arranged the grid to put all PCs ahead of the GTLM, and GTD cars.

### Qualifying results

Pole positions in each class are indicated in bold and by ‡.
| Pos. | Class | No. | Team | Driver | Time | Gap | Grid |
| 1 | PC | 54 | CORE Autosport | Colin Braun | 48.824 | _ | 8 |
| 2 | PC | 52 | PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports | Robert Alon | 48.840 | +0.016 | 1‡ |
| 3 | PC | 38 | Performance Tech Motorsports | James French | 48.930 | +0.106 | 2 |
| 4 | PC | 7 | Starworks Motorsport | José Gutiérrez | 48.978 | +0.154 | 3 |
| 5 | PC | 8 | Starworks Motorsport | Alex Popow | 49.222 | +0.398 | 4 |
| 6 | PC | 20 | BAR1 Motorsports | Matt McMurry | 49.266 | +0.442 | 5 |
| 7 | PC | 85 | JDC-Miller MotorSports | Misha Goikhberg | 49.659 | +0.835 | 6 |
| 8 | GTLM | 67 | Ford Chip Ganassi Racing | Richard Westbrook | 50.748 | +1.924 | 9‡ |
| 9 | GTLM | 25 | BMW Team RLL | Dirk Werner | 50.834 | +2.010 | 10 |
| 10 | GTLM | 4 | Corvette Racing | Tommy Milner | 50.858 | +2.034 | 11 |
| 11 | GTLM | 62 | Risi Competizione | Toni Vilander | 50.902 | +2.078 | 12 |
| 12 | GTLM | 66 | Ford Chip Ganassi Racing | Joey Hand | 51.015 | +2.191 | 13 |
| 13 | GTLM | 3 | Corvette Racing | Jan Magnussen | 51.264 | +2.440 | 14 |
| 14 | GTLM | 911 | Porsche North America | Patrick Pilet | 51.346 | +2.522 | 15 |
| 15 | GTLM | 100 | BMW Team RLL | John Edwards | 51.431 | +2.607 | 16 |
| 16 | GTLM | 912 | Porsche North America | Frédéric Makowiecki | 51.445 | +2.621 | 17 |
| 17 | PC | 88 | Starworks Motorsport | Mark Kvamme | 51.629 | +2.805 | 8 |
| 18 | GTD | 16 | Change Racing | Spencer Pumpelly | 53.178 | +4.324 | 18‡ |
| 19 | GTD | 6 | Stevenson Motorsports | Andrew Davis | 53.222 | +4.354 | 19 |
| 20 | GTD | 9 | Stevenson Motorsports | Matt Bell | 53.250 | +4.398 | 20 |
| 21 | GTD | 63 | Scuderia Corsa | Christina Nielsen | 53.250 | +4.426 | 21 |
| 22 | GTD | 48 | Paul Miller Racing | Madison Snow | 53.330 | +4.506 | 22 |
| 23 | GTD | 23 | Team Seattle/Alex Job Racing | Mario Farnbacher | 53.538 | +4.714 | 23 |
| 24 | GTD | 96 | Turner Motorsport | Bret Curtis | 53.588 | +4.764 | 24 |
| 25 | GTD | 73 | Park Place Motorsports | Patrick Lindsey | 53.609 | +4.785 | 25 |
| 26 | GTD | 27 | Dream Racing | Cédric Sbirrazzuoli | 53.680 | +4.786 | 31 |
| 27 | GTD | 97 | Turner Motorsport | Michael Marsa | 53.695 | +4.871 | 26 |
| 28 | GTD | 44 | Magnus Racing | John Potter | 53.698 | +4.874 | 27 |
| 29 | GTD | 22 | Alex Job Racing | Cooper MacNeil | 53.784 | +4.960 | 28 |
| 30 | GTD | 33 | Riley Motorsports | Ben Keating | 53.983 | +5.159 | 30 |
| 31 | GTD | 540 | Black Swan Racing | Tim Pappas | 54.949 | +6.155 | 29 |
| Sources: ||||||||
* The No. 54 CORE Autosport entry was sent to the rear of the PC grid as per 43.1 of the Sporting regulations (Starting driver change).
* The No. 27 Dream Racing Lamborghini was sent to the rear of the GTD grid as per 43.1 of the Sporting regulations (Starting driver change).
* The No. 33 Riley Motorsports Dodge was sent to the rear of the GTD grid as per 40.1.5 of the Sporting regulations (Tire change).

