2024 IMSA VP Challenge Round at Daytona International Speedway
The 2024 IMSA VP Challenge Round at Daytona International Speedway was a sports car racing event held between 19 and 21 January 2024 at the Daytona International Speedway. It was the first race of the 2024 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge season and was held during the Roar Before the 24 for the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
The event consisted of two practice sessions, one qualifying session, and two 45 minute races. Both races were won by Steven Aghakhani in the LMP3 class and Luca Mars in the GSX class.[1][2]
Entry List
[edit]LMP3
[edit]| Manufacturer | Car | Team | No. | Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ligier | Ligier JS P320 | MLT Motorsports | 6 |  Steven Aghakhani
|
| Performance Tech Motorsports | 7 | Alex Kirby
| ||
| 38 | Scott Locke
| |||
| Escuderia ABRO | 23 |  Miguel Villagomez
| ||
| Sean Creech Motorsport | 33 | Lance Willsey
| ||
| Rick Ware Racing with Ave Motorsports | 51 | Cody Ware
| ||
| Ave Motorsports | 61 |  George Staikos
| ||
| MISHUMOTORS | 70 |  Mirco Schultis
| ||
| Forte Racing | 77 | Brian Thienes
| ||
| Duqueine | Duqueine D-08 | Fast MD Racing with Remstar | 87 | Marco Kacic
|
GSX
[edit]| Manufacturer | Car | Team | No. | Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aston Martin | Aston Martin Vantage GT4 | Archangel Motorsports | 22 | Robbie McWilliams
|
| Ruckus Racing | 45 | Scott Blind
| ||
| Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 Evo | Rebel Rock Racing | 72 | Frank DePew
| |
| Aston Martin Vantage GT4 | van der Steur Racing | 82 | Brady Behrman
| |
| BMW | BMW M4 GT4 G82 | Team ACP by Random Vandals | 9 | Nathan Martin
|
| Swish Motorsports | 12 | Michael Dayton
| ||
| Stephen Cameron Racing | 19 | Sean Quinlan
| ||
| 43 | Gregory Liefooghe
| |||
| Auto Technic Racing | 25 | Mark Brummond
| ||
| 26 | Christopher Tasca
| |||
| Split Decision Motorsports | 88 | Patrick Wilmot
| ||
| Turner Motorsports | 96 | Joe Dalton
| ||
| Ford | Ford Mustang GT4 | KOHR MOTORSPORTS | 59 | Luca Mars
|
| McLaren | McLaren Artura GT4 | Motorsports in Action | 21 | Jesse Lazare
|
| Mercedes-AMG | Mercedes-AMG GT GT4 | Thaze Competition | 37 | Marc Miller
|
| 78 | Jonathan Woolridge
| |||
| Porsche | Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS | KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering | 5 | Angus Rogers
|
| BGB MOTORSPORTS | 17 | Will Wachs
| ||
| 808 | Jim Jonsin
| |||
| Baby Bull Racing | 44 | Moisey Uretsky
| ||
| 55 | Michael Cooper
| |||
| Czabok-Simpson Motorsport | 66 | Jackson Lee
| ||
| Toyota | Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO | BSI Racing | 67 | Eric Thompson
|
| Official Entry List | ||||
Race 1
[edit]The grid for race 1 was set by the fastest time in a single qualifying session.[3] Car 9 driven by Nathan Martin and Car 72[4] driven by Frank DePew withdrew prior to qualifying, and Car 78 driven by Jonathan Woolridge withdrew prior to Race 1.
