VIRginia International Raceway IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Report
VIRginia International Raceway hosted the 2025 Virginia is for Racing Lovers Grand Prix, delivering a gripping two-hour race under ideal weather conditions. The event marked the third win for RS1 this season, placing Jan Heylen and Luca Mars back in the Grand Sport (GS) championship contention with their #28 Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport.
In the Touring Car (TCR) class, RVA Graphics Motorsports by Speed Syndicate secured its first victory of the year with Jaden Conwright and Luke Rumberg driving the #31 Audi RS3 LMS TCR.
Race Dynamics and Strategic Maneuvers
The race was shaped by strategic pit stops influenced by two early cautions. The primary GS battle fluctuated in the final minutes after a third full-course caution, with McCumbee McAleer Racing’s #13 Mustang GT4 leading for the first hour but suffering mechanical issues during a scheduled pit stop.
Turner Motorsport’s Francis Selldorff in the #95 BMW M4 GT4 EVO faced pressure from Heylen’s Porsche after a strong recovery from Mars, who had fallen to 15th due to contact with the #57 Winward Racing Mercedes. Heylen eventually capitalized on a restart, overtaking Selldorff in Turn 1 to secure the lead, finishing 0.658 seconds ahead, with KOHR Motorsports’ #60 Mustang in second and the #59 Mustang in third.
Heylen reflected on the win: "We needed a good result, and we got it. Luca was in not such an easy spot, but it all worked out." Mars added, "Jan is such a great driver. We wouldn’t be here without him."
In contrast, Nate Cicero and co-driver Machavern, who finished 11th, now trail the leaders by 240 points in the championship standings.
TCR Race Highlights
In the TCR category, Conwright executed a late-race surge past multiple competitors, including Bryan Herta Autosport’s Hyundai entries, to claim victory. The race saw mid-race penalties for several title contenders that complicated the championship landscape.
Conwright recounted his decisive pass: "I had a good run and great straight-line speed… They came back no-call and that kept it up right mentally."
Conwright and Rumberg’s victory came with a 2.838-second margin over Mark Wilkins, qualifying in the #33 Hyundai. Notably, Eddie Gou’s last-minute pass secured third place for the #55 Gou Racing Cupra Leon VZ TCR.
The TCR standings have shifted dramatically as well, with Brown and Dupont maintaining a narrow lead despite finishing seventh. Wittmer and Montour’s fourth-place finish places them 30 points back.
The next round of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge will take place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on September 20.
Provisional Race Results
- GS: 1. #28 Porsche (Heylen/Mars), 2. #60 Ford (Paley/Persing), 3. #59 Ford (Johnson/Michaelian)
- TCR: 1. #31 Audi (Conwright/Rumberg), 2. #33 Hyundai (Wilkins/Morris), 3. #55 Cupra (Gou/Gou)
Images © Jake Galstad, Brandon Badraoui / IMSA / Lumen
