Sunday’s GT challenge Race 1
Our second day of racing had another double header, this time in our GT class. GT1’s Tom Herb set an astonishing 1:24.397 to put himself on pole, just over 1.5 seconds ahead of second overall and in GT1, Ernestas Puzelis. Polesitters for the other classes were David Calzada for GT2 starting fourth, GT3’s Valdas Guarylius starting sixth, GT4’s Sean Venckevicius starting ninth, and GT5’s Andrew Talandzevicius starting 14th out of 25 drivers.
In one of this year’s largest GT field, green flags flew for our 25 drivers to chase after each other throughout these 18 laps. GT1’s battle stayed with our front row starters of Herb and Puzelis throughout the whole race, as both of them navigated their way around lapped traffic, whilst setting quick times to pull away from the rest of the field and third in GT1, Dan Gove. Mark Boden would take GT2’s lead early into the race and not look back as he would comfortably stay third overall and first in GT2, ahead of David Calzada and Charles Margosian, who after a spin late in the race, would make a last lap pass on Mike Brinati for GT2’s final podium step. Valdas Guarylius would finish where he started in sixth overall but more importantly, one whole lap ahead of his sole GT3 competitor this weekend, Bob Noorian. Sean Venckevicius lost a spot during race 1, which thankfully for him was not from a fellow GT4 driver, as Venckevicius would get GT4 class victory, ahead of Jim Hamman, and Scott Benning Sr. Tony Kester, who did not set a time in qualifying, went from the back of the field to finishing 12th overall, and more importantly, first in GT5, ahead of GT5 polesitter Andrew Talandzevicius and Pete Dale.
Sunday’s GT Challenge Race 2
Just like our Saturday’s Spec Miata races, the starting grid was set via fastest laps set in the first race of the double header. All of our class winners from all five classes would start from pole in their respective classes for race 2, as now 21 drivers took to the track for our 15 lap race to round out this weekend. The race was looking to go in a similar fashion to how the first race had gone. This being until oil from Jean Jodoin’s GT2 caused both second overall and in GT1, Ernestas Puzelis to slide off course, along with another GT2 of Charles Margosian to slide off track at turn 8. Margosian was able to get back going, while Jodoin and Puzelis had to get out of their cars and be towed back to the pits, thus ending their races with ⅓ of the race to go causing a red flag for cleanup. With three laps remaining, the race went back green with only 10 cars on the lead lap. This three lap dash gave us a spectacular battle for both GT2 and GT4 class victory. Taking the checkers overall and in GT1 would again be Tom Herb, one lap ahead of second in GT1, John Rante with the aforementioned DNF of Ernestas Puzelis rounding out GT1’s podium. GT2’s battle for the win saw Mike Brinati hold off David Calzada for the win, with Charles Margosian’s perseverance giving him the final podium spot, despite his troubles in both race 1 and 2. Valdas Guarylis would again finish one lap ahead of Bob Noorian, who switched cars due to earlier car troubles to give us our GT3 finishing drivers. Jim Hamman held off Sean Venckevicius for GT4 victory, with Scott Benning Sr finishing a few seconds ahead of Kirk Cordill to take GT4’s final step onto the podium. Tony Kester was our sole GT5 on the lead lap before the red flag, thus cruising home to a dominant GT5 win, while Pete Dale held off Andrew Talandvicius for second in GT5. Just like our Miata drivers, our GT drivers have earned themselves a well earned break before GT’s next and penultimate race of 2025, on Saturday, September 27th. We hope to see you then!
