The final race of Saturday action here at VIR is race one of the weekend for SRO Pirelli GT4 America. John Capestro-Dubets, and Jake Cowden are your respective polesitters in each of the classes ranked of course by driver ratings in this championship. After the Lone Star Enduro at Circuit of the Americas, we are back to our regular duration, hourlong races for GT4 America with three categories. We have a 30 car field divided among Silver, Pro-Am, and Am classes. We have a 27-car field. Qualifying was chaotic in the wet earlier this morning. Two drivers, no tire change, but a driver change mid-race. Good conditions but be careful going off the road with all the wet grass that you will not recover from. John Capestro-Dubets and the RS1 Porsche Cayman are on the pole.
2024 has been a disaster for Charlie Postins and James Clay at Bimmerworld in the #36 Bimmerworld BMW M4 GT4. Through Hog Pen they come. Now, we are set for a start. We have a green flag and we are underway! JCD gets a great launch. The start is clean with some lockup in the middle of the pack, the #07 Precision Motorsports Toyota Supra. Jake Cowden is running Marco Solo this weekend, his co-driver Demi Chalkias, got sick. John Geesbreght drops a place nto the climbing esses for the first time with Kevin Boehm chasing. He and Kenton Koch sharing the car. We have had a two month break since the three-hour endurance race at Circuit of the Americas back in May.
James Clay in the center of this hornet's nest. Kevin Boehm trying to make a move on John Geesbreght. Geesbreght vs. Boehm, good clean racing, very respectful. He opens the door for James Clay. John Geesbreght has gone backwards slightly from third to sixth place. This looks like it might be a dry race compared to qualifying as Colin Garrett is pushing Jake Cowden through Oak Tree corner. Wow. The field spacing out now with Cowden hanging onto second with John Capestro-Dubets sharing with Eric Filgueiras. They are second in the championship standings.
JCD has campaigned BMW's in recent years but is coming to grips with the Porsche Cayman. JCD is a real technically minded driver compared to his co-driver from last year, Scotsman Stevan McAleer. There is not typical heat at Virginia International Raceway this weekend. The talent in Pirelli GT4 America is incredible and Eric Filgueiras believes he and John Capestro-Dubets are the best driver duo. Zac Anderson will get into the car later to take over from Colin Garrett. JCD has the lead currently and now, Colin Garrett is leaning on the Mercedes.
Three German cars that are all different. The Porsche Cayman, the BMW M4 GT4, and the Mercedes-AMG GT4. There is tons of work that goes into the Balance of Performance to create great racing as they brake into Oak Tree and punch it down Madison Avenue as some argy bargy between James Clay and John Geesbreght starting down Madison Avenue. Kevin Boehm ahead of this group as the #23 Nissan Z for Techsport Racing of Jonathan Neudorf is also in the fight, paired up with Michai Stephens. The Nissan has had immense pace and they want to push. With the heat in the endurance race at Circuit of the Americas, they were having major overheating and reliability woes.
The Pro-Am class battle is hot and heavy. Again, Jake Cowden is driving Marco Solo in this race. The top three have accordioned out and away. Colin Garrett could be quicker than Kevin Boehm who won the double point enduro at COTA last time out way back in May. It is a seven-point differential between first and second in the points standings. We are seeing much cleaner Pirelli GT4 America races than we saw in 2023. Geesbreght side by side with James Clay at his home track here at VIR. It is a home track too for Techsport Racing and the Nissan Z NISMO GT4 team. Matt Bell is in eight, leading Pro-Am in the Mercedes-AMG GT4 #43 he shares with Alex Vogel.
The #52 NOLASport Porsche Cayman is off the road and back on through The Snake. There was a slight tap sending the Porsche off the road. That is David Peterman sharing with Lee Carpentier. The topography of the track really makes it a challenge. In the Silver class, John Capestro-Dubets and Jake Cowden are running away from everybody. Jonathan Neudorf has passed James Clay who is vulnerable to Matt Bell. The Silver class cars are at the top and the Am class cars are spread out. Robb Holland is running between Hannah Greenmeier and Damir Hot. Rotek Racing Porsche Cayman vs. Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT4 vs. Nissan Z NISMO GT4 for Flying Lizard Motorsports.
JCD and Jake Cowden still battling for this lead. Cowden is closing in and they are even as we have been now racing for 15-16 minutes. 1/4 of the race is completed. The longer we run under green, the gazelle can escape the herd here. The Porsche drivers and the BMW drivers are equally bullish about their cars. Jake Cowden is carving the corner and JCD, John Capestro-Dubets is hanging tough. The Porsche has the legs over the Mercedes and deep under braking, it is on. Cowden's car is running very well and might have a chance. JCD lsides off the road almost and now, he closes the door and continues to be proactive.