Race 1 Starting Grid
[edit]Class pole position is indicated in bold
| Pos. | Class | No. | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LMP3 | 6 | Steven Aghakhani
|
MLT Motorsports | 1:43.361 |
| 2 | LMP3 | 87 | Marco Kacic
|
FastMD Racing with Remstar | 1:43.417 |
| 3 | LMP3 | 7 | Alex Kirby
|
Performance Tech Motorsports | 1:43.730 |
| 4 | LMP3 | 77 | Brian Thienes
|
Forte Racing | 1:43.982 |
| 5 | LMP3 | 51 | Cody Ware
|
Rick Ware Racing with Ave Motorsports | 1:44.042 |
| 6 | LMP3 | 23 | Miguel Villagomez
|
Escuderia ABRO | 1:44.118 |
| 7 | LMP3 | 33 | Lance Willsey
|
Sean Creech Motorsport | 1:44.888 |
| 8 | LMP3 | 70 | Mirco Schultis
|
MISHUMOTORS | 1:45.645 |
| 9 | LMP3 | 61 | George Staikos
|
Ave Motorsports | 1:48.056 |
| 10 | LMP3 | 38 | Scott Locke
|
Performance Tech Motorsports | 1:50.305 |
| 11 | GSX | 55 | Michael Cooper
|
Baby Bull Racing | 1:53.814 |
| 12 | GSX | 37 | Marc Miller
|
Thaze Competition | 1:53.895 |
| 13 | GSX | 43 | Gregory Liefooghe
|
Stephen Cameron Racing | 1:54.238 |
| 14 | GSX | 66 | Jackson Lee
|
Czabok-Simpson Motorsport | 1:54.583 |
| 15 | GSX | 67 | Eric Thompson
|
BSI Racing | 1:54.688 |
| 16 | GSX | 88 | Patrick Wilmot
|
Split Decision Motorsports | 1:54.776 |
| 17 | GSX | 82 | Brady Behrman
|
van der Steur Racing | 1:54.804 |
| 18 | GSX | 45 | Scott Blind
|
Ruckus Racing | 1:55.010 |
| 19 | GSX | 19 | Sean Quinlan
|
Stephen Cameron Racing | 1:55.270 |
| 20 | GSX | 21 | Jesse Lazare
|
Motorsports in Action | 1:55.313 |
| 21 | GSX | 25 | Mark Brummond
|
Auto Technic Racing | 1:56.224 |
| 22 | GSX | 5 | Angus Rogers
|
KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering | 1:56.983 |
| 23 | GSX | 17 | Will Wachs
|
BGB MOTORSPORTS | 1:56.992 |
| 24 | GSX | 808 | Jim Jonsin
|
BGB MOTORSPORTS | 1:57.010 |
| 25 | GSX | 12 | Michael Dayton
|
Swish Motorsports | 1:57.227 |
| 26 | GSX | 96 | Joe Dalton
|
Turner Motorsport | 1:57.260 |
| 27 | GSX | 22 | Robbie McWilliams
|
Archangel Motorsports | 1:57.538 |
| 28 | GSX | 26 | Christopher Tasca
|
Auto Technic Racing | 1:58.265 |
| 29 | GSX | 44 | Moisey Uretsky
|
Baby Bull Racing | No Time Set |
| 30 | GSX | 59 | Luca Mars
|
KOHR MOTORSPORTS | Time Disallowed[a] |
| Race 1 Official Starting Grid | |||||
- ^ Car #59 had all times disallowed due to being found underweight in technical inspection.
Report
[edit]On the first lap of the race, Cody Ware spun heading into turn 1, forcing Miguel Villagomez off the track to avoid him. Ware would recover from the spin to later finish 3rd.
With 28 minutes to go, Christopher Tasca suffered a right-rear puncture and had to retire from the race.
With 19 minutes to go, Robbie McWilliams crashed into the tire wall on the outside of the Le Mans Chicane, causing a full course yellow to be thrown on lap 16.[5]
Under full course yellow, Miguel Villagomez suffered a technical issue that caused his car to stop and become stranded coming out of the pit lane. The recovery of his car prolonged the full course yellow.
The race restarted with six minutes remaining with Alex Kirby leading in LMP3 and Gregory Liefooghe leading in GSX.
With two laps left, Steven Aghakhani took the lead into turn two after Alex Kirby went wide exiting turn one. Aghakhani would hold this lead until the end of the race.
