The2024 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR was asports car race held atVirginia International Raceway inAlton, Virginia, on August 25, 2024. It was the ninth round of the2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship.
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International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) president John Doonan confirmed the race was part of the2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship (IMSA SCC) in August 2023.[1] It was the eleventh consecutive year the IMSA SCC hosted a race at Virginia International Raceway. The 2024 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR was the ninth of eleven scheduled sports car races of 2024 by IMSA.[2] The race was held at the seventeen-turn 3.270 mi (5.263 km)Virginia International Raceway on August 25, 2024.[2]
Ahead of the event, IMSA published a bulletin regarding the latestbalance of performance (BoP) changes in the GTD Pro and GTD classes.[3] TheAcura was given a 1-liter increase in fuel capacity to accommodate the 11.5 horsepower gained across all power levels. Additionally, theLamborghini saw an increase in weight of 15 kilograms. This was countered by an increase of 5.3 horsepower across all power levels, and a 2-liter fuel capacity increase. Finally, theFerrari saw an increase of 10 kilograms in weight, with no adjustments to the power level.[3]
Preceding the event,Laurin Heinrich led the GTD Pro Drivers' Championship with 2256 points, 76 points ahead of second-placedRoss Gunn.Ben Barnicoat andJack Hawksworth sat in third place, a further 97 points behind.[4] The GTD Drivers' Championship was led byPhilip Ellis andRussell Ward with 2396 points. They had lead of 268 points over second-placedRobby Foley andPatrick Gallagher.Parker Thompson sat in third, 526 points behind Ellis and Ward.[4] The Manufacturers' Championships were led byPorsche andMercedes-AMG, respectively, whilstAO Racing andWinward Racing led the Teams' Championships.[4]
The entry list was revealed on August 14, 2024, and featured 23 entries: 9 entries in GTD Pro, and 14 entries in GTD.[5]Klaus Bachler replacedJulien Andlauer in the No. 77AO Racing Porsche, to race alongsideLaurin Heinrich. Furthermore,Kyle Marcelli re-joined Danny Formal in the No. 45Wayne Taylor Racing withAndretti Lamborghini, after missing theprevious round due to an arm-related injury.[6] Both the No. 023 Triarsi Competizione and No. 35Conquest Racing Ferraris did not appear at the start after one-off appearances at Road America.[7]
There were two practice sessions preceding the start of the race on Sunday, one on Friday afternoon and one on Saturday morning. The first session on Friday afternoon lasted 90 minutes while the second session on Saturday morning lasted 105 minutes.[8]
Saturday's afternoon qualifying session lasted 15 minutes, with one combined session for the GTD Pro and GTD cars. The rules dictated that all teams nominated a driver to qualify their cars.[8] The competitors' fastest lap times determined the starting order.[9]
Pole positions in each class are indicated inbold and with ‡.
The final results of GTD Pro meant Heinrich continued to lead the GTD Pro Drivers' Championship, but his advantage was reduced to 17 points by third-place finisher Gunn. Sellers and Snow jumped from fifth to third.[12] Ellis and Ward's third-place finish allowed them to extend their advantage over Foley and Gallagher in the GTD Drivers' Championship.[12] Porsche and Mercedes-AMG continued to top their respective Manufacturers' Championships while AO Racing, and Winward Racing kept their respective advantages in their of Teams' Championships with two rounds remaining.[12]
Class winners are inbold and ‡.
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