Behind The Scenes Of IMSA's Petit Le Mans With Gradient Racing

Thursday dawned damp and cool in Braselton, Georgia; most of the weekend would be plagued by thick clouds and the occasional burst of rain showers.

Three different practice sessions took place for the IMSA teams on Thursday, which meant that Gradient Racing had arrived early to make sure the Acura was in fine shape.

The pit lane at Road America needed to accommodate 52 entries, which meant that each team was fairly cramped.

Just before qualifying comes an hour-long autograph session; fans are invited to head to the paddock to secure signatures of their favorite racers.

From the autograph session to interviews, Sheena Monk remains a consummate professional.

Katherine Legge of Gradient Racing suits up to qualify the Acura.

Crew members look on as Legge qualifies; the GTD and GTD Pro classes were the first on track for IMSA qualifying, which meant they dealt with damp conditions.

After qualifying, the team took the car apart to ensure it would be cleaned and ready for race day.

The Gradient Racing Acura sits on the grid during the pre-race fan grid walk.

Meanwhile, Monk and Legge debrief in the pit lane.

A view from the flag stand after the start of the race, when the sun finally pierced through a thick cloud cover.

The post-pit stop routine involves a quick cleaning of the team’s Michelin tires.

Lunch is served — and yes, we’re all eating on our feet in the quiet moments of the race.

Brakes and snacks.

When she wasn’t driving, Sheena Monk spent a significant portion of the race entertaining guests.

With 90 minutes remaining in the race, Legge reported a mechanical fault and slowed to a stop on the track. This photo was taken moments later, after the crew ran to the garage to prepare tools and spare parts in the hope of a quick repair.

The season ended on a low for Gradient; its on-track issue stemmed from the gearbox, and it wouldn’t be possible to initiate a repair and return to the track. There was nothing left to do for the crew but pack up and start preparing for 2024.