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2023 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR

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Track map of VIR

The 2023 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR was a sports car race sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). The Race was held at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia on August 27, 2023. The event was the ninth round of the 2023 IMSA SportsCar Championship, and the sixth round of the WeatherTech Sprint Cup.

Background

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Virginia International Raceway, where the race was held.

International Motor Sports Association's (IMSA) president John Doonan confirmed the race was part of the schedule for the 2023 IMSA SportsCar Championship (IMSA SCC) in August 2022.[1] It was the tenth consecutive year the event will be held as part of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The 2023 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR was the ninth of eleven scheduled sports car races of 2023 by IMSA, and it was the sixth round held as part of the WeatherTech Sprint Cup.[2] The race was held at the seventeen-turn 3.270 mi (5.263 km) Virginia International Raceway on August 27, 2023.[3] As in previous years, it will be the second of two GT-only rounds of the IMSA SportsCar Championship, in which only the GTD Pro and GTD classes will compete.[4]

IMSA released two separate technical bulletins regarding the Balance of Performance for the event. The first one was released on August 16, 2023. In this bulletin, the Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 received a 12-horsepower decrease, as well as a four-liter fuel capacity reduction.[5] The second technical bulletin was released on August 18, 2023. In this bulletin, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo received a 15 kilogram weight increase, as well as a 0.5 mm larger air restrictor and a one-liter fuel capacity increase. The Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) received a 10 kilogram weight increase, 2 mm larger air restrictor, and an increase in fuel capacity of one liter.[6]

Before the race, Ben Barnicoat and Jack Hawksworth led the GTD Pro Drivers' Championship with 2810 points, ahead of Antonio García and Jordan Taylor in second with 2641 points, and Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella in third.[7] In GTD, the Drivers' Championship was led by Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow with 2611 points, ahead of Roman De Angelis and Marco Sørensen with 2406 points.[7] Lexus and BMW were leading their respective Manufacturers' Championships, while Vasser Sullivan Racing and Paul Miller Racing each led their own Teams' Championships.[7]

Entries

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A total of 19 cars took part in the event split across two classes. 5 cars are entered in GTD Pro and 14 in GTD.[8] Andretti Autosport skipped the event.[9]

Practice and qualifying

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There were two practice sessions preceding the race start on Sunday, one on Friday afternoon and one on Saturday morning. The first session on Friday afternoon ran for 90 minutes while the second session on Saturday morning ran for 105 minutes.[10]

In the first session, Ben Barnicoat's No. 14 Lexus lapped quickest at 1 minute, 45.201 seconds. Patrick Pilet's No. 9 Pfaff Porsche was second-fastest. Antonio García was third in Corvette's No. 3 car.[11] GTD was led by Patrick Gallagher in Turner Motorsport's No. 96 car with a 1:45.234 lap, 0.160 seconds ahead of Aaron Telitz in VSR's No. 12 Lexus. Winward's Philip Ellis was third. Frederik Schandorff's No. 70 McLaren, along with Bryan Sellers' No. 1 Paul Miller BMW were fourth and fifth.[12] The No. 79 WeatherTech Racing Mercedes of Daniel Juncadella caught fire in the pitlane in the closing minutes.[12]

Juncadella led the final session with a lap of 1 minute, 44.539 seconds. Hawksworth was 0.030 seconds behind in second, with the No. 3 Corvette of García in third.[13] Snow led GTD in Paul Miller's No. 1 BMW, 0.069 seconds ahead of Gallagher in Turner Motorsport's No. 96 BMW. Grenier was third in the No. 32 Korthoff Mercedes-AMG. Ward placed the No. 57 Winward Mercedes-AMG in fourth.[14]

Saturday’s afternoon qualifying was broken into one sessions for the GTD Pro and GTD classes, which lasted for 15 minutes.[10] The rules dictated that all teams nominated a driver to qualify their cars. The competitors' fastest lap times determined the starting order.[15]

Jack Hawksworth for VSR took his third pole position of the season, and the tenth of his career,[16] with a time of 1 minute, 44.780 seconds.[17] He was joined on the grid's front row by Daniel Juncadella whose best lap in the No. 79 WeatherTech Mercedes-AMG was 0.096 seconds slower, and Antonio García drove the No. 3 Corvette to third.[17] The Pffaf Motorsports Porsche and the No. 23 Heart Aston Martin rounded out the GTD Pro qualifiers.[16] In GTD, snow took his second pole position of the season, and the eleventh of his career with a lap of 1 minute and 45.225 seconds.[18][17] He was joined by Telitz's No. 12 Lexus on grid's the front row with his best lap being 0.153 second slower, and Loris Spinelli drove the No. 78 Forte Racing Lamborghini to third place.[16] Following in fourth was Skeen's No. 32 Korthoff Mercedes-AMG ,with Gallagher's slower No. 96 Turner BMW in fifth.[16]


Qualifying results

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Pole positions in each class are indicated in bold and by ‡.