On the last lap, Luca Mars drafted off of and passed Gregory Liefooghe in Speedway Turn 4, taking the GSX class win by 0.051 seconds.[6]
Race Results
[edit]Class winners are indicated in bold.
| Pos. | Class | No. | Driver | Team | Laps | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LMP3 | 6 | Steven Aghakhani
|
MLT Motorsports | 23 | - |
| 2 | LMP3 | 7 | Alex Kirby
|
Performance Tech Motorsports | 23 | +1.238 |
| 3 | LMP3 | 51 | Cody Ware
|
Rick Ware Racing with Ave Motorsports | 23 | +5.746 |
| 4 | LMP3 | 87 | Marco Kacic
|
FastMD Racing with Remstar | 23 | +6.035 |
| 5 | LMP3 | 77 | Brian Thienes
|
Forte Racing | 23 | +6.993 |
| 6 | LMP3 | 70 | Mirco Schultis
|
MISHUMOTORS | 23 | +10.754 |
| 7 | LMP3 | 33 | Lance Willsey
|
Sean Creech Motorsport | 23 | +11.248 |
| 8 | LMP3 | 61 | George Staikos
|
Ave Motorsports | 23 | +24.432 |
| 9 | LMP3 | 38 | Scott Locke
|
Performance Tech Motorsports | 23 | +41.900 |
| 10 | GSX | 59 | Luca Mars
|
KOHR MOTORSPORTS | 22 | 1 Lap |
| 11 | GSX | 43 | Gregory Liefooghe
|
Stephen Cameron Racing | 22 | 1 Lap |
| 12 | GSX | 37 | Marc Miller
|
Thaze Competition | 22 | 1 Lap |
| 13 | GSX | 55 | Michael Cooper
|
Baby Bull Racing | 22 | 1 Lap |
| 14 | GSX | 88 | Patrick Wilmot
|
Split Decision Motorsports | 22 | 1 Lap |
| 15 | GSX | 67 | Eric Thompson
|
BSI Racing | 22 | 1 Lap |
| 16 | GSX | 66 | Jackson Lee
|
Czabok-Simpson Motorsport | 22 | 1 Lap |
| 17 | GSX | 25 | Mark Brummond
|
Auto Technic Racing | 22 | 1 Lap |
| 18 | GSX | 19 | Sean Quinlan
|
Stephen Cameron Racing | 22 | 1 Lap |
| 19 | GSX | 12 | Michael Dayton
|
Swish Motorsports | 22 | 1 Lap |
| 20 | GSX | 808 | Jim Jonsin
|
BGB MOTORSPORTS | 22 | 1 Lap |
| 21 | GSX | 45 | Scott Blind
|
Ruckus Racing | 22 | 1 Lap |
| 22 | GSX | 21 | Jesse Lazare
|
Motorsports in Action | 22 | 1 Lap |
| 23 | GSX | 82 | Brady Behrman
|
van der Steur Racing | 22 | 1 Lap |
| 24 | GSX | 5 | Angus Rogers
|
KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering | 22 | 1 Lap |
| 25 | GSX | 96 | Joe Dalton
|
Turner Motorsport | 22 | 1 Lap |
| 26 | GSX | 17 | Will Wachs
|
BGB MOTORSPORTS | 22 | 1 Lap |
| 27 | GSX | 44 | Moisey Uretsky
|
Baby Bull Racing | 22 | 1 Lap |
| 28 | LMP3 | 23 | Miguel Villagomez
|
Escuderia ABRO | 15 | Not Running |
| 29 | GSX | 22 | Robbie McWilliams
|
Archangel Motorsports | 12 | Not Running |
| 30 | GSX | 26 | Christopher Tasca
|
Auto Technic Racing | 8 | Not Running |
| Race 1 Unofficial Results | ||||||
Race 2
[edit]The grid for race 2 was set by either the driver's second fastest lap in qualifying, or the driver's fastest lap in race 1. The fastest of the two is used.
