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GT World Challenge America

Aschenbach Wins Shortened Race 2; Sweeps GTS Weekend

Lawson Aschenbach claims victory in shortened GTS Race 2 at St. Pete…

Photo: Brian Cleary/BCPix.com

Lawson Aschenbach has swept the Pirelli World Challenge GTS season-opening weekend, claiming victory in a shortened Race 2 on the streets of St. Pete.

The scheduled 50-minute Sprint race was called six minutes from the end following a two-car accident that resulted in a blockage to the 1.8-mile temporary street circuit.

Aschenbach controlled the race from the start, stretching out into an early lead in the No. 1 Blackdog Speed Shop Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R, ahead of the No. 21 Muehlner Motorsport Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR of Gabriele Piana.

Piana again finished second but came under pressure from James Sofronas in the No. 14 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT4, who was unable to get around the Italian despite repeated attempts.

Sofronas was forced to settle for third, his first podium of the year.

The No. 50 Panoz Avezzano GT4 of Ian James came home fourth, rebounding from electrical issues on Saturday, with Jade Buford completing the top-five in the No. 55 PF Racing Ford Mustang GT4.

Harry Gottsacker was sixth in the No. 69 Racers Edge Motorsports SIN R1 GT4, making it six different GT4 manufacturers in the top-six.

Drew Staveley, who finished on the overall podium on Saturday, also swept the weekend in GTSA but with an eighth place overall finish in his No. 12 Ian Lacy Racing Ginetta G55 GT4.

Tony Gaples (Blackdog Camaro GT4) and Mike Hedlund (Flying Lizard Motorsports Audi) completed the GTSA class podium on Sunday.

Contact between Marko Radisic and Jeff Courtney brought out the first full-course caution on Lap 6 when Radisic stalled on-track.

A spin by Vinnie Allegretta in the No. 10 PF Mustang GT4, who sideswiped Steve Burns’ No. 43 Ian Lacy Ginetta, brought out a second yellow with ten minutes to go, which turned into the race-ending red.

RESULTS: Race 2

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John

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