MARCH 15, 2023
Sunday, March 12, 2023 at 12:59PM 
Two-time champion Chris Dyson (No. 16 CDR GYM WEED Ford Mustang) took the checkered flag in Round 2 of the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli at NOLA Motorsports Park, leading teammate Matt Brabham (No. 20 CDR GYM WEED Mustang) who finished a close second, earning the CDR team its second 1-2 finish of 2023. Justin Marks (No. 99 Trackhouse Chevrolet Camaro) earned his second-consecutive Motul Pole Award of the season and led the field to green for a wild first lap. The top three cars fanned out after the wave of the green flag, and second-place starter Brabham overtook Marks in the first turn. Marks, whose car was locking up in the opening corners, made unintentional contact with Brabham’s Mustang in an attempt to retake the lead, bumping him back into the third position, with Dyson taking over second. A few turns later, Marks locked up once again, missing a corner and driving off course. While he was able to get rolling and return to the track, he resumed racing in last place, with Dyson inheriting the point position. Once Dyson had the lead, there was no catching him, and he led second-place Brabham for the remainder of the 37-lap race. Marks fought his way through the entire field, taking over third place on lap 19. Marks put down blazing fast laps in an attempt to catch Dyson and Brabham, but without a caution to close the field, he remained a distant third. “This feels great, I can’t quite process it,” said Dyson. “It was a hard day; it was hot going flag-to-flag like that. You’ve got to pace yourself, and I knew Justin [Marks] was coming back. You can’t let up in these Trans Am races, it’s a flat-out sprint the whole way. You’ve got to look after yourself and your car, but that GYM WEED energy really helped me out. We rallied back after a tough one for us at Sebring, but here we are again; another 1-2, and we’re back in the championship. I think it’s going to be a tremendous season for all of us in Trans Am this year. Let’s go!” Dyson’s win was the 20th of his Trans Am career, which ties him with Ron Fellows for sixth on the all-time TA win list. (Thank you to Trans Am Series Media)
After leading every lap en route to victory in this morning’s first race of a Sunday doubleheader at Sebring International Raceway, Bijoy Garg had a much tougher time in this afternoon’s second 45-minute IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge race. But the end result was the same, as Garg drove the No. 3 Jr III Racing Ligier JS P320 back into Victory Lane. Antonio Serravalle (No. 18 Muehlner Motorsports America Ligier) was second, and Dan Goldburg (No. 73 JDC MotorSports Duqueine D08) recovered from a spin to finish third for his fourth consecutive podium result to open the VP Racing Challenge season. Goldburg departs the weekend atop both the overall LMP3 championship standings, as well as the Bronze driver standings. He has been the highest-finishing Bronze-rated driver in every race so far. The next event for the VP Racing Challenge is scheduled for July 7-9 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park as part of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Challenge Chevrolet Grand Prix weekend. (Thank you to IMSA WIre Service)
It may have looked easy from the outside, but Bijoy Garg suggests his flag-to-flag victory in Sunday morning’s 45-minute IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge race at Sebring International Raceway was anything but. “It wasn’t easy, definitely,” said the driver of the No. 3 Jr III Racing Ligier JS P320. I feel like we had pace on all the other guys. They just got through traffic a bit better, but overall, I’m super happy with the win. Our car felt great all race.” The victory was Garg’s first in the series. He crossed the stripe 3.479 seconds ahead of Dan Goldburg (No. 73 JDC MotorSports Duqueine D08) who saw his two-race series win streak snapped but he continues to lead the VP Racing Challenge LMP3 class points leader. Antonio Serravalle rounded out the top three in the No. 18 Muehlner Motorsports America Duqueine. Race 2 results upcoming. (Thank you to IMSA WIre Service)
(IMSA)While the LMP3 class polesitter managed to go flag-to-flag en route to the victory, Gregory Liefooghe’s efforts to do the same in the GSX class came up one lap short. Buoyed in part by the late-race full-course caution, 17-year-old Luca Mars (No. 59 KOHR MOTORSPORTS Ford Mustang GT4) managed to reel in Liefooghe’s No. 43 Stephen Cameron Racing BMW M4 GT4 over the closing laps. And just after taking the white flag, Mars knew it was time to make his move. “It was a long race there,” Mars explained. “Lapped traffic kind of separated me and Greg a little bit, but I had him coming into (Turn) 1. I had a run, so I set up and got a little over-under. I was able to stick my nose in so he couldn’t fully block. I just kind of put my car in there where he couldn’t get down and squeeze me. I just got around the corner, he went a little wide, and that was it. “It’s a new series,” said Mars, who was one of many additions to a field that swelled to from 24 cars at Daytona to 30 this weekend. “It’s an awesome series. I’m super glad to be here this weekend. I had a great time out there. It was a long race, and I’m super looking forward to racing later today.” After leading both practice sessions, taking the pole position, and leading all but the final lap, Liefooghe took second in his series debut. Sebastian Carazo claimed the final spot on the podium with a third-place run in the No. 27 Kellymoss with Riley Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS. (Thank you to IMSA Wire Service)
