Race Report: Round 1 of the American GT Championship at Circuit of the Americas
The American GT Championship, hosted by Transatlantic Sim Racing (TSR), kicked off its first round at the iconic Circuit of the Americas in hot and dry conditions. The late Sunday afternoon race brought together a thrilling mix of new talent and seasoned regulars, setting the stage for a competitive four-race championship.
Qualifying Highlights
Simon Steele claimed pole position in the Ford Mustang GT3, showcasing impressive pace. Anthony Smeekes, the fastest in the Silver class, also in a Mustang GT3, started strong, indicating his potential for a solid finish.
Race Start and Early Incidents
As the 60-minute sprint race commenced, the tension was palpable with drivers strategizing around a 20-minute pit window and mandatory tyre and fuel stops. The race began with drama right at Turn 1. Valentino Bucceri in the McLaren 720s nudged Ian Paskin’s McLaren 720s, causing Paskin to spin into the path of Bjarne Vaes’s BMW M4 GT3, resulting in a chaotic start for these drivers.
Another incident involved Anthony Smeekes and Mike Landreth. Smeekes, after an off-track excursion, misjudged his re-entry, leading to a collision with Landreth. Despite these incidents, the majority of the grid managed to navigate the first lap relatively cleanly, and the race pace quickly intensified.
Dominant Performance by Simon Steele
Simon Steele capitalized on his pole position and maintained a commanding lead throughout the race. His Ford Mustang GT3 was impeccably set up, allowing him to build an early gap that he held onto for the entire race. Steele’s performance was a masterclass in racecraft and control, as he never faced any significant challenge for the top spot.
Battle for Podium Positions
Behind Steele, the battle for the remaining podium positions was fierce. Xander Huizing in his Ferrari 296 GT3 showcased consistent pace and secured a solid second place. Valentino Bucceri recovered from his early incident to cross the line in third, demonstrating resilience and skill.
Silver Class Dynamics
The Silver class saw its own share of excitement. Mike Landreth initially finished first in the class, but race organizers later deemed his performance too strong for Silver, promoting him to the Gold class. This decision handed the Silver class win to Pako Sanchez, who drove a composed race in his McLaren 720s GT3 EVO. Karl Ve in the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 and Tomas Stanek's Mustang rounded out the Silver class podium, adding to the competitive spirit of the race.
Looking Ahead to Watkins Glen
With the field now set and the first round behind them, the drivers and teams look forward to the next race at Watkins Glen. The spread in performance seen at Circuit of the Americas suggests that Watkins Glen could bring even closer racing, particularly among the frontrunners.
Final Results
Gold Class:
- Simon Steele (Ford Mustang GT3)
- Xander Huizing (Ferrari 296 GT3)
- Valentino Bucceri (McLaren 720s GT3 EVO)
Silver Class:
- Pako Sanchez (McLaren 720s GT3 EVO)
- Karl Ve (Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2)
- Tomas Stanek (Ford Mustang GT3)
The inaugural round of the American GT Championship at Circuit of the Americas delivered high-octane racing and set a competitive tone for the season. As the teams prepare for Watkins Glen, the anticipation builds for another thrilling round of GT3 action in the Transatlantic Sim Racing series.
Race Stream - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6AvskrbzxI
Full Results - Click Here For Race Results