The 2024 VSCA SportsCar Championship returned to action after its summer break this weekend at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), as the Sprint Cup finale delivered high drama and unexpected twists.
The 3.27-mile circuit, the sixth-longest on the season calendar and notorious for its challenging 17-turn layout, hosted the eighth round of the SportsCar Championship, marking the final time that prototypes and GTs would share the track at VIR, with the event moving to GT-only competition next year.
Saturday's Virginia Sports Car Grand Prix saw one full-course yellow, temporarily neutralizing a race that was already packed with intense competition. The yellow flag period, which lasted for 18 minutes, reset the field and set the stage for what would become an unforgettable final hour.
Dominance turns to dismay for #83 Ferrari
Starting from pole position was the #83 Off in the Esses Racing Ferrari 296 GT3, piloted by Patrick Boilard. His lap of 1:46.054 secured his first-ever pole position in the VSCA, and the team looked poised for a strong finish after leading the most laps in the GT AM class. However, their fortunes took a dramatic turn in the final moments of the race.
After a flawless opening stint, Boilard handed the car over to his teammate, Joseph Okopien, only to return to the cockpit for a second stint later in the race. But as the clock wound down, the #83 Ferrari’s victory hopes were dashed when Boilard was involved in a last-lap collision with the #86 GSE Racing Esports Dallara LMP2. The contact sent Boilard spinning off the track, allowing Aaron Beaver in the #34 Mayer Simspeed Performance Mercedes AMG GT3 to snatch the last-second win.
To compound their misery, the #83 team was disqualified post-race due to Okopien failing to meet the minimum drive time, turning their dejection into despair.
A First-Time Winner and a New Sprint Cup Champion
Capitalizing on the chaos was the #34 Mayer Simspeed Performance Mercedes, driven by Aaron Beaver and Will Robertson. The team started ninth on the grid, but their patience and persistence paid off as they climbed the order throughout the race. The final-lap incident gifted them their first-ever GT AM victory, crossing the line with a commanding margin of 31.079 seconds.
This victory marked a significant milestone for Mayer Simspeed Performance and its drivers, with Beaver expressing his disbelief in a post-race interview: "I couldn't believe it when I saw it and was glad I kept pushing to stay as close as I could."
Finishing in second place was the #80 Digital Chicane Ferrari 296 GT3, driven by the young duo Paolo Calvo and Quinn Mitchell. Despite falling short of the race win, their consistent performance was enough to secure the 2024 Sprint Cup Championship by 25 points - a testament to a very strong Sprint Cup season performance.
Third place went to the #017 Vulture Motorsports Ford Mustang GT3, making an impressive debut of the Detroit car maker after the team switched from Ferrari to Ford during the summer break. Drivers Erol Ureksoy and Steven Martinez drove a solid race to round out the podium, the team's first in VSCA.
Top-Ten Finishers and Championship Implications
The top-ten finishers saw a mix of elation and disappointment. The #93 Digital Chicane Ferrari 296 GT3 came home in fourth, driven by Ethan Swan and Kyle Loh, followed by the #5 Screeching Moose Motorsports Mercedes AMG GT3 in fifth. The latter entered the race leading the Sprint Cup championship standings by 49 points, but faced bitter disappointment as the team’s title hopes were dashed due to a couple of incidents and post-race penalties. The team officially earned second place in the final Sprint Cup standings.
Sixth place was claimed by the #16 Dangler Performance Mercedes AMG GT3, while the #312 Real Pixel Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan GT3 finished seventh. Eighth place went to the #555 DS Racing eSports Team Ferrari 296 GT3, with the #515 Wolf Motorsport Simracing Ford Mustang GT3 and the #29 Firestorm Motorsport Mercedes AMG GT3 completing the top ten.
In the GT AM SportsCar Championship standings, the #5 Screeching Moose Motorsports Mercedes maintains its lead despite the Sprint Cup disappointment, with the #80 Digital Chicane Ferrari in second place and the #34 Mayer Simspeed Performance Mercedes moving up to third.
Looking Ahead: The Miami Sunrise 6 Hour
As the 2024 VSCA SportsCar Championship moves towards its conclusion, all eyes are now on the Miami Sunrise 6 Hour, set to take place at Homestead-Miami Speedway on September 21. This penultimate round promises to be another fiercely contested event, with championship implications on the line.
Broadcast live on GreenFlag TV, the Miami race will provide teams with a final opportunity to score crucial points before the 2024 series finale at Road Atlanta in October. For Mayer Simspeed Performance, the challenge will be to build on their VIR success, while Digital Chicane will look to consolidate their newfound Sprint Cup title with another strong showing.
Post-Race Quotes
Will Robertson, #34 Mayer Simspeed Performance Mercedes:
"It feels really good to get this win. VIR is a challenging track, and track position is a lot here. I didn't do us any favors with a rough qualifying, but driving up to P2 before I got out of the car and Aaron taking it home, I think that showed how much work everyone is putting into the season."
"That incident with the #12 BMW on lap two was a bit of a moment, but honestly, I don't remember too much about that one. There wasn't much thinking going on during the moment, anyway. I just saw the car ahead start to rotate when they checked up and I went for the outside, because that was the only gap available."
"But that other incident on the final lap, when the #83 got taken out, I was spotting when the incident happened. The LMP2 had a decent lock-up with a good puff of smoke. I told Aaron to stay tight, thinking both GT cars would go through. I guess the Ferrari thought they would be clear of the LMP2. It was definitely a surprise to see that whole scene unfold."
"Going forward, things don't really change. Our goal every weekend is to keep it clean so we can be there when it matters. We still have things to improve on, obviously, like qualifying. I think if we can keep it clean, we will be there when it matters during the race."
Aaron Beaver, #34 Mayer Simspeed Performance Mercedes:
"I've got to agree with Will, it feels awesome to actually put a race together and come out on top. So many times, some little thing happens that takes you out of any chance of a podium and it just all came together for us today."
"I was accepting second place the last ten laps, as it seemed we were doing the same times, but I didn't give up because you never know what can happen. I couldn't believe it when I saw it and was glad I kept pushing to stay as close as I could. It’s unfortunate for the 83, though I guess from what it sounds like they’ve gone over drive time limits. It’s a very unfortunate situation for them."
"For us, the win definitely gives us some confidence that if we can manage the race and stay out of trouble, we can get really good results. We really have to focus on give and take and realize it's okay to lose a bit of time or let someone pass and stay safe. Now we just need to put a whole season together."
Paolo Calvo, #80 Digital Chicane Ferrari:
"It means so much to me and our whole organization to win the Sprint Cup. As a group we've put in so much work and to see it pay off is so happy."
Quinn Mitchell, #80 Digital Chicane Ferrari:
"It's truly something else. Being newcomers to this series and facing such stiff competition made this a real accomplishment. We are all so proud to see our hard work pay off."
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