2024 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR

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The layout of Virginia International Raceway, where the race will be held. Virginia International Raceway - Full Course.svg
The layout of Virginia International Raceway, where the race will be held.

The 2024 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR will be a sports car race held at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia, on August 25, 2024. It will be the ninth round of the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship.

Contents

Background

Preview

Virginia International Raceway, where the race will be held. American Le Mans Series Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR October 2013 (10295564514).jpg
Virginia International Raceway, where the race will be held.

International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) president John Doonan confirmed the race was part of the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship (IMSA SCC) in August 2023. [1] It will be the eleventh consecutive year the IMSA SCC hosts a race at Virginia International Raceway. The 2024 IMSA SportsCar Weekend will be the ninth of eleven scheduled sports car races of 2024 by IMSA. [2] The race will be held at the seventeen-turn 3.270 mi (5.263 km) Virginia International Raceway on August 25, 2024. [2]

Balance of performance

Ahead of the event, IMSA published a bulletin regarding the latest balance of performance (BoP) changes in the GTD Pro and GTD classes. [3] The Acura has been given a 1-liter increase in fuel capacity to accommodate the 11.5 horsepower gained across all power levels. Additionally, the Lamborghini will see an increase in weight of 15 kilograms. This is countered, however, by an increase of 5.3 horsepower across all power levels, and a 2-liter fuel capacity increase. Finally, the Ferrari will see an increase of 10 kilograms in weight, with no adjustments to the power level. [3]

Standings before the race

Preceding the event, Laurin Heinrich leads the GTD Pro Drivers' Championship with 2256 points, 76 points ahead of second-placed Ross Gunn. Ben Barnicoat and Jack Hawksworth sit in third place, a further 97 points behind. [4] The GTD Drivers' Championship is currently led by Philip Ellis and Russell Ward with 2396 points. They have a lead of 268 points over second-placed Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher. Parker Thompson sits in third, 526 points behind Ellis and Ward. [4] The Manufacturers' Championships are led by Porsche and Mercedes-AMG, respectively, whilst AO Racing and Winward Racing lead the Teams' Championships. [4]

Entry list

The entry list was revealed on August 14, 2024, and features 23 entries: 9 entries in GTD Pro, and 14 entries in GTD. [5] Klaus Bachler will replace Julien Andlauer in the No. 77 AO Racing Porsche, to race alongside Laurin Heinrich. Furthermore, Kyle Marcelli will re-join Danny Formal in the No. 45 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Lamborghini, after missing the previous round due to an arm-related injury. [6] Both the No. 023 Triarsi Competizione and No. 35 Conquest Racing Ferrari's will not appear at the start after one-off appearances at Road America. [7]

No.EntrantCarDriver 1Driver 2
GTD Pro (GT Daytona Pro) (9 entries)
1 Flag of the United States.svg Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 Flag of the United States.svg Bryan Sellers Flag of the United States.svg Madison Snow
3 Flag of the United States.svg Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R Flag of Spain.svg Antonio García Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alexander Sims
4 Flag of the United States.svg Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R Flag of the Netherlands.svg Nicky Catsburg Flag of the United States.svg Tommy Milner
9 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Pfaff Motorsports McLaren 720S GT3 Evo Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Oliver Jarvis Flag of Germany.svg Marvin Kirchhöfer
14 Flag of the United States.svg Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Barnicoat Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth
23 Flag of the United States.svg Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ross Gunn Flag of Spain.svg Alex Riberas
64 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ford Multimatic Motorsports Ford Mustang GT3 Flag of Germany.svg Mike Rockenfeller Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Harry Tincknell
65 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ford Multimatic Motorsports Ford Mustang GT3 Flag of the United States.svg Joey Hand Flag of Germany.svg Dirk Müller
77 Flag of the United States.svg AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Flag of Austria.svg Klaus Bachler Flag of Germany.svg Laurin Heinrich
GTD (GT Daytona) (14 entries)
12 Flag of the United States.svg Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 Flag of the United States.svg Frankie Montecalvo Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Parker Thompson
13 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg AWA Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Bell Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Orey Fidani
27 Flag of the United States.svg Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Roman De Angelis Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Zacharie Robichon
32 Flag of the United States.svg Korthoff/Preston Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mikaël Grenier Flag of the United States.svg Kenton Koch
34 Flag of the United States.svg Conquest Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Flag of Spain.svg Albert Costa Flag of the United States.svg Manny Franco
45 Flag of the United States.svg Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Danny Formal Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kyle Marcelli
55 Flag of Germany.svg Proton Competition Ford Mustang GT3 Flag of Italy.svg Giammarco Levorato Flag of the United States.svg Corey Lewis
57 Flag of the United States.svg Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Philip Ellis Flag of the United States.svg Russell Ward
66 Flag of the United States.svg Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stevan McAleer Flag of the United States.svg Sheena Monk
70 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Inception Racing McLaren 720S GT3 Evo Flag of the United States.svg Brendan Iribe Flag of Denmark.svg Frederik Schandorff
78 Flag of the United States.svg Forte Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Misha Goikhberg Flag of Italy.svg Loris Spinelli
86 Flag of the United States.svg MDK Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Flag of Denmark.svg Anders Fjordbach Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Kerong Li
96 Flag of the United States.svg Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 Flag of the United States.svg Robby Foley Flag of the United States.svg Patrick Gallagher
120 Flag of the United States.svg Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Flag of the United States.svg Adam Adelson Flag of the United States.svg Elliott Skeer
Source: [5] [6] [7]

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References

  1. Bradley, Charles (August 4, 2023). "IMSA reveals 2024 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship calendar". Motorsport.com . Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "2024 IMSA Schedules Revealed at Road America". imsa.com. August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Dagys, John (August 14, 2024). "Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 Gets Power Increase for VIR". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 "00_Championship Points - Official.pdf" (PDF). imsa.results.alkamelcloud.com. Alkamel Systems. August 7, 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 10, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Michelin GT Challenge at VIR – Pre-Event Entry List" (PDF). imsa.com. IMSA. August 14, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Dagys, John (August 14, 2024). "23 Entries for Michelin GT Challenge at VIR". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  7. 1 2 O'Connell, RJ (August 14, 2024). "23 Cars Entered For IMSA VIR GT Challenge". Dailysportscar. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
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