VP Racing Challenge Drivers Look to Make Marks as New Winners at VIR

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One thing is certain for the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge as the series readies to take on VIRginia International Raceway this weekend: There will be no repeat winners from 2023.

None of the drivers who won last year in either class – Le Mans Prototype 3 (P3) or Grand Sport X (GSX) – is back this year to defend their victories in the 45-minute sprint races. Instead, eight P3 drivers and 10 GSX drivers will vie to put their names in the record book with a race each on Saturday and Sunday, in what is the penultimate round of the six-weekend, 12-race season.

Thus far in 2024, it’s been a pair of drivers in each class who have grabbed the lion’s share of victories. Steven Aghakhani has won three times in the No. 6 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS P320 and holds a comfortable 500-point lead in the P3 standings. He could clinch the championship if he leaves VIR with an advantage of more than 500 points.

Jagger Jones (No. 87 FastMD Racing with Remstar Duqueine D08) tops the class with five wins this year, but because he missed the opening doubleheader round at Daytona International Speedway, he sits third in the standings, 600 points behind Aghakhani. Jones is doing double duty this weekend, also driving in the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin races.

The GSX class is more tightly contested. Luca Mars (No. 59 KohR Motorsports Ford Mustang GT4) and Jesse Lazare (No. 21 Motorsports In Action McLaren Artura GT4) each have three wins, with Mars holding the edge in points by 190 over Lazare.

Following this weekend, the remaining VP Racing Challenge round is at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta as part of Motul Petit Le Mans weekend Oct. 9-12.

Fast Facts

IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge

VIRginia International Raceway – Alton, Virginia

Aug. 23-25, 2024

  • Race Days/Times:Saturday, Aug. 24, 12:20 p.m. ET; Sunday, Aug. 25, 8:40 a.m.
  • Peacock Streaming Coverage: LIVE – Flag-to-flag beginning at 12:15 p.m. Saturday and 8:35 a.m. Sunday (available outside the U.S. on IMSA.tv and YouTube.com/IMSAOfficial)
  • CNBC Weekend Recap Telecast: 11 a.m. ET Saturday, Sept. 14
  • IMSA Radio Coverage: LIVE – Flag-to-flag beginning at 12:15 p.m. Saturday and 8:35 a.m. Sunday on IMSA.com and RadioLeMans.com
  • Circuit Type: 3.27-mile, 17-turn road course
  • Classes Competing: Le Mans Prototype 3 (P3), Grand Sport X (GSX)
  • Race Length: 45 minutes

VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Track Records

  • P3: Bijoy Garg, Ligier JS P320, 1:41.579 / 115.889 mph, August 2023
  • GSX: Gregory Liefooghe, BMW M4 GT4 (G82), 1:53.454 / 103.759 mph, August 2023

2023 VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Race 1 Winners

  • P3: Bijoy Garg, No. 3 Jr II Racing Ligier JS P320
  • GSX: Francis Selldorff, Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 (G82)

2023 VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Race 2 Winners

  • P3: Bijoy Garg, No. 3 Jr II Racing Ligier JS P320
  • GSX: Gregory Liefooghe, Stephen Cameron Racing BMW M4 GT4 (G82)

IMSA Wire Service PR

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