The ninth round of the 2024 VSCA SportsCar Championship, the Miami Sunrise 6 Hour, delivered six hours of captivating sports car endurance racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday. The 2.3-mile track's 10 turns proved challenging for competitors in this multi-class race, which included two full-course yellows. A total of 38 minutes under caution shaped the outcome of this race, part of both the VSCA Endurance Cup and SportsCar Championship.
The #46 Rising Panda Racing Dallara P217, piloted by Christian Campregher and Piers Stockton, took control from the start, having secured pole position with a lap time of 1:08.896. The #46 car led for most of the race, covering an impressive 247 laps. Despite pressure from rivals and two caution periods, Rising Panda Racing crossed the finish line with a comfortable margin of 18.035 seconds to secure their third victory of the season.
Incidents and Strategy Define the Race
The Miami Sunrise 6 Hour wasn't without drama. The first full-course yellow came just 51 minutes into the race and lasted for 21 minutes, halting the early momentum. Teams used this period to assess strategies and regroup for the restart. The second caution emerged after three and a half hours, forcing teams to adjust once more. The event saw 15 lead changes in the LMP2 class, making the fight at the front of the field a closely contested battle.
Notably, the #123 Tri-State Racing Dallara P217 impressed with its resilience, climbing from ninth on the grid to finish in third. This performance, led by drivers Garret Spenst and Niko Loikkanen, further solidified their position in the championship standings. Gowin Racing’s #18 car, driven by Jack Hedgcoxe and Josh Gowin, faced adversity after an incident with the #312 GT AM Lamborghini but recovered to claim second place.
Triumph and Tragedy for Teams in Miami
While Rising Panda Racing celebrated a dominant victory, several teams experienced their share of difficulties. Rusty Spatulas Racing, making their first appearance in over a year, faced an early exit after a collision with the #84 Porsche of Fischer Motorsport in the first hour and a second incident in the second hour. Their #112 car was forced to retire after an accident with the #12 Delta Racing BMW.
A bizarre crash occurred for the #14 Fischer Motorsport Dallara, involving the pit wall during a scheduled stop of driver Michael Adamczyk. The incident saw the team fall to ninth place. Seven laps down, it was a disappointing finish for a team that had hoped for better.
Meanwhile, SCOWRS Esses Racing's #048 Dallara P217 was penalized 30 seconds post-race after an incident with the #86 GSE Racing eSports car in turn eight. This decision, upheld by Race Control after an appeal, left team manager and driver Kyle Granger furious, lamenting declining standards of Race Control and their marshalls.
Top Ten Finishers Display Depth of Competition
At the end of six hours, #46 Rising Panda Racing stood victorious, driven by Piers Stockton and Christian Campregher. Gowin Racing's #18 car, despite their mid-race setback, finished in second, thanks to a strong recovery. Third place was claimed by #123 Tri-State Racing, who gained six positions over the course of the race.
The #47 Rising Panda Racing entry, featuring drivers Maxime Liénard, Michael Löffler, and Ryan Ware, finished just off the podium in fourth, in the entry's first series start. Fifth place went to the #321 Tri-State Racing Dallara, driven by Chris Cadiz and Sam Vaughan. The Vulture Motorsports #216 car rounded out the top six, followed by the #048 SCOWRS Esses Racing in seventh.
Vision 1 Motorsports’ #11 car finished eighth, ahead of Fischer Motorsport’s #14 in ninth. Finally, the #86 GSE Racing eSports car, with drivers Luca Harmening and Dennis Denicio, completed the top ten.
Post-Race Quotes
When asked how it felt to secure their third win of the season, Piers Stockton reflected on the hard-fought victory:
"This race was all about staying calm, sticking to the strategy, and making every stint count. Christian [Campregher] drove an absolute stunner, and our pit crew was flawless today. It’s been an incredible season, but this win feels especially sweet because of how hard everyone’s worked to get here."
Co-driver Christian Campregher shared similar sentiments in the victory lane interview, expressing relief and pride:
"We knew we had the pace coming into this race after securing pole, but it was a constant battle. With the yellows and the traffic, it was just about minimizing mistakes. I’m incredibly proud of the whole team—we deserve this."
Championship Implications and Looking Ahead
With this victory, Rising Panda Racing not only claimed the Miami Sunrise 6 Hour trophy but also vaulted to the top of the LMP2 SportsCar Championship standings. They now lead the #18 Gowin Racing team by 43 points with only one race to go. Tri-State Racing’s #123 car moved up to third, trailing the leaders by 575 points.
In the VSCA Endurance Cup, Rising Panda Racing maintained their lead, with Gowin Racing seven points behind, giving the Austrian team the upper hand to likely clinch the Endurance Cup in the season finale at Road Atlanta, that has a maximum of 15 Endurance Cup points up for grabs. Tri-State Racing also climbed into third in this prestigious sub-championship, setting the stage for a dramatic finale.
The third annual Petit Le Mans and final race of the 2024 VSCA SportsCar Championship promises to be a thrilling showdown as teams gear up for the season’s conclusion at Michelin Raceway at Road Atlanta on October 19th. With Rising Panda Racing and Gowin Racing entering the championship finale with mathematical chances to win the championship, Road Atlanta will set the stage for an exciting season finale in the LMP2 class.
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