McAleer, Grahovec Take Come-from-Behind Win in Race 2

Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO

Stevan McAleer and Toby Grahovec have claimed a come-from-behind victory in the second Pirelli GT4 America race of the weekend at Watkins Glen International.

The Classic BMW duo took overall honors in the 60-minute race, which ended under a full-course caution for a heavy accident involving Derek De Boer and Adam Adelson.

It came after Grahovec was forced to start from the rear of the 32-car field due to a technical infringement that also stripped them of their Silver class win in Saturday’s race.

An early stop for Grahovec put the No. 11 BMW M4 GT4 out front in clean air as the majority of the field elected to pit at the end of the pit window.

A faster-than-permitted pit stop for the No. 15 BSport Aston Martin Vantage GT4 initially put Bryan Putt out front overall before getting passed by McAleer with 20 minutes to go.

Putt would later be given a 31-second post-race time penalty for exceeding the minimum pit delta, handing the Pro-Am class win to the Heart of Racing duo of Gray Newell and Ian James for the first time.

Newell crossed the line third overall behind the Silver class No. 35 Conquest Racing West Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Michai Stephens and Colin Mullan, which finished second.

Stephens was pressuring McAleer for the overall lead until the yellow with 12 minutes to go when De Boer’s No. 66 TRG Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport got squeezed in a three-wide move and made heavy contact with the barriers.

The No. 120 Porsche of Adelson was also collected in the multi-car incident.

De Boer’s co-driver Spencer Pumpelly led from pole until getting overtaken by Aaron Poveledo with 32 minutes to go.

Am class honors again went to Smooge Racing’s John Geesbreght and Kevin Conway in their Toyota GR Supra GT4, in the team’s first sweep of a GT4 America weekend.

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