AUSTIN, Texas – Matt Travis and Jason Hart completed a dream weekend at Circuit of The Americas with their second-consecutive victory in the Pirelli GT4 America tour on Sunday.
“Jason did a heck of a job in his stint and turned over a great car with plenty of tires left,” said Travis. “I just wanted to do my best but it all came down to the car and the team.”
Sunny skies greeted the Pirelli GT4 America competitors for Sunday’s round. NOLASPORT’s Hart led the field to the green flag in the No. 47 Porsche with the No. 89 RENNtech Mercedes-AMG of Aaron Polovedo getting the jump on the No. 15 BSport Aston Martin of Kenton Koch to take over second overall and in Pro-Am.
As the field approached turn six, the No. 94 BimmerWorld BMW of Chandler Hull spun and was then collected by the No. 34 BimmerWorld BMW, No. 16 Capstone Mercedes-AMG, No. 2 GMG Aston Martin, No. 36 BimmerWorld BMW and No. 39 RENNtech Mercedes-AMG, which would bring out an extended full course caution period.
The race would go back to green flag running with 35 minutes remaining. The Hart led overall and in Pro-Am, The No. 71 Marco Polo KTM led Silver, sixth overall, with the No. 98 Random Vandals BMW of Al Carter leading Am, seventeenth overall.
As the field approached turn one, Povoledo’s No. 89 Mercedes-AMG would sneak to the inside of the No. 47 and grab the overall lead with Koch’s No. 15 Aston Martin stalking the for second overall and in Pro-Am.
Just behind Koch, Greg Liefooghe’s No. 119 BMW overtook the No. 54 Blackswan Porsche of Jeroen Bleekemolen at turn 11, with the No. 54 then losing momentum dropping all the way to eleventh overall after being swarmed at turn 20. Back at the front, both Koch and Liefooghe would power past the No. 47 for second and third overall as the pit window for required driver changes opened.
As the pit window closed, the No. 119 Cameron Racing BMW, with Sean Quinlan now driving, would take over the Pro-Am lead after a very slow stop from the No. 89 Mercedes-AMG, who would fall to fifth overall. The No. 71 Marco Polo KTM would lead Silver, sitting sixth overall, and No. 68 Smooge Toyota taking over the Am lead, 10th overall.
Travis, now driving the No. 47, would slip past the No. 15 of Bryan Putt for second overall and third in class with a pass at turn 11 and start to close on the leading No. 119 BMW.
With 16 minutes left on the clock, the No. 72 Murillo Mercedes-AMG of Kenny Murillo and No. 11 Classic BMW M4 GT4 of Steven McAleer would get past the No. 71 KTM for first and second positions in Silver, fifth and sixth overall. Later in the lap Murillo would pass the No. 89 Mercedes-AMG for fourth overall, gapping his rival silver-classed BMW by more than three seconds.
Back in the Am battle, the leading No. 68 Toyota would see an issue and fall to sixth in class with the No. 7 NOLASPORT with OHG Porsche of Sean Gibbons taking over the class lead with the No. 98 BMW just behind.
As the clock ticked down to the 12 minute mark, Murillo and the No. 72 Mercedes-AMG would power past the No. 15 Aston Martin of Bryan Putt for third overall as the No. 119 and No, 47 would run nose to tail for the overall lead, with Murillo quickly closing.
Two laps later Travis would sneak to the inside of Quinlan at turn four and grab the overall and Pro-Am lead. Murillo would close onto the rear bumper of the No. 119 BMW as the top-three overall would run within one second of each other with seven minutes to go.
Murillo would then get the No. 72 Mercedes-AMG past the No. 119 BMW for second overall with five minutes remaining and would go in pursuit of the No. 47 Porsche. Just behind the leaders the No. 11 Classic BMW of Steven McAleer would get past the No. 89 RENNtech Mercedes-AMG at Turn 17 for fourth overall, second in Silver.
As the checkered flag flew the No. 47 NOLASPORT Porsche would win overall and in Pro-Am, ahead of the No. 119 Cameron BMW and No. 89 RENNtech Mercedes-AMG GT4.
The No. 72 Murillo Mercedes-AMG would claim the Silver win, finishing second overall, with the No. 11 Classic BMW second in class, fourth overall, with the No. 062 Dexter Racing Aston Martin third in class, eighth overall.
The Am win went to the No. 7 NOLASPORT with OHG Porsche of Gibbons and Sam Owen with the No. 23 Motorsport USA McLaren second and No. 5 Motorsport USA McLaren third.