Pos. Class No. Team Driver Time Gap Grid
1 GTD Pro 14 United States Vasser Sullivan Racing United Kingdom Jack Hawksworth 1:44.780 _ 1‡
2 GTD Pro 79 United States WeatherTech Racing Spain Daniel Juncadella 1:44.876 +0.096 2
3 GTD Pro 3 United States Corvette Racing Spain Antonio García 1:45.133 +0.353 3
4 GTD 1 United States Paul Miller Racing United States Madison Snow 1:45.225 +0.445 4‡
5 GTD 12 United States Vasser Sullivan Racing United States Aaron Telitz 1:45.378 +0.598 5
6 GTD 78 United States Forte Racing powered by US RaceTronics Italy Loris Spinelli 1:45.416 +0.636 6
7 GTD 32 United States Team Korthoff Motorsports United States Mike Skeen 1:45.447 +0.667 7
8 GTD 96 United States Turner Motorsport United States Patrick Gallagher 1:45.913 +1.133 8
9 GTD 27 United States Heart of Racing Team Canada Roman De Angelis 1:45.918 +1.138 9
10 GTD Pro 9 Canada Pfaff Motorsports France Patrick Pilet 1:45.974 +1.194 10
11 GTD Pro 23 United States Heart of Racing Team United Kingdom Ross Gunn 1:45.977 +1.197 11
12 GTD 70 United Kingdom Inception Racing United States Brendan Iribe 1:46.098 +1.318 12
13 GTD 57 United States Winward Racing United States Russell Ward 1:46.271 +1.491 13
14 GTD 97 United States Turner Motorsport United States Chandler Hull 1:46.919 +2.139 14
15 GTD 66 United States Gradient Racing United States Sheena Monk 1:47.504 +2.724 15
16 GTD 80 United States AO Racing Team United States P.J. Hyett 1:47.544 +2.764 16
17 GTD 91 United States Kelly-Moss with Riley United States Alan Metni 1:47.635 +2.855 17
18 GTD 77 United States Wright Motorsports United States Alan Brynjolfsson 1:48.047 +3.267 18
19 GTD 92 United States Kelly-Moss with Riley United States David Brule 1:49.230 +4.450 19
Sources:[19][20]

Warm up

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A 20-minute morning warm-up session was held on the morning of August 27.[10] Antonio García led GTD Pro with a lap time of 1:46.295, 0.055 seconds ahead of Jules Gounon. Frederik Schandorff set the fastest time amongst all GTD cars.[21]

Race

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Post-race

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The result kept Barnicoat and Hawksworth atop the GTD Pro Drivers' Championship. Bachler and Pilet advanced from fourth to third while Gounon and Juncadella dropped from third to fourth.[22] With 2996 points, Sellers and Snow's victory allowed them to increase their advantage over De Angelis and Sørensen in the GTD Drivers' Championship. Foley and Gallagher advanced from seventh to fifth while Iribe and Schandorff dropped from third to fourth.[22] Lexus and BMW continued to top their respective Manufacturers' Championships, while Vasser Sullivan Racing, and Paul Miller Racing kept their respective advantages in their respective of Teams' Championships with two rounds remaining in the season.[22]

Race Result

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Class winners are in bold and ‡.

Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Laps Time/Retired
Engine
1 GTD Pro 3 United States Corvette Racing Spain Antonio García
United States Jordan Taylor
Chevrolet Corvette C8.R GTD 81 2:41:28.719‡
Chevrolet 5.5 L V8
2 GTD Pro 14 United States Vasser Sullivan Racing United Kingdom Ben Barnicoat
United Kingdom Jack Hawksworth
Lexus RC F GT3 81 +2.068
Toyota 2UR 5.0 L V8
3 GTD 1 United States Paul Miller Racing United States Bryan Sellers
United States Madison Snow
BMW M4 GT3 81 +17.261‡
BMW S58B30T0 3.0 L Turbo I6
4 GTD 96 United States Turner Motorsport United States Robby Foley
United States Patrick Gallagher
BMW M4 GT3 81 +29.448
BMW S58B30T0 3.0 L Turbo I6
5 GTD 57 United States Winward Racing United Kingdom Philip Ellis
United States Russell Ward
Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo 81 +33.223
Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8
6 GTD 97 United States Turner Motorsport United States Bill Auberlen
United States Chandler Hull
BMW M4 GT3 81 +38.346
BMW S58B30T0 3.0 L Turbo I6
7 GTD 12 United States Vasser Sullivan Racing United States Frankie Montecalvo
United States Aaron Telitz
Lexus RC F GT3 81 +43.073
Toyota 2UR 5.0 L V8
8 GTD 80 United States AO Racing Team United States P.J. Hyett
United Kingdom Sebastian Priaulx
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) 81 +44.575
Porsche 4.2 L Flat-6
9 GTD 70 United Kingdom Inception Racing United States Brendan Iribe
Denmark Frederik Schandorff
McLaren 720S GT3 Evo 81 +48.144
McLaren M840T 4.0 L Turbo V8
10 GTD 91 United States Kelly-Moss with Riley Netherlands Kay van Berlo
United States Alan Metni
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) 81 +50.818
Porsche 4.2 L Flat-6
11 GTD 77 United States Wright Motorsports United States Alan Brynjolfsson
United States Trent Hindman
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) 81 +58.899
Porsche 4.2 L Flat-6
12 GTD Pro 9 Canada Pfaff Motorsports Austria Klaus Bachler
France Patrick Pilet
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) 81 +1:03.366
Porsche 4.2 L Flat-6
13 GTD 66 United States Gradient Racing United Kingdom Katherine Legge
United States Sheena Monk
Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 81 +1:05.530
Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6
14 GTD 32 United States Team Korthoff Motorsports Canada Mikaël Grenier
United States Mike Skeen
Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo 81 +1:15.565
Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8
15 GTD Pro 23 United States Heart of Racing Team United Kingdom Ross Gunn
Spain Alex Riberas
Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 81 +1:19.046
Aston Martin 4.0 L Turbo V8
16 GTD 27 United States Heart of Racing Team Canada Roman De Angelis
Denmark Marco Sørensen
Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 81 +1:38.403
Aston Martin 4.0 L Turbo V8
17 GTD Pro 79 United States WeatherTech Racing Andorra Jules Gounon
Spain Daniel Juncadella
Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo 79 +2 Laps
Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8
18

