A Record Entry for the Season Finale at DaytonaRace Recap
The 2021 International GT season finale was the perfect way to top off a record season, with 57 official entries for the event at Daytona International Speedway, December 10-12. After splitting the field for qualifying on Friday, we saw three fantastic sprint races on Saturday and an exciting enduro on Sunday afternoon.
We’re going to switch things up and start with Stuttgart Cup. The Caymans were well represented with 12 entries, 3 in the 3.4 liter category and 9 entered in 3.8 liter. In the 3.4 category RUSSELL WITTENBERG#133 had a roller coaster weekend with some set up issues but with some help from Racelink to sort the car, he won the class in sprint race 1 and the endruo, while JONATHAN BROWNE #94 from Quirt Racing took a pair of second place finishes and shared his car with his father JAMES BROWNE for the enduro finishing third. WILL WACHS #017, Gator Gang Racing, won sprint races 2 and 3 adding to an impressive 2021 points tally, securing him the three-peat as 2021 Stuttgart Champion!
We’ve seen great growth in the Stuttgart Cup 3.8 category this year and the racing did not disappoint in Daytona. Debuting in IGT competition was CHRISTOPHER STROH #21 from Extreme Velocity Motorsports and what a debut! Chris won sprint 1, was second in sprint race 3 and paired up with a very familiar face to IGT, SHANE LEWIS to finish third in the enduro. SCOTT KEE #351 from ZOTZ Racing was last seen at Sebring in 2020 and finished second in sprint race 1 then just off the podium for the remainder of the races. It was great to see Scott back with co-driver RON ZITZA.
Another newcomer was ARIEL AUFGANG #13 with SpeedSport Racing and he really enjoyed his first time racing with IGT. Ariel was third in sprints 1 and 2. Now an IGT regular, JOE RIZZO #12, from RS1, showed up in Daytona with a new 3.8 liter Cayman and found his way to the podium with the new car. Joe won sprint 2, took a third in sprint race 3 and paired with SPENCER PUMPELLY to also win the enduro. Another RS1 entrant and newcomer to IGT, TOM BIGONY#174, had a great weekend posting his best finish in sprint race 2 where he finished second. ROLAND KRAINZ #619, also with RS1, joined IGT for the second time (first was Watkins Glen) and had a great run in Sprint race 3, coming away with the win. He would follow that up with a second in the enduro. Honorable mention goes to MARIA MEJIA #22 from Quirt Racing who joined IGT for the second time and is fairly new to racing. Maria finished just off the podium in each race and had a terrific event.
On the right: 2021 MARANELLO Cup Champion: ANDY PILGRIM #4
In Maranello Cup at Daytona, ANDY PILGRIM #4 wrapped up the 2021 Championship with team SKI Autosport. Andy had some spirited competition for the overall wins (from GT3 Cup 4 liter entries, more on that later) but finished first overall in sprint races 2 and 3 and won the Ferrari 458GT category throughout the weekend. ROLAND VEIT #16 from Pocono Sportscar clinched second place in the 2021 Maranello Cup Championship with consistent runs at Daytona.
As has become tradition at International GT, the largest fields were in the Mission Foods GT3 Cup categories. The biggest entry among the GT3 Cup cars was in the 4 liter category where we’ve seen TLM Racing all year and they came with their largest group to Daytona, six cars and went home with the 2021 Mission Foods GT3 Cup Championship for DAVID TUATY #68.
It was a super close competition for the championship all year, with David’s consistent podium finishes clinching the championship for the team owner. Tuaty continued his winning ways at Daytona, taking first in sprint races 1 and 2. Little did we know that the TLM team has been holding out on us, with a secret weapon in the young (in school, doc-to-be) STEPHEN HAMMAN #72. Stephen missed qualifying on Friday as he had a test (his mom Molly was there to give his excuse). Stephen’s father Jim is an IGT regular racing in a 4 liter car but Stephen showed up in Daytona with a 4 liter of his own, finishing on the podium in each race and by Sunday the 22-year-old took the overall win in the enduro. Competition Motorsports from California made what is becoming their annual trek to Daytona to join IGT in the season finale. They had an impressive 8 entries, all in the 4 liter field – Bob Faieta, Jim Walsh, Steve Miller, Chris Pallis, Slade Smith, Tom Haacker, Bob Hanley and Gregory Bennett.
The podium saw many great racers, in sprint race 1 Tuaty was followed in second by BOB FAIETA #4X Competition Motorsports and Stephen Hamman. In sprint race 2 Tuaty was followed in second by Stephen Hamman and Bob Faieta. Sprint race 3 saw the win go to Steve Miller #66 from Competition Motorsports, followed by MARK MATHYS#77 who had been in a tight battle all year for the championship and third went to Stephen Hamman. Sunday’s enduro win of course went to Stephen Hamman, second to JIM WALSH #99 from Competition Motorsports and rounding out the podium was Mark Mathys who was joined by co-driver MIKE SKEEN.
In the Mission Foods GT3 Cup 4.R category JON MANSHIP #116 with a Wright Motorsports entry won sprints 1 and 2, followed in both races by IGT newcomer BOB NEAPOLE #67. Bob took another second in sprint 3 but this time the win went to series sponsor, JUAN GONZALEZ #81 from Mission Foods/Car Amigo. Finally, after 3-second place finishes, Neapole joined with co-driver GUY COSMO to win the enduro! Another new face in the IGT paddock JAY SMITH #37 from Autometrics Motorsports completed the 4.R podium in sprint races 2 and 3, finishing third in both.
