This past week was the 27th Annual Petit LeMans at Road Atlanta. We had gorgeous fall weather, which brought out all the fans, and which the race teams and drivers certainly appreciated! I was excited to be competing with Jim Jonsin and the Goldcrest Motorsports Team with Jim’s Porsche Cayman RS GT4 in the Michelin Pilot Challenge Series.
It felt great to be competing again at Petit LeMans!
Things got off to a fantastic start. We were very competitive in practice and found a great setup balance in the car. Plus, all the track time allowed Jim to get plenty of laps as he refamiliarized himself with Road Atlanta’s iconic elevation changes and challenges.
After smooth practice sessions and a solid qualifying effort for Jim, he started the race and quickly moved forward, making lots of exciting passes not just at the start, but throughout his stint.
The patriotic livery was a fan favorite.
Forty minutes into the race, just prior to the scheduled pit stop, Jim was passing for 12th place when the car slid out from under him through the turn 10 chicane, resulting in a spin that bent the left rear suspension. Unfortunately, it meant the car would have to go behind the wall for repairs, and with us not in the points chase, we made the decision to retire.
It was a disappointment for everyone to end our day early. I was standing there in pit lane with my helmet on, ready for the driver change, when it all happened. It was quite the swing of emotions! Sometimes, you reflect on things like this and don’t know why they go the way they do, but I’m keeping my head up, and I’m excited to continue working on our next endeavor, which will be Daytona at the start of the 2025 IMSA season. Jim and I had a top-five result there last year.
The crowds at Petit LeMans never disappoint.
Petit LeMans wraps up the championships for multiple series, including Mazda MX-5 Cup. Coming into these final two races for MX-5 Cup, there were three drivers still in contention for the championship and the $250,000 prize purse.
Every lap was quite the turn of events, though after race one, it was down to just two drivers in contention following a last-lap, last-corner incident that removed the championship points leader from the running for top honors.
Mazda MX-5 Cup racing at its finest.
Throughout the final race, the championship battle swayed back and forth, and it came down to the final lap in the final corner to determine the champion. That kind of close finish really isn’t surprising when you consider how close the MX-5 Cup action always is. Gresham Wagner becomes just the second repeat champion in recent history, taking home the $250K, the title, and the bragging rights.
The season might be over, but the series has only a short break—Martinsville is quickly approaching on the heels of the NASCAR Cup weekend there, and the drivers will be taking to the legendary track on October 26. This event is not a points race, but there will be a payout, with $50,000 in purses and the famed grandfather clock trophy for the winner. I’m really excited about that event, and I look forward to reporting on it here!