Hindman, McAleer Hold On for Win in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge; Lewis, Tally Make It Four Straight in TCR at Road America
(Photo credit: IMSA/Michael L. Levitt/LAT Images)
Trent Hindman survived a late race restart and held off the Archangel Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage GT4 driven by Aaron Telitz to win Saturday’s Road America 120 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race. Previously winless this season, it was the second victory in a row for Hindman and co-driver Steven McAleer in the No. 28 RS1 Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS.
“I think it's been a build up all the way up to Mosport, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, a couple weeks ago where we knew we had the speed every race that we went into,” Hindman commented. “We knew we were a contender, we knew the car had the performance. It was just a matter of execution on our side.
“We've had some things in and out of our control that haven't gone our way throughout the year, but I think finally, a couple of weeks ago in Canada it all came together, and I'm happy to see that we've pretty much ran a very similar race in terms of execution, the cleanliness of our stops, of driver changes and then again, obviously the speed of the car, whether it's Steve driving it. There's, I don't think, ever been a question from our side.
“So just happy to be in a position to take advantage of that and show that the capability is there between both of us and the whole team. And it's a really good time to be kind of coming away with three rounds to go and I think the championship battle is quite a bit closer now. Between us and the 46 (Team TGM Aston Martin Vantage GT4, driven by Matt Plumb and Paul Holton) compared to what it was coming in here.”
(Photo credit: IMSA/Jake Galstad/LAT Images)
In TCR, the driving duo of Tim Lewis and William Tally claimed the win when the leading Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TCR, driven by Denis DuPont and Preston Brown ran out of fuel on the last lap.
It was the fourth straight win at Road America for the KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR. For his part, Lewis was at a loss to explain why the team has done so well when at Road America.
“I don't know. Our team got our first one here, I think in ’21, and that was the day for us that everyone did their job and clicked and I think every time we got here we just bring our “A” game.
“Obviously, the track suits our car. 90 degree corners are really good for us; long sweeping corners not so much.
“Honestly, today just the team fired on all cylinders. Wasn't looking good there with a few minutes to go. But we got it done.
“Really impressed with Bill. He's been just digging and digging digging all year. We've had some unfortunate races. We've been close. We've put some good stuff together and we've never done like a complete package. I think today the team nailed every job we did well.”