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IGT At Road AtlantaRace Recap

IGT

The second round of the 2022 season was another sell out entry for International GT at Road Atlanta. In the rolling red-clay hills of North Georgia, the 2.54 mile course never disappoints in creating great racing.  Braselton, Georgia gave us bright sunny skies but chilly spring temperatures.

For the first time IGT was split between the Mission Foods GT3 Cup and Maranello Cup together, with the Stuttgart Cup Caymans in their own category. The Caymans enjoyed tight racing throughout the field, but it was ANDY PILGRIM #4 Regal Motorsports, who swept the weekend winning all three races. Andy’s teammate ANTHONTY BARTONE#427 took second in both sprint races but for the enduro (which was run with the all IGT cars) JOE RIZZO #12 RS1 Motorsports, teamed with local Atlanta pro driver, SPENCER PUMPELLY to capture a close second place finish, with Bartone taking third. We welcomed a couple of new entries in Stuttgart Cup with KEVIN MAXIM #18 standing on the podium in sprint race 1. MARIA MEJIA #11 Quirt Racing returned to IGT competition and rounded out the podium for sprint race 2. Local team Denton Carden Racing #540 (with a shop at Road Atlanta) joined IGT for the first time with drivers STEVE DENTON and CASEY CARDEN.

In Maranello Cup ROB METKA #54 returned to the series after a couple years hiatus and after the long haul down from Quebec, Canada had mechanical difficulties which ended his racing early in the weekend but it was great to have Rob back. JOHN PATRICK MULLANEY #36 swept the F458 category winning all three races on the weekend and being joined by CHRIS HALL in the enduro victory.  JUAN FAYEN #17 FMS Motorsports won all three races in his F488GT race car.

Not surprisingly TOM PANK #42 Ultra Performace had a lively battle at the front of the field in his GT4.R, but this time with a new car, driven by a familiar driver. CORY FRIEDMAN#014 Autometric Motorsports in an Audi R8 and gave Pank a run for his money in both sprints, racing nose to tail throughout. Cory was not able to compete in the enduro and Pank broke a clutch early on in the race, which opened the door to the Mission Foods GT3 Cup 4.1 drivers. The overall enduro win went to MARK MATHYS #77 with co-driver MIKE SKEEN. The TLM Racing teammates of DAVID TUATY #68 and STEPHEN HAMMAN #72 had arguably the closest and most exciting racing all weekend in the 4.1 category with Tuaty taking a slim win in the sprint races and Hamman besting Tuaty in the enduro.

Like Rob Metka, we haven’t seen SCOTT DIAGER #39 in IGT competition for a couple years (through the COVID crisis) and it was great to have Scott, who hails from the Seattle, WA area, back in the paddock! He started strong winning the first of the Mission Foods GT3 Cup GT4.0 sprint races. After Scott chased a few mechanical gremlins the rest of the weekend, while MARCEL FAYEN #03 FMS Motorsports shot to the top winning sprint 2 and Sunday’s enduro. After the top step was settled, there was great consistency with 3-second place finishes going to DAVID KUCHRAWY #331 SpeedSport Motorsports and 3-third place finishes going to BILL EARON #8 Goldcrest Motorsports.

In the GT3.6 category series newcomer STEVE DUNN #111 from Denver fit in well with IGT competition, starting with a third in sprint race 1, then winning sprint race 2 and the enduro.  In only his second IGT race, CHRIS LEE #277 won sprint race 1, and was runner up to Dunn in the second sprint and the enduro where he was joined by CHRIS RUPPEL as co-driver. Also on the podium for all three races was NICKLAS PANK #41 Ultra Performance who was second to Lee in sprint race 1 and followed up with a pair of thirds. 

