Road America Race Recap 4 Seasons in 4 Days
This past weekend at Road America we saw fog (photo from Thursday morning), rain (photo from Friday during sprint race 1), sunshine (photo from Saturday afternoon), tornado warnings and temps from 47 to 80 – all over the course of 4 days! But more importantly we saw some awesome racing on the giant 4 mile circuit in Eastern Wisconsin!
MISSION FOODS GT3 CUP - GT4.0
International GT welcomed the Myers’ brothers, Ben and Andrew racing under the 901 Shop banner. BEN MYERS #29 was very strong in all four races even giving challenge to the GT4.R cars. Ben won three of the four races, finishing second only in Sprint race 2 behind series regular MICHAEL MERRITT #898. Merritt had a rollercoaster weekend ultimately suffering mechanical issues which had him miss Sunday’s race. However he leaves Road America with a healthy lead in the Mission Foods GT3 Cup championship.
Ben’s brother ANDREW MYERS #51, also supported by 901 Shop took three thirds behind his brother. Also racing with SVRA was the Myers brother’s mom Dawn in a 1969 Porsche 911. While the Myers’ Brothers both call Florida home, their family is from the Road America area and the brothers consider it their home track. Ben and Andrew acquired their race cars as a gift from their grandfather and had plenty of family and friends at track!
CLIFF CAYER #08 from Matrix Integrated had a good weekend too moving him into fourth place in the championship points. Cliff was on the podium twice with a second and third finish in the sprint races.
MISSION FOODS GT3 CUP - GT4.R
Family pairs continued in GT4.R with Tom and Lukas Pank. LUKAS PANK#40 Ultra Performance suffered an engine failure in practice so he and dad TOM PANK #42 Ultra Performance shared Tom’s car. Lukas raced and won sprint race 3, while Tom won sprint race 1. The duo decided to sit out of sprint race 2 and avoid any issues from racing in the rain. Together Tom and Lukas won the enduro race after Tom had a spirited battle with DYLAN MURRY in the race with Murry racing in the #911 which he shared with JOHN BOYETTE from the Matrix camp. Boyette and Murry finished third in the enduro after taking a one position penalty for not starting the driver-of-record. Boyette seemed to enjoy the podium, posting a pair of third place finishes in the sprint races.
BILL OLIVER #058, also from Matrix Integrated had a great run in the GT4.R category. He also shared the enduro with Murry (busy day for the young driver) and the pair finished second. JUAN GONZALEZ #81 Car Amigo/Mission Foods enjoyed racing at one of this favorite circuits and finished the weekend with a couple of second place finish in sprint races 1 and 3. Like many, Juan sat out Saturday morning’s wet race and was not able to stay for Sunday’s enduro. Our thanks go to Juan and the Mission Foods crew for hosting our social reception Friday night, which turned out to be our race 1 podium too!
MISSION FOODS GT3 CUP - GT3.8
The GT3.8 category saw a shell game on the podium. BOB WISEN #27 Ultra Performance had one of his best IGT weekends ever, winning the 3.8 liter class in the three races he contested – skipping Saturday morning’s rain race. ERIC GRAY #991 from Arrive and Drive shared the car with son LIAM GRAY for the enduro finishing third. Eric captured a pair of seconds in the sprint races. BRIAN HICKS #22 rounded out the podium with a second place finish in sprint race 3 and a couple of third places in sprint race 1 and the enduro. Hicks experienced some late race issues on Sunday and will return the race car to Wright Motorsports this week in hopes of contesting his home race with International GT at Mid Ohio in June.
STUTTGART CUP - C4.0
Racing in Stuttgart Cup was some of the best and closest of the weekend. The Cayman 4.0 liter category was won in three of the four races by PETER CRAGE #49, Extreme Velocity Motorsports. Peter’s teammate KURT KROPP #641 was runner up three times but was able to take the win in sprint race 2. All the Stuttgart Cup competitors get the prize for bravery as they made the larger part of sprint race 2 in the wet conditions!
STUTTGART CUP - C3.8
One of the things we love about the International GT competitors is their generosity in helping everyone make sure they can make it to grid. At Road America it wasn’t just lending a part, Kurt Kropp gave RICHARD WALKER#64 his Extreme Velocity Motorsports teammate his back-up car to race after Rich had a race ending off in his Cayman in qualifying. Rich secured one win and two second place podium finishes, having a great weekend racing with his friends.
DAVID HERRINGTON #63 from Goldcrest Motorsports returned to International GT competition with a new race car. Moving from a Cup car to a Cayman Clubsport, Herrington shared the beautifully liveried race car with his son DANIEL HERRINGTON. Daniel raced and won sprint races 1 and 2, while dad took over for sprint race 3 and placed second. Together the father/son duo took another win in the enduro!
Debuting in International GT competition ROBERT GEE #527 raced in the CAY3.8 category. Certainly not new to racing, Gee is often seen in SVRA competition in other race cars. Robert raced in IGT sprint races 1 and 3 finishing on the podium in both.
Racing continues this week at Lime Rock Park. Tune into SpeedTourTV to watch live streaming.
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course June 19-22
Some of the most famous areas in sports car racing can be found at Mid- Ohio Sports Car Course. The Keyhole, China Beach and The Carousel all require full concentration on the highly technical 2.2 mile circuit. After taking off from Mid Ohio last year to race at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, International GT is thrilled to return to Mid-Ohio.
Registration is open by clicking on the aerial photo of the track. Any questions contact Julie@parellamotorsports.com or call (770)380-7770.
Official Series Photographer Chris Green
Chris Green is the official photographer for International GT. Chris is at all IGT races and does a fantastic job of covering our events. We encourage all competitors to reach out to him to see his beautiful images of your race car after every event. Or you can get with Chris and go over your photography needs prior to the events. Click on the photo to link to his website.
Marketplace
FOR SALE: Fresh off its International GT debut and follow up race at Sonoma and Laguna Seca, this beautiful Ferrari 458 is for sale. Click on either photo for complete details on the car which is owned by Yousuf Nabi.
This space is available for International GT participants to market any race cars, equipment and/or transporters you are trying to sell. Contact Julie@ParellaMotorsports.com to post a listing. Please send photos and details for item(s) you are selling.
Pirelli Tire Orders
We are proud to partner with Pirelli Tires as the exclusive provider to all International GT events. All Pirelli tire orders for IGT events must be placed with Frisby Tires. Frisby is at track at all IGT events to service our participants.
Click on the tire photo to link to the Frisby site for IGT orders or call (800)373-7390.