DNF

GTD 78 United States Forte Racing powered by US RaceTronics Canada Misha Goikhberg
Italy Loris Spinelli
Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 28 Did Not Finish
Lamborghini 5.2 L V10
19

DNF

GTD 92 United States Kelly-Moss with Riley United States David Brule
United States Alec Udell
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) 4 Did Not Finish
Porsche 4.2 L Flat-6
Source:[23]

Standings after the race

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  • Note: Only the top five positions are included for all sets of standings.
  • Note: Only the top five positions are included for all sets of standings.
  • Note: Only the top five positions are included for all sets of standings.

References

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  1. ^ Malsher-Lopez, David (August 5, 2022). "IMSA reveals 2023 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship schedule". us.motorsport.com. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  2. ^ Allaway, Phil (August 5, 2022). "IMSA Announces 2023 Schedules in State of the Sport Address". frontstretch.com. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  3. ^ "IMSA Reveals Schedule For 2023 Season". dailysportscar.com. August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  4. ^ "IMSA Reveals Schedule For 2023 Season". dailysportscar.com. August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  5. ^ Dagys, John (August 16, 2023). "Aston Martin Hit With Power Reduction for VIR". sportscar365.com. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  6. ^ Dagys, John (August 18, 2023). "IMSA Makes Second Round of BoP Changes for VIR". sportscar365.com. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "00_Championship Points - Official.pdf" (PDF). results.imsa.com. August 6, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  8. ^ Dagys, John (August 16, 2023). "20 Entries for VIR". sportscar365.com. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  9. ^ "Barnicoat Quickest In VIR Practice 1". dailysportscar.com. August 25, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c "2023 IMSA Official Schedule and SR VIR 082123 REV V1" (PDF). results.imsa.com/noticeBoard.php. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  11. ^ Dagys, John (August 25, 2023). "Barnicoat Paces Opening Practice at VIR". sportscar365.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  12. ^ a b S. James, Richard (August 25, 2023). "Vasser Sullivan Lexus sets early pace in IMSA GT Challenge at VIR". racer.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  13. ^ Dagys, John (August 26, 2023). "Juncadella Quickest in Second VIR Practice". sportscar365.com. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  14. ^ S. James, Richard (August 26, 2023). "From fire to fast: Juncadella puts WeatherTech Mercedes on top in VIR practice 2". racer.com. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  15. ^ "2023 IMSA SPORTING REGULATIONS and SERIES SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-14. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  16. ^ a b c d S. James, Richard (August 26, 2023). "Vasser Sullivan Lexus, Paul Miller BMW nab IMSA poles at VIR". racer.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  17. ^ a b c Dagys, John (August 26, 2023). "Hawksworth Takes VIR Pole for Vasser Sullivan, Lexus". sportscar365.com. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  18. ^ Allaway, Phil (August 26, 2023). "Jack Hawksworth Wins Michelin GT Challenge at VIR Pole". frontstretch.com. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  19. ^ "03_Results_Qualifying.PDF" (PDF). results.imsa.com. August 26, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  20. ^ "01_Grid_Race_Official_Amended.PDF" (PDF). results.imsa.com. August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  21. ^ Dagys, John (August 27, 2023). "Schandorff Quickest in VIR Warmup". sportscar365.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "00_Championship Points - Provisional.pdf" (PDF). results.imsa.com. August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  23. ^ "03_Results_Race_Unofficial.PDF" (PDF). results.imsa.com. August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
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