## Race
### Post-race

With a total of 267 points, Popow and van der Zande's victory allowed them to extend their advantage in the Prototype Challenge Drivers' Championship to 17 points over Alon and Kimber-Smith. The final results of GTLM meant Gavin and Milner's victory allowed them to extend their advantage in the Drivers' Championship by 5 points over Briscoe and Westbrook. García and Magnussen advanced from fifth to third. Balzan and Nielsen's eleventh-placed finish allowed them to keep their advantage in the GTD Drivers' Championship, but their advantage was reduced to 13 points as race winners Lally and Potter jumped to second. Chevrolet continued to the GTLM Manufactures' Championship while Audi became the leader of the GTD Manufactures' Championship. Starworks Motorsport, Corvette Racing, and Scuderia Corsa kept their respective advantages in their of Teams' Championships with four rounds left in the season.

### Race Results

Class winners are denoted in bold and ‡. PC stands for Prototype Challenge, GTLM (Grand Touring Le Mans) and GTD (Grand Touring Daytona)
Final race classification :
| Pos | Class | No. | Team | Drivers | Chassis | Tire | Laps | Time/Retired |
| Pos | Class | No. | Team | Drivers | Engine | Tire | Laps | Time/Retired |
| 1 | PC | 8 | Starworks Motorsport | Alex Popow Renger van der Zande | Oreca FLM09 | C | 169 | 2:40:43.254‡ |
| 1 | PC | 8 | Starworks Motorsport | Alex Popow Renger van der Zande | Chevrolet 6.2 L V8 | C | 169 | 2:40:43.254‡ |
| 2 | PC | 52 | PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports | Robert Alon Tom Kimber-Smith | Oreca FLM09 | C | 169 | +0.815 |
| 2 | PC | 52 | PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports | Robert Alon Tom Kimber-Smith | Chevrolet 6.2 L V8 | C | 169 | +0.815 |
| 3 | PC | 38 | Performance Tech Motorsports | James French Kyle Marcelli | Oreca FLM09 | C | 168 | +1 Lap |
| 3 | PC | 38 | Performance Tech Motorsports | James French Kyle Marcelli | Chevrolet 6.2 L V8 | C | 168 | +1 Lap |
| 4 | PC | 20 | BAR1 Motorsports | Matt McMurry Johnny Mowlem | Oreca FLM09 | C | 168 | +1 Lap |
| 4 | PC | 20 | BAR1 Motorsports | Matt McMurry Johnny Mowlem | Chevrolet 6.2 L V8 | C | 168 | +1 Lap |
| 5 | GTLM | 4 | Corvette Racing | Oliver Gavin Tommy Milner | Chevrolet Corvette C7.R | M | 167 | +2 Laps‡ |
| 5 | GTLM | 4 | Corvette Racing | Oliver Gavin Tommy Milner | Chevrolet LT5.5 5.5 L V8 | M | 167 | +2 Laps‡ |
| 6 | GTLM | 3 | Corvette Racing | Antonio García Jan Magnussen | Chevrolet Corvette C7.R | M | 167 | +2 Laps |
| 6 | GTLM | 3 | Corvette Racing | Antonio García Jan Magnussen | Chevrolet LT5.5 5.5 L V8 | M | 167 | +2 Laps |
| 7 | GTLM | 67 | Ford Chip Ganassi Racing | Ryan Briscoe Richard Westbrook | Ford GT | M | 167 | +2 Laps |
| 7 | GTLM | 67 | Ford Chip Ganassi Racing | Ryan Briscoe Richard Westbrook | Ford EcoBoost 3.5 L Twin-turbo V6 | M | 167 | +2 Laps |
