P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Racing drivers and teams dream of days when everything goes just exactly perfect. Saturday was one of those days for Jan Heylen, Luca Mars, and RS1. Heylen and Mars took advantage of a perfect stra…
Racing drivers and teams dream of perfect days, and Saturday was one of those for Jan Heylen, Luca Mars, and RS1 when they claimed victory in the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca 120. The No. 28 Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS took the Grand Sport (GS) class and overall win, with a flawless strategy call by RS1. This triumph at the third round of the 2025 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge was especially satisfying for RS1, which had been close to victory at Laguna Seca in previous years.
Heylen and Mars entered Monterey as GS class leaders after two runner-up finishes at Daytona and Sebring. Mars qualified fourth and held position before handing over to Heylen halfway through the race. Heylen’s strategic pit stop under caution allowed him to emerge in the lead, which he defended through multiple restarts.
Heylen managed to fend off competitors, including the No. 44 Ibiza Farm Motorsports McLaren, securing a victory with a lead of 0.676s over the Rebel Rock Racing Aston Martin. The Panam Motorsport Toyota completed the podium. Heylen, dealing with personal challenges, found solace in racing, making the win even sweeter.
Reflecting on the race, Heylen praised the team’s pit stops and strategy, expressing joy at their success. Despite initial concerns about their car’s performance in the heat at Laguna Seca, the team ultimately showed strong pace and resilience, especially during tense restarts.
