The #47 Velocity Racing Ferrari 499P dominated Round 2 of the 2025 VSCA SportsCar Championship, the MV Skinlab Grand Prix of Long Beach, leading 76 laps and finishing with a commanding margin of 26.865 seconds. Harrison Higgins passed pole-sitter Matthew Oravecz (#79 Digital Chicane Acura ARX-06 GTP) on lap six, seizing the lead with a daring move in traffic. From there, the duo of Higgins and Pedro Castanheira never looked back, holding the lead for the remainder of the race.
The triumph marks Velocity Racing’s second straight victory this season, following their win at Daytona with the #48 car. However, their Long Beach success was bittersweet, as the #48 car crashed out on the restart lap after contact with the #79 car.
Podium Contenders and Standout Performances
The #51 World Of SimRacing Team Cadillac V-Series.R GTP secured second place after an impeccable strategy and execution by drivers Carlos Hernández García and Dani Fonte. The team used an undercut to perfection, clinching their first points race podium finish of the season and taking the overall championship lead.
Third place went to the #88 PULSAR eSports Team Porsche 963 GTP. Francisco Santos Pereira and João Garrido put in an impressive performance, climbing from P7 to P3. This marks their best result since their win at Homestead-Miami Speedway in September 2024.
Top Ten Results and Key Storylines
The #46 Rising Panda Racing Acura ARX-06 GTP finished fourth, continuing their upward trend after moving from LMP2 to GTP this season. Fifth place went to the #4 Fischer Motorsport Porsche 963 GTP, their best result since Road America in June 2024.
The #79 Digital Chicane Acura ARX-06 GTP started from pole but suffered another late-race incident, crashing into the tire barriers with two laps to go. Despite the setback, they finished sixth.
The #32 Wastegate Racing Cadillac V-Series.R GTP struggled with two spins but managed to finish seventh, while the #577 Valkyrie Exype Cadillac V-Series.R GTP had a challenging race, finishing eighth after a major incident triggered the race’s only full-course yellow.
Ninth place went to the #48 Velocity Racing Ferrari 499P, which suffered damage early in the race, and the #70 Soleil Racing Project Porsche 963 GTP rounded out the top ten but was disqualified post-race for a drive time violation.
In a controversial turn of events, under the lone full course yellow of the event, Race Control made a blatant procedural error which negatively impacted the #46 Rising Panda Racing, #88 PULSAR eSports Team, #4 Fischer Motorsport, #32 Wastegate Racing and #70 Soleil Racing Project cars. VSCA Organizers issued a statement after the race that a human error in Race Control lead to a breakdown in application of correct FCY procedures, that the issue has been addressed and that results of the race will count for the championship.
Post-Race Quotes
Mark de Lange, Velocity Racing Team Manager: "It's incredible to stand here in front of the team and to have won our second race this season. First the #48 and now its time for the #47 boys to shine. They didnt set a foot wrong, claimed the lead with a brilliant overtake and showed real strong pace."
"It's of course unlucky to have suffered damage in both races, Daytona with the #47 and here in Long Beach with the #48 car. But most importantly we have showed everyone in VSCA what we already knew. Our drivers are fantastic in driving around traffic in multiclass, keep their head down and focus on the job."
"We showed that with two real strong results. We are only more eager to show our pace and consistency in the upcoming races. A double podium in Sebring would be the dream."
"We have great confidence in our team and the way we approach our races. We are always focusing on setting up the car, drive consistent and steady laptimes and of course learn from mistakes in the past! But first, let's enjoy this one with the guys. We might get a drink tonight, or two or well, you know how it goes. (laughing)"
Pedro Castanheira, #47 Velocity Racing: "Honestly, the very first thought after the finish was just pure relief, mixed with exhilaration, especially given everything that happened in the race. To bring home a win for Velocity Racing, particularly after the tough start to our season and especially after seeing our #48 teammates unfortunately crash out earlier, it's an incredible feeling."
"This win means so much to me personally. It's my first VSCA win, and to do it in the Velocity Racing Ferrari 499P, a car we've been working tirelessly on, makes it extra special. It's a testament to the hard work of the entire Velocity Racing team, and a fantastic reward for everyone involved, including my teammate Harrison and the whole crew."