Jake Cowden is the shark smelling blood in the water. Colin Garrett is dealing with understeer and the front end of that BMW M4 GT4 washing out. Zac Anderson will have a massive task ahead in the second stint as they go through Oak Tree corner and down Madison Avenue. Robb Holland is now at the tail end of this group. Robb Holland ran his Porsche Cayman, ran it hot, and went up Pikes Peak in the new GT4 Trophy class. Hannah Grisham and Hannah Greenmeier were at Le Mans running the Fun Cup enduro. Damir Hot in the #5 Flying Lizard Motorsports Nissan Z NISMO GT4. The car has strength in numbers being run by championship winning and championship caliber teams.
Hannah Greenemeier in the Aston Martin is chasing Michael Auriemma in the #89 RENNtech Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4 and the ACI Motorsports Porsche Cayman #7 of Curt Swearingin and Kay van Berlo. Swearingin has won two GT America GT4 class races on the bounce. James Clay has Matt Bell right on his six. Side by side down Madison Avenue with Matt Bell passing by James Clay and Alex Vogel will take over. Bell regularly competed in GT4 with Stevenson Motorsports, disappeared for a few years and now is back in it. In the Silver class, it is very much spread out. The deck is beginning to shuffle.
They are working their way through the climbing esses. Hannah Greenmeier is of course driving the Heart of Racing Aston Martin with Hannah Grisham. Jake Cowden is second as the pit window opens and JCD will turn the RS1 Porsche Cayman over to Eric Filgueiras. The minimum pit time, line to line, pit in to pit out is only 70 seconds. No tire changes allowed except for a damaged one. Just check the tire pressures as more cars dive in. Random Vandals BMW, the Hanley Motorsports Toyota Supra, the Smooge Racing Toyota Supra, now taken over by Tyler Gonzalez. I think Tyler Gonzalez was under the minimum pit time so he will cop a nine second penalty after the race. Ouch!
Eric Filgueiras getting into his rhythm and is in clean air. Now, Jake Cowden has gotten out of the car, ran and touched the wall, and get back into the car. Maybe somersaults, cartwheels, and jumping jacks should be added. Charlie Postins is now into the #36 Bimmerworld BMW M4 GT4. Jake Cowden, again, running Marco Solo in this race. Kenton Koch in the Random Vandals BMW M4 GT4 was ahead of Jake Cowden before the pit stop as we approach the halfway mark in the race. Tyler Sharinn is now at the wheel of the #16 Skip Barber Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 sharing with Marc Sharinn.
Jonathan Neudorf in the lane to hand the Techsport Nissan Z to Michai Stepjhens as we saw a spin for Jaden Lander in the second Rotek Racing Porsche Cayman. Lander sharing with Robb Holland, the #099 car, and he kissed the tire barrier and continued. Jake Cowden was fine with just running to the wall and back to the car in place of a driver change. It depends on the pace if you have a small delta for your pit strategy and your maximum drive time. Matt Bell will pit and swap over to Alex Vogel. Now, we have a great battle between Zac Anderson and Kenton Koch.
The Silver class has been amazing all season long in Pirelli GT4 America. So many great cars and competitive drivers. The championship points are only 28 points between the top three and just four between RS1 and Random Vandals Racing. The BMW M4 GT4 deals with the heat better than the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport. Pit stop time for P1 Groupe. A driver change. We might see Matheus Leist, the Brazilian, in the RENNtech Motorsports Mercedes vs. Kay van Berlo in the #7 ACI Motorsports Porsche Cayman.
Eric Filgueiras leads the motor race by five and a half seconds over Zac Anderson. Eric Filgueiras has the track position, a healthy lead, and more. Alex Vogel has lost two places in Pro-Am to both Leist and van Berlo. A traffic jam through Oak Tree corner. Rodrigo Baptista, the Brazilian, has now taken over the #5 Flying Lizard Motorsports Nissan Z NISMO GT4 from Damir Hot, the Canadian, spearheaded by Darren Law, Thomas Blom, and Tommy Sadler. Mike Skeen is now driving the #53 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4 sharing with Mark Brummond.
Zac Anderson is trying to stay ahead of Kenton Koch and Koch is reeling him in, in a big hurry. Anderson jumping over the curbs through Hog Pen. We have about 21 minutes left in the race. So, into the final third. 11th overall and leading the Am class, Charlie Postins. Rodrigo Baptista in the Nissan vs. Hannah Grisham in the Aston Martin, absolutely flying. Tire degradation, when you chew gum, chomping on it constantly, it loses its flavor. It is the same with a tire as it wears out. The rain washed the rubber off the track last night and this morning, but it is getting rubbered back in. Manipulate the race car, chasing the perfect lap, closing the gap.
Austin Krainz is 14th in the overall, sixth in Pro-Am in the #18 RS1 Porsche Cayman. Austin and Roland Krainz, a father and son team I believe. VIR is very narrow in general and there is absolutely no room for error with all that grass to the side. Colin Garrett says he backed off to save the tires struggling with front end grip. #28, #51, #97, all quick. He is feeling it, Zac Anderson is. He knows how good Kenton Koch is, as Alex Vogel is off the road through Hog Pen, a very high commitment corner it is, too. Vogel dropping like a stone down the order vaulting Roman De Angelis up another place and now we see more battling.