| 8 | GTLM | 62 | Risi Competizione | Toni Vilander Giancarlo Fisichella | Ferrari 488 GTE | M | 167 | +2 Laps |
| 8 | GTLM | 62 | Risi Competizione | Toni Vilander Giancarlo Fisichella | Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 | M | 167 | +2 Laps |
| 9 | GTLM | 66 | Ford Chip Ganassi Racing | Dirk Müller Joey Hand | Ford GT | M | 167 | +2 Laps |
| 9 | GTLM | 66 | Ford Chip Ganassi Racing | Dirk Müller Joey Hand | Ford EcoBoost 3.5 L Twin-turbo V6 | M | 167 | +2 Laps |
| 10 | PC | 88 | Starworks Motorsport | Mark Kvamme Remo Ruscitti | Oreca FLM09 | C | 165 | +4 Laps |
| 10 | PC | 88 | Starworks Motorsport | Mark Kvamme Remo Ruscitti | Chevrolet 6.2 L V8 | C | 165 | +4 Laps |
| 11 | GTD | 44 | Magnus Racing | John Potter Andy Lally | Audi R8 LMS | C | 162 | +7 Laps‡ |
| 11 | GTD | 44 | Magnus Racing | John Potter Andy Lally | Audi 5.2L V10 | C | 162 | +7 Laps‡ |
| 12 | GTD | 6 | Stevenson Motorsports | Andrew Davis Robin Liddell | Audi R8 LMS | C | 162 | +7 Laps |
| 12 | GTD | 6 | Stevenson Motorsports | Andrew Davis Robin Liddell | Audi 5.2L V10 | C | 162 | +7 Laps |
| 13 | GTD | 33 | Riley Motorsports | Jeroen Bleekemolen Ben Keating | Dodge Viper GT3-R | C | 161 | +8 Laps |
| 13 | GTD | 33 | Riley Motorsports | Jeroen Bleekemolen Ben Keating | Dodge 8.3L V10 | C | 161 | +8 Laps |
| 14 | GTD | 48 | Paul Miller Racing | Bryan Sellers Madison Snow | Lamborghini Huracán GT3 | C | 161 | +8 Laps |
| 14 | GTD | 48 | Paul Miller Racing | Bryan Sellers Madison Snow | Lamborghini 5.2 L V10 | C | 161 | +8 Laps |
| 15 | GTD | 9 | Stevenson Motorsports | Lawson Aschenbach Matt Bell | Audi R8 LMS | C | 161 | +8 Laps |
| 15 | GTD | 9 | Stevenson Motorsports | Lawson Aschenbach Matt Bell | Audi 5.2L V10 | C | 161 | +8 Laps |
| 16 | GTD | 96 | Turner Motorsport | Bret Curtis Jens Klingmann | BMW M6 GT3 | C | 161 | +8 Laps |
| 16 | GTD | 96 | Turner Motorsport | Bret Curtis Jens Klingmann | BMW 4.4L Turbo V8 | C | 161 | +8 Laps |
| 17 | GTD | 97 | Turner Motorsport | Michael Marsal Markus Palttala | BMW M6 GT3 | C | 161 | +8 Laps |
| 17 | GTD | 97 | Turner Motorsport | Michael Marsal Markus Palttala | BMW 4.4L Turbo V8 | C | 161 | +8 Laps |
| 18 | GTD | 16 | Change Racing | Corey Lewis Spencer Pumpelly | Lamborghini Huracán GT3 | C | 161 | +8 Laps |
| 18 | GTD | 16 | Change Racing | Corey Lewis Spencer Pumpelly | Lamborghini 5.2 L V10 | C | 161 | +8 Laps |
| 19 | GTD | 22 | Alex Job Racing | Cooper MacNeil Leh Keen | Porsche 911 GT3 R | C | 161 | +8 Laps |
| 19 | GTD | 22 | Alex Job Racing | Cooper MacNeil Leh Keen | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | C | 161 | +8 Laps |
| 20 | GTD | 73 | Park Place Motorsports | Jörg Bergmeister Patrick Lindsey | Porsche 911 GT3 R | C | 160 | +9 Laps |
| 20 | GTD | 73 | Park Place Motorsports | Jörg Bergmeister Patrick Lindsey | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | C | 160 | +9 Laps |
| 21 | GTD | 63 | Scuderia Corsa | Christina Nielsen Alessandro Balzan | Ferrari 488 GT3 | C | 160 | +9 Laps |
