TCR / 13 October 2024

Civic Type R TCR snatches last-gasp Road Atlanta podium

The Civic Type R TCR ended the North American racing season with a podium result at Road Atlanta while the NSX GT3 Evo 22 bowed out of IMSA competition at Petit Le Mans.

 

IMPC

Karl Wittmer gave Montreal Motorsport Group a fourth TCR podium in five races; by snatching third place on the final lap of an enthralling race at Road Atlanta to end the year on a high.

Co-driver Dai Yoshihara qualified sixth and moved up a spot at the start while a slick pitstop just before half-distance under Full-Course Yellow conditions allowed Wittmer to take over the car in fourth spot.

He stayed there for most of the final hour, but moved up to third place on the final lap as the long-time leader was forced to pit to avoid running out of fuel.

Racers Edge Motorsports duo Tazio Ottis and Daniel Wu were non-starters after developing an engine issue in practice and being unable to replace the unit.

 

IMSA

A stunning performance by Sheena Monk at Petit Le Mans was sadly ruined for Gradient Racing on what was the final planned appearance in the series for the NSX GT3 Evo 22 at the Petit Le Mans 10-hour enduro at Road Atlanta.

Having qualified 14th in GTD, Monk charged through the opening 90 minutes of the race; a combination of her speed and the team's slick pitwork helping her to climb to eighth spot.

However a puncture shortly after her second fuel stop led to an unscheduled trip to the pits and contact from another car on her out lap caused her to spin and drop off the lead lap to 18th spot.

She and co-drivers Stevan McAleer and Tatiana Calderon ran fast throughout the rest of the race and recovered to 12th but were never in the right place on track to benefit from several caution periods that occurred through the rest of the race.