2014 Mid-Ohio - World Challenge GT

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.

FINISH	CLASS	DRIVER	CAR	LAPS	RETIREMENTS
1	GT	Ryan Dalziel	Porsche GT3R	19	-
2	GT	Johnny O'Connell	Cadillac CTS-V R	19	-
3	GT	Mike Skeen	Audi R8 Ultra	19	-
4	GT	Anthony Lazzaro	Ferrari 458 GT3 Italia	19	-
5	GT	Andrew Palmer	Audi R8 Ultra	19	-
6	GT	James Sofronas	Audi R8 Ultra	19	-
7	GT	Andy Pilgrim	Cadillac CTS-V R	19	-
1	GTA	Michael Mills	Porsche GT3R	19	-
2	GTA	Jim Taggart	Porsche GT3R	19	-
3	GTA	Albert von Thurn und Taxis	Lamborghini Gallardo FL2	19	-
4	GTA	Alex Lloyd	Chevrolet Corvette	19	-
8	GT	Butch Leitzinger	Bentley Continental GT3	19	-
9	GT	Peter Cunningham	Acura TLX-GT	19	-
5	GTA	Bill Ziegler	Audi R8 Ultra	19	-
6	GTA	Dan Knox	Dodge Viper SRT GT3-R	19	-
7	GTA	Alex Welch	Audi R8 Ultra	19	-
10	GT	Robert Thorne	McLaren 12C GT3	19	-
11	GT	Alex Figge	McLaren 12C GT3	19	-
8	GTA	Jeff Courtney	Audi R8 Ultra	19	-
9	GTA	Henrik Hedman	Ferrari 458 GT3	19	-
12	GT	Tim Pappas	Mercedes AMG SLS GT3	18	-
13	GT	Fred Roberts	Dodge Viper Coupe	18	-
10	GTA	Walt Bowlin	Audi R8 Ultra	17	-
11	GTA	Marcelo Hahn	Lamborghini Gallardo FL2	1	Mechanical
1	GTS	Lawson Aschenbach	Chevrolet Camaro	19	-
2	GTS	Alec Udell	Ford Mustang Boss 302S	19	-
3	GTS	Nic Jonsson	Kia Optima	19	-
4	GTS	Mark Wilkins	Kia Optima	19	-
5	GTS	Joey Atterbury	Ford Mustang Boss 302S	19	-
6	GTS	Tony Gaples	Chevrolet Camaro	19	-
7	GTS	Nick Esayian	Aston Martin GT4	19	-
8	GTS	Larry Funk	BMW M3	19	-
9	GTS	Andy Lee	Chevrolet Camaro	18	-
10	GTS	Buzz McCall	Porsche Cayman S	18	-
11	GTS	Dean Martin	Ford Mustang Boss 302S	18	-
12	GTS	Jack Roush Jr.	Ford Mustang Boss 302R	18	-
13	GTS	Brad Adams	Ford Mustang Boss 302S	18	-
14	GTS	Brian Kleeman	Nissan 370Z	18	-
15	GTS	Jay Matus	Porsche 996	18	-
16	GTS	Geoff Reeves	Chevrolet Camaro	17	-
17	GTS	Jack Baldwin	Porsche Cayman S	15	-
18	GTS	Drew Regitz	Aston Martin GT4	15	-
19	GTS	Jorge De La Torre	Aston Martin GT4	15	-
20	GTS	Scott Bove	Ford Mustang Boss 302S	12	-
21	GTS	Mitch Landry	Ford Mustang Boss 302S	1	Accident
22	GTS	Craig Capaldi	Ford Mustang Boss 302S	1	Accident
23	GTS	Ric Bushey	Nissan 370Z	0	Accident
24	GTS	Robert Stout	Scion FR-S	0	Accident

FINISH	CLASS	DRIVER	CAR	LAPS	RETIREMENTS
1	GT	Ryan Dalziel	Porsche GT3R	32	-
2	GT	Mike Skeen	Audi R8 Ultra	32	-
3	GT	Anthony Lazzaro	Ferrari 458 GT3 Italia	32	-
4	GT	Andrew Palmer	Audi R8 Ultra	32	-
5	GT	Johnny O'Connell	Cadillac CTS-V R	32	-
6	GT	Andy Pilgrim	Cadillac CTS-V R	32	-
7	GT	James Sofronas	Audi R8 Ultra	32	-
8	GT	Butch Leitzinger	Bentley Continental GT3	32	-
9	GT	Alex Figge	McLaren 12C GT3	32	-
1	GTA	Michael Mills	Porsche GT3R	32	-
2	GTA	Albert von Thurn und Taxis	Lamborghini Gallardo FL2	32	-
3	GTA	Jim Taggart	Porsche GT3R	32	-
10	GT	Tim Pappas	Mercedes AMG SLS GT3	32	-
4	GTA	Dan Knox	Dodge Viper SRT GT3-R	32	-
5	GTA	Marcelo Hahn	Lamborghini Gallardo FL2	32	-
6	GTA	Jeff Courtney	Audi R8 Ultra	32	-
7	GTA	Alex Welch	Audi R8 Ultra	32	-
8	GTA	Henrik Hedman	Ferrari 458 GT3	32	-
10	GT	Peter Cunningham	Acura TLX-GT	31	-
9	GTA	Bill Ziegler	Audi R8 Ultra	31	-
11	GT	Robert Thorne	McLaren 12C GT3	30	Mechanical
10	GTA	Alex Lloyd	Chevrolet Corvette	23	-
11	GTA	Walt Bowlin	Audi R8 Ultra	8	Mechanical
12	GT	Fred Roberts	Dodge Viper Coupe	1	Accident
1	GTS	Lawson Aschenbach	Chevrolet Camaro	31	-
2	GTS	Nic Jonsson	Kia Optima	31	-
3	GTS	Mark Wilkins	Kia Optima	31	-
4	GTS	Dean Martin	Ford Mustang Boss 302S	31	-
5	GTS	Joey Atterbury	Ford Mustang Boss 302S	31	-
6	GTS	Andy Lee	Chevrolet Camaro	31	-
7	GTS	Tony Gaples	Chevrolet Camaro	31	-
8	GTS	Jack Roush Jr.	Ford Mustang Boss 302R	31	-
9	GTS	Alec Udell	Ford Mustang Boss 302S	31	-
10	GTS	Nick Esayian	Aston Martin GT4	31	-
11	GTS	Mitch Landry	Ford Mustang Boss 302S	31	-
12	GTS	Mark Klenin	Aston Martin GT4	31	-
13	GTS	Brad Adams	Ford Mustang Boss 302S	31	-
14	GTS	Austin Cindric	Ford Mustang Boss 302S	31	-
15	GTS	Geoff Reeves	Chevrolet Camaro	31	-
16	GTS	Buzz McCall	Porsche Cayman S	30	-
17	GTS	Ric Bushey	Nissan 370Z	28	-
18	GTS	Jack Baldwin	Porsche Cayman S	25	-
19	GTS	Jorge De La Torre	Aston Martin GT4	19	-
20	GTS	Brian Kleeman	Nissan 370Z	17	Mechanical
21	GTS	Larry Funk	BMW M3	8	Mechanical
22	GTS	Jay Matus	Porsche 996	7	Mechanical
23	GTS	Robert Stout	Scion FR-S	7	Mechanical
22	GTS	Craig Capaldi	Ford Mustang Boss 302S	1	Accident

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