Tunjo, Workman Double Up at Daytona in Wet, Wild Sunday

Though Oscar Tunjo LMP3 and Westin Workman GSX doubled up their wins in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge season opener, their second races of the weekend were anything but a sunny Sunday drive.

Both drivers overcame adversity and adverse conditions to score back-to-back wins to open their accounts in pursuit of the season championships.

With rain coming in right before the race Sunday at Daytona International Speedway – coincidentally, as it did last year in race two at Daytona – IMSA officials declared a wet start for all competitors to shift to wet-weather Michelin tires.

Tunjo, driving the No. 1 Gebhardt Motorsport USA Duqueine D08 Nissan, started on pole and led the opening eight laps, but the middle of the 45-minute race saw a round robin of leaders.

First Tunjo’s teammate Danny Soufi in the No. 11 Pinaxis-Zone 4 Racing Duqueine and then Brady Golan in the No. 30 Toney Driver Development Ligier JS P325 Toyota took turns in the lead.

Golan, however, drifted off course on Lap 18 on a damp patch and into the wet grass at the Turn 4 kink, proceeding to hit the tire barrier in Turn 5.

Following a lengthy yellow to remove debris, there was enough time to get in a one-lap dash around the 3.56-mile road course with a green-and-white-flag finish.

Tunjo was able to streak away by 5.089 seconds over Brian Thienes, the LMP3 Bronze Cup winner in the No. 77 Forte Racing Ligier JS P320 Nissan, and Golan’s teammate Lincoln Day in the No. 95 Toney Driver Development Ligier JS P325.

Both Thienes and Day benefited from Golan and Soufi’s delays.

Workman’s second win of the weekend in GSX, driving the No. 8 RAFA Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2, was even more eventful.

The pole-sitter pitted before the green flag to fix an air jack and then stopped on the backs traight after resuming from the pits to re-cycle the power steering. Either way, he would have to start at the back of the 12-car GSX and 22-car overall field.

In just three laps, Workman had already climbed to fourth and by Lap 8, he made it past Justin Di Benedetto (No. 4 Di Benedetto Racing Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport) for the lead.

Both drivers had a healthy, clean battle following Workman’s comeback and Di Benedetto held on to be close enough to get the lead back.

He was unable to do so after the one-lap dash and ended 1.142 seconds behind Workman. Sean Quinlan captured the GSX Bronze Cup win and finished third among all GSX entries in his No. 19 Stephen Cameron Racing Ford Mustang GT4.

The next sprint weekend round of VP Challenge will be held at Circuit of The Americas, Feb. 27-28.

A week later, LMP3 competitors will continue for their first Airbnb Endurance Challenge weekend at Sebring International Raceway, March 6-8, running alongside BMW M2 competitors.

RESUTS: Race 2