Toronto, Ontario - Every race team has a similar strategy when it comes to winning. To be the best team, it must be faster.

Mantella Autosport is focused on being faster in every aspect. The pit stops must be faster. Qualifying times for both of the team's Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R's must be faster. The race strategy will be tighter to ensure a higher finish.

The Mantella Autosport team anticipates the adjustments made since the last round of the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, in mid-March at Sebring International Raceway, will pay dividends for Round 3 on May 1-2 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Mantella Autosport has practiced on and off track while honing its race setup to prepare for the two-hour, 30-minute race on the 11-turn, 2.238-mile jewel of a circuit in Northern California.

But one change may throw a wrench in the plan. The Camaro Z/28.R received an additional 75 pounds to its minimum weight and a 3-millimeter air restrictor size reduction through an Adjustment of Performance adjustment by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) entering this event and moving forward.

"We are familiar with the track as we competed there in 2014," Mantella Autosport Lead Engineer Andrew Wojteczko said. "The track layout isn't a hindrance anymore than it is help for the Camaro. However, we will face the fact that the track has a relatively low-grip surface that tends to deteriorate over the course of a race as more sand is pulled onto the track. That's a challenge for a heavy car, especially now that we are up 75 pounds.

"However, the team has been working hard on the car, and the drivers have been maintaining their fitness and logging time in the simulator and on track. Together I think we can figure things out and end the event with a great result."

Driver and Owner Anthony Mantella and his co-driver, Mark Wilkins, will represent Team Chevy in the No. 8 Gulf Oil Camaro Z/28.R while teammates Martin Barkey and Kyle Marcelli will drive the No. 80 MBRP Inc. Camaro Z/28.R. Both cars will compete in the Grand Sport class of the IMSA-sanctioned two-class series.

Competing at picturesque, historic Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca - which includes the famed "Corkscrew" turn complex - is satisfying for Mantella as a team owner and driver.

"We continue to learn at every race event," Mantella said. "At Sebring we learned no matter how well the drivers work their way through the field, it is teamwork that is the key to success. We were leading but missed an opportunity because of a miscommunication with IMSA. It affected our timing in the pits, and it put us five positions behind where we should've been.

"Andrew Wojteczko is spot-on when it comes to strategy. At Laguna we will follow a pre-determined strategy and stick to it. Prior to every event, the cars are completely disassembled; any component that could be compromised is inspected and repaired or replaced. I'm looking forward to being fast at Laguna with the help of Mark, Kyle and Martin.

"Laguna Seca is legendary. It's a great spectator track, especially with 50-plus race cars on it at one time. The people that come to watch the event here love racing, and it really shows in the attendance. Many sponsors activate here, giving fans multiple things to do when there's a lull on track. It's a great venue for the corporate partners who support auto racing."

The entire Mantella team will put its extensive preparation and planning into motion starting with practice at 9:40 a.m. (PT) Friday, May 1. Qualifying will occur at 6:05 p.m. Friday.

Round 3 of the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge will start at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 2. Fans can meet Mantella and fellow team drivers Wilkins, Barkey and Marcelli during a Fan Walk starting at noon.

Live timing is available at IMSA.com, with race commentary available on Twitter @IMSALive. Fans can watch the race at 9 a.m. (ET) Sunday, May 17 on FOX Sports 1.

For updates from Mantella Autosport follow the team on Facebook and Twitter at @MantellaSport. For updates on Team Chevy follow @TeamChevy on Twitter.

ABOUT MANTELLA AUTOSPORT: Driver Anthony Mantella founded Mantella Autosport in 2013 because of his intense passion for high-performance speed racing. His business model was designed with the goal of inspiring companies to use racing for client entertainment, building corporate culture and generating business.

Mantella Autosport offers world-class hospitality for companies looking for ways to reward corporate partners, conduct team-building exercises and benefit from unusual meeting spaces within the exciting, unique environment of elite sports car racing. The two-car team represents Team Chevy in the new Camaro Z28.R during 2015 in the ultra-competitive International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge at prestigious venues across North America.

ABOUT GULF OIL: Gulf Oil is one of the most famous oil brands in the world, with a long heritage in motorsport, and in particular the Le Mans 24Hrs, the world's oldest sports car endurance race.

Gulf lubricated race cars have competed in the famous blue and orange livery and won many great races. Today, Gulf has a partnership with Aston Martin Racing in the World Endurance Championship and, through Teklub Canada Ltd with Mantella Autosport in the Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge.