Garg Doubles Up at VIR in Sixth Win of Season

The margin of victory was significantly closer for Bijoy Garg from the day before in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, but it was a victory nonetheless and extended the Californian’s championship lead.

Garg guided the No. 3 Jr III Racing Ligier JS P320 Nissan to his sixth overall and LMP3 class win of the series’ inaugural season on Sunday at VIRginia International Raceway, as well as his third sweep of a weekend doubleheader.

As opposed to winning by more than 31 seconds on Saturday, however, Garg edged Alex Kirby (No. 7 Performance Tech Motorsports Ligier) by a mere 0.109 seconds at the checkered flag.

Garg built an eight-second lead early into the 45-minute race before the only full-course caution came when GSX class driver Todd Coleman’s No. 69 Archangel Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage GT4 tumbled upside down after a collision with Vin Barletta in the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4.

Coleman was not injured, and racing resumed with 17 minutes remaining.

Garg quickly pulled away again until he was balked by slower traffic several times in the closing minutes, allowing Kirby to close in and attach his No. 7 Ligier to the No. 3’s tail.

Garg fended off a couple overtaking attempts to hold off Kirby for the win by the narrow margin.

The twin victories this weekend helped Garg extend his LMP3 lead to 70 points over Dan Goldburg, who finished third overall Sunday in the No. 73 JDC MotorSports Duqueine D08 Nissan but was able to keep his LMP3 Bronze Cup winning record perfect with a late overtake of Brian Thienes (No. 77 Forte Racing Powered by US RaceTronics Ligier).

Liefooghe Collects Series-Leading Third GSX Victory

Every time Gregory Liefooghe drives in the VP Racing Challenge, he’s a threat to win. He proved it again Sunday, taking the GSX class victory in the No. 19 Stephen Cameron Racing BMW M4 GT4.

Liefooghe has competed in five races this season, winning a series-high three and finishing second the other times.

A day after charging from last on the grid to finish second, Liefooghe started from the GSX pole Sunday and was never seriously challenged. He kept Saturday race winner Francis Selldorff at bay on both the race start and restart, gradually pulling away from the No. 95 Turner Motorsport BMW both times to establish comfortable margins.

Selldorff finished second in GSX ahead of Sebastian Carazo (No. 27 Kellymoss with Riley Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport) in third. Selldorff leads Carazo by 230 points with only the season-ending doubleheader at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta from Oct. 11-13 remaining.

RESULTS: Race 2