Rounds 3 & 4 of the Pirelli World Challenge Championships GTS Sprint X at VIRginia International Raceway
Unfortunately, the race didn’t go quite as planned. VIR proved itself to be a very technical and unforgiving track. Harry Gottsacker Racing got loose on lap 2 at The Hogpen and went off in the tire barriers at turn 17. Thankfully, he was uninjured, but the No 69 FRAM Autolite Spark Plugs Protein Water SIN R1 GT4 was damaged and unable to continue the race.
On a positive note, Mark Pavan drove the No 54 FRAM Autolite SIN R1 GT4 to gain six positions at the checkered flag. The race ended at just under five minutes remaining in the race due to a full course yellow period that couldn’t be cleared in time for a restart. Pavan started P33 in race 2.
Mark Pavan had an excellent second race! He drove the No 54 FRAM Autolite Spark Plugs SIN R1 GT4 to a top 10 finish in the GTS-X Am class, gaining 8 positions from the starting grid.
After a strong drive though the field, to gain as many as 20 positions at one point, Harry Gottsacker Racing and the No 69 FRAM Autolite Protein Water SIN R1 GT4 saw his race end early. Contact at Oak Tree forced the car off track with damage, which along with another car off in another location, brought out the yellow flag with under eight minutes remaining in the race.
As with yesterday’s race, not enough time was left to resume green flag racing, so the red/checkered flag were thrown with a few minutes remaining in the session.