"It was absolutely a team effort from Velocity Racing, but in terms of driving, consistency and tire management were key at Long Beach. This track is unforgiving, and managing the tires was a real challenge in these conditions. We focused heavily on maintaining a consistent pace throughout each stint, not overdriving the car early on, and that strategy paid off in the long run."
"Of course, the Ferrari 499P was also perfectly prepared. The team gave Harrison [Higgins] and myself fantastic cars all weekend, which allowed me to find that consistency and manage the tires effectively. Pace was there, but consistency and tire strategy were the backbone of this victory."
"Long Beach in a GTP car when you're racing alongside GT cars is just relentlessly demanding when it comes to traffic management. That was absolutely the biggest factor in this race. We were constantly having to manage the speed differences, anticipate moves, and find clean overtaking opportunities without losing momentum or compromising our race. It's a non-stop mental workout, trying to place the car perfectly and stay out of trouble in those tight confines."
Dani Fonte, #51 World Of SimRacing Team: "I'm very happy for the team, and for all the work prior to the race. For us, the key moments of the race were staying intact the entire race and fighting for P2, knowing that you can't overtake we tried the undercut and it worked."
"Looking at the free practice times, we knew we would be there, but not to win. The Ferraris of the Velocity team had an important extra that was impossible to replicate. We have a work philosophy at WOSR prior to the races, and which is reflected with this position."
"Being leaders in the championship gives us extra energy to continue working as before and give more of ourselves, but there is still a lot of championship left and we must continue to focus on what we do and how we do it."
Ryan Koprowski, #79 Digital Chicane: "We're glad Colton was okay following that large hit in T1. Obviously the car was done, but to see Colton walk away from the accident was reassuring."
"From what we saw from the offboard, it looks like he was over the marbles on the left side of the track into T1 and slightly misjudged the braking zone as a result."
"We were frustrated at Daytona because we had a relatively good race for 23h 55m and then the incident with the LMP2 threw it out the window. Now to have the same driver wreck the car again with 3 laps to go requires some deeper examination, which we'll hope to resolve before Sebring."
"Looking forward we're going to run the best races that we can and hope for the best. We, in all honesty, are not that many points back and there is still a lot of racing to go to pull us back in."
Carlos Hernández García, #51 World Of SimRacing Team: "It definitely feels great to be on the podium for the first time this season. We worked hard since day 1, and it has started to pay off. I guess the key moment of the race was the overtake done by my team mate Dani Fonte. During my stint I just sat behind the guys in P2 waiting for a mistake. I didn’t want to push too much, just patiently wait, but the mistake didn’t come, so Dani had to move to the action, and he delivered. From that point he just needed to bring the car home in P2, and that’s what he did."
"We start the season with a clear mindset, to lead the championship by working hard, being great performers and by making mistakes as little to none. Now we have reached the championship lead, our work will remain the same to keep us in this position, trying to extend the gap. We are determined to do so."
"Even though we won this race, there are always avenues to improve how you prepare. I believe refining our approach to getting our setups organized for each of our cars will definitely help improve our chances. I expect us to be in the mix every week if we prepare the way we did for this race."
Championship Situation after Long Beach
By way of their second-place finish, the #51 World Of SimRacing Team take a 49-point lead in the VSCA SportsCar Championship standings, moving up four spots and taking advantage of a dismal points day for Daytona winners #48 Velocity Racing, #32 Wastegate Racing, #79 Digital Chicane and #577 Valkyrie Exype. The #88 PULSAR Torreense eSports Team Porsche is second in the championship.
In the Sprint Cup, race winners #47 Velocity Racing Ferrari start out with a 4-point lead, with the #51 World Of SimRacing Team Cadillac right in their tow. The #88 PULSAR Torreense eSports Team Porsche is third, only 36 points behind.
Looking Ahead to Sebring
The 2025 VSCA SportsCar Championship continues at Sebring International Speedway on March 1. The grueling Engine59 12 Hours of Sebring will see the return of the LMP2 and GT AM classes. Teams will be eager to build on their Long Beach performances and stake their claims in the championship fight.
With Velocity Racing leading the Sprint Cup standings and World Of SimRacing Team topping the overall standings, the competition is expected to intensify. The championship battle is just heating up, and all eyes will be on Sebring.
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