(IMSA)
Gregory Liefooghe started from the GSX class pole in the No. 43 Stephen Cameron Racing BMW M4 GT4 and led every lap but the last one in this morning’s first 45-minute race. And while he also started Sunday afternoon’s race from the class pole, it appeared on the opening lap like he might come up empty on the day as he fell from first to fifth at the end of the first lap. “The start was pretty sporty,” Liefooghe said. “There was two LMP3 cars that crashed right in front of me. I was on the outside, so I kind of got stuck, fell back and almost got collected, so I was really happy to survive.” He did more than survive. Liefooghe went right to work when the race went back to green following a 10-minute full-course caution period, picking off the cars in front of him, including Luca Mars, who won this morning’s race in the No. 59 KOHR MOTORSPORTS Ford Mustang GT4, but had to make an unscheduled trip to pit lane early in Race 2. “Unfortunately, Lucas broke down,” Liefooghe said. “I’m not sure what happened to him. We were looking forward to a battle with him and see how we improved our car compared to his since this morning.” Liefooghe drove away from the field after taking the lead, and took the checkered flag 22.712 seconds ahead of Sebastian Carazo, who finished second in the No. 27 Kellymoss with Riley Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS. “It just seems like our car was really good on the high-speed stuff,” Liefooghe surmised. “(Turns) 17 and 1 was our strong suit. It felt like we were able to brake a lot deeper than the other competitors and we kind of squeaked by in those two spots on track.” While Liefooghe and Carazo, who also finished third this morning, had podium finishes in both of the day’s races, they were greeted by a new face on the podium at the end of Race 2. Patrick Wilmot came home third in the No. 88 Split Decision Motorsports BMW. (Thank you to IMSA WIre Service)
After a two-tire call under the fourth caution flag in Sunday’s United Rentals Work United 500 at Phoenix Raceway, William Byron (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) surged past teammate Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) in overtime to win his second straight NASCAR Cup Series race. Byron can thank Ford drivers Aric Almirola and Harrison Burton, who on successive weekends spun with a handful of laps left – at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Phoenix, respectively – and gave Byron a chance to capitalize on the opportunity. As a result, Byron scored his second victory of the season and a guaranteed ticket into the Cup Series Playoffs. Byron won for the first time at Phoenix and for the sixth time in his career. Byron credited crew chief Rudy Fugle with the two-tire call that got him out front with a chance to win. “Owe the last couple weeks to him,” said Byron, who also won at Las Vegas on two fresh tires. “He’s done a really good job strategy-wise, and execution-wise we’ve done a good job to put ourselves in those positions on the front row with a shot at the end. Thanks to everybody back at Hendrick Motorsports, putting together great cars, doing a great job. This is a big credit to them, engine shop, (team owner, Rick) Hendrick, everybody.” Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Team Penske Ford) was second and Tyler Reddick (No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota) finished third. Watch Race Highlights here. (Thank you to Reid Spencer/NASCAR WIre Service)
When It Comes To Sebring, It's The Character That Matters.
By Holly Cain/IMSA WIre Service
Unique. Full of character. Toss out these vague but kindly track descriptions and the vast majority of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship drivers don’t hesitate with their reply. “Ah, Sebring!”
The 3.74-mile, 17-turn circuit using some of a former World War II airfield in rural Central Florida has bumps scattered throughout and features one of the most famous hairpin turns in American racing. Its premier event which takes place Saturday – the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring – showcases high-stakes driving in a classic race spanning early daylight to setting sunlight to moonlight.
