The Michelin Pilot Challenge cauldron continue to heat up as the series visits VIR next weekend

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Like the GT3’s before them, the last round of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Series from Road America two weeks ago was also beneficial to three Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT4 teams.

Ending that two-hour encounter with two car upon the overall podium with P2 and P3 finishes as well as another claiming the Bronze Cup three events before end of season is obviously what others would like to emulate as the Series also moves onto the Virginia International Raceway two-hour affair next weekend.

Once again, there are slight driver changes within two of the six Vantage GT4 crews with the #45 Ruckus Racing entry this time absent from the proceedings.

The #16 Skip Barber Racing AMR entry sees Will Lambros return to partner Ken Fukuda whilst Valentin Hasse-Clot’s place within the #19 Van Der Steur car is again replaced by Aussie Scott Andrews as the young Frenchman is again on ACO rules racing duties in Europe. Rory Van Der Steur and Andrews will be keen to develop upon their P3 finish last time out to maximise that championship aspirations.

No changes with the #46 Team TGM car of Paul Holton and Matt Plumb nor with last times P2 finishes within the #88 Archangel prepared AMR of Todd Coleman and Aaron Telitz. The newly crowned Bronze Cup Champions of Hugh Plumb and Ted Giovanis as well as the #71 Rebel Rock pairing of Frank DePew and Robin Liddell complete the Aston Martin line up within the thirty-one strong grid.

Results from Road America have split the three leading Aston Martin powered drivers at the top of the Championship leaderboard with Matt Plumb still leading the way on 2000 points but with the Porsche powered contingent of Trent Hindman and Stevan McAleer just 200 point behind. Van der Steur is now thirty points behind the Porsche pairing with Holton a further seventy points back from him with two remaining rounds from Indianapolis and Petit Le Mans still to come.