The only event of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season that highlights the GT classes, races into historic VIRginia International Raceway next week. Twenty-three cars are on the pre-event entry list, nine in GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) and 14 in GT Daytona (GTD).
The Michelin GT Challenge is the eighth race of the season for the two classes, with only endurance events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta remaining after this. The class leaders – the No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R in GTD PRO and the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 in GTD – will be looking to solidify their positions while the remaining competitors look to close the gap at VIR.
Here’s what you need to know for the upcoming race weekend:
Fast Facts
Michelin GT Challenge at VIR
VIRginia International Raceway – Alton, Virginia
Aug. 23-25, 2024
Race Day/Time: Sunday, Aug. 25, 12:10 p.m. ET
USA Network Coverage: LIVE – noon-3 p.m.
Peacock Streaming Coverage: LIVE – Flag-to-flag beginning at noon (available outside the U.S. on IMSA.tv and youtube.com/IMSAOfficial)
Live Qualifying Stream: Saturday, Aug. 24, 4:45 p.m. on Peacock (in the U.S.) and IMSA.tv (globally)
IMSA Radio: Select sessions live on IMSA.com and RadioLeMans.com; SiriusXM live race coverage begins at noon Sunday, Aug. 25 (XM 206, Web/App 996)
Circuit Type: 3.27-mile, 17-turn road course
Classes Competing: GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO), GT Daytona (GTD)
Race Length: Two hours, 40 minutesTrack Social Media:
Twitter: @virnow
Instagram: @virnow
Facebook: @virnowEvent Hashtags: #IMSA, #MichelinVIR
WeatherTech Championship Track Records
GTD PRO: Ross Gunn, Aston Martin Vantage GT3, 1:43.953 / 113.243 mph, August 2022
GTD: Ross Gunn, Aston Martin Vantage GT3, 1:43.356 / 113.897 mph, October 20212023 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR Winners
GTD PRO: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor, No. 3 Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C8.R GTD
GTD: Bryan Sellers/Madison Snow, No. 1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3Storylines
GT Classes Front and Center: The GT classes of the WeatherTech Championship, consisting of FIA GT3-specification homologated cars, headline the race weekend at VIR. It’s the only time they’ll race without at least one prototype class this season.
Chasing Class Leaders: The points leaders in both GT classes have built their advantages with mostly consistent strong performances across the season. The No. 77 AO Porsche sits atop the GTD PRO field by 76 points on the strength of two wins and just one result lower than sixth place. The No. 57 Winward Mercedes leads in GTD by 268 points thanks to four class victories. With just three races remaining starting at VIR, challengers in both classes need to begin whittling away those deficits.Who’s Hot?
No. 23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin: With three podium finishes in the past four races, including a win at Watkins Glen International, the No. 23 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 has advanced from fourth place to second in the GTD PRO standings. Heart of Racing co-drivers Ross Gunn and Alex Riberas look to continue closing on the class-leading AO Porsche at VIR.
No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3: Since opening the season with a pair of subpar results, Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher have put together a string of five straight GTD finishes of fifth place or better, including a win Aug. 4 at Road America. It’s moved the No. 96 BMW into second place in the class standings, eight positions better than they were after Sebring in March.Who’s Good Here?
Gunn-ing for More: The aforementioned Ross Gunn, co-driver of the No. 23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin, has the rare honor of holding the track lap record for both classes racing next week at VIR. He set the GTD standard in 2021 qualifying and nailed down the GTD PRO record a year later in qualifying.
Corvette Duo: Antonio Garcia and Tommy Milner, part of the vaunted Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports team, are the leaders in VIR race wins among those entered for this year’s race. Garcia, who shares the No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R with Alexander Sims, is a four-time VIR winner including last year in GTD PRO. Milner, who rides with Nicky Catsburg in the No. 4 Corvette, has three VIR victories, the last coming in 2021 in the former GT Le Mans (GTLM) class.Previous Michelin GT Challenge Winners in 2024 Field (12)
Antonio Garcia (4): GTLM – 2016, 2017, 2020; GTD PRO – 2023
Tommy Milner (3): GT – 2005, 2012; GTLM – 2021
Kyle Marcelli (2): LMPC – 2013; GTD – 2018
Bryan Sellers (2): GTD – 2016, 2023
Madison Snow (2): GTD – 2016, 2023
Philip Ellis (1): GTD – 2022
Robby Foley (1): GTD – 2020
Corey Lewis (1): GTD – 2017
Zacharie Robichon (1): GTD – 2021
Mike Rockenfeller (1): DP – 2006
Alexander Sims (1): GTLM – 2018
Russell Ward (1): GTD – 2022Previous Michelin GT Challenge Pole Winners in 2024 Field (8)
Jack Hawksworth (2): GTD – 2018; GTD PRO – 2023
Tommy Milner (2): GT – 2004; GTLM – 2021
Madison Snow (2): GTD – 2016; 2023
Robby Foley (1): GTD – 2021
Ross Gunn (1): GTD PRO – 2022
Joey Hand (1): GTLM – 2017
Zacharie Robichon (1): GTD – 2019
Russell Ward (1): GTD – 2022Previous Michelin GT Challenge Winning Teams in 2024 Field (6)
Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports (6): GT – 2012; GTLM – 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021; GTD PRO – 2023
Paul Miller Racing (2): GTD – 2016, 2023
Pfaff Motorsports (2): GTD – 2021; GTD PRO – 2022
Turner Motorsport (2): GTD – 2014, 2020
Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (2): DP – 2004, 2007
Winward Racing (1): GTD – 2022Previous Michelin GT Challenge Winning Manufacturers in 2024 Field (7)
Chevrolet – 13
Porsche – 11
BMW – 7
Ferrari – 5
Lexus – 3
Lamborghini – 2
Mercedes-AMG – 2
IMSA Wire Service PR
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