The 3.8 liter cars made up the second largest category in the field. JODY MILLER #3, TLM Racing, won the first sprint race and took second in sprint race 2. JOHN BLEAZARD #33 from Quirt Racing was runner up in sprint race 1 but went on to sweep the weekend winning sprints 2 and 3 and Sunday’s enduro! It was a great weekend for Dr. John and the team from Texas. There were a few others who posted podium finishes. JEROME JACALONE #61 from Orbit Racing was third in sprint 1. CHRIS RUPPEL #119, ZOTZ Racing, was third in sprint 2, second in sprint 3 and partnered with ERIC ZITZA to take second in the enduro. JAMES HAMMAN #176 from TLM Racing (now known as Stephen’s dad) took third in the enduro. Series regular BOB WISEN#27 from Ultra Performance had a quiet weekend (with Tom Pank unable to attend the Daytona event) and finished on the podium in sprint race 3.
The final Mission Foods GT3 Cup category belongs to the 3.6 liter Porsches. Newcomer JAVIER RIPOLL#191 from Citimarine Motors proved to be very fast winning sprint races 1 and 2 by just a slight margin over BRYAN SIRCELY #103, Quirt Racing. The close battles continued and Sircely won sprint race 3 also. The enduro win went to NICK KARANGELEN #76. Nick stood on the podium in all four races on the weekend (a first, 2 seconds and a third). That’s the type of podium finishing consistency which contributed to him taking second in the 2021 Mission Foods GT3 Cup Championship.
We were treated to having two GTD cars in the Exhibition category at Daytona. TED GIOVANIS, along with his IMSA co-drivers, MATT PLUMB, OWEN TRINKLER and HUGH PLUMB each took a turn in the car. Trinkler finished first overall in sprint race 1 and then jumped into Ted’s 4 liter car to race in the enduro winning the Exhibition category. RYAN HARDWICK #161, from Wright Motorsports finished just behind Trinkler in sprint 1. Also in Exhibition were others that were new to the IGT paddock including JUAN FAYEN #117 with FMS Motorsport. Juan raced a Ferrari 488 and brought along his son MARCEL FAYEN #19 who raced a GT3 Cup 4 liter. BGB Motorsports who are local to the Speedway, located just up the street in Ormond Beach, brought SCOTT VANACORE #59 who was on the podium in sprint race 1 and was joined by co-driver JOHN TECCE to finish third in the enduro.
With 57 entries it’s difficult to mention every competitor in this recap but we do want to take an opportunity to sincerely thank everyone who participated in our season finale event. We appreciate every driver and team who raced with International GT in 2021!
We had record entries at all IGT events in 2021 and hosted 113 different competitors, with countless co-drivers and coaches, all helping to make this season our largest ever. We can’t wait to see what 2022 brings and we look forward to seeing you at Sebring, February 24-27, 2022.
2022 International GT Race Licenses Now Available
2022 IGT racing licenses are now available for renewal or for first time competitors. Click on the photo of the 2022 license to link to the application.
2022 licenses are $400 until January 8 and $450 on January 9 and beyond.
Take advantage of the discounted rate and get your application in by January 8, 2022.
If you have any questions contact Julie@InternationalGT.net or call (770)380-7770.
Marketplace
FOR SALE: Current IGT championship contender is available for sale!!!
2008 Porsche 997.1 cup car
Immaculate and one of a kind in the United States Amazing opportunity for the right person.
- 997.1 wide body
- 4.0l engine by orbit racing
- Kmp paddle shifters
- Fresh gearbox
- Inconel headers and exhaust
- EXE-TC rally suspension with freshly rebuilded shocks
- Gran Am uprights
- Newly rebuilded air jacks
- “Grand Am”
- 997.2 front bumper conversion
- 997.2 radiators and ducting
- Gran Am Brembo break package
- Upgraded 991 front break rotors
- Full carbon fiber body ( fenders , bumpers, hood , doors , engine cover, rear fender flares
- 997.2 wing with RSR end plates 3 sets of 3 piece BBS wheels for 991 cup tires size
- Auxiliary battery system
- Helmet air cooler
- Seat blower
- Race tech seat
- Sabelt enduro belts ( good until 2025)
- Carbon 100 L fuel cell with new fuel pumps
- Twin dry break system
- Motec data system 20 hrs on axels
- Carbon fiber head light covers lids
- Carbon canards
- Costume grill stainless steel mesh
- and much more !!!!
Asking price 135 USD OBO
Please contact Jeronimo Guzmán at jeronimoguzman@gmail.com or 561 7794536 for further information.
FOR SALE: Porsche 997.2 Cup car.
Includes a very extensive spares package. It has 29 hours on the motor and a recently refreshed transmission.
Price: $110K for the entire package – car and spares.For more information:
Contact:Ted Kokas (917) 375-3260 TKokas@hotmail.com
Selling or looking for a race car, trailer, equipment, etc? We’ll highlight it in our Marketplace section. This is free to International GT competitors and teams and will run for about 4 email blasts. Just send a photo, description and contact information to Julie@InternationalGT.net.
Kernodle Photography
The official photographer for International GT is John Kernodle. Click on the photo to link to the Kernodle Photography website and see special offers from John to International GT competitors.
Pirelli Tire Orders
Pirelli is the official tire of International GT and Frisby Performance Tire is the sole supplier. Click on the logo to link to their IGT tire order side or call Frisby at (800)373-7390.
2022 Schedule
