IPC: VIR

Sitting on the border between Virginia and North Carlonia a ribbon of asphalt once referred to as “…heaven on Earth…” by Paul Newman is nestled into the countryside. This winding circuit is Virginia International Raceway, VIR, it is one of the best natural terrain road courses in the world and hosts the Michelin GT Challenge weekend. The penultimate round of the IMSA Prototype Challenge saw MLT return with Jason Rabe and newcomer to the team Corey Lewis. Lewis by no stretch a newcomer to the IMSA paddock or prototypes had previously driven a Ligier in IPC during the 2018 season and is a Lamborghini Development Driver.

Practice saw the team getting Corey Lewis reacclimated to the French prototype platform, and he made quick work of it placing the team first in practice one. Jason Rabe again took on the qualifying duties and narrowly missed out on the front row, placing the team forth on the starting grid.

Jason started the 90-minute endurance race for the team and maintained fifth place while closing in on forth before the singular scheduled pit stop. After a quick stop and perfect execution by the crew Corey Lewis was effectively 3rd once the pit cycle played out under a full course yellow which ended with twenty minutes to go.

On the recommencement of green flag racing Lewis made a brilliant restart and used a lapped car to out brake the number 23 car of Koreiba. Corey was almost clear of the second-place car when its driver, reluctant to secede the position, rushed back to throttle. This pushed him wide into Lewis’s right rear aero-wedge making contact and cutting the tire down in the process. To add insult to injury this puncture occurred in turn one causing Corey to limp the car all the way around the 3.27-mile circuit. By the time he arrived in pit lane, and the crew rendered service of changing the wheel and bodywork repair the leader streaked by pining the MLT 54 a lap down. This would lead to the team being classified thirteenth as there was no time to regain the lap and positions lost.

Despite the obvious disappointment of this result, the team’s confidence is bolstered for the final race of the year. Jason Rabe’s pace qualified us on the second row and he kept his nose clean while running down the podium cars just before the pit window opened.