NOLASPORT Porsche Dominates Red Flag-Affected Race 1 at Circuit of the Americas

SRO

After a long delay for an early-race red flag, it was the #47 NOLASPORT Porsche duo of Matt Travis and Jason Hart that came away victorious in Round 3 of the 2021 Pirelli GT4 America season from Circuit of the Americas. “I’ve never been more nervous in my life,” said Jason Hart, “We’re expecting a new baby at any time, so we’re happy for the win and for the new baby to come!”

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As the green flag flew 38 cars from 8 different manufacturers made it cleanly through the up-hill left turn 1 known as Big Red. As the field reached turn 2, the Silver-classed #72 Murillo Racing Mercedes of Kenny Murillo slipped by the pole-sitting #47 NOLASPORT Porsche of Matt Travis to grab the lead. Two turns later the #11 Classic BMW of Steven McAleer powered past both the #68 Toyota and #47 for second overall and in class.

On the very next lap however the first and only full course caution would be called as the #00 Notlad Racing by RS1 Aston Martin would suffer a heavy rollover crash near the Turns 3-4-5 complex. At the same time overall leader Kenny Murillo would pit and be forced to retire due to an apparent gearbox issue, handing the lead to McAleer and the #11. 

After parading behind the safety car for multiple laps, the race would be red flagged with 37 minutes remaining to fix a barrier from the previously mentioned incident.

The race would finally go back to green with 33 minutes left on the clock with the #11 BMW leading overall and in Silver, the #47 Porsche second overall, first in Pro-Am, and the #68 Toyota third overall, first in Am. The pit window for the required driver changes would open on the following lap.

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After the pit window closed with 21 minutes left on the click, Jason Hart and the #47 NOLASPORT Porsche led overall and in Pro-Am after pitting early within the window, undercutting his rivals. Toby Grahovec, now driving the #11 Classic BMW would lead in Silver, sitting second overall, and Kevin Conway in the #68 Toyota leading in Am.

Second through fourth positions in Pro-Am, the #15 BSport Aston Martin of Kenton Koch, #54 Blackswan Porsche of Jeroen Bleekemolen, and #36 BimmerWorld BMW of Nick Galante would fight nose to tail with Bleekemolen slipping past both the #36 and #15 to claim second in class, fourth overall with 12 minutes remaining.

On the next lap Bleekemolen would dive on the inside of the #11 to take third overall and then keep his momentum going and get past the #94 for second overall, attempting to chase down the #47, who was 9 seconds up the road. 

As the clock ticked below the 10 minute mark, the #89 RENNtech Mercedes of Aaron Povoledo would pounce on Grahovec’s BMW taking over the fourth overall position, third in Pro-Am. A few minutes later Koch would see an issue with the #15 Aston Martin and fall deep into the field, handing third overall and in class to the #89 Mercedes.

As the checkered flag flew the Pro-Am class took the top five overall positions with the #47 NOLASPORT Porsche winning, #54 Blackswan Porsche second, #89 RENNtech Mercedes third, #34 BimmerWorld BMW, who started 28th, fourth, with the #52 Auto Technic BMW rounding out the top five.

The #94 BimmerWorld BMW of Chandler Hull and Jon Miller would take the Silver win, seventh overall with the #888 Rearden Racing Audi finishing second in class, ninth overall with the #11 BMW third.

The Am division win would go to the #68 Smooge Racing Toyota of John Geesbreght and Kevin Conway, with Kris Wilson and John Allen bringing the #16 Capstone Mercedes-AMG GT4 second in class, fourteenth overall. The #98 Random Vandals Racing BMW of Paul Sparta and Al Carter would finish third in class, twenty-first overall.

Pirelli GT4 America Round 4 goes green on Sunday, May 2nd at 11:00am CT, streaming live on the GT World Youtube page. Follow along via the GT4 America social channels.

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