Kenton Koch pulled off the successful go heading into the white flag lap and went on to take a slim 1.682s margin of victory over James French to win Saturday’s inaugural HSR Prototype Problem offered by IMSA two-hour race within the No. 37 One Motorsports Ligier JS P3 with co-driver Jon Area. French, who co-drove with Alex Koreiba, secured runner-up honors within the No. 25 Wolf Motorsports Ligier JS P3 whereas John Reisman and Eric Curran completed third within the No. 74 Hudson Historics Ligier JS P3.
The debut race of the brand new HSR and IMSA sequence for LMP3 machines was a aggressive and at instances thrilling race from the drop of the inexperienced flag. After beginning driver Area impressed by main each lap of his race-opening stint, Koch took over the One Motorsports No. 37 for the ultimate 75 minutes.
The highest on-track driving by each the veteran Area and modern sports activities automotive racing entrance runner Koch was backed up by nice race and pit technique by One Motorsports. With groups required to make three pit stops through the race, One made the decision to examine two of them off in close to succession on laps 20 and 22.
The back-to-back visits to the pits dropped the No. 37 as much as 30 seconds behind chief French, however the Wolf workforce’s third and remaining cease put the No. 25 again on monitor simply in entrance of a fast-closing Koch.
Setting the quickest lap of the race of 1:59.014 on lap 36, Koch steadily charged to the entrance all through his stint, setting the stage for a nose-to-tail battle with French when pit stops for each rivals had been accomplished with lower than quarter-hour to go.
Koch made the successful go on the penultimate lap when a slight bobble by French going into Flip 15 opened the door to the lead. French in flip stored the stress on Koch as they took the white flag moments later however by no means obtained shut sufficient to aim retaking the lead within the closing minutes.
Reisman and two-time IMSA WeatherTech Prototype champion Curran, who made a return to racing after a multi-year hiatus, stayed in contact with the leaders all through the race and joined the top-two finishers as the one three rivals to finish 52 laps within the race’s two hours.
Prototype Problem Am-class honors went to Tobias Lutke and Travis Hill within the No. 22 TWOth Autosport Ligier JS P3. The win got here in simply Lutke’s second and largest race to this point after beforehand competing within the TWOth P3 final November within the HSR Daytona Historics at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
Subsequent up for the IMSA Prototype Problem offered by IMSA is a one other two-hour function race on the forty sixth HSR Mitty at Michelin Raceway Street Atlanta, April 26 – 28.
Whereas French got here up simply quick in his battle for the Prototype Problem win, he did rating a victory within the first hour of Saturday’s race in one other thriller. The LMP3 Prototype Problem principal occasion shared the monitor with HSR Group 6 rivals that ran their very own race within the first 60 minutes of the general two-hour occasion. French pulled double obligation, additionally driving the 2010 No. 7 Panoz DP02 with Ralph La Macchia within the Group 6 contest. Because the starter waved each the inexperienced flag for the LMP3 race and the checkered for the Group 6 groups one hour in, French pulled off a successful go within the remaining flip of the race for the victory.
Veteran prototype driver Area earned the distinctive honor of now having led the opening laps of an inaugural sequence race twice in his lengthy and completed profession, though each feats are practically 25 years aside. Within the inaugural Grand American Street Racing Affiliation (Grand-Am) race on the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2000, Area took the inexperienced flag in fourth place on the race begin however handed a number of high rivals – resembling James Weaver and Ralf Kelleners – to guide the primary laps in Grand-Am racing historical past. Not surprisingly, the Ford-Lola B98/10 Area drove in that race carried his identical and trademark No. 37 that can be on Saturday evening’s successful LMP3.
Jon Area, No. 37 One Motorsports Ligier JS P3: “These are simply actually good prototype vehicles, and simply watching Kenton and James French on the finish there was phenomenal for me, at the same time as a spectator at that time. I actually was pleased with my drive initially of the race. I used to be in a position to hold them behind me, and it was simply nice. It was enjoyable. I’ve been operating Radicals, however I’m completely happy to be again in greater Prototypes.”
