McLeod Sweeps Le Mans Invitational in Dramatic Race 2

Cameron McLeod hung on to sweep the Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational weekend in an action-packed Race 2, which saw the Australian fight back to deny Robert Noaker a last-to-first win at Circuit de la Sarthe.

The Robert Noaker Racing driver once again charged up the order after starting last, gaining 20 positions before the field was halted under the safety car before the first racing lap was completed.

The Ford Performance Junior Driver climbed into the top five with 17 minutes to go, setting his sights on the leaders ahead.

Noaker jumped past Race 1 winner McLeod, with the Australian losing time out of a Slow Zone early in the lap.

McLeod challenged Noaker in the following laps, however, going side-by-side with the Mustang Challenge points leader and muscling his way back into the lead on the final lap and taking the checkered flag by just 0.174 seconds on Noaker.

Another strong showing for Ford Performance’s Junior Team saw Sam Paley complete the overall and Dark Horse class podium after sustaining Lap 1 damage.

Paley was locked in a tense battle with fellow Junior Team member Jenson Altzman in the closing stages, which saw the TeamFloral driver finish fourth ahead of Matt Nicoll-Jones in fifth overall.

A dramatic start saw Paley challenge McLeod for the lead, just as the Dark Horse Legends class pole-sitting No. 91 RNR Mustang of Dan McKeever lock up into the first chicane, making contact with the rear bumper of the Paley Motorsport driver’s Mustang.

Just behind, Chip Van Vurst then spun before the Turn 2 braking zone, collecting Aznac’s Andrew Miedecke in the process.

A safety car was swiftly triggered after a third opening lap incident at the Daytona Chicane saw Colin Harrison spin the No. 88 Dark Horse Stars Mustang of Chelsea Denofa before collecting further damage once stopped.

The No. 8 Competition Motors Mustang of Tom Tait also went off while attempting a move into the chicane.

Marco Signoretti and Tom McGlynn were caught up in the melee, ending all three drivers’ races.

Soon after, Denofa intentionally brushed up against one of the on-track sponsorship signs to detach his loose rear bumper, which was recovered by track workers before the field went green with just under 30 minutes remaining.

Alfonzo Diaz won in Dark Horse Legends after then-leader Alex Bachoura lost ground in the closing stages.

Bachoura looked set for a class victory after initially being hit and spun by Tate Pritt’s No. 98 Automatic Racing Mustang while leading early in the race.

Pritt sustained race-ending front damage, while Tim Miles inherited the class lead in the process, but was reported as smoking by race control in the final 20 minutes of the race.

Bachoura got back to the lead but lost ground late in the race, paving the way for Diaz’s victory.

Tanner Foust secured the Dark Horse Stars win for Spark Performance Mustang ahead of Frankie Muniz, with both drivers finishing inside the overall top ten.

In the closing stages, Nathan Vanspringel suffered a tire issue, stopping his No. 95 Dark Horse R on track in the first sector, just before Doug Peterson triggered Slow Zone 1 after becoming lodged in the gravel trap at Dunlop.

RESULTS: Race 2