Oshkosh P&M Corvettes fall while AWA Corvette rises at Road America

The Z06 GT3.R Corvettes of Nicky Catsburg # 4 and Alexander Sims # 3 started first and second before a record crowd that included Oshkosh guests at their “home track” in Wisconsin.  It matched the team’s feat at Mosport in Canada.

 Sims got pushed off by an apologetic Mike Rockenfeller in the # 64 Mustang GT3 but recovered with slight damage to join the fray.

A quick yellow brought the Pratt & Miller team to pit early, locking them in to stop again in the 2 hour & 40 - minute race.  That strategy looked good until a bevy of later caution periods benefited those who stayed out to complete the race on just one to stop.

Circulating under yellow at the 4.1- mile Road America circuit ate up valuable race time, relegating Garcia and Milner to fifth and sixth, one lap down at the finish against 10 cars in GTD PRO.

The one-stop gamble by team Conquest’s # 35 Ferrari 296 GT3 paid off with a win for Daniel Serra & Giacomo Altoe.

The AWA team’s # 13 Corvette Z06 GT3.R fifth-place finish in GTD was a welcome surprise.

Taking over from Orey Fidani who started 15th, Matt Bell was the top mover gaining 10 places.  

In his words, “It was absolute chaos and I loved every bit of it.  I think we struck the right balance and made some decent overtakes while others fell back.”  Chaos helps Matt gain position exiting turn 5. https://twitter.com/i/status/1820208889901826170

Fidani and AWA, fellow Canadians, have raced together for years in other series and marques.  Amateur-rated drivers like him, required by GTD class rules, contribute more if they bring backing, in this case from his family real estate holdings.

After crushing the ALMS competition early on, it might be surprising to note that Corvettes have won just twice in the last 10 years at Road America; although placing near the top on many occasions.

 Photos by Kevin Bowman and Richard Prince.