Watkins Glen Great Racing Except When It Wasn't
A very good looking podium for the FIKSE Sprint Challenge GT4.0 category including winner Scott Blind, second Lukas Pank and third Andor Kovacs.
Unfortunately, the two Watkins Glen sprint races did not represent the usual first class racing we expect from International GT competitors with both resulting in long caution periods and short bursts of racing. However it all settled down resulting in a caution free and very competitive enduro.
FIKSE Sprint Challenge
International GT was proud to have FIKSE Wheels on board to present the FIKSE Sprint Challenge the first sprint race of the weekend. Everyone on the podium for the sprint race was excited to receive the beautiful and very unique FIKSE trophies. TOM PANK #42 Ultra Performance took the overall race win and repeated the performance in Saturday’s enduro. Pank also took a second in Sprint race 2.
Having a terrific weekend was BOB NEAPOLE #67Hudson Historics who finished third in the FIKSE Sprint but giving Pank a run for his money, Neapole went on to win Sprint race 2 overall and finish second in the enduro.
Taking second in Sprint race 1 was MARK MATHYS #77Xin the GT 4.R. Mathys would take another podium finish on the weekend finishing third in Sprint 2.
MARK SANDRIDGE #58 Team Salad, was on the heels of the leaders in all three races and was part of the enduro podium finishing third in the enduro.
The battle IGT 4.R was fierce all weekend and although not on the podium JUAN GONZALEZ #81, Car Amigo/Mission Foods was in the hunt throughout the two sprint races.
Mission Foods GT3 Cup GT4.I
Finishing third overall and first in the GT 4.I category in the FIKSE Wheels Challenge was DAVID TUATY #68 TLM. Tuaty would also win Sprint race 2 and finish second in the enduro by the slimmest of margins.
One of the best battles of the weekend was in Saturday’s enduro where good friends and GT 4.I rivals, David Tuaty and Jody Miller finished nose-to-tail. JODY MILLER #210 MGM Racing took the win in the enduro and a pair of second place finishes in the two sprint races.
GEOFF ISRINGHAUSEN #89 kept the pressure on the two front runners the entire weekend taking third in all three races.
Mission Foods GT3 Cup GT4.0
Once again SCOTT BLIND #45 Rukus Racing/Archangel Motorsports swept the weekend in the GT4.0 category taking the win in all three races. Blind who is leading the Mission Foods GT3 Cup points championship was followed closely in a very competitive 4.0 group, which is seen by the variety of faces on the podium.
LUKAS PANK #40 Ultra Performance finished second in the FIKSE sprint race but struggled the remainder of the weekend with mechanical issues.
ANDOR KOVACS #103 returned to International GT competition at Watkins Glen and took a third in Sprint race 1. DAVID WILLENS #981 Goldcrest Motorsports was second in Sprint race 2.
DAVID WILDRICK #63 Goldcrest Motorsports, who calls Watkins Glen a home track took a second in Sprint race 2 and third in the enduro. Father and son PAUL and JOHN REISMAN#78 Hudson Historics teamed up in the GT4.0 category to finish second in Saturday’s enduro.
Another father/son team who call Watkins Glen their home track, hailing from Syracuse NY, swept the wins in the GT3.6 category on the weekend. ROCCO CANNATA and son ROCCO III had a great time sharing their #991 Porsche.
Mission Foods GT3 Cup GT3.8
NATHAN BYRD #88 dominated the GT 3.8 category winning all three races at Watkins Glen International. With three races remaining in the championship and 10 sprint races/5 enduros counting to the final points tally, the points battle is going to get interesting going forward as Nathan has managed to post maximum points at each of the races he has entered so far in 2023.
ROBERT WISEN #27 Ultra Performance had a great start to the weekend finishing second in the FIKSE Wheels Challenge sprint race. Unfortunately he was involved in a race incident in Sprint 2 ending his weekend. TOMMY BALLESTER#188 TLM also stood on the podium in Sprint 1 taking third.
MARCOS VENTO #18 came on strong in Sprint race 2 and the enduro, scoring a pair of second place finishes. JOHN REISMAN #75 finished third in Sprint race 2 before teaming up with his dad for the enduro. Series regular NICOLAS GROOMBRIDGE #56 SpeedSport brought out is 3.8 liter Porsche for Watkins Glen and completed the podium for the enduro, finishing third.
Stuttgart Cup
Stuttgart Cup 3.8 saw the most parody on the weekend with three different winners in 3 races. For the FIKSE Sprint Challenge, ALEX BLAKER #76 scored the win. In Sprint race 2 the win went to current Stuttgart Cup Champion JOE RIZZO#12 SpeedSport, who was on the podium for all three races finishing third in Sprint race 1 and teamed with coach and pro-racer KATHERINE LEGGE to score another third place finish in Saturday’s enduro. The enduro win went to GEOFF ISRINGHAUSEN Jr #181, who ran the gamut on the weekend taking a third in Sprint race 1 and a second in Sprint race 2.
Also on the Stuttgart Cup podium was Rizzo’s teammate TOM BIGONY #174 SpeedSport finishing second in Sprint race 2. Another podium finisher was TOM KOPCZYNSKI #520, RS1 who finished second in Saturday’s enduro. Tom’s usual CBW (Community Beer Works) Cayman was not available for the race so he turned to a rental and very unlike Tom, the car was all white except for the fluorescent numbers.
Joining International GT for his usual once a year entry was MIKE MAMMANO #20 who raced his Cayman 3.4 to sweep the category winning all three races.
Maranello Cup
International GT welcomed ALEXANDRE LIMA #7 TLM as a newcomer to Maranello Cup competition. Lima ran strong all weekend sweeping the F488 category winning both sprint races and the enduro. ROLAND VEIT #16 Pocono Sportscar captured the F458 wins in Sprint races 1 and 2 in his beautiful red Ferrari, while COLIN COHEN #15 Norwood Auto Italia was the Saturday enduro winner.
STEPHEN DAVISON #909 rejoined International GT competition after several year’s hiatus racing his Aston Martin in the Exhibition category.
IGT Girl Power
Even though its been traditionally known as “gentleman” racing, women were in key roles at International GT’s Watkins Glen event. Here are a few…
CLAIR KENNIS – prepping Lukas Pank’s race car for Ultra Performance.
MARIA MEJIA #11- racing (and getting some serious “air”) in her Cayman Clubsport.
KATHERINE LEEGE #12 – with IMSA having an off weekend, we were happy to welcome many pro-driver coaches at WGI. Katherine Legge coached and co-drove with Joe Rizzo where they podiumed in the enduro.
PIPPA MANN was on hand coaching Scott Vanacore #59.
And one of IGT’s own enjoying the Trans Am podium ceremonies…get back to work Julie!
Daytona Testing Opportunity
Professional sportscar racer Christina Nielsen is hosting a testing day for GT race cars at Daytona on Friday, October 27 – yes, that’s the day prior to our IGT race at Daytona. This is the perfect opportunity for extra track time at the famed race track. Additionally, Christina will be hosting the same type event the day before, Thursday, October 26 at Sebring. You can register for both days in combination or individual days. Click on the photo of Daytona Speedway to link to registration. If you have any questions contact Christina at christina_nielsen456@hotmail.
Chris Green Photography
Chris Green is the official series photographer for International GT.
Click on the COTA photo to link to Chris’s site.
Chris was not able to be at the California races however if you contact him, he can assist in getting photography for those two events.
Market Place
Do you have something to sell, looking for something to purchase? Use our Marketplace to promote your race car, transporter or equipment. It’s free to International GT participants.
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.
2023 Schedule
