The VSCA SportsCar Championship’s JRT Summer Sprint at Road America provided a thrilling spectacle on Saturday. Round 7 of the 2024 series and Round 4 of the Sprint Cup, the race took place on the 4-mile, 14-turn course in Elkhart Lake, WI. With sunshine giving way to heavy rain, the event tested the endurance and strategy of all teams involved.
Early Dominance and Weather Shifts
Bruno Carreira, driving the #992 DS Racing eSports Team Porsche 911 GT3 R, started the race from pole position with an impressive lap of 2:05.286. The race began under perfect conditions at 71°F. Carreira's Porsche led for 36 laps, the most in the GT PRO class, but the lead changed hands ten times as the competition remained fierce.
Midway through the race, at around 3:00 pm, rain began to fall, and conditions deteriorated rapidly. The worsening weather led to challenging driving conditions, with the track becoming increasingly treacherous. Despite these obstacles, the race remarkably saw no full-course yellows, keeping the pressure high for all drivers.
Strategic Gamble Pays Off
The #6 Torque Freak Racing Porsche, driven by Neil Middleton and Jonathan Dance, employed a bold strategy that ultimately secured their victory. Despite being off-pace by three seconds near the end of the race, the team gambled on fuel strategy, stretching their tank to the limit. This daring approach paid off as they crossed the finish line with a margin of 4.714 seconds, marking their first win since May 2023 at Laguna Seca and their sixth overall in VSCA competition.
In the closing laps, the rain turned the track into a near river, with visibility reduced to almost zero. Many teams struggled, but Torque Freak Racing managed to navigate these conditions and clinch the win, showcasing their resilience and strategic acumen.
Notable Performances and Challenges
The #151 World Of SimRacing BMW, driven by Andres Quintana and Marco A Pereira, achieved their best result of the season, finishing in second place. Kinetic Racing’s #67 Porsche, starting from tenth on the grid, made an impressive charge to finish third, driven by Vincent L'Herbier and Aedan Campbell. This marked Kinetic Racing's third consecutive top-five finish, highlighting their recent upswing in form.
Fischer Motorsport faced a mix of fortunes. Their #84 Porsche, the championship leader, suffered a significant setback due to a collision with a LMP2 prototype, resulting in a lengthy repair stop and a ninth-place finish. In contrast, the #44 Porsche, driven by Daniel Gruber and Stephen Nobes, bounced back from an early collision to finish fourth, reclaiming the GT PRO championship lead.
Full Top Ten Finishing Order
The top ten finishers showcased a variety of skillful drives and strategic decisions. Torque Freak Racing's #6 Porsche took the top spot, followed by the #151 World Of SimRacing BMW in second, and Kinetic Racing's #67 Porsche in third. The #44 Fischer Motorsport Porsche secured fourth, with the #992 DS Racing eSports Team Porsche finishing fifth. North Sim Racing's #69 Porsche came in sixth, while the #911 RPM Racing Porsche finished seventh. Delta Racing’s #12 BMW made a commendable return to the series, finishing eighth. Fischer Motorsport’s #84 Porsche and the #116 Vulture Motorsports Porsche rounded out the top ten in ninth and tenth, respectively.
Championship Standings and Next Race
Following the race, the #44 Fischer Motorsport Porsche now leads the GT PRO championship with 2721 points, followed closely by their teammates #84 Porsche with 2692 points. Kinetic Racing’s #67 Porsche sits in third with 2653 points, while the #992 DS Racing eSports Team Porsche and the #911 RPM Racing Porsche round out the top five.
The next race, the Virginia Sports Car Grand Prix, will take place on August 24, 2024, at Virginia International Raceway. But before then, VSCA teams and drivers will now get to enjoy an eight-week summer break to relax and recharge batteries before attacking the final three rounds of the season. Scheduled to start at 16:00 GMT, Round 8 at VIR promises more high-octane action and will be broadcast live on GreenFlag TV.
Post-Race Quotes
Neil Middleton
"It's unbelievable! The team put in an incredible effort, and the strategy worked out perfectly. We knew we had to take a risk with the fuel, and it paid off. This win means a lot, especially given the tough conditions out there."
"The rain out there, man... it was like driving on ice. Visibility was almost zero, and every lap was a battle. But we kept our focus, trusted the car, and just pushed through. I’m so proud of what we accomplished today."
Jonathan Dance
"The key was definitely our strategy and the team's coordination. We decided early on to gamble with the fuel, and it was a nerve-wracking call. But we stuck to our plan and it worked out brilliantly."
"This win is huge for our team! After folding our GTP program, this win proves that we can still compete at the highest level. It’s a testament to the team's hard work and determination. We're back, and we’re stronger than ever."
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