Once again, the largest entry was in the Mission Foods GT3 Cup 3.8 with 16 cars. JIMMY ADAMS #343 who has pro-racing in his background but has been out of competition for several years, calls himself a bit “rusty”. Winning both sprint races, if this is his rusty, we can’t wait to see him all shined up! Jimmy shared the enduro with his good friend and famed NASCAR driver, MIKE SKINNER and the duo finished third. Another newcomer to the series and new TLM Racing team member, BRADY BEHRMAN #428 won the enduro, a great way to start his IGT career! Brady was also on the first sprint race podium finishing third. Mr. Consistency was JODY MILLER #3 TLM Racing who took 3 second place finishes on the weekend. In the most competitive class in the field, the podium for sprint race 2 was complete by JAVIER RIPOLL #191 Citimarine Motors. 

Welcome to a few other new competitors in addition to those mentioned above, from Autometrics, RICHARDO STUART MILNE #54 and CAROLS JOSE MIGUENS #70 and in the GT4.0 category, TIM HAINES #789 and once again welcome all our new competitors!  

pirelli

As we say goodbye to Road Atlanta – and see a few last pix – we’d like to thank Tripp Campbell for hosting IGT at his Lucky Dog Garage for our social reception on Friday night. We’d also like to take a minute to thank our marketing partners, PIRELLI and MISSION FOODS; sponsors, SURFACE TRANSFORMSINTERLAKE INNFIKSE WHEELSPREMIUM LUXURY RV RENTALS; and official suppliers, THE RACE TAILORSUNOCO RACE FUELSCOTT GRODY TRAVELGORSLINE COMPANIES.

Surface Transforms provided the in-car camera for the live streaming in John Patrick Mulaney’s Ferrari, while Fikse Wheels provided the in-car in Joe Rizzo’s Cayman Clubsport.

road america

Always listed as driver’s favorite, next up in IGT competition is the Road America event, May 18-22.  Registration is now open for the race at the famed Wisconsin facility.If you have any questions contact Julie@internationalgt.net or call 770-380-7770 – click on the logo to enter.

Looking Ahead to December in Daytona

If you have not participated in a Daytona event yet, allow us to explain a bit about this unique event. 

We participate with the Ohio Valley Audi Club. It’s a similar event to a DE for the Audi Club’s Group 1-4. However for IGT it is a proper racing event, 3 Sprint races and a 90 minute enduro. 

All this is important because if you are interested in getting extra track time, you will need to enter Group 1 with the Audi Club. This is completely separate from IGT and our race entry. Group 1 (Audi Club) will only be laps of the track, no racing. 

As we learned last year, the Audi Club groups fill up QUICKLY so don’t delay!! Click on the Ohio Valley Audi Club logo to link to their registration.

REMEMBER: The Audi Club entry is NOT an entry into International GT and our racing event at Daytona – same weekend, different entry!

If you have any questions at all please contact Julie@InternationalGT.net or call (770)380-7770

Marketplace

WANTED: Looking for a pristine 991.2 Porsche GT3 Cup – 2019 or newer with new generation ABS. I am looking for a pristine car that has very low hours on box, motor and chassis and absolutely never wrecked. Looking for a very high end car and willing to pay a premium for it. Text steve at 303-884-7159 or emails SDunn@engineereddemo.com


FOR SALE: 2018 Porsche GT3 R Wright Motorsports Factory Race Car campaigned by Patrick Long and Christina Neilsen.

  • 2018 IMSA GTD class series entrant: Daytona, Sebring, Mid-Ohio, Belle Isle, Watkins Glen, CTMP, Lime Rock, winner at Road America, VIR, Laguna Seca, Road Atlanta. Additionally, Laguna Seca California 8 hour International GT (#911) race driven by R. Dumas, D. Werner, F. Makowiecki.
  • Actual car used in the 2019 movie “The Art of Racing in the Rain”, actors Milo Ventimiglia-Denny Swift, Kevin Costner-Enzo, Amanda Seyfried, Produced by Patrick Dempsey
  • 2019-2021 International GT series campaigned by Professional racer Joe Varde and amateur Mark Sandridge
  • Data management system with computer and history, set-up information, etc.
  • Spare parts include spare motor, spare transmission, body parts, too many other spares to mention.

Contact Joe Varde @ 813-235-3350 or jvrtampa@aol.com

Kernodle Photography

IGT

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.

2022 Schedule

IGT 2022 Schedule

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