This past weekend at Watkins Glen was a very busy one, and it was an exciting one, too.
We had sunny, warm weather that helped boost a great turnout of fans for the IMSA championship, which is always refreshing to see. I was busy bouncing between the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Series with Ashton Harrison in the Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini and the Michelin Pilot Challenge Series with the Forbush Performance Supra GT4. I was also working with the Mazda MX-5 Cup Series, which joined the event at Watkins Glen for the first time in several years.
The week started off on a strong note. Practice for both cars went really well, and we were happy with both the progress we made and our competitiveness.
After the two Lamborghini Super Trofeo races were complete, Ashton and I found ourselves with a pair of podium finishes for the weekend. We were pleased, but the results also left us wanting to get a win once again, like the one we started the season with.
By the time the Michelin Pilot Challenge race got started, temperatures were in the low 90s. That heat added an extra challenge for the pit crew and drivers alike. As the first hour of the race unfolded, several teams found themselves with tire issues, which really changed the dynamic of the race as teams had to pit early to change tires and repair related damage to the cars.
Unfortunately, we were one of the many teams affected, and we suffered some additional tire-related damage that sidelined our car from being able to finish. It was really disappointing since the team had been executing everything flawlessly. Brandon Kidd was running in the top ten, and we were poised for a great run. It’s a shame we never got the chance to find out what could have been!
Despite the ups and downs of the weekend, the biggest positive takeaway is that Ashton and I extended our points lead in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo ProAm class, but that battle is far from over, with plenty of racing still left in the season!