Pera: Strategy Key to “Really Special” Pro-Am Overall Win

Photo: GMG Racing

Riccardo Pera credited GMG Racing’s strategy for helping propel the Pro-Am class Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo to a landmark overall victory in Saturday’s Desder Indianapolis 8 Hour.

The FIA Silver-rated driver, who was subbing for regular pilot Tom Sargent, teamed with Ayhancan Guven and Kyle Washington, to deliver the first overall event win for the German manufacturer and also with a Pro-Am lineup.

Guven topped the time sheets in both test sessions and qualified second, a mere 0.002 seconds behind pole-sitter Robby Foley, although a strategic call just prior to halfway, where the Buc-ee’s-liveried Porsche pitted early to back-time to the remainder of the race, put them out front by nearly one-minute.

The No. 32 Porsche faced only a single hiccup, a five-second penalty applied during a pit stop for a pit exit merge violation when the Italian was at the wheel.

“The execution of the race was really good,” said Pera. “The team did a really mega job on the car on the strategy side.

“I jumped in the car after Kyle and then I was able to make up some positions and arrive at the front. The car was really good and really fast.

“I’m really proud of the team. We made a really mega job on the setup of the car. Then Ayhancan drove really amazing. At the end, our strategy was good.

“We realized we were fast and we knew we could win the race. We stayed out of trouble at the end we just reached the first position it’s amazing.

“To win overall with a Pro-Am lineup is really, really special. We were here for Kyle and to achieve this result for him and in the end we did it, so I’m really proud.”

The overall triumph also gave the GT World Challenge America Pro-Am class championship to Washington, marking his first professional title in sports car racing competition.

“As I say on my kid’s report card, I think we exceeded expectations for the year and couldn’t be prouder of the team,” said Washington.

“Every single one of these guys just worked their asses off, way more than me, quite frankly.

“They gave us a great car every weekend. We got lucky, we got good, and you’ve got to be good to be lucky and lucky to be good.

“They were so ridiculously fast. They’re literally killers with smiles.”

Sofronas: “Super Proud” of Washington’s Long-Awaited Championship

Team owner James Sofronas, who led the Thermal-based squad to its first major overall endurance race win, said he was “super proud” to see Washington claim the Pro-Am title at the same time.

“It means a lot, especially a guy like Kyle, who gives and gives and gives and rarely takes,” he said. “They dominated today and Kyle has a big part in it and I’m super proud of him.

“He deserves it. He worked hard for it, he earned it.

“My victory with my son yesterday (in McLaren Trophy America) was super special but to see Kyle finally get a deserved championship is incredibly special because I’ve seen him through the entire journey, started him when he just got into this, and to see the success me very proud.

“We’ve had a fast car all year and I think everybody was like, ‘If they get it together, they’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.’ And we did.

“From the engineering, the technical department, the crew, the pit stops, all the logistics, the amazing prep.

“The car was flawless. To win overall and to win with that gap shows that we were firing on all cylinders. It makes me super proud of the team. Everyone had their part.”

Dylan Spaulding contributed to this report

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