The 2014 World Challenge season was the twenty-fifth consecutive year for the series. There were eleven race weekends – the series kicked-off in March at St. Petersburg, Florida and ended at Miller Motorsports Park in September.

A new class was introduced in 2014 – Touring Car A. There were now three categories for Grand Touring and Touring cars:

  • Grand Touring (GT) – This is the series quickest group. Examples of vehicles racing in this class include: Porsche 911 GT3 R, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, McLaren 12C GT3, Cadillac CTS-V R, Lamborghini Gallardo FL2, Audi R8 and Ferrari 458 GT3.
  • Grand Touring Sportsman (GTA) – This class includes the same vehicles as GT. However, the drivers are not considered professionals. Competitors in this category are evaluated after each event and based on their performance may be elevated to the GT class.
  • Grand Touring Sport (GTS) – The cars in this category are similar to the GT vehicles but have more preparation restrictions. This class includes the Ford Mustang Boss 302, Chevrolet Camaro, Aston Martin GT4 and Porsche Cayman S.
  • Touring Car (TC) – This division is for smaller sedans and sports cars which are permitted some performance modifications. Examples of vehicles competing in this category include: Honda Accord, Kia Forte, Mazda MX-5 and Porsche Boxster.
  • Touring Car A (TCA) – Many of the cars competing in this category are the same as those found in Touring Car. What sets them apart are the minimum amount of modifications that can be made – most changes are to improve the safety of the vehicles.
  • Touring Car B (TCB) - The slowest of all the World Challenge categories is based on the Sports Car Club of America’s B-Spec class. Examples of vehicles competing in this group include: Chevrolet Sonic, Honda Fit, Mazda 2 and Mini Cooper.

During the 2014 season, the GT cars would compete in sixteen fifty-minute races. The Touring Cars had fourteen forty-minute events. Results from these races would determine Driver and Manufacturer Champions in the six classes.

The Mid-Ohio weekend hosted rounds eleven and twelve of the 2014 Pirelli World Challenge season. Forty-eight GT, GTA and GTS entries competed on Mid-Ohio’s 2.258-mile thirteen-turn road course.

