Hedlund Holds on for Overall Win in Controversial Finish Behind

Photo: Brian Cleary/SRO

Mike Hedlund held on to claim overall victory in a controversial finish that has seen R. Ferri Motorsports provisionally clinch the Blancpain GT World Challenge America title Sunday at Road America.

Hedlund edged out the No. 61 Ferrari of Daniel Serra by 0.495 seconds to give the Pro-Am class RealTime Racing squad its 100th victory, and outright honors, on the team’s home soil.

While Hedlund and co-driver Dane Cameron’s victory is not in question, a called-off full-course caution by SRO Motorsports America officials led to Serra jumping from fifth to second during the confusion.

A safety car was on track at the time, before pulling off at Turn 5, while the flagger held a green flag at the start/finish line.

The safety car was triggered by an accident by the No. 63 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 of David Askew, who crashed at the Kink but quickly got going again.

The double yellows were then withdrawn, but the safety car remained on track.

“We were on full course yellow procedure and suddenly it was green and there was no safety car and I pushed,” Serra said. “I was able to overtake both Bentleys.”

Toni Vilander added: “Let’s wait for the final result. It was a bit confusing at the end.”

It allowed Serra to overtake the two Bentleys, which was enough for Vilander and the Canadian Ferrari team to clinch the Pro class title.

Andy Soucek finished third overall in the No. 9 K-PAX Racing Bentley Continental GT3, with teammate Rodrigo Baptista fourth amid the late-race confusion.

The No. 58 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R of Patrick Long and Scott Hargrove completed the top-five, provisionally. 

Martin Barkey, who was running second in the final stages of the 90-minute race, dropped to sixth overall but second in the Pro-Am class.

The results remain provisional pending a protest from K-PAX Racing, per program manager Darren Law.

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