Race 2 Starting Grid
[edit]Class pole position is indicated in bold
| Pos | Class | No. | Drivers | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LMP3 | 6 | Steven Aghakhani
|
MLT Motorsports | 1:43.536 |
| 2 | LMP3 | 87 | Marco Kacic
|
FastMD Racing with Remstar | 1:43.784 |
| 3 | LMP3 | 7 | Alex Kirby
|
Performance Tech Motorsports | 1:43.914 |
| 4 | LMP3 | 77 | Brian Thienes
|
Forte Racing | 1:44.018 |
| 5 | LMP3 | 51 | Cody Ware
|
Rick Ware Racing with Ave Motorsports | 1:44.077 |
| 6 | LMP3 | 23 | Miguel Villagomez
|
Escuderia ABRO | 1:44.221 |
| 7 | LMP3 | 33 | Lance Willsey
|
Sean Creech Motorsport | 1:45.218 |
| 8 | LMP3 | 70 | Mirco Schultis
|
MISHUMOTORS | 1:46.259 |
| 9 | LMP3 | 61 | George Staikos
|
Ave Motorsports | 1:48.020 |
| 10 | LMP3 | 38 | Scott Locke
|
Performance Tech Motorsports | 1:50.318 |
| 11 | GSX | 59 | Luca Mars
|
KOHR MOTORSPORTS | 1:53.740 |
| 12 | GSX | 55 | Michael Cooper
|
Baby Bull Racing | 1:53.908 |
| 13 | GSX | 37 | Marc Miller
|
Thaze Competition | 1:54.073 |
| 14 | GSX | 43 | Gregory Liefooghe
|
Stephen Cameron Racing | 1:54.339 |
| 15 | GSX | 21 | Jesse Lazare
|
Motorsports in Action | 1:54.679 |
| 16 | GSX | 66 | Jackson Lee
|
Czabok-Simpson Motorsport | 1:54.828 |
| 17 | GSX | 88 | Patrick Wilmot
|
Split Decision Motorsports | 1:54.838 |
| 18 | GSX | 45 | Scott Blind
|
Ruckus Racing | 1:55.509 |
| 19 | GSX | 19 | Sean Quinlan
|
Stephen Cameron Racing | 1:55.524 |
| 20 | GSX | 67 | Eric Thompson
|
BSI Racing | 1:55.551 |
| 21 | GSX | 82 | Brady Behrman
|
van der Steur Racing | 1:55.950 |
| 22 | GSX | 25 | Mark Brummond
|
Auto Technic Racing | 1:55.950 |
| 23 | GSX | 12 | Michael Dayton
|
Swish Motorsports | 1:56.178 |
| 24 | GSX | 808 | Jim Jonsin
|
BGB MOTORSPORTS | 1:56.756 |
| 25 | GSX | 44 | Moisey Uretsky
|
Baby Bull Racing | 1:56.874 |
| 26 | GSX | 26 | Christopher Tasca
|
Auto Technic Racing | 1:56.916 |
| 27 | GSX | 5 | Angus Rogers
|
KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering | 1:56.932 |
| 28 | GSX | 96 | Joe Dalton
|
Turner Motorsport | 1:57.103 |
| 29 | GSX | 17 | Will Wachs
|
BGB MOTORSPORTS | 1:57.161 |
| 30 | GSX | 22 | Robbie McWilliams
|
Archangel Motorsports | 1:57.464 |
| Race 2 Official Starting Grid | |||||
Report
[edit]On the first lap of the race, Cody Ware went down the inside of several cars at the west horseshoe and made contact with the 77 car of Brian Thienes, causing him to spin. Ware would receive a 10 second time penalty for incident responsibility and would go on to finish third before the penalty, and drop to eighth after it.[7] Thienes would recover to finish fourth.
An incident in the GSX class occurred when Mark Brummond and Sean Quinlan made contact at the International Horseshoe, causing Brummond to go off the track and Quinlan to spin.
The only full course yellow of the race occurred on lap 21,[8] after Alex Kirby spun heading into the Le Mans chicane, stranding his car in the grass.
The race restarted with one lap remaining with Aghakhani and Mars leading their respective classes, both of them holding onto their leads to win.
Race Results
[edit]Class winners are indicated in bold.
