Detroit Sports Car Challenge - Live reporting from the VICI Racing pits

4:30 PM Belle Isle throws up a whole different type of track surface to what we have seen in recent races, and Technical director Roland is discussing the vagrancies of the surface with Marc and Francesco at Turn 9, which is right outside our paddock space.

4:10 PM The track has been opened so that the drivers can go round and explore it. Nicky, Mark and Francesco have never been to Belle Isle before so this is their first opportunity to see the track. They spin round several times in a golf cart.

4:05 PM The IMSA tech guys run over each car on the ALMS entry list with a fine toothcomb before they can get out on the track. The #18 is checking out ok, another job can be ticked off the list.

3:50 PM The car is off to the IMSA tech truck for the technical inspection. After two days of hard work by the crew the #18 starting to look like a real racing car again. The front screen is still to be fitted but the team will get the bulk of the inspection over with this afternoon, details can be finalised in the morning.

2:00 PM Belle Isle is yet another interesting and diverse location for ALMS to visit. Connected to Detroit by the MacArthur Bridge, it lies right on the water border here between the US and Canada. Various entities call Belle Isle home, including the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, the Detroit Boat Club, the Detroit Yacht Club, a municipal golf course, an aquarium and a Coast Guard post. The island also includes a half-mile swimming beach, the only one in the city and a nature center.

1:30 PM The team's bodywork experts are having a busy week. Race cars go fast, get close and get damaged, it's part of life on track. Pat Dorning is fettling up an undertray. Pat, who originates from South Africa, has a background in boating and motorcycling, two areas that demand a keen understanding of composite material repairs.

10:45 AM There is a lot of work involved in repairing a damaged race car. Each part has to be meticulously inspected and repaired if necessary. Crew Chief Alex and mechanic André are examining a floor section.

10:30 AM The famous Belle Isle Casino, designed by Albert Kahn in 1908, is literally located right outside our awnings. Once it had a reputation of being the finest casino in the United States, and it features ornate towers that carefully frame the building's four corners, along with long, deep verandas. This week however the casino serves as the media centre for the ALMS and IndyCar series'.

10:00 AM All the crew are highly proficient and able to focus in a wide number of areas. Here crew member André is repairing bodywork.

8:15 AM This will be the crew's third day here, they've been working hard on repairing the #18 car since Tuesday. New parts have been shipped in, bodywork repaired, everyone at the team has pushed as a unit while Porsche Motorsports North America have moved fast with parts to help us prepare.

8:00 AM This is a long week, and not just because of our damaged car in Mosport last Sunday. As the races are back-to-back the team drove the 250 mile trip from Canada to Detroit on Monday with the truck arriving first thing Tuesday morning when the paddock gates opened.