Catalano, Walker, Clemons Capture Race 1 Wins at VIR

The IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge’s opening race in its three-race event at Virginia International Raceway served up an appetizer of weekend action among its three classes, with familiar race winners in a caution-free 45-minute race.

Valentino Catalano (LMP3) and Jake Walker (GTDX) continued their recent run of form throughout the season. Both drivers won their fifth race in eight rounds this season.

There was a newer winner in GSX, with Steven Clemons surpassing a pair of RAFA Racing teammates to propel his singular No. 76 BSI Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 to that win.

Clemons won his second race of the season, and first since the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in June.

Most of the LMP3 battle was settled at the start, with Catalano (No. 30 Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsports Duqueine D08 Nissan) launching away from pole position and quickly building his lead north of ten seconds.

He maintained the gap from there over the 45-minute race, leading flag-to-flag to win by 21.115 seconds over new teammate Alexzander Kristiansson (No. 31 Gebhardt Duqueine) in his series debut.

GTDX saw a similar start-to-finish run from the pole to win from Walker (No. 6 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3). With his fifth win in the last six races.

Walker continued his methodical closing on championship leader Adam Adelson (No. 24 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R) with a win by 7.531 seconds.

The GSX battle stood out as the most intense, action-packed racing of the day among three Toyotas – Clemons’ No. 76 BSI entry against Kiko Porto in the No. 8 RAFA Racing entry and Ian Porter in the No. 68 RAFA machine.

Porto led from pole for the first 15 laps, but Clemons asserted his potential with a pass on Porter for second on Lap 10. He started around the outside of Turn 1, then moved into the inside of Turn 3 to complete the move.

With that move in the bank, Clemons pulled off a near identical pass for the lead on Porto six laps later on Lap 16. He’d tried on Lap 14, running side-by-side with Porto to almost get the lead, but was unable to pass the rapid Brazilian driver.

However, two laps later he got the lead, making a similar over-under move on Porto into Turn 3. From there he extended the gap to a winning margin of 4.998 seconds.

Each Bronze Cup winner in their respective classes finished third, with Brian Thienes (No. 77 Forte Racing Ligier JS P320 Nissan, LMP3), Samantha Tan (No. 38 ST Racing BMW, GTDX) and Porter (No. 68 RAFA Racing Toyota, GSX) having clean days.

Saturday’s second VP Racing Challenge race of the weekend is at 12:25 p.m. EST, streaming on Peacock, IMSA.TV and IMSA’s Official YouTube channel.

RESULTS: Race 1