Thanks to its excellent drivers and teams, Race for RP had an exhilarating weekend in Rounds 6 and 7 of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The weekend doubleheader was a first for the series with races taking place on Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday in Race 1, Kyle Marcelli and Nate Stacy earned a breakthrough WIN in the No. 60 Race for RP KohR Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage GT4. After qualifying on pole, Nate Stacy consistently led the field before handing the car off to co-driver, Kyle Marcelli. Although Marcelli found himself as far back as P5 during his leg of the race, his determination and driving skills allowed him to reclaim the top spot in dramatic fashion and take the checkered flag for the team’s first win of the season.
Also finding themselves on the podium were Race for RP drivers, Jeff Westphal and Tyler McQuarrie, in the No. 39 CarBahn with Peregrine Racing Audi R8 GT4, with a P2 podium finish. In the TCR class, Jon Morley and Gavin Ernstone earned P3, a fantastic result for the duo. Later that evening, qualifying for Sunday’s race took place, and Nate Stacy repeated his pole position, besting the track qualifying record he set earlier that day.
On Sunday in Race 2, Marcelli and Stacy delivered an unforgettable performance including an extra round of driver changes. After leading the field for much of the race with the No. 39 consistently in their rearview mirror, Stacy ultimately found himself in P3 with just 26 minutes remaining. An incident in the front allowed Stacy to move into second place and he quickly closed in on the No. 57 [Mercedes; AMG?], passing for the lead on the next lap and finishing with the back-to-back WIN and weekend sweep in the GS class. Jeff Westphal and Tyler McQuarrie fought with expertise and determination and finished in P3 in the CarBahn with Peregrine Audi R8 GT4 and a second podium for the weekend.
In the TCR class, Race for RP driver, Jon Morley executed a perfect, if not unnerving, fuel-saving strategy that allowed the team to avoid a second pitstop. The final lap was a close one, but Morley ultimately found the checkered flag and the P1 Class Win for the No. 61 Clear Title Road Shagger Racing Audi RS3 TCR, their second of the season!
Race for RP was excited and grateful to see such tremendous results in this weekend of racing. “We’re grateful to have such dedicated ambassadors, drivers and teams who continue to expertly increase awareness and help accelerate research initiatives,” says David Bammert, President of the Relapsing Polychondritis Foundation. He adds, “We’re especially pleased to see the Race for RP teams with multiple podium finishes, and in the winner’s circle resulting in extraordinary national media coverage for the Relapsing Polychondritis Foundation.”
With a national broadcast of this weekend’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge races scheduled for Monday, October 5, at 3pm ET on NBC Sports Network, we will be watching as we continue to celebrate the phenomenal performances by our fantastic drivers and teams.
