Road America Race Recap
Round 7 of the 2024 International GT Championship took us to beautiful Road America – The National Park of Speed! The sweeping 4+ mile circuit offered close back-and-forth racing throughout the field in all three races, however, in the end we saw three category win sweeps.
In the Mission Foods GT3 Cup 4.R category, TOM PANK, Ultra Performance, ultimately swept with three race wins. However, it was not without competition from JUAN GONZALEZ #81X, Car Amigo and some fast 4.0 liter Porsches. The GT3 Cup 4 liters raced hard at the front including Tom’s son LUKAS PANK #40, Ultra Performance, and newcomers to International GT, MUZAFFAR GAFUROV #888, Goldcrest Motorsports and teammate TROY PETERSEN #277, also out of the Goldcrest Motorsports camp.
Juan Gonzalez brought a new Porsche Cup 992 to Road America but raced his 4.R car to a pair of seconds in sprint race 1 and 2. Meanwhile, longtime coach and co-driver BUTCH LEITZINGER #81, Car Amigo, worked out the bugs in the new car. For the enduro, Juan raced the 992 in the GT4.I category and took the win.
Muzaffar Gafurov won sprint races 1 and 2 in the 4 liter category, however had a penalty for a short pit stop in the enduro relegating him to third. Muzaffar was not alone with timing penalties in the enduro. We’re encouraging everyone to contact Patrick at DETROIT WATCH COMPANY to look into one of their precisely accurate timepieces! Click on the chronograph to see the full DWC collection.
Troy Petersen took a pair of runner-up finishes in the two sprint races behind Gafurov and also won the enduro. Lukas Pank had a couple of great starts giving his dad a run for his money, however mechanical gremlins took him out of the running in the sprint races but he bounced back to finish second in the enduro (after another pit stop time infraction). JIM HAMMAN #176, TLM USA, completed the podium in sprint races 1 and 2 finishing third racing his son Stephen’s GT4.0 Porsche.
TOMMY BALLESTER #188, TLM USA, continued to expand his points championship lead with another outstanding performance in Wisconsin. After sweeping the GT3.8 category wins in the sprint races, Tommy will take a commanding points lead into Round 8 at Watkins Glen in August. We happily saw the return of BOB WISEN #27, Ultra Performance, after recovering from a broken foot had him sidelined for the first half of the season. Bob finished second in all three Mission Foods GT3 Cup 3.8 class.
The Stuttgart Cup category welcomed back ROSS POOLE #85, Goldcrest Motorsports and RICK MANUS #38, Denton Carden Racing. However, it was WES WOOD #41, Regal Motorsports, in his International GT debut who took the wins in sprint race 2 and the enduro. Poole turned in a very consistent performance finishing second in all three races on the weekend. JOHN DEAN #710, Pinnacle Motorsports, racing a Cayman owned by STEVEN THOMAS, took the win in sprint race 1. Rick Manus would round out the podium finishing third in the second sprint race and Sunday’s enduro. DAVID HAMPTON #14, AR Motorsports continued his season racing double-duty in International GT and Trans Am, sweeping the wins in the Stuttgart Cup 4.0 liter category and extending his lead in the Stuttgart Cup points championship.
Our thanks to everyone who joined us at Road America! Enjoy the summer with your families and we look forward to seeing everyone back at Watkins Glen International, August 21-25.
Road America Live Stream Race Broadcasts - Watch Now!
All three International GT races from Road America were streamed over the weekend and are available on SpeedTourTV. Click on the “Up Coming” icon to watch the two Saturday sprint races (the first is at the beginning of the broadcast and the second is at the 5:52 mark) and the In-Car camera shot of Ross Poole’s car for the Sunday enduro (it’s the first race on the broadcast).
Official Series Photographer Chris Green
Our official series photographer is Chris Green Chrisgreenimages@gmail.com or click on the image of Steve Katz’s car.
Chris does a fantastic job of covering our events and all competitors should 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.
Market Place
Do you have something to sell, looking for something to purchase, a service to provide? Use our Marketplace to promote your race car, transporter or equipment. It’s free to International GT participants. Contact Julie@internationalGT.net or call (770)380-7770
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.
2024 Schedule