| 21 | GTD | 63 | Scuderia Corsa | Christina Nielsen Alessandro Balzan | Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 | C | 160 | +9 Laps |
| 22 | GTD | 540 | Black Swan Racing | Tim Pappas Andy Pilgrim | Porsche 911 GT3 R | C | 160 | +9 Laps |
| 22 | GTD | 540 | Black Swan Racing | Tim Pappas Andy Pilgrim | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | C | 160 | +9 Laps |
| 23 | GTLM | 911 | Porsche North America | Patrick Pilet Nick Tandy | Porsche 911 RSR | M | 159 | +10 Laps |
| 23 | GTLM | 911 | Porsche North America | Patrick Pilet Nick Tandy | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | M | 159 | +10 Laps |
| 24 | GTD | 27 | Dream Racing | Cédric Sbirrazzuoli Lawrence DeGeorge | Lamborghini Huracán GT3 | C | 158 | +11 Laps |
| 24 | GTD | 27 | Dream Racing | Cédric Sbirrazzuoli Lawrence DeGeorge | Lamborghini 5.2 L V10 | C | 158 | +11 Laps |
| 25 DNF | GTD | 23 | Team Seattle/Alex Job Racing | Mario Farnbacher Alex Riberas | Porsche 911 GT3 R | C | 142 | Tie rod |
| 25 DNF | GTD | 23 | Team Seattle/Alex Job Racing | Mario Farnbacher Alex Riberas | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | C | 142 | Tie rod |
| 26 DNF | PC | 85 | JDC-Miller MotorSports | Misha Goikhberg Stephen Simpson | Oreca FLM09 | C | 108 | Did Not Finish |
| 26 DNF | PC | 85 | JDC-Miller MotorSports | Misha Goikhberg Stephen Simpson | Chevrolet 6.2 L V8 | C | 108 | Did Not Finish |
| 27 DNF | PC | 7 | Starworks Motorsport | José Gutiérrez Sean Rayhall | Oreca FLM09 | C | 100 | Clutch |
| 27 DNF | PC | 7 | Starworks Motorsport | José Gutiérrez Sean Rayhall | Chevrolet 6.2 L V8 | C | 100 | Clutch |
| 28 DNF | GTLM | 25 | BMW Team RLL | Bill Auberlen Dirk Werner | BMW M6 GTLM | M | 89 | Crash |
| 28 DNF | GTLM | 25 | BMW Team RLL | Bill Auberlen Dirk Werner | BMW 4.4 L Turbo V8 | M | 89 | Crash |
| 29 DNF | GTLM | 912 | Porsche North America | Earl Bamber Frédéric Makowiecki | Porsche 911 RSR | M | 89 | Crash |
| 29 DNF | GTLM | 912 | Porsche North America | Earl Bamber Frédéric Makowiecki | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | M | 89 | Crash |
| 30 DNF | PC | 54 | CORE Autosport | Jon Bennett Colin Braun | Oreca FLM09 | C | 69 | Suspension |
| 30 DNF | PC | 54 | CORE Autosport | Jon Bennett Colin Braun | Chevrolet 6.2 L V8 | C | 69 | Suspension |
| 31 DNF | GTLM | 100 | BMW Team RLL | John Edwards Lucas Luhr | BMW M6 GTLM | M | 4 | Crash |
| 31 DNF | GTLM | 100 | BMW Team RLL | John Edwards Lucas Luhr | BMW 4.4 L Turbo V8 | M | 4 | Crash |
| Sources: |||||||||
Tyre manufacturers :
| Key ||
| Symbol | Tyre manufacturer |
| C | Continental |
| M | Michelin |

## Championship standings after the race

* Note: Only the top five positions are included for all sets of standings.
* Note: Only the top five positions are included for all sets of standings.
* Note: Only the top five positions are included for all sets of standings.