Day 3-5 Lap Laguna Seca/Relap Laguna Seca

Each manufacturer makes sure the cars are in optimum condition when it’s time for pro driver Randy Pobst to lay down his fast lap. Isn’t that cheating?

- Jonny Lieberman

We still pinch ourselves that the fine folks at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca allow us full run of one of the planet’s greatest racetracks, nestled in one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the world. Imagine winning that lottery, every summer.

If there’s one part of our Best Driver’s Car track days that I’ve seen change over the years, it’s the level of manufacturer support. Back in 2011, the only OEM who sent a support team was Ferrari. This year, the only manufacturer who didn’t was Toyota (besides, there was a tech from BMW there, so the Supra was covered). In short, car manufacturers are taking this event seriously.

What do these techs do? Put simply, they make sure the cars are in optimum condition when it’s time for pro driver Randy Pobst to lay down his fast lap. That can mean anything from telling us ideal tire pressures and drive mode settings to swap out worn (or broken) bits.

Isn’t that cheating, the more conspiratorial among you might be asking? First, there are two kinds of racers: cheaters and losers. Plus, how much cheating could be done in full view of 60 Motor- Trend staffers that wouldn’t be painfully obvious? The carmakers are there to help, and we appreciate that help.

The automakers tend to be naturally competitive with one another, too. This manifests as an equipment arms race. If AMG shows up with a fully kitted-out white-black-and-lime-liveried Mercedes- Benz Metris complete with an espresso machine, Porsche fires back with hydraulic jacks and tire warmers.