Swiss driver Kevin Mueller qualified the #21 Audi R8 LMS EVO II GT3 on pole for the MV Skinlab Grand Prix of Long Beach and jumped out to an early lead, holding the competition at bay even after a restart following an early full-course yellow.
After opting for a very late pit stop in the event, the #21 Audi was enjoying a dominant lead over the rest of the GT PRO competition and John-Pascale Arnold brought home the team’s maiden victory in the VSCA SportsCar Championship, by a margin of over 16 seconds.
This marks the first time in VSCA history that an entry started from pole, led all laps and took victory in the same race.
Arriving to winner’s circle, an overjoyed John-Pascale Arnold had this to say:
"It feels like our race was never in jeopardy, honestly. Kevin did an amazing job in the first 75 minutes. I think we had a lead of over 40 seconds at one point.”
“I pretty much just had to get us to the finish after the final full course yellow. I am excited because I managed to extend our lead again to over 16 seconds, which felt great. But the main thing that worked out great for us was, that we were able to stay out of all troubles on the track."
"Since we had very bad luck in the first race at Daytona and couldn't score any points, it's likely that we'll only focus on individual wins in the Endurance Cup, and we'll do everything we can for that. Then, we'll see if we can catch up again."
Coming in second place, the #84 Porsche of Fischer Motorsport with Benjamin Fischer and Manuel Mayer took its best result since winning at VIR last season, after a daring pass in the hairpin in the closing minutes of the race.
Completing the podium was the #911 Porsche of RPM Racing’s Brack Crouch and Tom Cecchetto.
The #151 World Of SimRacing Team BMW returned to action at Long Beach after serving a one-race suspension at Daytona and took fourth place with Marco Pereira and Adrian Subiela.
Rounding out the top.-five was the #69 Porsche of North Sim Racing with drivers Andrea La Colla and Thomas D’Ambrosio.
Last year’s Long Beach winners Kinetic Racing and their #67 Porsche with Aedan Campbell and Vincent L’Herbier finished sixth, marking the last car on the lead lap of GT PRO.
Daytona winners DS Racing eSports Team and their #992 Porsche with Vitor Miranda and Bruno Carreira finished seventh, two laps down after a tough crash earlier in the race.
Likewise, getting struck hard in a crash, the #44 Fischer Motorsport Porsche with Stephen Nobes and Daniel Gruber finished eighth, six laps down. The incident marked the second race in a row for the team, where it ended up involved in a consequential crash.
Making headlines going into Long Beach, Race4Cat Motorsport returned to the series grid by entering their #23 Porsche with Alex Rourera and Marc Freixa. But the race turned out to end in a disappointing ninth place finish, seven laps down.
Another series newcomer, Texas Speed Sim Racing and their #31 and #32 BMW M4 GT3 with Daniel McConnell, Heberley Telemaque, Zachary Lovelace and Gavin Doumit finished tenth and eleventh, respectively.
RaceTech Competition’s #55 Audi was later disqualified from the event, for a violation under FCY and will miss the next championship round at Sebring also on a one-race suspension.
Fischer Motorsport takes GT PRO championship lead
With Daytona winners #992 DS Racing eSports finishing only seventh at Long Beach, it is runners-up Fischer Motorsport and their #84 Porsche taking the GT PRO championship lead in the VSCA SportsCar Championship after Round 2 of 10.
Kinetic Racing’s #67 Porsche is second, only nine points back, followed by DS Racing eSports Team’s #992 Porsche in third, at 22 points back.
GSE Racing eSports Sprint Cup championship leaders
Long Beach marked the opening round of the 2024 VSCA Sprint Cup. With their dominant win, the #21 GSE Racing eSports Audi takes the GT PRO championship lead in the VSCA Sprint Cup standings, with the #84 Fischer Motorsport Porsche in second place, a distant 18 points behind.
UK’s RPM Racing and their #911 Porsche is third, with a 83-point deficit. The next Sprint Cup race will take place at Laguna Seca in April.
Endurance classic 12 Hours of Sebring up next in March
After the shortest race of the season, the VSCA SportsCar Championship will return to action on March 23rd for the third annual 12 Hours of Sebring - the second-longest race of the year.
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