Watkins Glen Race Recap and Video
Before we go into a full recap of the race last weekend at Watkins Glen International, click on the race start photo to see a video of the field going through turns 2 and 3 at the iconic upstate New York circuit. Our thanks to John Cary for the outstanding video!
2025 Championship Round 8
All agreed that it was great to be back to racing with International GT in beautiful Watkins Glen, NY after the summer break. The 3.4 mile course opened in 1956 after the village of Watkins Glen had been hosting racing through the village’s downtown street course and has become a favorite on our schedule.
Despite some rain on Saturday, the weekend held mostly wonderful autumn weather. Friday morning qualifying set the field for sprint race 1 on Friday evening.
In the final event on Friday’s schedule, the IGT competitors took the green at 5:25pm. Out to an early start, TOM PANK #42, Ultra Performance felt great pressure from STEVE DUNN #105, Charles Wicht Racing. Representing the GT4.R category, Tom would win two of the three sprint races but not without strong challenges from Dunn in the GT4.0 category, his son LUKAS PANK #40, Ultra Performance and JOHN BOYETTE #11, Matrix Motorsports.
In race one, Lukas stalked Dunn for several laps before finally getting past and finishing second behind his dad. Lukas was runner up in sprint race 3 as well. Dunn had a great weekend in the GT4.0 category while often vying for overall win contention.
After Dunn won his category in sprint race 1, he was one of eight brave souls who took to a rain-soaked track for sprint race 2 and came out on top with overall race win honors! He also won sprint race 3 and after cautions slowed the enduro, was runner up in the GT4.0 category.
One of the most outstanding teams in the IGT paddock has to be Matrix Motorsports based at VIRginia International Raceway led by CLIFF CAYER, who usually races in the GT4.0 class. Cliff experienced a transmission failure at Road America on Labor Day weekend and although his dedicated team tried everything to get his car on the grid at Watkins Glen, it was not to be. However, teammate John Boyette graciously lent his Porsche 992 to Cayer to compete in sprint race 1 where Cayer finished fourth behind series regular JUAN GONZALEZ #81, Car Amigo/Mission Foods.
Juan had to be on his way to Europe Saturday morning but everyone in the IGT paddock greatly appreciated him hosting a fantastic reception on Friday evening.
None of the four Matrix cars participated in the rainy second race, however Boyette drove in sprint 3 finishing third to the Panks. Together Boyette and Cayer contested the enduro finishing second in the GT4.R category.
BILL OLIVER #058 also represented Matrix Motorsports and took his GT4.R Porsche to the enduro win, sharing the race with coach BRUNO CARNEIRO. Rounding out the GT4.R category but just missing the podium were WOODY WHICHARD #212 from Matrix Motorsports and MARC JULIEN #87 who battled braking gremlins all weekend.
Coming back to the GT4.0 category, Steve Dunn definitely had the field in hand while his teammate and our current Mission Foods GT3 Cup championship points leader, G. MICHAEL MERRITT #899, Charles Wicht Racing had a challenging weekend, experiencing an expired engine in sprint race 1. Fortunately, he had his back-up car in tow and by the end of the weekend Michael took the overall victory in a thrilling last lap pass in the enduro on Sunday with co-driver and coach EVAN SLATER.
Our reigning Mission Foods GT3 Cup champion, TOMMY BALLESTER #189, Quirt Racing had a solid weekend with a pair of third place finishes in sprint races 1 and 2. Tommy received coaching from ETHAN LOW (insert Quirt, Ethan and Tommy Sunday morning). Also on the GT4.0 podium was BOB WISEN #27, Total Motorsports. Bob had a great first sprint race finishing just behind Dunn and went on to take a couple thirds in sprint race 3 and the enduro.
Posting clean sweeps of their categories were series regulars BRIAN HICKS #22 in his Porsche GT3.8 and NICK KARANGELEN #76 in the GT3.6 class. Nick even took to the track in the rainy sprint race 2 for another win.