Kenton Koch, No. 37 One Motorsports Ligier JS P3: “It’s a very good idea. We have now all of those P3 vehicles mendacity round, and we ought to be doing one thing with them. So why not convey them right here and race towards some good guys. There’s a number of good guys out right here proper now. With the ability to have the possibility to work with and co-drive with Jon Area is an actual honor. He has such a historical past. It was a very good battle we had going with James. He obtained off the corners actually good. We had been higher within the second half of the straightaway, and he was higher within the first half. The one method I used to be in a position to get by him was to get into his mirrors slightly bit. He made a few little errors, which gave me some clear air on the entrance of the nostril of the automotive. Then I might get the exit I wanted as a result of in these ‘areo’ vehicles when you get near somebody you possibly can’t get an exit. I obtained him off the apex one time and that was all I wanted to get by him for the lead down into Flip 15.”
James French, No. 25 Wolf Motorsports Ligier JS P3: “It was an inaugural occasion, and also you by no means know precisely what to anticipate, however for me it’s only a actual privilege to have the ability to race with these guys. I’ve been working with the Wolf guys for a few years as a driver coach, a good friend and simply hanging out. My co-driver Alex and I’ve been buddies for some time, and we now have been doing a number of sim-racing collectively. To truly have the possibility to place all the things collectively and have a very good sequence like this to showcase these P3s and the way dependable, fast and enjoyable they’re to drive is a superb expertise. It was a fantastic occasion. I’ve been racing with Kenton for a very long time. It’s superior to have a very good battle with him. We all the time have good battles. He pushes me exhausting, and I wish to suppose I push him exhausting. Nice to see him on the market, we tried to placed on a present for everyone and hold it aggressive. We got here up only a bit quick, however we’ll attempt once more subsequent time.”
John Reisman, No. 74 Hudson Historics Ligier JS P3: “I believe it’s a nice idea for all the LMP3 vehicles, a fantastic sequence and it’s all the time a lot enjoyable racing with HSR. It’s nice they’re now with IMSA, and we’re trying ahead to the sequence rising. It was my first race in a P3, it’s completely different, however I’ve a very good coach in Eric to assist me by it.”
Eric Curran, Driver – No. 74 Hudson Historics Ligier JS P3: “This can be a lot enjoyable. It’s nice to be again at Sebring. It’s been, I believe, 5 years since I used to be right here and the final time, we received the 12 Hours of Sebring within the Whelen automotive. It’s so cool to be again right here. I form of stepped away from racing for a few years, however my good good friend John was like ‘hey, let’s get certainly one of these LMP3 vehicles and go do some IMSA HSR racing.’ It’s a lot enjoyable, we now have grow to be nice buddies, and he does an unbelievable job behind the wheel for not being a professional. It’s nice stuff. Hudson Historics and all of these guys on the workforce simply do an exceptional job. It’s enjoyable to be right here at Sebring, enjoyable to complete on the rostrum, however we need to transfer up a pair steps within the subsequent few races. We might be right here all season and we’re trying ahead to it.”
Tobias Lutke, No. 22 TWOth Autosport Ligier JS P3: “Prototype racing is the very best, this monitor is so wonderful, and we want to share the enjoyable. We would like extra rivals out right here, and it’s simply nice, nice racing, particularly on a pleasant night in Florida. That’s by no means a foul concept! I drove initially and raced into the sundown. Flip 7 was straight into the solar, which was a completely new expertise, however that’s OK. This can be a lot of automotive! These items are simply actually good enjoyable.”
Chris Ward, HSR President: “We couldn’t be happier with the extremely aggressive inaugural HSR Prototype Problem offered by IMSA race Saturday evening at Sebring Worldwide Raceway with a two-hour occasion nothing in need of entertaining all through and an absolute thriller on the finish. We are able to’t thank One Motorsports, Wolf Motorsports, Hudson Historics and TWOth Autosport for his or her early dedication to our latest sequence and for collectively setting a aggressive cornerstone on which this championship might be constructed. Their efficiency Saturday evening is a transparent endorsement that Prototype Problem will solely develop, and we now have already heard from quite a few further rivals, each at Sebring and away from the monitor, who look ahead to becoming a member of the motion. On to The Mitty at Michelin Raceway Street Atlanta, and the work to bolster the sequence with much more vehicles and rivals begins now.”
