Within the remaining race of the 2024 Pirelli GT4 America season, all bets had been off as opponents bought their elbows out, preventing tooth and nail as titles had been on the road and got here all the way down to the wire.
There was each heartbreak and happiness as championships had been each received and misplaced. Within the Silver class, AutoTechnic Racing took the win on observe, however fortune was in RS1’s favor as they took dwelling the very best honors. RENNtech Motorsports clinched the general and Professional-Am victory, with ACI Motorsports taking the title the day prior. It was a real final lap showdown that in the end determined the Am class championship, with a flip of occasions that noticed Rotek Racing emerge as champions whereas BimmerWorld snatched the win on observe.
Silver class
Pole sitter and yesterday’s winner Corey Lewis had a wonderful begin in his No. 68 Smooge Racing Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Supra GT4 EVO, specializing in the clear path forward. Whereas Jesse Webb dropped again within the No. 34 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4, Kenton Koch took the chance to maneuver up the sector in his No. 97 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4 G82 as he went on the title hunt.
The present championship chief, Eric Filgueiras within the No. 28 RS1 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, had a giant activity forward of him as he tried to catch up and decrease the swing in factors.
A full course warning was referred to as with 42 minutes to go, bringing the sector again collectively once more and reigniting the title struggle. The motion resumed just a little beneath 10 minutes later, with the front-runners within the Silver class coming down pit lane to finish their driver adjustments.
The drama solely ramped up from there. Random Vandals Racing, now with Kevin Boehm behind the wheel, bought the soar over Smooge Racing in pit lane and moved up into first at school. Nevertheless, because the inexperienced flag working resumed, Boehm was squeezed by two out-of-class vehicles and despatched off-track, sustaining a tire puncture and suspension injury. The incident in the end ended their race, dashing their hopes of clinching the title. There have been points for Smooge Racing as effectively, as Tyler Gonzalez needed to limp again down pit lane.
AutoTechnic Racing’s Colin Garrett discovered himself within the lead of the race within the No. 51 BMW M4 GT4 G82, being hunted down by JMF Motorsports’ Michai Stephens. The 2 went backwards and forwards on the ultimate lap, exchanging positions backwards and forwards, however as they sprinted to the road, Garrett had simply sufficient energy to remain forward and declare the win.
“Oh gosh, what a season,” stated Anderson. “We began the season successful, and we ended it successful. The center didn’t go our manner. We must always have had much more victories, nevertheless it’s a ‘woulda, coulda, shoulda’ sport. Colin’s efficiency was rockstar stuff.”
“This was superior,” agreed Garrett. “I can’t thank these AutoTechnic guys sufficient, they introduced an important automobile all season. To capitalize on this remaining race and convey dwelling the Silver class victory—it’s fairly nice.”
As Race 2, and the season as a complete, drew to an in depth, RS1 had been those to stroll away with the grand prize, taking third on the rostrum however first within the championship standings as John Capestro-Dubets claims his first title, whereas Eric Filgueiras turns into a three-time SRO America champion.
“I’ve 1,000,000 phrases I wish to say, however they’re not all popping out,” stated an emotional Capestro-Dubets. “I can’t thank my teammate sufficient, and I can’t thank RS1 and Group Beer Works sufficient for this chance. Somewhat luck performed into our favor this 12 months. All I’ve ever wished was to be admired among the many different champions on this paddock and revered by my friends. Coming to the racetrack is my blissful place. To be amongst these folks means the world to me, and to now formally be a champion — I can’t even categorical how a lot it means to me. A childhood dream got here true as we speak.”
“This was by far the toughest,” stated Filgueiras after securing his third championship in a row. “There’s a lot expertise stacked on this collection, particularly within the Silver class this 12 months. I’m extraordinarily grateful to have this chance with CBW, such an important group with RS1. I’m actually grateful for the alternatives.”
Professional-Am class
There was an excessive amount of drama and motion within the Professional-Am class. TPC Racing was a robust contender proper off the bat, and so they had a robust opening half as Dario Capitanio was on the helm of the No. 102 McLaren Artura GT4.
Additional down, the category championship winners ACI Motorsports had been concerned in an incident with the No. 52 NOLASPORT Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 of Lee Carpentier, bringing out a full course warning. In the meantime, on the midway mark, Roland Krainz, in his No. 18 RS1 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS, was spun round as he was concerned in an incident with Silver class competitor Kevin Boehm.
