Welcome, everyone to race two, the final event of the weekend, for Pirelli GT4 America. A massive field of GT4 machinery is set once more to take to the 4-mile ribbon of new asphalt that is Road America, here in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Home to bratwurst, cheese curds, and one of the best road courses in America. This is a holy grail, sacred ground, in sports car racing. The stakes are high as we get set for race two of Pirelli GT4 America. It is a pleasure to have your company as we join Ryan Myrehn and Calvin Fish in the booth, and D.J. Clark in the pit lane. Conquest Racing, our overall race winners yesterday, are 30th on the grid for today's race. Michai Stephens will be moving. Parker Thompson will start the #999 Toyota Supra GT4 for Hanley Motorsports, and we hope for less argy bargy and less carnage than we saw yesterday.
Plenty of eye candy in the village of Elkhart Lake with production sports cars. It is hot and humid cresting 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It is really warm here in Elkhart Lake. Get the air to the front radiators of the cars. Matt Travis and Jason Hart lost a chassis earlier in the weekend and are using a spare car and they need a rebound in the points. A massive field of cars from prestige brands like Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, McLaren, and more. There are so many fast drivers and if you get a yellow, the intensity ramps up. We need a clean, green flag race. Zac Anderson is driving Marco Solo, and he has to jump out of the car in pit lane, run to the pit wall, then, run back into the car. John Capestro-Dubets, his season long co-driver is recovering from racing injuries. We wish you a speedy recover, JCD.
Ross Chouest and Aaron Povoledo will be coming from the back and trying to set a record for the most passes. The cars head out onto the track for their formation lap. Parker Thompson at the top of the shop but with so many great drivers who we will get to today as the race goes on. Show the speed in the opening stanza before the ten-minute pit stop window in this hourlong race with no tire changes. It will be greasy. Ford with the Mustang and Chevrolet with the Corvette will be entering customer GT3 cars next year and a new Ford Mustang GT4 as well. That is going to make things even more fun!
No tire warmers or tire changes in GT4. On the pit stop, only pressures can be checked during the driver change. Safety car lights off. Parker Thompson, the Canadian driver, on pole. Up the hill they come to the start/finish line with Kay van Berlo in second place. They enter the acceleration zone and we've got a green and are underway! van Berlo staying with it and some trouble with Zac Anderson. Thomspon to the lead and Tom Dyer to the second place with a car dropping a wheel. Anderson's BMW stalled. Tom Dyer in the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 with Todd Parriott for GMG Racing. Kay van Berlo scrapping with Kenton Koch who takes the spot away in turn five and Tyler McQuarrie is also pressing.
An off-course excursion for one of the Nolasport Porsche Cayman's. Thompson in the groove early doors. Brake lockup everywhere as Terry Borcheller runs wide in the Caras Callas Toyota Supra scrapping with the Skip Barber Racing School Toyota Supra of Carter Fartuch and Eric Powell off the road in the #22 Techsport Nissan Z GT4. Borcheller making a move on Satakal Khalsa in one of the other BMW M4 GT4's for Auto Technic. A missed shift for Zac Anderson but he is fine. He is still in the championship fight. He dropped like a stone right off the bat as Tyler McQuarrie is harrying Kenton Koch who slams the door in his face. Jason Hart, Andy Lee, and Jamie Day are all chasing as Kay van Berlo and Tom Dyer make contact on corner exit at turn five.
Kenton Koch hanging on but has fellow BMW driver Tyler McQuarrie right on his six. Silver, Pro-Am,,and Bronze, are the FIA driver ratings in these cars, all GT4 spec. Jamie Day driving defensive, the GT4 European Series driver as Nick Longhi is doing all he can to move ahead in the McLaren Artura but that car is in trouble! Oh dear. Parker Thompson now in the Toyota fold in GT3 and GT4 for Lexus and Toyota after winning titles in Porsche Carrera Cup single make racing while Terry Borcheller is pressured by Satakal Khalsa. Safety car deployed. I wonder why.
You can cut the intensity level with a knife. Debris on the road maybe coming from the McLaren at the end of turn seven leading to the Hurry Downs section of the circuit. A left rear tire puncture. I see the deal. The inner fender was ripped out by the delaminating tire. Nick Longhi sharing with Kaia Teo. Kaia Teo in big, big trouble with the flailing tire carcass. Thankfully he can come in and get the damage checked. Hoping it is nothing serious and they can gain more track time and more laps for testing purposes. There are ABS and wheel speed sensors that can also be damaged and the car goes berserk in terms of the electronics just like when your computer at home goes on the fritz.
