Just three AMR Vantage GT4s this time around as Michelin Pilot Challenge visits Laguna Seca
Monday, April 25, 2022
Having raced out at both Daytona and Sebring in Florida, this is their first ‘fly away’ event on the west coast of the USA for what will be a ten-round season for them.
Last time out at Sebring back in mid-March, it was the #7 Volt Racing Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT4 of Alan Brynjolfsson and Trent Hindman who again shone after having qualified in fifth to see out their two-hour race in second place overall.
That was matched by the #09 Stoner Car Care AMR Vantage GT4 entry of Rob Ecklin and Ramin Abdolvahabi who secured their first podium of the year in second within the new for 2022 Bronze Cup class.
After their untimely retirement during the opening round of the season at Daytona, Sebring saw a much stronger performance from the series debutants from the NTE Racing team for drivers Manny Franko and Josh Hurley although the Automatic Racing Bronze Cup GT4 entry for Paul Kiebler and Jon Branam did end their day early again after unnecessary contact in the opening laps.
This weekend’s events in California again sees a combined grid size of forty-one cars being listed – twenty-eight in GS and thirteen TCR based cars with just three Aston Martins taking part this time around.
Volt Racing, Stoner Car Care and NTE Sport prepared Corsa Horizon cars are again all listed with their existing drivers but there is no #27 Automatic Racing entry for Kiebler/Branam despite previous reports of them also confirming a full season commitment prior to Sebring.
For this series, track action again begins this Friday with two Free Practice sessions before Qualifying and their customary two-hour race on Saturday, with the race starting at 19:00hrs local.
Photo credits – Teams / MPC