The Grand Touring grid lines up for round eleven of the 2014 Pirelli World Challenge championship. On the pole, for the second time this season, is Mike Skeen driving the Hawk Performance Audi R8 Ultra. Qualifying in the runner-up position was Alex Figge in the K-PAX Racing McLaren 12C GT3. Figge’s teammate, Robert Thorne in another K-PAX prepared McLaren started third.
In the weekend’s first race, Ryan Dalziel was gridded fourth. On lap-17, heavy rain forced the officials to implement a full-course caution. By now, Dalziel had moved up to second and when the leader, Mike Skeen pitted he inherited the lead. The event was shortened and Dalziel took the win. Sunday was better for Dalziel as he led flag-to-flag for his second victory.
Nic Jonsson entered Mid-Ohio having already scored victories at Long Beach and both Road America rounds. But his season also included some finishes at the bottom of the results sheets. Mid-Ohio was a good weekend for the driver on the No. 36 Kia Racing Kia Optima. In round eleven, Jonsson captured the last spot on the podium and the following day he took the runner-up position.
After qualifying, Robert Thorne had good reason to be optimistic. In a field of twenty-four Grand Touring entries, he was starting third. But things quickly went downhill. Thorne’s weekend included a flat tire and mechanical problems. The driver of the No. 6 McLaren fell to forty-first position in race one but salvaged a seventeenth place finish and in Sunday’s contest, he was twenty-first at the checkered flag.
The round twelve Pirelli World Challenge Grand Touring podium at Mid-Ohio. On the left is second place finisher Mike Skeen and at the right is Anthony Lazzaro who captured the final spot on the podium. Between these two is the winner, Ryan Dalziel. Dalziel swept the weekend taking a victory in Saturday’s rain-shortened event and led flag-to-flag on Sunday.
Sports car veteran, Johnny O’Connell started the weekend’s first race in the seven starting position. O’Connell had settled into third when heavy rain caused the race leader, Mike Skeen to pit. When officials shortened the event, O’Connell inherited second place. On Sunday, he was gridded fourth and finished fifth. More importantly, O’Connell maintained his lead in the Driver’s standings.
There were twenty-four Grand Touring Sport entries for round eleven at Mid-Ohio. On the class pole is Lawson Aschenbach in the Blackdog Speed Shop Chevrolet Camaro – his second of the season. Second on the grid is the BestIT Racing Chevrolet Camaro driven by Andy Lee. Behind the front row starters are Nic Jonsson in a Kia Optima and the Ford Mustang Boss 302S of Alec Udell.
Defending GTS champion, Lawson Aschenbach made it two for two at Mid-Ohio driving the Blackdog Speed Shop prepared Chevrolet Camaro. Aschenbach had not stood on the top of the victory podium since the first event of the season at St. Petersburg. Not only did he win both rounds but Aschenbach started both rounds from the pole and set the fastest race lap.
Sunday’s Grand Touring Sport podium. In the center is Lawson Aschenbach who piloted the Black Speed Shop Chevrolet Camaro to the class victory. To Aschenbach’s right is second place finisher Nic Jonsson who finished 2.367-seconds behind the winner in a Kia Optima. Completing the podium is Canadian Mark Wilkins who drove the second Kia entry.
Alec Udell driving Watson Racing Ford Mustang Boss 302S survived the downpour in round eleven and was rewarded with a second place finish in GTS. This was Udell’s second podium of the season his first came in the previous race at Toronto. On Sunday, he started seventh in class but at the checkered flag, Udell was ninth in the GTS category.
GTA competitor, Michael Mills swept the weekend taking class victories in rounds eleven and twelve. Mills driving the EFFORT Racing Porsche GT3R started the weekend’s first event in twelfth and finished eighth. The following day, he was tenth after being gridded thirteenth. Mill’s performance allowed him to retain the GTA points lead. He left Mid-Ohio with a twenty-seven-point lead over Ferrari driver, Henrik Hedman.
Round eleven pole-sitter, Mike Skeen was in the lead when heavy rain caused the event to go full course yellow. Anticipating a restart, Skeen pitted for rain tires but officials shortened the contest and he was classified third. The following day, Skeen started second in the Hawk Performance Audi R8 Ultra and held this position to finish 1.547-seconds behind the winner, Ryan Dalziel.
Entering Mid-Ohio, Kia Optima driver, Mark Wilkins led the GTS driver standings with his teammate Nic Jonsson trailing him. Wilkins qualified seventh for Saturday’s race and missed making the podium by one position. The following day, he was gridded third and captured the last spot on the rostrum. Jonsson had the better results at Mid-Ohio and took the points lead. Critical to both drivers, Kia topped the Manufacturer’s title chase.
With the exception of Road America, Anthony Lazzaro was having a good season. To date, Lazzaro had five podium finishes which included a victory at Barber Motorsport Park. The driver of the No. 61 Ferrari 458 GT3 Italia qualified fifth for round eleven and finished fourth. On Sunday, Lazzaro fared much better. On lap-12 of the contest, he passed Johnny O’Connell and Andrew Palmer earning the ‘Invisible Clean Pass of the Race’ and a third place finish.
The round twelve GTA class podium at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. In the center of the rostrum is class point’s leader, Michael Mills. This was Mills third consecutive victory and his fourth of the season. To his right is Albert von Thurn und Taxis, who took the runner-up position. Completing the podium is Jim Taggart, the driver of the Absolut Porsche GT3R.

