The 2024 Virtual Sports Car Association (VSCA) SportsCar Championship is set to return for its penultimate round, with the Miami Sunrise 6 Hour at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This multi-class endurance event will serve as both the ninth round of the overall championship and the fourth round of the VSCA Endurance Cup. The 2.30-mile, 10-turn circuit will host a total of 44 entries across four classes: GTP, LMP2, GT PRO, and GT AM. For the first time in series history, the championship will visit this South Florida venue, and with the track largely unknown to competitors and a potential 12% chance of rain, Saturday’s race promises to be unpredictable.
The green flag is scheduled to drop at 16:00 GMT on Saturday, September 21st, with Endurance Cup points available at both the halfway mark and the race’s conclusion. As teams and drivers prepare for this critical round ahead of the season finale at Road Atlanta in October, the Miami race could be pivotal for championship standings across all classes.
Cadillac GTP Dominance Under Threat?
In the top-tier GTP class, the battle for supremacy between Cadillac and Porsche continues to intensify. The #51 World of SimRacing Team Cadillac is coming off a commanding victory at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), where they closed the gap in the championship standings to the #3 Mayer Simspeed Performance Porsche, which now leads by just 218 points. While the #3 Porsche clinched the 2024 VSCA Sprint Cup at VIR, they were outpaced by Cadillac, raising questions about their ability to fend off a challenge in Miami.
The Cadillac marque has dominated the Endurance Cup, currently holding the top four positions. The #51 car leads by a single point over the #15 Composite Performance Cadillac and #111 HAC Racing Cadillac. Not far behind, the #88 DS Racing eSports Team Cadillac sits two points back after surging four spots at Watkins Glen. The first non-Cadillac car, the #3 Mayer Simspeed Porsche, finds itself fifth, four points adrift.
One storyline to follow is the #15 Composite Cadillac, which has seen its season derailed by poor finishes at COTA and Road America, and non-participation at VIR. They will be looking to regain lost ground after falling from championship contention. Meanwhile, the #10 NGC Esports Team Acura, which has flashed competitive pace, will be hunting for its first win of the season, having struggled with race-day issues.
Rain could potentially influence the late stages of the race, that will start at 02:30 am at night local time, and finish in the morning hours, after sunrise. The short "Road Course B" layout of Homestead-Miami Speedway could create added drama for these high-powered prototypes.
Gowin vs. Rising Panda in a LMP2 Two-Team Duel
The LMP2 class features a compelling rivalry between the #18 Gowin Racing Dallara P217 and the #46 Rising Panda Racing Dallara. After a near-flawless start to the season, winning four of the first five races, the #18 car looked destined to run away with the title. However, recent setbacks—fifth-place finishes at Watkins Glen and Road America—allowed the #46 Rising Panda Racing Dallara to momentarily seize the championship lead.
At VIR, the #18 Gowin Racing car bounced back with a narrow 0.312-second victory over its rival, retaking the championship lead by 32 points. With just two rounds left, the battle between these two teams will likely be the focal point of the LMP2 class. However, Rising Panda Racing enters Miami with an edge in the Endurance Cup, holding a four-point lead.
Adding to the intrigue, Rising Panda Racing will debut a second entry this weekend with the #47 Dallara P217, looking to strengthen their position. Meanwhile, the #86 GSE Racing eSports Dallara—third in the overall standings—suffered a penalty at VIR, which stunted their progress in the championship, but they remain a dark horse contender. Further back, the #14 Fischer Motorsport Dallara continues to struggle for consistency, currently sitting fourth in the standings.
For the LMP2 cars, the challenge of navigating both faster GTP traffic and slower GT cars on a tight circuit like Homestead will only add to the complexity of this weekend’s event.
DS Racing and Fischer Motorsport Battle Intensifies in GT PRO
The GT PRO class sees momentum squarely with the #992 DS Racing eSports Team Porsche after their dominant win at VIR. With only two races remaining, the #992 car now finds itself just 160 points behind the championship-leading #44 Fischer Motorsport Porsche, who, despite being consistent throughout the season, have yet to win a race.
The #84 Fischer Motorsport Porsche, sitting second in the standings, has had a difficult summer, with finishes outside the top five at Laguna Seca, COTA, Road America, and VIR. Their struggles have opened the door for DS Racing, who will look to build on their three pole positions and two victories as they mount a late-season charge.
Elsewhere in GT PRO, the 2022 champions and defending Endurance Cup winners, Kinetic Racing’s #67 Porsche, will need a strong performance in Miami after slipping in the standings. The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, piloted by RPM Racing, will make its second series start this weekend after debuting at VIR with a seventh-place finish. As the team continues to adjust to their new car, they are expected to be more competitive in Miami.
Screeching Moose withdrawal shakes up GT AM championship battle
In the GT AM class, the withdrawal of the #5 Screeching Moose Motorsports Mercedes from the series has shaken up the championship picture. The Maple Ridge-based team had led the standings but was penalized at VIR, losing the Sprint Cup to the #80 Digital Chicane Ferrari. With the #5 car now out of contention, the #80 Ferrari is poised to inherit the series lead.
Behind them, the #34 Mayer Simspeed Performance Mercedes sits a distant third, 568 points back, while the second Digital Chicane Ferrari, car #93, is even further adrift in fourth place. In the Endurance Cup, the #93 Ferrari is set to take the lead following the withdrawal of the Screeching Moose Mercedes, setting up a strong finish for the team.
In the battle for individual race honors, the #34 Mayer Simspeed Mercedes will be looking to build on their first-ever win in GT AM competition. The #83 Off In The Esses Racing Ferrari, after suffering a heartbreaking last-lap crash and penalty at VIR, will aim to bounce back. Meanwhile, Ford will seek its first victory in the series, with the #017 Vulture Motorsports Mustang continuing to improve after taking third place at VIR.
Miami Sunrse 6 Hour - A Race Full of Uncertainties
The Miami Sunrise 6 Hour promises to be one of the most unpredictable races of the season. With Homestead-Miami Speedway being a new venue for all competitors, the track’s shorter layout and potential for rain late in the event only add to the uncertainty. Teams will have two free practice sessions on Thursday and Friday to prepare before qualifying on Saturday. The race will be broadcast live by Green Flag TV, with coverage starting at 15:50 GMT and the green flag expected shortly after.
As the penultimate round of the season, this race could shape the championship battles in all four classes. Whether it’s Cadillac’s ongoing domination in GTP, the intense duel between Gowin and Rising Panda in LMP2, DS Racing’s resurgence in GT PRO, or the shake-up in the GT AM standings, every lap will matter as the season heads toward its dramatic conclusion at Road Atlanta.