2025 Virginia is for Racing Lovers Grand Prix Report
VIRginia International Raceway, August 25, 2025—The Virginia is for Racing Lovers Grand Prix delivered another action-packed round of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge under clear skies. The two-hour race continued the venue’s reputation for unpredictable outcomes, showcasing strategic battles and competitive driving across classes.
Grand Sport Results
RS1 returned to winning form in the Grand Sport (GS) class, claiming their third victory of the season. Jan Heylen and Luca Mars piloted the No. 28 Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS to a decisive win, overcoming early challenges, including a mid-race incident that saw Mars drop to 15th before recovering.
Nate Cicero’s No. 13 Ford Mustang GT4 led the majority of the race but suffered a mechanical setback during a pit stop, allowing other competitors to capitalize on their misfortune. Heylen showcased strong driving to retake the lead after the final restart, finishing just 0.658 seconds ahead of the KOHR Motorsports Ford Mustang driven by Sam Paley and Nick Persing. Billy Johnson and Robert Michaelian completed the podium in the second KOHR entry.
Key Quotes:
- "We needed a good result and we got it. It’s good to have a fast car, but execution is key," said Heylen after securing their sixth overall series win.
- Mars reflected on the race, stating, "After I got pushed off, I slowly worked my way back up… Jan is such a great driver."
Touring Car Results
In the Touring Car (TCR) class, Jaden Conwright and Luke Rumberg achieved their first series victories in the No. 31 Audi RS3 LMS TCR, overcoming obstacles to finish 2.838 seconds ahead of Mark Wilkins, who piloted the No. 33 BHA Hyundai Elantra N TCR.
The race proved to be tumultuous for title contenders. Early penalties complicated strategies, and contact with other vehicles impacted competitive standings. Ultimately, Conwright’s late-race maneuvers secured the win, aided by strategic driving that allowed him to pass multiple competitors.
Key Quotes:
- Conwright noted, "The contact with the GS cars kind of backed us up… I was pretty sure I didn’t do anything wrong. They came back no-call and that kept it mentally intact."
The changing dynamics in the TCR standings see Brown and Dupont recovering to an unofficial seventh, still leading the championship by 20 points over Gottsacker, who placed 11th in the race.
With only two races remaining, the Michelin Pilot Challenge resumes on September 20 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, promising more excitement as the championship battle intensifies.
