Baptista Gives Flying Lizard First GTS Win in Photo Finish

Photo: Brian Cleary/BCPix.com

Rodrigo Baptista gave Flying Lizard Motorsports its first victory in Pirelli World Challenge competition, in a near photo-finish in the opening GTS round of the weekend at Lime Rock Park.

The Brazilian held off a late charge by the No. 50 Panoz Avezzano GT of Ian James for the win in the 40-minute race, which was shortened by ten minutes due to a local curfew.

Baptista crossed the line just 0.178 seconds ahead of James, with the No. 14 Flying Lizard Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR of Nate Stacy giving the California-based team a double podium finish in third. 

It marked the first win for Porsche in PWC GTS competition, aided by changing conditions.

Pole-sitter Martin Barkey quickly lost the lead to Baptista once the race went green with 33 minutes to go, after a safety car start due to rain.

A gamble by the Volt Racing Ford Mustang of Chris Hall, who pitted for rain tires prior to the green, nearly paid off as Hall charged to third overall and in was in the hunt for the win until the track began to dry.

Hall faded to 8th at the checkered flag.

The No. 62 KPR Racing McLaren 570S GT4 of Mark Klenin made a late charge to a fourth place finish overall, and class win in GTSA, with championship leader Lawson Aschenbach completing the top-five in the No. 10 Blackdog Speed Shop Camaro GT4.R. 

The second GTS race of the weekend is set for 2:50 p.m. ET on Saturday with live coverage on Motor Trend OnDemand.

RESULTS: Race 1

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