FINISHCLASSDRIVERCARLAPSRETIREMENTS
1GTRyan DalzielPorsche GT3R19-
2GTJohnny O'ConnellCadillac CTS-V R19-
3GTMike SkeenAudi R8 Ultra19-
4GTAnthony LazzaroFerrari 458 GT3 Italia19-
5GTAndrew PalmerAudi R8 Ultra19-
6GTJames SofronasAudi R8 Ultra19-
7GTAndy PilgrimCadillac CTS-V R19-
1GTAMichael MillsPorsche GT3R19-
2GTAJim TaggartPorsche GT3R19-
3GTAAlbert von Thurn und TaxisLamborghini Gallardo FL219-
4GTAAlex LloydChevrolet Corvette19-
8GTButch LeitzingerBentley Continental GT319-
9GTPeter CunninghamAcura TLX-GT19-
5GTABill ZieglerAudi R8 Ultra19-
6GTADan KnoxDodge Viper SRT GT3-R19-
7GTAAlex WelchAudi R8 Ultra19-
10GTRobert ThorneMcLaren 12C GT319-
11GTAlex FiggeMcLaren 12C GT319-
8GTAJeff CourtneyAudi R8 Ultra19-
9GTAHenrik HedmanFerrari 458 GT319-
12GTTim PappasMercedes AMG SLS GT318-
13GTFred RobertsDodge Viper Coupe18-
10GTAWalt BowlinAudi R8 Ultra17-
11GTAMarcelo HahnLamborghini Gallardo FL21Mechanical
1GTSLawson AschenbachChevrolet Camaro19-
2GTSAlec UdellFord Mustang Boss 302S19-
3GTSNic JonssonKia Optima19-
4GTSMark WilkinsKia Optima19-
5GTSJoey AtterburyFord Mustang Boss 302S19-
6GTSTony GaplesChevrolet Camaro19-
7GTSNick EsayianAston Martin GT419-
8GTSLarry FunkBMW M319-
9GTSAndy LeeChevrolet Camaro18-
10GTSBuzz McCallPorsche Cayman S18-
11GTSDean MartinFord Mustang Boss 302S18-
12GTSJack Roush Jr.Ford Mustang Boss 302R18-
13GTSBrad AdamsFord Mustang Boss 302S18-
14GTSBrian KleemanNissan 370Z18-
15GTSJay MatusPorsche 99618-
16GTSGeoff ReevesChevrolet Camaro17-
17GTSJack BaldwinPorsche Cayman S15-
18GTSDrew RegitzAston Martin GT415-
19GTSJorge De La TorreAston Martin GT415-
20GTSScott BoveFord Mustang Boss 302S12-
21GTSMitch LandryFord Mustang Boss 302S1Accident
22GTSCraig CapaldiFord Mustang Boss 302S1Accident
23GTSRic BusheyNissan 370Z0Accident
24GTSRobert StoutScion FR-S0Accident

FINISHCLASSDRIVERCARLAPSRETIREMENTS
1GTRyan DalzielPorsche GT3R32-
2GTMike SkeenAudi R8 Ultra32-
3GTAnthony LazzaroFerrari 458 GT3 Italia32-
4GTAndrew PalmerAudi R8 Ultra32-
5GTJohnny O'ConnellCadillac CTS-V R32-
6GTAndy PilgrimCadillac CTS-V R32-
7GTJames SofronasAudi R8 Ultra32-
8GTButch LeitzingerBentley Continental GT332-
9GTAlex FiggeMcLaren 12C GT332-
1GTAMichael MillsPorsche GT3R32-
2GTAAlbert von Thurn und TaxisLamborghini Gallardo FL232-
3GTAJim TaggartPorsche GT3R32-
10GTTim PappasMercedes AMG SLS GT332-
4GTADan KnoxDodge Viper SRT GT3-R32-
5GTAMarcelo HahnLamborghini Gallardo FL232-
6GTAJeff CourtneyAudi R8 Ultra32-
7GTAAlex WelchAudi R8 Ultra32-
8GTAHenrik HedmanFerrari 458 GT332-
10GTPeter CunninghamAcura TLX-GT31-
9GTABill ZieglerAudi R8 Ultra31-
11GTRobert ThorneMcLaren 12C GT330Mechanical
10GTAAlex LloydChevrolet Corvette23-
11GTAWalt BowlinAudi R8 Ultra8Mechanical
12GTFred RobertsDodge Viper Coupe1Accident
1GTSLawson AschenbachChevrolet Camaro31-
2GTSNic JonssonKia Optima31-
3GTSMark WilkinsKia Optima31-
4GTSDean MartinFord Mustang Boss 302S31-
5GTSJoey AtterburyFord Mustang Boss 302S31-
6GTSAndy LeeChevrolet Camaro31-
7GTSTony GaplesChevrolet Camaro31-
8GTSJack Roush Jr.Ford Mustang Boss 302R31-
9GTSAlec UdellFord Mustang Boss 302S31-
10GTSNick EsayianAston Martin GT431-
11GTSMitch LandryFord Mustang Boss 302S31-
12GTSMark KleninAston Martin GT431-
13GTSBrad AdamsFord Mustang Boss 302S31-
14GTSAustin CindricFord Mustang Boss 302S31-
15GTSGeoff ReevesChevrolet Camaro31-
16GTSBuzz McCallPorsche Cayman S30-
17GTSRic BusheyNissan 370Z28-
18GTSJack BaldwinPorsche Cayman S25-
19GTSJorge De La TorreAston Martin GT419-
20GTSBrian KleemanNissan 370Z17Mechanical
21GTSLarry FunkBMW M38Mechanical
22GTSJay MatusPorsche 9967Mechanical
23GTSRobert StoutScion FR-S7Mechanical
22GTSCraig CapaldiFord Mustang Boss 302S1Accident

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