There’s a reason the best drivers want to race in the IMSA Tudor Championship and when you make your way out to spend a sunny summer afternoon at the track to watch them, the reasons become evident quite quickly.  This series features some of the most technologically advanced sportscars and prototypes on track.  Now, take a look behind the wall and you’ll find some of the most experienced crew chiefs and engineers in any series, anywhere on the planet.

They converge here to push new technology to the edge, to find the next big thing, and ultimately for the purpose of challenging the best of the best and seeing if they can stand atop the podium at the end of a long day of racing.  Every member of every team is a staunch competitor and the desire to win is written clearly and in plain language across their faces.  Mistakes are few, as you would expect at the highest levels of competition, and any that happen during the day are met with a harsh word, or many, and corrective action comes about swiftly and with purpose.

Next time you find yourself at a Tudor Championship race, enjoy the thrills happening on track, and be sure to take a moment to appreciate the awesomeness happening behind the pit lane wall.

This weekend also features the Lamborghini Super Trofeo, and the IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge.

Here are my favorite photos from the Monterey Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

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The GTLM BMW Z4 driven by John Edwards and Dirk Müller making its way through the Andretti Hairpin during Saturday Evening qualifying.
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Lamborghini Super Trofeo driver Dean Di Giacomo comes down the famous Corkscrew at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
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A Lamborghini Super Trofeo driver heads down the hill through turn nine at Laguna Seca
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Townsend Bell in the Ferrari 458 Italia leads the Aston Martin of Al Carter down through the Corkscrew
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VERY young GT3 Cup Challenge driver (just turned 17!) Jesse Lazare, comes up over the rise through turn seven at Laguna Seca. Jesse would finish on the podium in round 3 (3rd), and unfortunately the young Canadian was forced to retire from the Round 4 race.
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A lizard watches the action unfold in the sand trap above the Corkscrew Saturday in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge race.
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The Mazda Sky Activ Prototype wakes early Sunday morning, ready to take on another day of racing.
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The GS Touring car from Turner Motorsports waits it’s turn to enter the IMSA tech inspection tent.
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Rally Ferrari!
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The GTLM BMW Z4 driven by John Edwards and Dirk Müller blasting through turn 6.
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The innovative DeltaWing DWC13 would, unfortunately, fail to finish the Grand Prix.
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Clipping the tires at the top of the Corkscrew.
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The Aston Martin V12 Vantage in the scrutineering tent at Laguna Seca
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Racing down the Corkscrew
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A pair of Porsche 911GT’s make their way through the top of the Corkscrew
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The Ford EcoBoost Riley exits turn six and begins the long climb up the Rahal Straight.
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A crew member gets ready to change the tires during morning practice on the #3 GTLM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R driven by Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen.
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Patrick Dempsey makes his way through the pit area during Saturday morning practice.
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Joe Foster and Patrick Dempsey converse during Saturday morning practice.
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The SRT Viper GTS-R exits turn 11
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Rally Corvette!
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The Ford EcoBoost Riley exits the garage for Saturday morning practice.
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The Ferrari 458 Italia driven by Jeff Westphal
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Patrick Dempsey heads over the crest at Turn seven
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Andy Lally heads down the Corkscrew
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The return of the Martini Livery across motorsports is a welcome sight. This PC was just a bit outside the lines.
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Jonathan Bennett leads Jeff Westphal down the corkscrew
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The agony of defeat. David Ostella was on the wrong end of a crash coming out of the corkscrew that wan’t even his fault. The result is the frustration you see here.
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The Falken Tire GTLM Porsche 911 GT3 RSR makes it’s way to the finish.