| Pos | Nr. | Class | Driver | Team | Laps | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | LMP3 | Steven Aghakhani
|
MLT Motorsports | 24 | - |
| 2 | 87 | LMP3 | Marco Kacic
|
FastMD Racing with Remstar | 24 | +4.036 |
| 3 | 23 | LMP3 | Miguel Villagomez
|
Escuderia ABRO | 24 | +4.056 |
| 4 | 77 | LMP3 | Brian Thienes
|
Forte Racing | 24 | +4.43 |
| 5 | 70 | LMP3 | Mirco Schultis
|
MISHUMOTORSPORTS | 24 | +4.436 |
| 6 | 33 | LMP3 | Lance Willsey
|
Sean Creech Motorsport | 24 | +4.874 |
| 7 | 61 | LMP3 | George Staikos
|
Ave Motorsports | 24 | +7.818 |
| 8 | 51 | LMP3 | Cody Ware
|
Rick Ware Racing with Ave Motorsports | 24 | +10.700[lower-beta 1] |
| 9 | 38 | LMP3 | Scott Locke
|
Performance Tech Motorsports | 23 | 1 Lap |
| 10 | 59 | GSX | Luca Mars
|
KOHR MOTORSPORTS | 23 | 1 Lap |
| 11 | 55 | GSX | Michael Cooper
|
Baby Bull Racing | 23 | 1 Lap |
| 12 | 43 | GSX | Gregory Liefooghe
|
Stephen Cameron Racing | 23 | 1 Lap |
| 13 | 21 | GSX | Jesse Lazare
|
Motorsports in Action | 23 | 1 Lap |
| 14 | 88 | GSX | Patrick Wilmot
|
Split Decision Motorsports | 23 | 1 Lap |
| 15 | 66 | GSX | Jackson Lee
|
Czabok-Simpson Motorsport | 23 | 1 Lap |
| 16 | 67 | GSX | Eric Thompson
|
BSI Racing | 23 | 1 Lap |
| 17 | 45 | GSX | Scott Blind
|
Ruckus Racing | 23 | 1 Lap |
| 18 | 12 | GSX | Michael Dayton
|
Swish Motorsports | 23 | 1 Lap |
| 19 | 82 | GSX | Brady Behrman
|
van der Steur Racing | 23 | 1 Lap |
| 20 | 44 | GSX | Moisey Uretsky
|
Baby Bull Racing | 23 | 1 Lap |
| 21 | 19 | GSX | Sean Quinlan
|
Stephen Cameron Racing | 23 | 1 Lap |
| 22 | 5 | GSX | Angus Rogers
|
KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering | 23 | 1 Lap |
| 23 | 808 | GSX | Jim Jonsin
|
BGB MOTORSPORTS | 23 | 1 Lap |
| 24 | 96 | GSX | Joe Dalton
|
Turner Motorsport | 23 | 1 Lap |
| 25 | 26 | GSX | Christopher Tasca
|
Auto Technic Racing | 23 | 1 Lap |
| 26 | 17 | GSX | Will Wachs
|
BGB MOTORSPORTS | 23 | 1 Lap |
| 27 | 7 | LMP3 | Alex Kirby
|
Performance Tech Motorsports | 19 | Not Running |
| 28 | 25 | GSX | Mark Brummond
|
Auto Technic Racing | 17 | Not Running |
| 29 | 37 | GSX | Marc Miller
|
Thaze Competition | 14 | Not Running |
| 30 | 22 | GSX | Robbie McWilliams
|
Archangel Motorsports | 8 | 16 Laps |
| Race 2 Unofficial Results | ||||||
- ^ Car #51 received a 10 second time penalty after the race for incident responsibility
References
[edit]- ^ "Aghakhani, Mars take VP Challenge wins in a day of firsts at Daytona". RACER. 2024-01-21. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ^ "Steven Aghakhani & Luca Mars Sweep Daytona Doubleheader". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ^ https://www.imsa.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2023/11/01/2024-IMSA-SPORTING-REGULATIONS-and-SSR-VPRC-Blackline-110123.pdf
- ^ https://twitter.com/RebelRockRacing/status/1748733038370922684
- ^ "Flags Analysis" (PDF).
- ^ Robinson, Mark (January 20, 2024). "Day of Firsts in Opener of Second VP Racing Challenge Season".
- ^ "Cody Ware, NASCAR suspension lifted, returns to racing at Daytona; finishes of 3rd, 8th". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ^ http://results.imsa.com/Results/24_2024/01_ROAR%20Before%20the%2024/03_IMSA%20VP%20Racing%20SportsCar%20Challenge/202401211220_Race%202/25_FlagsAnalysis_Race%202.PDF
 | This article needs additional or more specific categories. (April 2024) |