Within the remaining levels of the race, the No. 94 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4 G82 of Sam Craven was main with simply over quarter-hour to go, however Matheus Leist overtook for first within the No. 89 RENNtech Motorsports. Nevertheless, he has a post-race time penalty for a brief pit cease
Points arose for the No. 94 because it stopped off to the facet of the observe, however the battle raged on as Leist moved into the general lead of the race after throwing it down in an intense battle in opposition to two Silver class vehicles, with Roman De Angelis following him by means of in second on board the No. 24 Coronary heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 EVO.
Regardless of the time penalty, Leist had sufficient of a spot to retain the win, with Coronary heart of Racing Workforce and X finishing the ultimate Professional-Am podium.
“We began the season with a win, and we wished to finish with a win,” stated Michael Auriemma. “We’ve had some ups and downs all year long, however clearly, Matheus can drive. We’re wanting ahead to being again subsequent 12 months and hopefully having a extra constant run.”
“I used to be going for it as we speak,” stated Leist. “We’ve had just a few probabilities all year long, however as we speak we clearly had an important automobile. RENNtech gave us an excellent automobile, the Mercedes was superb. I’m simply very pleased with this win. Michael drove an important race too, so I’m very blissful to come back out with the general win right here in Indy.”
Am class
Charlie Postins led within the Am class along with his No. 36 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT4 G82, with Jaden Lander working in second place with the No. 099 Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport as he sought a championship title.
The positions amongst the front-runners went unchanged as driver adjustments unfolded on the midway mark, with James Clay and Robb Holland leaping in to interchange their respective teammates. Nevertheless, the No. 98 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4 G82 of Michael Kanisczak was on the cost, and launched an assault on title rival Holland.
With 25 minutes to go, Kanisczak managed to muscle his well beyond, and set his sights on Clay forward. A heated battle between Kanisczak and Clay formed up, which noticed the No. 36 BMW shifting again into first with 10 minutes remaining. Nevertheless, Kanisczak stored him sincere, not lacking out on the event to assault once more.
Kanisczak misplaced the Am lead, spinning round in flip 1 as he got here along with Clay, however the two remained respectful as they continued on their manner, with Clay permitting the previous to maneuver again forward. Nevertheless, championship chief Holland was capable of shut in once more. Rotek Racing needed to end second or larger for an opportunity to formally declare the Am class title, and that is precisely what occurred. Holland and Lander clinched the championship in a dramatic style on the final lap of the race as Kanisczak misplaced energy just a few corners earlier than the checkered flag, letting James Clay and BimmerWorld earn the win, with Rotek Racing ending second.
“It was rather a lot to handle,” stated Clay. “I knew there was a championship on the road, and I knew Kris (Wilson) had the tempo to get round me, which was superior to see. I wished that BMW up there, however after all, I wasn’t simply going at hand it to him. I raced him onerous, however sadly, I bought into him. I made positive he might get again by to go for the championship. In the long run, he ran out of gas, and we inherited the win. He drove a hell of a race. Nice job, Kris Wilson, and congrats to Rotek on the championship.”
“That is the launchpad for no matter we do subsequent 12 months,” stated Postins. “However I’ve to say, my coronary heart goes out to the Random Vandals guys. That was robust luck. We’ve had our share of unhealthy luck, so it feels good to be on the receiving finish of some success this time. I’m actually blissful for these guys — nice group — and it’s good to see BMW on high. It feels good to kiss the bricks.”
“After 14 races all 12 months, it got here all the way down to the final lap, the final three turns,” stated a shocked Lander. “We had been all fairly down on pit lane, pondering Random Vandals had us. However then our head engineer comes on the radio and says, ‘wait, wait, wait.’ And that’s racing — it’s not over till it’s over.”
“That’s the factor — you will get excited, however it’s a must to get round them,” Robb Holland stated. “The BMWs had been tremendous sturdy as we speak, and we struggled a bit with our entrance finish. I simply needed to maintain working constant laps. I by no means gave up, and if I had, I might’ve been too far again to catch them, and that will’ve price us the championship. However right here we’re — who would’ve guessed it? Champions.”
