SPORTSCAR

Taylor Hagler charged to the lead on her first full green-flag lap of competition Sunday at Sebring International Raceway, taking her third Pro-Am victory of the season in Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS competition.

The title race in the German GT Championship is moving towards a thrilling climax: four races before the end of the season, championship leaders Ricardo Feller (21/CH) and Christopher Mies (31/Düsseldorf, both Montaplast by Land-Motorsport) have seen their advantage cut to just two points after finishing fifth in their Audi R8 in the Sunday race at the Sachsenring. Whilst they may not have won the race, the real winners on Sunday were Luca Stolz (26/Brachbach) and Maro Engel (36/Monte Carlo, both Mercedes-AMG Team Toksport WRT), who thrilled the many spectators with an impressive manoeuvre in the final corner, which earned them second place in the race and the championship standings. With their fourth runner-up finish in a row, the two Mercedes-AMG works drivers completed a one-two for their employers, as fellow Mercedes men Igor Waliłko (24/PL) and Jules Gounon (26/F, both Zakspeed Mobil Krankenkasse Racing team) converted pole position into a commanding victory. Third place went to the Porsche duo of Thomas Preining (23/A) and Christian Engelhart (34/Starnberg, both Küs Team Bernhard). “A really great day,” celebrated the victorious Gounon. “I just love this circuit. It was here that I claimed my maiden GT3 victory in 2016. That kick-started my career. To win here again is fantastic. Everything came together. Pole, fastest lap and victory – it doesn’t get any better. We are now the outsiders in the title race!”

Taylor Hagler and co-driver Dakota Dickerson finished a thrilling second in the Pro-Am class at Saturday’s opening Fanatec World Challenge America powered by AWS race at Sebring International Raceway, the final doubleheader weekend of the season.

A first at the Sachsenring: Porsche drivers Mathieu Jaminet (26/F) and Michael Ammermüller (35/Rotthalmünster, both SSR Performance) not only claimed their third win of the season in Saturday’s race in the German GT Championship at the Sachsenring, but also presented Porsche with its first victory at the challenging and undulating circuit in the ADAC GT Masters. Luca Stolz (26/Brachbach) and Maro Engel (36/Monte Carlo, both Mercedes-AMG Team Toksport WRT) worked their way closer to the top of the table after their third second place in a row, while Audi drivers and championship leaders Ricardo Feller (21/CH) and Christopher Mies (31/Düsseldorf, both Montaplast by Land-Motorsport) finished third and continue to look good in the title race. “It is great that we claimed the first victory for Porsche here,” said Jaminet. “It was a perfect day: thanks to pole position and the win, we picked up 28 points. They are very important in the title race, as it is very close with several cars in with a shout again this year.”