The race that was not really a race for Michelin Pilot Challenge from Road America

There were again just four Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT4’s competing within the twenty-three strong GS class alongside the additional fifteen TCR based entries with the nature of the four-mile Road America (in theory) more than enough for this thirty-eight strong grid to make their way around. Team TGM were back with their #46 (Paul Holton/Matt Plumb) and #64 (Hugh Plumb/Ted Giovanis) alongside the #71 Rebel Rock Racing (Frank DePew/Robin Liddell) and #15 Van Der Steur (Christine/Ben Sloss) AMR entries.

Qualifying had seen Holton again take another forward starting position in P4 whilst the others were placed further back in P17 (#71), P19 (#15) and P21 (#64) but with the latter two again battling things out within Bronze Cup in P1 and P2 respectively.

All that, however, changed on the opening lap as first Holton was seen recovering himself back to the circuit way down in P14 as the then three other cars including the #71 Rebel Rock AMR of DePew were seen crawling away from the same scene with damage – Safety car number one! Whilst front near side damage to the #71 would normally have seen them retire from the race, the team did manage to effect repairs for them to rejoin the race later (nine laps down) as an effective elongated test.

There would be further turmoil for the #46 car as their start was adjudged to have been contrary to the rules (changing lanes before the start line) for which they would get a further drive through penalty!

Back to green but then quickly back under caution as ‘safety cars do breed safety cars’ upon those immediate restart laps – this time for a TCR punted off by another into the gravel with half an hour gone already without a full racing lap under anyone’s belt!!

There would be two further Safety car interventions after this to the start of the second and final hour of racing but even that was punctuated by another messy and unnecessary contact between GS cars that lead to an extended clean-up operation again.

That left less than thirty minutes to the finish to decide but whilst the #71 was already of contention with its earlier damage and the #46 hobbled with penalty time down pit lane, the only podium winning success was again with those two Aston Martins with Bronze Cup for which the #64 crew would again claim the top step with the #15 Van Der Steur entry of husband and wide duo in third.

The series now moves onto Virginia International Raceway for its next round at the end of August.

Photo credits – Teams / Series / social media