With six rounds down and still four more to go, this season’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Series is still far from over with nearly as many championship points still on offer that the present table leaders have accrued so far going into next weekend’s seventh round from Road America.
This time around, we welcome back the four mainly full season Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT4 powered protagonists after only three made the trip to the other side of the Canadian border last time around.
Three weeks ago at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, the #4 Medusa Motorsport AMR team of Athan Sterling and Hunter Yearny elected not to make the trip north, rather spending their time at Road America testing ahead of next weekend’s two-hour race. The last few rounds of the series have been more than challenging for AMR’s latest recruits within North America as they adapt to the Vantage GT4 platform over that of their original Ford Mustang as well as two untimely and race ending accidents as well. Hopefully, preparation will be their key to a better race weekend this time around.
The #14 Circle H Racing AMR of David Hampton and Thomas Merrill have also found the last few races more than challenging as they have become embroiled within other crews incidents and accidents to find their early fine start to the start slumping off unfortunately rapidly. A P8 at the Glen the only rose between a DNF blotted copybook at the events either side of that sums up their season so far but again, the championship situation would allow the crew to elevate themselves up the order with some more consistent finishing over the remaining rounds.
The #26 Heart of Racing AMR Vantage GT4 of both Hannah Grisham and Hannah Greenemeir has certainly been quick – specially in qualifying for the last two rounds where each driver has managed to secure overall pole position for themselves at both Watkins Glen and CTMSP. Unfortunately, race pace and unforeseen circumstances with other cars has blighted them in both races with a P6 finish at the Glen before a very disappointing P15 finish last time out after a late black and orange flag for the crew last time out. Despite all of that, the #26 crew still stand within grasping distance of the championship lead should results go their way over the remaining four races.
Finally, the #66 Car Blanche (nee Van Der Steur racing) AMR of Trenton Estep and Allen Patten hold the best AMR powered position within the overall championship table in sixth after pushing on through some difficult races to still come away with a respectable finish and important points haul.
Fourth overall in Canadian and fifth overall at the Glen, and despite some significant contact for the car within both races sees the pairing laying just the equivalent of one race win away from the top of the table with visits to VIR, Indianapolis and Road Atlanta still to come.
Track action will begin next Thursday with practice before Qualifying on Friday and the start to the two-hour race at 13:50hrs local this time around.
Photo credits – Teams / social media