In the Stuttgart Cup CAY4.0 category KEITH GRANT #4, Grant Racing dominated the class when he was on track. Keith won sprint races 1 and 3 and the enduro. In the rain race it was TOM KIRK #22, ZOTZ Racing who took the win. With a second-place finish in sprint race 3, Kirk takes over the lead in the Stuttgart Cup points championship. However, with three events remaining, it’s anybody’s guess who will come out on top in the year-long championship battle. Keith’s father RICHARD GRANT #30 had his best finish of the weekend in sprint race 3 where he stood on the podium in third.
Also on the podium for CAY4.0 was PETER CRAGE #49, Extreme Velocity Motorsports, who sported a striking new blue/green livery on his Clubsport. Peter took a second in sprint race 1 and a third in the enduro. From ZOTZ Racing, Kirk’s teammate CHRIS RUPPEL #09 had a great showing in the category with a third in sprint race 1 and a second-place finish in the enduro.
In the CAY3.8i category (3.8 liter Caymans that are the newer 718 edition) ROCCO CANNATA #444 commanded the field. Rocco, from nearby Syracuse, NY, calls Watkins Glen International his home track and gave a master class in the most efficient way to navigate the circuit. Rocco usually shares the IGT races with his son Rocco III, but the younger Cannata was nursing a broken collarbone along with a few cracked ribs from a mountain biking accident. He was there to cheer on his dad and give sage advice before the race (insert). Rocco won sprint races 1 and 3 and the enduro, however he skipped the rainy second race.
In Rocco’s mirrors all weekend was another NY local, DAVE WILDRICK #94, Goldcrest Motorsports. Dave was second in sprint race 1 and 3 and the enduro. Friends off the track, Wildrick was thrilled to take the sprint race 2 win with Rocco out of contention.
Keeping with the theme, DAVID HERRINGTON #63, Goldcrest Motorsports was third to Cannata and Wildrick in the three dry races.
We can’t leave the CAY3.8i category without mentioning TORSTEN GROSS #19, Hairy Dog Grrrage. Torsten in his Just Hands Cayman took second to Wildrick in the second sprint race.
If you have not yet seen it, be sure to check out Torsten’s docuseries with the same name “Just Hands” on Prime Video – it’s a great watch!
New to International GT competition, ANDREW SMILEY #167, Hairy Dog Grrrage brought the traditional 3.8 liter Cayman and swept his category, winning all four races on the weekend. Our thanks go to Torsten for bringing his friend Andrew to IGT competition and we hope to see both of them more often in the future.
The Watkins Glen race was our first introduction to the Director of Fun! CHRIS DUPLESSIS #26, Extreme Velocity Motorsports. Chris brought boss, ARI STRAUS’s Cayman to the Exhibition category and had a great weekend. Chris’s actual title at Ari’s new P1 Motor Club in Florida is “Director of Fun”….we can’t make this stuff up. But after a weekend with Chris we know why he was given the title!
VIR Race September 18-22
It’s a quick turn-around to Round 9 of the championship at Virginia International Raceway, September 18-22. We are looking forward to returning next week to the track Paul Newman dubbed “Heaven on Earth”.
Click on the VIR logo for registration and the event schedule. Contact Julie@ParellaMotorsports.com or (770)380-7770 with questions.
VIR Testing Opportunity
Reminder: Extreme Velocity Motorsports has a test day on Wednesday, Sept 17 at VIR that is open to IGT participants who will share the cost of the track rental (separate fee from race entry).
Contact Derek Granison at (561)662-9415 for information or click on the photo to link to the private test day registration.
Flagtronics Requirement
International GT has partnered with Flagtronics for the best in on-track safety. Starting at the Watkins Glen race in September Flagtronics will be required for all International GT entrants. Click on the Flagtronics logo to link to their site for more information and to purchase the system. If you have any questions email: sales@flagtronics.com
Chris Green Photography
Chris Green is the official photographer for International GT and available for competitor’s photography as well. Contact Chris at chrisgreenimages@gmail.com.
To see the race photo galleries click on the photo to link to Chris’s website.
Pirelli Tire Orders
Pirelli is the exclusive tire for International GT and must be purchased through Frisby Tires. Click on the Pirelli logo to link to Frisby to order tires. Please be sure to order tires well in advance of the events. Frisby will be at each track to support International GT participants. Any questions call (800)798-7201..