And yet, these drivers wouldn’t change a thing.
“The fact we know there are problems with the track and we don’t want to fix it … we know there are some treacherous corners and we know there are bumps and cliffs and holes and stuff, that’s all part of the historical value of Sebring and what it brings,’’ said Andy Lally, the 2014 Sebring winner who will drive the No. 44 Magnus Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 in the GT Daytona (GTD) class this weekend.
“As much as it is fairly grueling on a driver, and it’s barely nice weather there, that’s what makes it satisfying if you do well.”
Legendary drivers from Mario Andretti to Phil Hill, from Tom Kristensen to Juan Manuel Fangio, from Brian Redman to Allan McNish all raced on essentially the same surfaces as the 54-car field that will compete in the 71st running this week.
There have been “touch-ups” to the surface and some modifications to the layout that have seen its length vary from 5.2 miles from 1952-1982 to the current 3.74 miles. But part of what makes this race so endearing to the competitors and beloved by the fans is that it presents a tough and true test of competition. “Easy” has never been in the Sebring vernacular.
“Everybody tries to explain to you where to go and what to heed and what not to heed, but it’s almost impossible to figure out what to expect until you do a few laps,’’ conceded Corvette Racing’s Antonio Garcia, the defending GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class winner in the No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette C8.R GTD. Garcia’s four Sebring victories are most of any driver in the 2023 field.
“I think you do (appreciate it),’’ Garcia continued. “It’s just the whole environment there. Starting from early in the morning almost with the sunrise after warmup. Most of the races are super hot during the day, then you go into the night with the classic March sunset where you don’t see a thing going into (the final Turn) 17 and Turn 7 (hairpin).
“Every single aspect of that race is unique. Even if at times it feels undrivable, it is one of my favorite, if not my favorite race of the year.’’
Filipe Albuquerque, driver of the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class, agreed, noting that ultimately, it’s a test of strength and resilience at Sebring. Physical strength and mindful resilience that isn’t required in the same doses elsewhere.
“It’s known as a unique track all over the world because of the amount of bumps,’’ Albuquerque said. “And no one wants to restore those bumps because it’s the character of this track. From the driver’s point of view, it’s super demanding on the steering wheel. You have to deal with the car jumping over the bumps and hold the steering wheel super hard.”
While the track surface certainly presents its own challenges, the course layout presents a high technical requirement. The Turn 7 hairpin is renowned and there are plenty of long straights capped by surgical turns.
And this year, the WeatherTech Championship includes the new hybrid-powered GTP cars on the storied surface; a different sort of test for this class that performed so well at Daytona last month.
“The track is the same, the bumps are completely the same, but the cars are different from year to year,’’ Albuquerque said. “This year it’s a brand-new car for the LMDh, a completely different car from the DPi era – hybrid engine, it’s heavier, it’s faster. So it’s going to be interesting to see how it rides the bumps and how it is with the heat in the cockpit.
“For sure, we will encounter different challenges during the race, so I’m looking forward to see what’s the difference, to be honest.”
It’s actually a rarity in modern motorsports where the challenges of a particular venue are embraced and even celebrated instead of criticized and changed. The historical significance of a victory at Sebring – over bumps, on this one-of-a-kind course, door-to-door through the day and into the night – makes it one of the most rewarding trophies in the sport.
“The unique aspect is actually driving the track,’’ Lally said. “The atmosphere with the fans that show up, the spring break sort of mentality that seems to be quite a bit amped up over other races and is neat.
“But as far as why you would look forward to accomplishing a race win there, it is because of how tricky it is to put together the perfect lap one after another.’’
The Grande Prémio de Portugal (March 24th to 26th) at Portimão marks the start of an anniversary season for BMW M, the 25th season as Official Car of MotoGP™. The close partnership with MotoGP™ rights holder Dorna Sports dates back to 1999. The start of the anniversary season in Portugal will see the new BMW M safety car make its debut. The new BMW M2 MotoGP™ safety car is based on the new BMW M2, which made its world premier in October. The new BMW M2 features a 460HP TwinPower turbo in-line 6-cylinder engine.
Editor's Note: You can access previous issues of AE by clicking on "Next 1 Entries" below. - WG