Garg Takes Commanding VIR Race 1 Win

Bijoy Garg continued to build momentum Saturday at Virginia International Raceway in his quest to become the first ever LMP3 class champion in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge.

Garg (No. 3 Jr III Racing Ligier JS P320 Nissan) dominated the first of two 45-minute VP Racing Challenge races this weekend in sweltering conditions to extend his lead over Dan Goldburg (No. 73 JDC Motorsport Duqueine D08) in the LMP3 standings to 40 points.

After securing the pole position on Friday, Garg led from start to finish Saturday to earn his third consecutive LMP3 class race win, and fifth on the 2023 season. His margin of victory Saturday was a staggering 31.665 seconds.

The 21-year-old Californian also swept both races of VP SportsCar Challenge doubleheader weekends earlier this year at Sebring International Raceway and Lime Rock Park.

Goldburg scored his fourth second-place finish of the season to go along with his three wins.

Courtney Crone (No. 99 Forty7 Motorsports Duqueine D08 Nissan) passed Brian Thienes (No. 77 Forte Racing Powered by USRT Ligier) for third place with ten minutes remaining and held him off down the stretch in the best LMP3 battle of the race.

GSX: Seldorff Records First Victory in Turner BMW

Francis Selldorff (No. 95 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4) earned his first victory Saturday in GSX class competition.

Selldorff led every lap and withstood intense pressure from Gregory Liefooghe (No. 19 Stephen Cameron Racing BMW) throughout the second half of the 45-minute contest, ultimately winning by 0.221 seconds.

Vin Barletta claimed third place in another Turner Motorsport BMW, 14.291 seconds back.

The result extended Selldorff’s lead over Sebastian Carazo (No. 27 Kellymoss with Riley Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubspirt) from 90 to 210 points after Carazo encountered trouble and finished one lap down in eighth place on Saturday.

Selldorff started on the outside of the front row.

The result allowed Selldorff to turn his focus to becoming the first GSX class champion in VP Racing Challenge history.

Liefooghe, who boasts two wins and two second place finishes in his four VP Racing Challenge starts in 2023, claimed the pole position but lost several places on the opening lap. He quickly rebounded to second place, but could never force his BMW past Selldorff’s similar car.

He came closest with about three minutes remaining, only to run off course in VIR’s Climbing Esses.

The second VP Racing SportsCar Challenge race of the VIR weekend takes place Sunday at 11:25 a.m. EDT, with live coverage streaming on Peacock and IMSA.tv.

RESULTS: Race 1