The track safety crew have quickly cleaned up the mess and so we will be back to full metal racing here in a wee while. Only ten minutes have elapsed. Michai Stephens is now 24th in the overall after starting 30th. Two cars started from pit lane. Aaron Povoledo is moving up. Plenty of fast cars and drivers to look at. Chandler Hull, Cedric Sbirrazuoli, Colin Garrett in his second consecutive race after winning TCX and the TC America race, sharing with Johann Schwartz. This is a strong field of teams, cars, and drivers alike. Ten minutes now on the board and we are looking for a restart. Green flag. Parker Thompson at the top of the shop with Tom Dyer on his six.
Kay van Berlo coming in a hurry, looking racy. Jason Hart too, pokes his nose out and stays there but Kenton Koch wants by Kay van Berlo. He knows he needs to move it. van Berlo swerves and the stewards will take displeasure in that. Tyler McQuarrie also beginning to pour on the steam as John Geesbreght has dropped a place or two to Jason Hart and Zac Anderson and Geesbreght off and on. He had a whopping hit in yesterday's race. van Berlo trying the double shuffle but Kenton Koch wants this. Is there bodywork flapping in the breeze? I think so. That is on van Berlo's Porsche Cayman I think.
Geesbreght pressing Anderson. Parker Thompson has pushed the bye bye button and he is extending the gap over everyone else, a full second ahead of Tom Dyer. Great scrap for the Am class lead. Terry Borcheller vs. Satakal Khalsa. Dyer inside, van Berlo outside through turns five and six. Kenton Koch and Tyler McQuarrie both want a bite of the cherry. The BMW gets a run and van Berlo sends it to the apex with Andy Lee beginning to come alive in the #8 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin he shares with Elias Sabo. Side by side stuff between Zac Anderson and Jason Hart, two different classes of drivers, Pro-Am vs. Silver.
Hart has John Geesbreght going by. Hart the veteran and Geesbreght the youngster. Jamie Day, British GT GT4 racer, is also in this picture. Khalsa and Borcheller also in this fight. Aston Martin vs. BMW vs. Toyota. Jamie Day is a highly regarded driver in European GT4 racing. van Berlo has damage to the dive plane of his Porsche Cayman but it isn't slowing him down whatsoever. Kenton Koch taking a run at Tom Dyer again. Dyer slipped through the net in the single seater ranks and now till thankfully has opportunities as Kenton Koch goes right by. Tom Dyer won the 2000 U.S. Formula 2000 single seater championship title. He wanted to go to IndyCar but could not make it work. He has done very well in sports cars.
An early stop for the #09 Zotz Racing Porsche Cayman of Chris Ruppell and Eric Zitza. Top speeds in GT4 from 155-158 miles an hour. Kenton Koch is all over the track trying to make his move on Kay van Berlo. This is all two and a half second behind Parker Thompson. Kenton Koch is showing the pace if he can pass by and dispose of Kay van Berlo as ZXac Anderson now wants to go around Tyler McQuarrie. A Silver rated car vs. a Pro-Am rated car and Michai Stephens has made it up to 20th overall. He has made up 12 places as has Aaron Povoledo. Anders inside Dyer, McQuarrie gets biffed and he saves it through turn five! Dyler fights Anderson but might have to give it up.
Koch harrying van Berlo like no tomorrow to try and chase down Parker Thompson. Kenton Koch and Random Vandals, has Kevin Boehm as their second driver. Dan Hanley is in his first year racing at all teamed up with Parker Thompson in the Toyota Supra. The pit window will open in around eight minutes. This quartet is half a second slower than Parker Thompson at the top of the shop. Koch must clear van Berlo ASAP. The BMWs are handling extremely well. Side by side under the brdige and now, Anderson is making a lunge at McQuarrie. van Berlo to the inside and Koch has to concede while covering off McQuarrie's response.
van Berlo, Koch, McQuarrie, Anderson, battling for second through fifth. Curt Swearingin getting suited and booted for the driver change. Parker Thompson 3.6 seconds ahead in the lead of the motor race all by his lonesome but building a buffer wanting the race to stay under green. Dan Hanley focusing on his racing in several championships here in Pirelli GT4 America and single make Porsche racing. McQuarrie the meat in the sandwich and van Berlo gets the chrome horn from Koch so Zac Anderson is closing, running Marco Solo. He has to get out of the car and back in. Go forward, move ahead, and get track position in your class as the pit window is open.
