SONOMA, Calif. – The KPAX Racing No. 3 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 pairing of Andrea Caldarelli and Jordan Pepper overcame a poor race start to complete a weekend sweep of Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS action at Sonoma Raceway.
DXDT Racing’s George Kurtz and Colin Braun put in a good fight for the overall win but settled for an overall podium showing and first in the Pro-Am class.
The No. 61 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 driven by Jean-Claude Saada and Conrad Grunewald finished on top of the Am classifications.
Sunny, breezy conditions enveloped Sonoma at the drop of the green flag but there was a dark cloud over the KPAX camp as their pole and third-place starting positions slipped away quickly before the first turn.
Second-starting Braun and fourth qualifier Jan Heylen took advantage of the situation and edged forward to the top spots, dropping the KPAX Lamborghinis of Pepper and Giovanni Venturini as far back as fourth place.
More battles commenced for overall position and to get within striking range of the win, including a fight-back run between veteran Ryan Dalziel and series newcomer Dakota Dickerson battling for position and to hold on to a Pro-Am podium spot.
Shortly before the pit window opened, the No. 77 Compass Racing Acura NSX GT3 came in for an undetermined fuel-related issue that was solved by the team refueling and getting the car back into rotation.
Immediately after the pit window officially opened, the No. 3 KPAX Lamborghini came into the pit for the mandatory stop and executed an almost-perfect stop that saw them jump out ahead and recover the positions from the bad start.
The AF Corse Ferrari and the No. 9 TR3 Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 of Ziad Ghandour and Giacomo Altoe were issued drive-through penalties for their respective pit lane infractions incurred during the pit stop.
At the close of the pit window, the field leaders had returned to essentially a similar position to the starting grid, each holding their positions for the remainder of the race.
Meanwhile, a battle for overall position proceeded with Pro-Am class Am-rated Erin Vogel defending against Russell Ward down to the last turn of the last lap to maintain sixth and seventh overall positions, with the No. 33 car hanging on to the third Pro spot.
It locked out the No. 96 Turner Motorsports BMW F13 M6 GT3 of Michael Dinan and Robby Foley from a podium showing.
Pro-Am competitors Wright Motorsports held on to the podium placement under driver Fred Poordad’s driving of the No. 20 Porsche, while Taylor Hagler brought home the No. 93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3 for the last spot on the podium.