Regulator Racing Clinches Victory in GT World Challenge America at COTA
In a thrilling conclusion at Circuit of the Americas, Regulator Racing’s Philip Ellis and Jeff Burton emerged victorious in Race 2 of the GT World Challenge America powered by AWS. Starting 13th in the #91 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, Burton showcased impressive driving, steadily advancing to 10th place before handing off to Ellis.
Strategically, Regulator Racing capitalized on a Full Course Yellow following a suspension failure of the #50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Corvette Z06 GT3.R. This pivotal moment allowed Ellis to make a quick pitstop, correct a potential stint length violation, and resume the race in fourth position.
Ellis displayed commanding pace, overtaking both the #27 CRP Racing Mercedes-AMG and the #18 RS1 Porsche 911 GT3 R. He clinched overall victory with a decisive move in COTA’s infield, completing a remarkable Mercedes 1-2 finish.
JMF Motorsports’ Michai Stephens, despite finishing second, secured 25 crucial points as the top-placing Pro-class car. His teammate Mikael Grenier benefitted from strategic racing, vital for their championship hopes.
The race was marked by adversity for Random Vandals Racing; both their BMW M4 GT3 EVOs were involved in an early collision, resulting in a 15th and 16th overall finish. Despite the setback, the #99 car still garnered points towards the Pro championship.
Third place went to the #18 RS1 Porsche, attributed to timely strategies that offset a drive-through penalty incurred earlier in the race. The #27 CRP Racing Mercedes finished fourth, while the #11 DXDT Racing Chevrolet Corvette rounded out the top five.
Notably, the GT World Challenge saw a milestone as the Ford Mustang GT3 claimed its first win in any SRO event, thanks to Anthony Lazzaro and Scott Dollahite. Despite facing obstacles including a penalty and a previous day’s DNF, the duo triumphed in the Am class, finishing almost a minute ahead of their closest competitors.
Race 2 Results:
GT World Challenge America will return next month for a double-header weekend at Sebring International Raceway from May 15-18.
(Images © Fabian Lagunas / SRO Motorsports America)
