MLT Motorsports Ends the 2024 VP Challenge SeasonOn A High Note, at Road Atlanta

MLT Motorsports wrapped up an exciting second round of LMP3 competition at Road Atlanta with a strong second-place finish, led by Steven Aghakhani in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge season finale. Though the team came up just short of clinching the team championship, Aghakhani secured the LMP3 driver’s championship the day prior, marking a stellar end to his debut season in the series.

“Race two went as expected,” said Aghakhani following the race. “We had contact before the race, but we proceeded to drive our drive – kept it clean and kept it close. Unfortunately, traffic caught us again, which has been our Achilles’ heel this season. It’s a double-edge sword because me personally, I’m leaving on a bad note finishing second place in the team championship but also leaving with the driver’s championship. That’s how competitive it can be and how competitive we are as a team, and myself as well. I have to thank everyone for the opportunity to even drive here, the entire MLT team, Ligier, Raymond James, Charter International, and Gothams, for giving me this opportunity to drive this amazing machine at these amazing places.”

Team owner Dr. Michael Thompson expressed his pride in both Aghakhani and the entire team.

“Steven started out on a high note winning both races at Daytona, a track our team had never won at,” said team owner Dr. Michael Thompson. “Regardless of the outcome, both Steven and the team worked hard all year long and here we are with a driver’s championship. We’re so excited as a team and we’re looking forward to the future. We’re a young team so to win a second championship in just six years is incredible. I couldn’t be prouder of everyone.”

Aghakhani further emphasized the tight-knit nature of the team. “I feel like the word team is kind of an understatement and not enough for these guys. It’s more than just a team – it’s a brotherhood. From the moment we started testing, we clicked. I’ve got a deep appreciation for everyone on this crew; I understand what they go through because I love wrenching on cars back home. I respect them very much and we joke around together so it’s not a team sport, it’s a brotherhood we’ve developed. My hat’s of to them.”

Dr. Thompson added, “Our team is comprised of so many talented people it’s hard to describe. Three or four of our people have come over from the Indy Car ranks including Tom Brown, our head engineer, who was with Roger Penske for 10 years. Eric and Jay both have massive Indy Car and sports car experience, but we’ve all come together as a family and that’s the way we run our team – as a family. We take care of each other, we look out for each other, and we go out and have fun. That’s how we win races and championships.”

With their second championship secured, MLT Motorsports looks ahead to continuing their success and building on the foundation they’ve created as a top team in the LMP3 class.

Be sure to follow MLT Motorsports on Instagram (@mltmotorsports) or visit us at www.MLTMotorsports.com!

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About MLT Motorsports:

Founded in 2018 by Dr. Mike Thompson, MLT Motorsports has established itself as a premier team amongst the IMSA paddock in the LMP3 category. Based near Road Atlanta, the team has easy access to some of the best road courses in the country and, importantly, Florida, where the sportscar racing world kicks off every winter at Daytona and Sebring. Constant investment and maintenance have seen the team arrive at each race weekend with top-notch race cars and state-of-the-art equipment.

Early success can be attributed to the hard work and experience the team possesses, as the first win came on their second start at Mid-Ohio in 2019. During the 2021 season, MLT finished off the podium only once on the way to a double championship win, earning the IMSA Prototype Challenge Team’s and Driver’s Championship with drivers Dakota Dickerson and Josh Sarchet. Parlaying the success of the 2021 Championship, MLT made its IMSA WeatherTech Championship debut at Mid-Ohio in May of 2022, joining the ranks of the best sportscar teams in the world.

For inquiries on testing and race programs, email us at: info@mltmotorsports.com