IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge: Podium for Jesse Lazare and DNF for Kuno Wittmer

by Patrice Marchessault · March 16, 2019

GREAT RESULT FOR LAZARE’S MIA MCLAREN TEAM AFTER STARTING EIGHT. MECHANICAL PROBLEMS FOR WITTMER.

The start to the race was given at 12:05 on schedule. Kuno Wittmer lost one place at the start initially. A full course yellow brought the field together and not long after the restart, Kuno got his position back.

He held his position until the round of pit stops. As a full course yellow had just been thrown for a different situation, teammate Paul Holton was shown stopped on the track with what appeared to be electronic problems. After bringing the car to the pits, repair were made but to no avail as they stop short of the checkered flag.

Kuno Wittmer reflecting on Sebring: “Sebring is always a task on hand. It’s always demonstrated how aggressive this circuit can be. For our Compass Racing Team and the McLaren 570s GT4, it was a weekend of emotions with a front row qualifying on Thursday. Unfortunately, our luck did not pan out this weekend as we suffered some mechanical gremlins from the drop of the green flag. For sure, unfortunate. But we will keep our focus forward and keep on pushing. We have an intense testing program between here and Mid-Ohio, it’s a long season.”

All through this, Motorsport In Action and Jesse Lazare made their way to second place. With less than 20 minutes to go, he started loosing pace and eventually dropped to third. Although he kept loosing ground, Jesse was able to hold on to third at the checkered flag.

The top three spots on the podium in the GS class were occupied by Tyler McQuarrie and Jeff Westphall in their Carbahn Motorsports No. 39 in first place. Second were James Clay and Devin Jones driving the No. 82 BMW M4 GT4 for BimmerWorld Racing. And third, Jesse Lazare and Corey Fergus in their no. 69 MIA McLaren Gt4.

Kyle Marcelli(no.60) and Kenny Wilden(59), driving for KorH Motorports Ford Mustang, finished in fifth and sixth respectively. Scott Hargrove and Orey Fidani sharing the No. 13 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport ended up in 18th.

Mark Wilkins, driving the Hyundai Veloster N TCR for Brian Herta Autosport w/Curb-Agajanian, finished sixth in class.