The 2024 VSCA SportsCar Championship wrapped up its season with a dramatic and tightly contested race at the iconic Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. The third annual Petit Le Mans, served as both the final round in the championship series and the VSCA Endurance Cup, delivering edge-of-your-seat action that kept spectators enthralled until the end.
The 10-hour endurance race saw the #017 Vulture Motorsports Ford Mustang GT3, piloted by drivers Erol Ureksoy, Jeff Carollo, and Eric Kulaga, secure an impressive victory, crossing the line with a winning margin of just 5.802 seconds—the fifth-closest finish in GT AM class history.
The path to their first-ever VSCA victory was no easy task for Vulture Motorsports. In Qualifying Jeff Carollo placed the #017 Ford Mustang GT3 seventh on the GT AM grid with a lap time of 1:19.287. But thanks to very good team-work, the trio made significant gains and eventually took the lead and accumulated a total of 126 laps on the front of the GT AM field, showing relentless consistency and smooth over one of the arguably most mentally and physically challenging races of the season.
The final of four total full-course yellows came out with just over one hour remaining in the race, erasing a 21-second lead for the #017 Ford Mustang GT3 over second-place runners #34 Mayer Simspeed Performance Mercedes AMG GT3.
It seemed like an obvious choice for the GT AM race leaders to bring it down pit lane for the final scheduled pit stop of the race. On the restart Carollo maintained the lead and was able to put some distance to the #34 Mercedes of Tamer Elbaga.
By lap 406 the GT AM lead for the #017 Ford Mustang had grown to seven seconds, when disaster struck the #34 Mercedes. Going into the chicane Elbaga's car received a car contact from behind, by the hands of Joao Vitor Delgado in the GT PRO #12 Delta Racing BMW M4 GT3, which ended up pushing the #34 Mercedes past the incident limit, ending their race early.
Inheriting second place was the #19 Gowin Racing Ferrari 296 GT3, ten seconds behind the GT AM leader. In its first ever start the new entry commanded attention, leading for a total of 163 laps with drivers Eugene Maltsev, Matthew Rice, and Chip Michaels, showcasing remarkable pace and consistency. However, despite leading the most laps in the GT AM field, the Gowin Racing entry ultimately finished second, unable to close the gap to the #017 Vulture Motorsports Ford Mustang GT3 in the closing laps.
Completing the GT AM class podium, Dangler Performance’s #16 Mercedes took third place, on the heels of a solid performance by drivers Paul Romaninsky, Mark Romaninsky, and Jim McGill. The Team's New Zealand driver Theo Taylor, who was not participating in this event, also won 2024 Clean Driver Award honors.
GT AM Endurance Cup champions, the #93 Digital Chicane Ferrari took fourth place with Chris Scarr, Ryan Koprowski, Ethan Swan and Kyle Loh. While running in second place, a horrific crash on lap 69 took the #93 Ferrari out of the running for victory in the event. Re-joining the track on the straight between turn five and turn six, the #992 GT PRO Porsche of Joao Pedro Teixeira collided with Digital Chicane's Chris Scarr, setting off a major collision between both cars.
The #555 DS Racing eSports Team Ferrari 296 GT3 with the all-Portuguese drivers lineup of Carlos Miguel Duarte, Nuno Barbosa and Nelson Narciso completed the top-five finishers. The team also led four laps in the ten-hour endurance classic.
The final running car in GT AM class at the finish was the #83 Off in the Esses Racing Ferrari, who finished 13 laps down. For the #83 Ferrari all hopes for a good result came crashing down - literally - just before the seven-hour mark. Exiting the pits following a pit stop, Stu Leslie was startled to find himself in a four-wide situation with the #34 Mercedes, #992 Porsche and #86 Dallara, sending the Off in the Esses machine hard into the concrete wall with major damage.
Celebrations for Vulture Motorsports in Victory Lane
For Vulture Motorsports, taking the checkered flag concluded a season-long quest for the team's maiden victory in VSCA SportsCar Championship competition. Consequently, celebrations were in order for Ureksoy, Carollo and Kulaga in victory lane.
"It was such a fight out there today, but we managed to keep our heads down and stay on our strategy. Taking this win with Jeff and Eric is incredibly rewarding.", said Erol Ureksoy.
"Shoutout to those prototype drivers, they were really clean and respectful all race long, for the most part."
"Oh my god, I can't believe it! We've been so close. To finally, finally get that first win feels incredible. We had to adjust constantly with the yellows and lead changes, but our teamwork and patience paid off in the end.", said Michael Kulaga.
"This race is all about perseverance, and I’m so proud of how we pulled together as a team. It’s a moment we’ll never forget."
No. 80 Digital Chicane Ferrari clinches GT AM title
The Petit Le Mans was not just the final race of the series but also a title-decider in the series championship. By finishing fourth, Digital Chicane’s #80 Ferrari 296 GT3 clinched the overall GT AM SportsCar Championship, amassing 3820 points over the season.
Kyle Koprowski on Digital Chicane winning the GT AM series championship: "This has been one hell of a season from both cars. Making a clean sweep of the Sprint Cup, Endurance Cup and the overall GT Am Title is just a testament to how well we've performed."
"Had you told me Digital Chicane would clean sweep the championship before Daytona, I would have laughed and said you're crazy."
"Everyone put in so much work this season and it's nice to see that they've been rewarded as such. We'll celebrate, but not too much as we've got work to do to get ready for next season."
The champion's sister car #93 Ferrari finishing second in the standings, trailing by 324 points while the #5 Screeching Moose Motorsports Mercedes AMG GT3, who stunned the VSCA paddock by withdrawing from the series while leading the series championship in August, secured third place in the championship, garnering a season-leading four wins in eight starts.
The #83 Off in the Esses Racing Ferrari took P4 in the final GT AM series standings, making it three Ferrari in the top-four. Road Atlanta race winners #017 Vulture Motorsports Ford Mustang rounded out the top-five.
Digial Chicane also wins Endurance Cup
Ensuring all three GT AM championships, the series, Sprint Cup and Endurance Cup go to Digital Chicane this season, the #93 Digital Chicane Ferrari wins the Endurance Cup by 15 points over the #5 Screeching Moose Motorsports Mercedes and 17 points over their sister-car the #80 Digital Chicane Ferrari.
In five Endurance Cup starts, the #93 Ferrari accumulated an impressive four top-fives and four poles and two wins.
With the 2024 VSCA season now in the books, the GT AM looks back on its inaugural season in the VSCA SportsCar Championship and an offseason that will see a significant change in regulations, as VSCA confirmed that "P" rated drivers will no longer be permitted to compte in GT AM class next year.
On December 14-15 teams will meet up at Daytona for the VSCA Daytona Test Days, in preparation to the new season kicking off at the same venue on January 4th with The Roar Before The 24.
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