Heavy rain came down over VIRginia International Raceway as race one for the GT America powered by AWS championship commenced, with the opening 25m being spent behind the safety car.
Justin Rothberg led from start to finish in his No. 29 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3, claiming important championship points in the process. It was a tight battle in the GT4 class, but Curt Swearingin prevailed in his No. 7 ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.
SRO3
Rothberg started from pole position and set sail until the checkered flag. However, it was not a smooth ride as the wet conditions were an added challenge. Championship leader Jason Daskalos was trying to apply pressure for first place, but he spun out and went off track into the tire-barriers, damaging the front end of his No. 27 CRP Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 and bringing out a short full course caution.
As the race progressed, it was looking less and less easy for Rothberg to take the win, as Johnny O’Connell closed in on him in the last few laps. As the No. 3 SKI Autosports Audi R8 LMS GT3 was about to make an attempt to pass for the lead, Rothberg and O’Connell made contact, sending the latter into the grass. This incident promoted the No. 2 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO of Jason Bell into second place, with O’Connell rounding off the top three.
When discussing the tricky conditions, Rothberg noted that, “It was difficult on the safety car laps, there was a lot of standing water. Once you figured out which places to avoid, we were good to go.”
GT4
The on-track battles in the GT4 class got underway as soon as the green flag running kicked off, with Damir Hot and Isaac Sherman going wheel to wheel in their respective No. 05 Flying Lizard Motorsports Nissan Z NISMO GT4 and No. 098 Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.
Sherman was able to muscle past with just under eight minutes remaining, setting his sights on Curt Swearingin up ahead in the No. 7 ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.
The two were running nose to tail throughout each and every corner, with Sherman looking for any opportunity or slip up in order to steal away the lead. However, Swearingin remained calm and collected, fending off the attack and going on to take the checkered flag and his second consecutive victory of the season. Sherman crossed the finish line just behind in second, with Damir Hot closing out race one in third.
“It was tough and it is wet out here,” said Swearingin. “That was a fun race. I just knew it was going to be hard for Isaac to pass, so I just had to make sure to not make mistakes. Even if it was a bit slower, it’s so hard to pass here, especially in the wet, so that’s how we got it done.”
The GT America Powered by AWS field will return to the track for race two on Sunday, July 21st at 8:45 a.m. ET.