These cars will stay out deep into the window. Parker Thompson and Zac Anderson both want the race to stay green. A handful of other teams in the lane now for the driver change. van Berlo was warned for blocking by the srewards. Tough to pass on the outside into Canada Corner as van Berlo overcooks it but recovers leaving Koch vulnerable to Zac Anderson! Oy yoy yoy! Auto Technic blinks first to get out of the traffic and again, Anderson is driving Marco Solo. Is Zac Anderson number one quicker than his body double? Maybe.
Maybe he has an alter ego. McQuarrie tries to go for it. #19, Andrew Davis turning the car over to Francis Selldorff. That is the ACI Motorsports Porsche Cayman. Conquest brings Michai Stephens in to hand the Mercedes AMG GT4 to Jesse Webb. Halfway home and here comes Tyler McQuarrie and Kenton Koch. You are allowed up to a one second advantage without a penalty but don't cut it too fine because a drive through penalty is gargantuan. Parker Thompson blitzing the field as Kevin Boehm takes over from Kenton Koch at Random Vandals in the #92 BMW M4 GT4. Random Vandals have been in the fight all weekend.
Boehm is ahead of James Walker in another of the BMW's, the Bimmerworld BMW M4 GT4. That is the car I think he shares with Tyler McQuarrie. It is. Parker Thompson to the lane from the lead and we have the #09 Zotz Racing Porsche Cayman off in the gravel trap and we might have a Full Course Yellow. Dan Hanley will not have the gap when he takes over from Parker Thompson as Curt Swearingin will take over from Kay van Berlo. The safety car has not been dispatched yet. The Heart of Racing Aston Martin is in the lane, Roman De Angelis and Gray Newell. Elias Sabo passes by a stopped Toyota Supra for Dan Hanley.
That is weird. Did Hanley have to redo his belts or see a red light at the end of pit lane? Kay van Berlo and Curt Swearingin have not pitted and now the pit window is closed with the safety car dispatched and John Geesbreght in trouble for the same reason. Pit lane closed under Full Course Yellow, so ACI Motorsports will be kicking themselves! The pit lane is clsoed but the pit window should not be closed yet. I think Race Control says the lane is not closed per se but any stop you make while the window is closed does not count towards the mandatory stop for the driver change. The minutes will have to be given back.
Incident under review for contact between the #09 Zotz Racing Porsche and the #35 Mercedes-AMG GT4. Screech! One of the Conquest cars, Custodio Toledo, made contact. So that is a cut and dried penalty, the car that the Monegasque, Cedric Sbirrazuoli, started. Toledo from Brazil. The pit window will open again when the field is caught back up to the safety car crocodile. van Berlo and Geesbreght must pit now. Ditto for Terry Borcheller, dropping to the tail end of the queue. The pit window will open this time by. These cars were a factor in the top ten.
Rob Walker will be the new Am class leader, the #253 BMW M4 GT4 that Satakal Khalsa started. But Charlie Postins and James Clay will be looking for yet another victory for Bimmerworld. Kevin Boehm should go to the lead in the #92 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4. No wave by imminent I don't think. Michael Auriemma is trapped behind the overall leader in the #89 RENNtech Motorsports Mercedes AMG GT4 sharing with Tommy Johnson. With the shemozzle in the pit lane, Elias Sabo finds himself running third overall and leading Pro-Am. Wow. James Walker Jr. will be second in Pro-Am as well, sharing with Tyler McQuarrie as mentioned.
Dan Hanley has now dropped like a stone, third in the Silver class with many out of class cars separating him from the top two. The #89 Mercedes of Michael Auriemma is a lap down. Kevin Boehm leads the motor race with Zac Anderson in second spot. 18 minutes to go. We could see some spicy motor racing towards the end of this one. The amateur driver must finish these Sunday races in GT4 and GT3. Safety car lights back on? No restart. Oh dear. We'll have to see what this is about. The stewards might be giving the Mercedes a wave by. Well, well, well. A wave by process was instituted with the overall leader at the top of the shop.
