The Virginia Sports Car Grand Prix at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) delivered an electrifying race as the VSCA SportsCar Championship returned from a seven-week summer hiatus. The 3.27-mile circuit with its 17 turns posed a significant challenge to all competitors, yet it was the #51 World Of SimRacing Team Cadillac V-Series.R GTP that stood out, securing a commanding victory in the eighth round of the championship.
After securing pole position with a lap time of 1:31.798, the #51 Cadillac, piloted by the Spanish duo of Dani Fonte and Álvaro Martínez, led for nearly the entire race. Despite five lead changes in the GTP class, the #51 team managed to maintain their dominance, only briefly surrendering the lead during pit stop cycles. Martínez's decisive driving, particularly after the lone full-course yellow (FCY) that lasted 18 minutes, ensured that the team crossed the finish line first, with an impressive 21.516-second margin over their closest rivals.
Runners-Up Mayer Simspeed Performance wins Sprint Cup
While World Of SimRacing Team celebrated their second victory of the season, it was Mayer Simspeed Performance that clinched the 2024 Sprint Cup title. The #3 Porsche 963 GTP, driven by Niclas Pedersen and Kyle Birnie, started from fourth on the grid and steadily worked its way up to finish in second place, securing enough points to win the Sprint Cup. Pedersen, who was instrumental in the team's consistent performance throughout the season, expressed his delight after the race, saying, "It’s an amazing feeling to win the Sprint Cup. Last year we struggled a bit in the sprint races, and to then turn it around this year and be so competitive is a great turnaround."
The Sprint Cup was a sub-championship within the VSCA SportsCar Championship, consisting of five sprint races. The Mayer Simspeed Performance team’s Sprint Cup triumph marked the culmination of their efforts across these challenging races, a stark contrast to their performance in the previous season.
Competitive Race for Series Championship
As the season approaches its climax, the battle for the overall SportsCar Championship title has intensified. The second-place finish at VIR allowed the #3 Mayer Simspeed Performance Porsche 963 GTP to maintain its lead in the championship standings, now holding 3343 points. However, the victory by the #51 World Of SimRacing Team Cadillac V-Series.R GTP has moved them up to second place in the standings, just 218 points behind the leaders. The #111 HAC Racing Cadillac V-Series.R GTP, which finished seventh in the race following a major collision with the #1 Grizzly Motorsport Porsche in turn one, dropped to third in the championship, now 274 points behind the championship leaders.
The rivalry between these top teams promises an exciting conclusion to the season, with just two rounds remaining. Fonte, reflecting on his team’s chances, noted, "This win puts us a little closer to the #3 MSP guys for trying to win the championship. They are very tough rivals, but there is no doubt that we are going to give it everything we got."
#51 Cadillac stays the course, despite Full-Course Yellow
The Virginia Sports Car Grand Prix was marked by a single full-course yellow that emerged an hour into the race, affecting the strategy for most teams. The #51 World Of SimRacing Team made the most of this opportunity, pitting under the yellow flag and ensuring that Martínez could navigate through the field after the restart. His skillful driving saw him quickly move past eight cars in line, regaining the lead by the next lap.
As the race progressed, the #51 Cadillac remained in control, with Martínez pulling ahead comfortably. In a moment that highlighted the team's dominance, Martínez lapped the defending series champion #1 Grizzly Motorsports Porsche 963 GTP on lap 85. The final pit stop on lap 82 allowed Martínez to maintain a 17-second lead over the second-placed #3 Porsche, sealing the win without any significant challenges.
Notable Finishers in the Top-Ten
The race results saw a mix of seasoned teams and emerging contenders. The #88 DS Racing eSports Team Cadillac V-Series.R GTP, driven by João Garrido and Marco Vilela, secured the final podium spot, finishing in third place. Just behind them was the #10 NGC Esports Team By Rubis Gás Acura ARX-06 GTP, piloted by the Portuguese duo Nelson Clemente and Pedro Vargas, who managed a solid fourth-place finish.
The #42 DS Racing eSports Team Cadillac V-Series.R GTP, #4 Fischer Motorsport Porsche 963 GTP, and #111 HAC Racing Cadillac V-Series.R GTP rounded out the top six. Meanwhile, the defending champions, Grizzly Motorsports, struggled throughout the race, finishing eighth in their #1 Porsche 963 GTP.
Post-Race Quotes
Dani Fonte, #51 World Of SimRacing Team Porsche: "Obviously we’re very happy with this win. VIR is an intense track in traffic management. We had the pace and we had to make it count. And I think we accomplished that."
"This win puts us a little closer to the #3 MSP guys, for trying to win the championship. They are very tough rivals, but there is no doubt that we are going to give it everything we got."
"It’s great to get that second win here at VIR, which is what we compete for, although I’ve got to say winning Sebring always will be extra special, because of the track and its history, apart from the weather situation that we had there."
"We prepared really well for this race, and we knew that it was difficult to overtake here, so winning pole was very important, to be able to impose our pace during the race and show that the team is here to win."
Álvaro Martínez, #51 World Of SimRacing Team Porsche: "Obviously we've taken another step up the table, but we're down to earth and we know it's very difficult; as we are more than 200 points behind. We're still going to do our job in these last two races and let's hope luck is on our side."
"Our last win at Sebring was crazy from the middle to the end with the rain and well, 12 hours were exhausting. It was still very special as it was the first one and anyone could have won. This time, we already understand the car better and what we need to go fast. We could have expected that we would be in the running for the win. Luckily, we got it right."
"We lacked the fastest lap in the race. But simply put, this is what this team is all about and it applies to everything we do. We never stop trying, we don't give up and we work to do our best. So, we hope to be this strong for the last two races and that we can put on a good show for our supporters."
Looking ahead, Miami up next
The next challenge for these teams will be the Miami Sunrise 6 Hour at Homestead-Miami Speedway, scheduled for September 21. As the penultimate round of the season, it will be crucial for both the championship hopefuls and those looking to end the season on a high note.
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