It feels like an age since Brendon Hartley hit the race track, but the double Le Mans winner will be hoping to celebrate Toyota’s 100th World Endurance race with a victory.
Meanwhile, Scott Dixon and Scott McLaughlin have had two weeks to reflect on an emotional-rollercoaster Indy 500.
Now, the Kiwi IndyCar duo will re-centre their focus on the next round of the championship in Detroit.
While there is not a lot of action, here is your quick guide to weekend so you don’t miss out.
Brendon Hartley & Jaxon Evans
- What: 8 Hours of Portimão
- Where: Algarve International Circuit, Portugal
- When: SUN 10 pm
- How to follow: Sky Sport
Brendon Hartley leads the 2021 World Endurance Championship after his dominant win in the opening round at Spa.
Now, Hartley sights his sights on giving Toyota another win on a weekend they celebrate 100 WEC races since their debut in the 1983 Fuji 1000km.
Of their 99 races, the Japanese manufacturer has won on 31 occasions.
Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus become the fourth Le Mans Hypercar to join the grid this weekend and will have Australian ace Ryan Briscoe as one of the team’s lead drivers.
It means there will be four Hypercars vying for overall honours, with both Toyotas and Alpine returning after round one.
Jaxon Evans retired in the season opener due to an electrical issue.
A big advantage for Evans heading into the weekend is the amount of seat time he has had between rounds.
Since Spa, Evans has raced in the European Le Mans Series, French Porsche Carrera Cup and the Porsche Supercup.
The 24-year-old comes into Portimao with a wave of confidence and could be the one to beat in the GTE-AM field.
Scott Dixon & Scott McLaughlin
- What: Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix
- Where: Belle Isle Street Circuit, Detriot
- When: R1 SUN 6.00 am | R2 MON 4.40 am
- How to follow: Sky Sport
Once a year, the motor city kicks into top gear and hosts two rounds of the IndyCar championship around its narrow, bumpy street circuit.
It is a profound change of pace after a month of high-speed action at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where Scott Dixon and Scott McLaughlin were left to ponder ‘what if?’
Dixon claimed an incredible fourth Indy 500 pole only for his race to rapidly unfold when his car wouldn’t refire during an early pitstop.
McLaughlin also ran into trouble, though this time with the officials as he was dealt a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pitlane late in the race.
Detroit has been a happy hunting ground for Dixon.
He is the most recent winner at the circuit after easing to victory in the second race in 2019.
The year before, he also claimed a win. The year before that, Dixon finished second.
For McLaughlin, the street circuit is another foreign track for him to learn.
However, he has proven to be a fast learner this season, so don’t discount him from another surprise result come race day.