Back to green flag racing we go. Boehm accelerates away with Zac Anderson right on his tail. Here comes Anderson to the outside of the former touring car champion. James Walker takes the lead in Pro Am and Boehm puts the bumper to Anderson and Hanley is beginning to motor as well. Good restart for Dan Hanley, the rookie. Auto Technic and Zac Anderson are ahead as someone drops a wheel. It could have been Jesse Webb. Hard to find the balance between aggression and patience. That is what Webb needs to find and at the exit of the Carousel, the Krugspeed Toyota Supra goes off the road. Anthony Geraci and Jaden Lander the drivers. The Pro-Am leader is James Walker Jr. being reeled in.
Boehm goes wide into turn three over the lip of the curb. There is a launch pad there in turn one. From the pit lane, we are told Dan Hanley had the car stall and he had to recycle it. There is a big shemozzle with many cars scrapping. Walker passes Sabo for an out of class placing. Postins chasing Walker in the Am division with Webb also in the fight. Pressure being applied to Elias Sabo as well. Walker doing all he can to make good his escape. Jesse Webb wants it. Harry Gottsacker also in the tussle and had a great run going yesterday.
Harry Gottsacker passes Matt Travis for eighth place. Poor old Jesse Webb is dropping back. The heat is affecting these race cars hitting the threshold at high temperatures for the radiator and the electronics alike. Postins being passed by Gottsacker and Rob Walker is the Am class leader while Elias Sabo knows Travis will be right on his doorstep ASAP. Jason Hart, who started the Nolasport Porsche Cayman, went off the road earlier. Eric Powell and Colin Harrison with damage to the Nissan Z GT4. One car suffered massive damage earlier in the week. Zac Anderson will maybe be splitting his earnings this weekend between checking and savings accounts.
Gottsacker working inside Walker Jr. Silver vs. Am and here comes Postins. The battle of the BMW M4 GT4's. The Pro-Am lead is now being contested because Matt Travis is right behind Elias Sabo. This is for second and third, my apologies. James Walker Jr. stepping his game up working with Tyler McQuarrie. Walker Jr. has had his best season this year in GT4 after success in touring cars. Travis making an inside move there as Johann Schwartz goes off the road massively! He passed Paul Sparta and caught Matt Travis andn now, Jesse Webb is back up to speed but will be hard pressed to make up time.
Charlie Postins passes in turn five between he and James Walker. Walker fights it but gets the door slammed fully in his face by Postins. Argy bargy time for the Am class leaders, look. Webb has caught the next pack with Elias Sabo the next car on his shopping list. Through Canada Corner, excuse me, The Kink. Jesse Webb sends it inside Elias Sabo in Canada Corner and now, Johann Schwartz has caught Matt Travis after going off the road. White flag. One lap left. Zac Anderson driving Marco Solo, looking for a race win after a podium yesterday.
Travis and Schwartz and Schwartz, "the drift king" goes off the road, another time. He is comfortable being on the edge coming from drifting of course. A great performance from Zac Anderson, driving alone without co-driver John Capestro-Dubets. The #51 has once again been the class of the field. One final time through Canada Corner, racing through Thunder Valley and up through Billy Mitchell corner. Up the hill to the finish line and Zac Anderson will win! He will not be denied in race two for Pirelli GT4 America Road America race two.
James Walker Jr. third, winning Pro-Am. Gottsacker gets the final step of the Silver podium and James Clay and Charlie Postins win Am.
Overall/Silver: #51 Zac Anderson Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4
Pro-Am: #82 Walker Jr./McQuarrie Bimmerworld BMW M4 GT4
Am: #36 Postins/Clay Bimmerworld BMW M4 GT4
So, a sweep of all classes by the BMW M4 GT4's for three different teams. What an exciting GT4 America event at Road America this morning. Next up will be two races in the penultimate round of the championship from the legendary concrete of the former WW. II. bomber training base turned racetrack at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida. That race is in the third weekend of September. We will see you there for more GT4 America action. For now, so long everyone. But stay tuned. GT World Challenge America race two from right here at Road America is coming up to round out the weekend, very soon.
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