LEXINGTON, Ohio – Lawson Aschenbach recorded his 23rd Pirelli World Challenge victory Saturday at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, winning the GTS main event.
Aschenbach, the GTS point leader, started second in his Chevrolet Camaro GT4 to pole winner Harry Gottsacker in the 17-car field, but grabbed the lead into the first turn at the drop of the green flag and never looked back. The Vanderbilt University graduate’s victory was his 15th in the GTS division, the most in PWC GTS history.
Ironically, Aschenbach had been on the podium (top-three) in nine of the first 10 GTS races of the year, but had not stepped to the top of the victory lane stand until Saturday at the famed 2.258-mile, 13-turn permanent road circuit north of Columbus.
The 23rd overall Pirelli World Challenge win moved Aschenbach into fifth in the all-time PWC victory chart and tied with veteran racer Lou Gigliotti. Peter Cunningham holds the all-time PWC win mark with 43.
Road America double GTS race winner Ian James came from sixth starting spot to finish in the runner-up position in the No. 50 Team Panoz Racing Panoz Avezzano GT sports car followed by pole-sitter Gottsacker, the 18-year-old racer in the No. 69 Performance Motorsports Group Ginetta G55 GT4.
The start of the 50-minute GTS Sprint event on Saturday saw a full course caution period when GTS Am pole winner Fred Roberts made hard contact with the outside wall on the back straightaway with his No. 89 JCR Motorsports Maserati GT4. Roberts walked to the ambulance but was transported to Mansfield Medical Center for observation.
The GTS race was restarted on lap 10 and Aschenbach used the Camaro’s horsepower to his advantage and jumped to the lead to pace the field as Gottsacker and James put on a spirited battle second throughout the 23-lap contest. At the checkered flag, it was Aschenbach by 2.047 seconds over James and Gottsacker with Road America GTS Am double winner George Kurtz placing fourth overall and capturing the GTS Am division.
“They threw the green flag way earlier than we were expecting,” said Aschenbach. “Fortunately, the torque of the Camaro got me a good jump and we were in the lead. I was happy with how the race was going. We expected to be fairly good here. It’s always been a good track for us, but there’s always so many unknowns with all of the (GT4) kit cars and we don’t know who’s going to be what and this weekend seemed to be the Ginetta weekend. Fortunately, the start went our way and from there it was just managing the restarts.
“The track was quite greasy, and it was pretty easy to pick up some marbles and I really had to make sure I got those cleaned before the green flag went up. All in all, it’s good to finally get one this year. We’ve had a lot of podiums and a lot of success. I really think that it’s a testament to everybody at Blackdog Speed Shop, Pratt & Miller, Chevrolet.”
“Obviously, Road America was probably the strongest track of the year, just based on the way the car is, but it’s good here as well,” said James. “Qualifying didn’t go as planned so we had to start a little bit in the back of the field but to be on the podium is great. The Camaro seems to be the perfect package around here – it’s light and fast so I think he was out of reach today.”
Rounding out the top-five Saturday in GTS was 16-year-old Parker Chase in the team car to Gottsacker, the No. 19 Performance Motorsports Group Ginetta G55 GT4.
Source : speedsport.com
Comments
