GT World Challenge America: Race Two Report
The GT World Challenge America powered by AWS delivered a thrilling conclusion at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) this weekend, with significant race strategy and late drama dictating results. The event showcased the importance of timing, particularly in light of a mid-race caution that reshuffled the field and altered the course of the race.
Pro Class Highlights
In the Pro class, Michai Stephens clinched victory for JMF Motorsports in the No. 34 Mercedes-AMG GT3. The race began with an aggressive start as Stephens quickly moved past Tom Sargent‘s No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 992 GT3 R to gain vital positions early on.
The race was punctuated by incidents involving both entries from Random Vandals Racing. Connor De Phillippi in the No. 99 BMW M4 GT3 encountered a drive-through penalty for a collision, while Varun Choksey‘s No. 51 faced electrical issues. Additionally, contact between the Archangel Motorsports McLaren and Jan Heylen’s No. 18 RS1 Porsche led to further penalties impacting the standings.
With 43 minutes remaining, a full-course caution was triggered when Aaron Povoledo‘s No. 50 Corvette Z06 GT3.R stalled, allowing JMF Motorsports a strategic advantage with a timely driver change. On the subsequent restart, while Philip Ellis briefly overtook Stephens, it did not change the outcome for the Pro class.
Stephens crossed the finish line to secure first place in the Pro class, followed closely by RS1 in second and the No. 51 BMW in third. “There are formidable teams in this Pro class,” said Stephens, acknowledging the tough competition.
Pro-Am Class Insights
The Pro-Am class saw a tightly contested battle from the start. Initially, Michael Cooper in the No. 2 Aston Martin took advantage of Sargent’s misstep to claim a podium position early on. However, the race shifted dramatically during a caution period triggered by Povoledo’s incident.
After a competitive pit cycle, Philip Ellis from Regulator Racing emerged to take the lead post-restart. Despite a strong charge from Blake McDonald, Ellis secured the Pro-Am victory, finishing first overall. “We were a little lucky with the timing of the full course yellow,” noted Ellis, crediting his team’s strategic decisions.
Am Class Update
In the Am class, Scott Dollahite faced an early drive-through penalty for a start procedure violation but rebounded impressively to claim class victory in the No. 6 Ford Mustang GT3. Anthony Lazzaro praised the team’s efforts after a late-night car repair following previous races, saying, “I can’t ask for anything better.”
Upcoming Races
The GT World Challenge America will reconvene at Sebring International Raceway for rounds five and six from May 16-18, 2025.
Race Results Summary
- Pro Class Top 3: 1. Michai Stephens (JMF Motorsports), 2. RS1 (Jan Heylen), 3. Random Vandals Racing (Bill Auberlen, Varun Choksey)
- Pro-Am Class Top 3: 1. Philip Ellis (Regulator Racing), 2. Jason Daskalos, 3. Blake McDonald (DXDT Racing)
- Am Class Top 3: 1. Anthony Lazzaro (Dollahite Racing), 2. Oswaldo Negri
This weekend’s results emphasize the pivotal role of strategy and teamwork in motorsport, setting the stage for an exciting remainder of the season in the GT World Challenge America.
