# 13 AWA team Corvette scores 6th place in GTD class at IMSA Long Beach race

Little was expected when Orey Fidani qualified the # 13 AWA Team Z06 GT3.R Corvette 15th, next to last.

Matt Bell jumped in 40 minutes later in the team’s only pit stop in the 100- minute race.

Traffic and stalled cars soon halted Bell at the final turn on the circuit but somehow, he managed his way through the chaos gaining 5 places in the process.

Bell picked up three more spots before the race’s third and final full-course yellow with 15 minutes remaining.

The # 13 AWA Corvette followed a procession to finish sixth.

Recall the AWA team’s early troubles at Daytona (DNS) and Sebring was made worse by money problems that forced the ouster and sale of the # 17 car for the rest of the season.

Matt Bell reports that the car is now coming to grips, literally in the corners and is gaining straight-line speed.  The folks from Pratt & Miller which builds the customer Z06 GT3.R were there to help. 

While some would call it luck through attrition, more is expected at Laguna Seca on Sunday, May 12 where the Pratt & Miller team re-joins the action.

The Vasser/Sullivan team doubled down with Parker Thompson winning GTD in the # 89 Lexus RCF GT3 clocking a fast lap of 01:18.7 vs 01:19.1 posted by Matt Bell.

The IMSA race on Saturday, won overall by the # 01 Cadillac V Series R GTP of Chip Ganassi’s team, precedes the INDY Streets of Long Beach race on Sunday which ranks second in attendance to the Indy 500 on Memorial Day.

  Here is one of 13 vintage INDY cars that entertained the crowd.

Bonus coverage: Mirco Shultis in his # 70 Callaway C7 GT3.R Corvette scored 7th and 5th in SRO GT America Sprint races.

Photos thanks to Richard Prince, SRO and others.