Venturini Makes Last Lap Pass for Win in Race 2 at COTA

Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO

A last-lap pass by Giovanni Venturini on teammate Jordan Pepper has given the No. 6 K-PAX Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo its first victory of the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS season in Sunday’s round at Circuit of The Americas.

The Italian and co-driver Corey Lewis celebrated a surprise victory after a strange final lap in the 90-minute race, which appeared to have been heading Pepper’s way after his charge through the field in the No. 3 Lamborghini.

However, Venturini got around the South African for the lead on the final lap and crossed the line 0.360 seconds in another K-PAX 1-2 finish.

Having started eighth, Pepper’s co-driver Andrea Caldarelli dropped outside of the top-ten after struggling through traffic in a frantic opening stages of the 90-minute contest.

A full-course caution for a stray wheel from the No. 77 Compass Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo put both K-PAX Lamborghinis back into contention on the restart with 30 minutes to go, which saw Pepper go from sixth to the lead in the matter of four laps.

While Pepper got into the lead he came under pressure from Venturini in the closing 15 minutes before giving way on the final lap on fading tires.

Russell Ward and Phillip Ellis finished third overall and in the Pro class in the No. 33 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo following a hard-fought battle for the lead between Ellis and the No. 20 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R of Jan Heylen early on.

Heylen took over lead on Lap 7 and extended his advantage to Ellis by 1.5 seconds prior to the mid-race pit stops and driver changes.

The No. 04 DXDT Racing Mercedes of Colin Braun and George Kurtz picked up Pro-Am honors courtesy of an impressive drive from Kurtz, who went from third to the class lead following the restart.

Kurtz finished ahead of the Pro class No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 of Robby Foley and Michael Dinan, which was classified fifth overall.

A late-race battle between the No. 20 Wright Porsche of Fred Poordad and Saturday’s class-winning No. 70 inception racing McLaren 720S GT3 of Brendon Iribe went the way of Poordad, who finished second in Pro-Am.

The lone Am class entry, the No. 61 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo, meanwhile, came home tenth overall.

RESULTS: Race 2

John Dagys

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