Tyler Gonzalez will have a hefty penalty to pay, nine seconds added which will drop him down the results order falling into the hands of Nichai Stephens, Jonathan Neudorf and the Techsport Nissan team. Tyler Gonzalez late on the brakes chasing Jake Cowden. JMF Motorsports need to let Cowden know what is going on. Tell your driver not to fight too hard. Consolidate and then let your rival go. Anderson now being chased by Koch for second place in the Silver class. These two blokes are always in the same frame every single weekend.
A notification for the shortened pit stop, which is under review, over eight and a half seconds of post-race time penalty for the #68! Yikes! The one second joker is gone because teams were abusing the daylights out of it. Up through the climbing esses they go. Every time they leave Oak Tree they are going for it trying to avoid the rut but they can still kick up a cloud of dust, leveraging new boundaries every single lap. Wow! Filgueiras and Capestro-Dubets are ahead of second place. JCD has a wet towel on to cool down. Kay van Berlo is trying to dispatch Michai Stephens and Matheus Leist is also pushing in the RENNtech Mercedes-AMG GT4.
van Berlo, second in Pro-Am is quicker than Mattheus Leist the previous three laps. Ten minutes of racing now remaining as Kenton Koch is beginning to turn it on and move in on Zac Anderson. Keep it clean. Kay van Berlo sweeps past Michai Stephens. Stephens and Neudorf can put the Nissan Z on cruise control. Tyler Gonzalez has a 50 second gap to Michai Stephens. The penalty did not help them but it didn't hurt them either, Gonzalez and, John Geesbreght. This is the ultimate chess match through Rollercoaster and into Hog Pen again.
Kenton Koch will be a part of the Random Vandals GT3 project with a BMW M4 GT3. Connor De Philippi will compete with the team at the Indianapolis 8 Hours in October and next time out at Road America their debut will be with Kenton Koch and Connor Daly. Then, De Philippi will join for the Indianapolis 8 Hours. Kay van Berlo has cleared Michai Stephens and is up on the wheeland now, Austin Krainz is out of the race with mechanical problems. Refine and perfect every lap, every corner. Piece the lap together. Can I get closer? That is what drivers are looking for.
A real slide by Mattheus Leist through The Rollercoaster. Zac Anderson is really feeling the pressure as Kenton Koch tries to surprise him through Oak Tree and down Madison Avenue! Yikes! He rang the doorbell on that one! Don't use all the energy. Maybe he needs a Ring camera on the back of the car. Ding dong, ding dong. Who's there? Uh um. Koch will slow the car through turn 11 and try closing up on Zac Anderson who needs to slow down but there's trouble now for Kenton Koch! He is off the pace! Championshop leaders coming in, slowing down! The winners at the three-hour enduro at Circuit of the Americas, in trouble. Dear, oh dear.
This is big because of Filgueiras and JCD in the race lead. Maybe the car is in limp home mode. Hopefully Kenton Koch does not run out of steam. We will have a Pro-Am battle these last few laps. RENNtech have put a high-quality Mercedes on the track and meanwhile, Kay van Berlo is giving it everything he has. Kenton Koch has pulled off into a safe haven. Paul Sparta says the BMW is out of fuel and the team at Random Vandals has no idea why. I'll bet there was a fuel miscalculation. We have had zero yellows in the race today. Frustrating for the #97.
It is the final lap and Kay van Berlo absolutely screams past Mattheus Leist! That was a momentary performance lapse. Something could be wrong with Mattheus Leist. Maybe it coughed and he is running out of fuel through Hog Pen. This race has been run at a torrid pace. Eric Filgueiras, through The Rollercoaster, has managed the lead and it is going to be another victory for John Capestro-Dubets and Eric Filgueiras! Victory overall and in Silver. In Pro-Am it will be Kay van Berlo and Curt Swearingin, who will get a second win today in Pro-Am in GT4 America!
Mattheus Leist and RENNtech will come home second. In the Am class, it will be the #36 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT4 of James Clay and Charlie Postins winning, finally! It is a home victory for James Clay and Charlie Postins with Jaden Lander second and Kris Wilson third. The monkey is off the back for the #36, for the double champs, in their home race.
Overall/Silver: #28 Capestro-Dubets/Filgueiras RS1 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport
Pro-Am: #7 Swearingin/van Berlo ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport
Am: #36 Clay/Postins BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT4 G82
Cue the dance music for the results sheet. This is a big, big day for the RS1 boys! Holy cow! So, we are going to have more racing action for race two tomorrow morning in Pirelli GT4 America here at Virginia International Raceway. It is going to be action packed! Excited to bring you more GT4 action tomorrow morning. We'll see you then. For now, good night from Virginia International Raceway, in Alton, Virginia, on Pine Tree Road.
No comments:
Post a Comment