The 2018 Pirelli World Challenge season is the twenty-ninth consecutive year for the championship. There are five race weekends. The Grand Touring category title chase kicks-off in March at Saint Petersburg. This event is followed by races at Long Beach, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Road America. The finale takes place at Watkins Glen International on the Labour Day weekend.

As in the previous year, there were three Grand Touring categories:

  • Grand Touring (GT) – This is the series quickest class and includes cars that predominantly fall into the FIA GT3 category. These are two-wheel drive vehicles that may use normally aspirated or turbocharged engines which produce approximately 500 horsepower. Examples of cars competing in this category include: Porsche 911 GT3 R, Mercedes AMG GT3, McLaren 650S GT3, Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3, Bentley Continental GT3, Audi R8 LMS, Lamborghini Huracan GT3, Chevrolet Corvette C7 GT3-R and Ferrari 488 GT3.
  • Grand Touring Sportsman (GTA) – This class includes the same vehicles as Grand Touring. 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 Grand Touring class.
  • Grand Touring Cup (GTC) – The Grand Touring Cup class was originally for the Porsche 991 GT Cup cars. It now includes vehicles from other spec series – the Lamborghini Super Trofeo and Ferrari 458 Challenge championships.

The opening rounds of the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge championship for Grand Touring cars were held at the Grand Prix of Saint Petersburg. Drivers would compete in two fifty-minute sprint races around the fourteen-turn 1.800-mile temporary street course.

The overall and Grand Touring podium for round two of the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge championship at the Grand Prix of Saint Petersburg. In the center is Scott Hargrove who scored his second consecutive victory of the weekend. On the left side of the rostrum is the runner-up, Daniel Keilwitz driver of the Callaway Competition USA Corvette C7 GT3-R. Completing the podium is the third-place finisher, Daniel Morad.
The defining moment of race one. Fifth place starter, Daniel Morad in a Mercedes AMG GT3 grabbed the lead on the opening lap. Penalized for a qualifying infraction and starting last was the Porsche 911 GT3 R driven by Scott Hargrove. By the mid-point of the race, Hargrove was on the tail of Morad. His first attempt to pass Morad failed but on lap-18 after some contact, he made the pass and took the victory.
Daniel Morad returned to CRP Racing in 2018 driving the team’s Mercedes AMG GT3. Morad was gridded fifth for the season’s opening event but he successfully navigated his way through an incident on the first lap and took the lead. On lap-18, he lost the first place to Scott Hargrove and another spot to Toni Vilander. On Sunday, Morad was gridded third and maintained his position to the checkered flag.
Series newcomer, Scott Hargrove raced the Pfaff Motorsports/Castrol Porsche 911 GT3 R. Hargrove was the fastest in qualifying but he caused a red flag during the session and was required to start last in the Grand Touring field. It appeared that the qualifying penalty did not have much of an impact on him. Hargrove charged through the field – taking the lead and win on lap-8. On Sunday, Hargrove led flag-to-flag.
2016 GTA Drivers champion, Martin Fuentes drove the No. 07 Ferrari 488 GT3 prepared by Scuderia Corsa. Fuentes started last in the eleven car field but that was of little consequence as at the conclusion of thirty-four laps, he finished sixth overall and won the GTA category. Gridded on the class pole for Sunday’s event, Fuentes led flag-to-flag for his second victory of the weekend.
After topping the time sheets in practice, Finland’s Toni Vilander was quickest in qualifying - bettering the existing lap record by 2.094-seconds. At the start, the driver of the Ferri Motorsports Ferrari 488 GT3 was blocked by the Corvette of Daniel Keilwitz – causing Vilander to lose a couple of positions. He made the spots up during the race and finished second. An accident in round two caused Vilander to be the race’s first retiree.
In the off-season, Rodrigo Baptista switched brands and classes. Baptista left the GTS category driving a Porsche to compete in GTA racing a Bentley Continental GT3. He was the fastest qualifier in GTA and started eighth overall for Saturday’s contest. Unable to hold off the 2016 GTA champion, Martin Fuentes in race one, Baptista finished second in class. The following day, he captured another runner-up finish.
Starting third in the opening round of the 2018 season was Daniel Keilwitz driving the No. 26 Corvette C7 GT3-R. At the start of Saturday’s contest, Keilwitz charged to the front but was carrying too much speed when he arrived at turn one and missed the corner. He regrouped and finished fourth. The following day, Keilwitz chased Scott Hargrove but was unable to make the pass and took the runner-up spot.
Returning in 2018 was Japanese driver, Yuki Harata and Dream Racing Motorsports with the No. 55 Lamborghini Huracan GT3. Harata was gridded tenth overall and third in GTA for the season’s first race. The incident on the first lap of race one involving Parker Chase, Spencer Pumpelly and Alvaro Parente allowed him to finish eighth overall and third in class. In Sunday’s contest, he spun but managed to finish fourth in GTA.
Daniel Mancinelli along sports car veteran, Andrea Montermini won the first SprintX race of the 2017 season driving a Ferrari 488 GT3 prepared by TR3 Racing. Mancinelli returned with TR3 and was entered in the Saint Petersburg event. He participated in both practice sessions but when the Ferrari was required to add 20-kgs. (44-lbs.) as the result of a Balance of Performance adjustment, the team withdrew the car.

FINISHCLASSDRIVERENTRANT / CARLAPS
1GT ProScott HargrovePfaff Motorsports / Porsche 911 GT3 R34
2GT ProToni VilanderR. Ferri Motorsport / Ferrari 488 GT334
3GT ProDaniel MoradCRP Racing / Mercedes-AMG GT334
4GT ProDaniel KeilwitzCallaway Competition USA / Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R34
5GT ProMichael ChristensenAlegra Motorsports / Porsche 911 GT3 R34
6GT AmMartin FuentesSquadra Corse Garage Italia / Ferrari 488 GT334
7GT AmAlvaro ParenteK-PAX Racing / Bentley Continental GT334
8GT AmYuki HarataDream Racing / Lamborghini Huracan34
NCGT ProSpencer PumpellyThe Racer's Group / Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT30
NCGT ProAlvaro ParenteK-PAX Racing / Bentley Continental GT30
NCGT AmParker ChaseTruSpeed AutoSport / Audi RS 8 LMS0
DNSGT ProDaniel MancinelliTR3 Racing / Ferrari 488 GT3-

FINISHCLASSDRIVERENTRANT / CARLAPS
1GT ProScott HargrovePfaff Motorsports / Porsche 911 GT3 R26
2GT ProDaniel KeilwitzCallaway Competition USA / Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R26
3GT ProDaniel MoradCRP Racing / Mercedes-AMG GT326
4GT ProMichael ChristensenAlegra Motorsports / Porsche 911 GT3 R26
5GT AmMartin FuentesSquadra Corse Garage Italia / Ferrari 488 GT326
6GT AmAlvaro ParenteK-PAX Racing / Bentley Continental GT326
7GT AmParker ChaseTruSpeed AutoSport / Audi RS 8 LMS26
8GT ProAlvaro ParenteK-PAX Racing / Bentley Continental GT325
9GT AmYuki HarataDream Racing / Lamborghini Huracan25
10GT ProSpencer PumpellyThe Racer's Group / Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT320
11GT ProToni VilanderR. Ferri Motorsport / Ferrari 488 GT313
DNSGT ProDaniel MancinelliTR3 Racing / Ferrari 488 GT3-

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