Track map of VIR
The 2021 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR was a sports car race sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). The race was held at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia on October 9, 2021. The race was the eleventh round of the 2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship, and the eight round of the WeatherTech Sprint Cup.
Background[]
As in previous years, the event was also the second GT-only round of the IMSA SportsCar Championship season, in which only the GTLM and GTD classes were scheduled to compete.
Originally scheduled to run on August 22, 2021, the race was set to clash with the 24 Hours of Le Mans after the event was postponed from its original date in June to August.[1] As a result, IMSA rescheduled the event to October 9, 2021, and moved Petit Le Mans to November 13, 2021.[2][3]
On September 30, 2021, IMSA released the latest technical bulletin outlining Balance of Performance for the event.[4] In GTD, the Lexus RC F GT3 received a 10 kilogram weight break. No changes were made in GTLM.
Entries[]
Further information: 2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship § Entries
A total of 18 cars took part in the event, split across 2 classes. 3 cars were entered in GTLM, and 15 in GTD.[5] In GTLM, Kévin Estre would be joining Cooper MacNeil in the #79 WeatherTech Racing entry. GTD saw various changes after the previous round, as Alegra Motorsports would return after skipping the previous 3 rounds.[6] Gilbert Korthoff Motorsports also returned for the first time since the Road America race with Mike Skeen partnering Guy Cosmo.[7] Compass Racing withdrew from the event in order to focus on the Indianapolis 8 Hours.[8] Mario Farnbacher subbed for Marc Miller, who was injured, in the Gradient Racing #66. [9]
Qualifying[]
Qualifying results[]
Pole positions in each class are indicated in bold and by 
.
| Pos. | Class | No. | Team | Driver | Time | Gap | Grid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GTLM | 4 | Corvette Racing | Tommy Milner | 1:40.263 | _ | 1
|
| 2 | GTLM | 3 | Corvette Racing | Jordan Taylor | 1:40.266 | +0.003 | 2 |
| 3 | GTLM | 79 | WeatherTech Racing | Cooper MacNeil | 1:41.445 | +1.182 | 3 |
| 4 | GTD | 96 | Turner Motorsport | Robby Foley | 1:43.809 | +3.546 | 4
|
| 5 | GTD | 1 | Paul Miller Racing | Madison Snow | 1:44.045 | +3.782 | 5 |
| 6 | GTD | 16 | Wright Motorsports | Trent Hindman | 1:44.145 | +3.882 | 6 |
| 7 | GTD | 23 | Heart of Racing Team | Roman De Angelis | 1:44.161 | +3.898 | 7 |
| 8 | GTD | 39 | CarBahn Motorsports with Peregrine Racing | Richard Heistand | 1:44.230 | +3.967 | 8 |
| 9 | GTD | 14 | Vasser-Sullivan Racing | Aaron Telitz | 1:44.358 | +4.095 | 9 |
| 10 | GTD | 9 | Pfaff Motorsports | Zacharie Robichon | 1:44.423 | +4.160 | 10 |
| 11 | GTD | 12 | Vasser-Sullivan Racing | Frankie Montecalvo | 1:44.447 | +4.184 | 11 |
| 12 | GTD | 28 | Alegra Motorsports | Michael de Quesada | 1:44.712 | +4.449 | 12 |
| 13 | GTD | 32 | Gilbert Korthoff Motorsports | Guy Cosmo | 1:44.790 | +4.527 | 13 |
| 14 | GTD | 27 | Heart of Racing Team | Ian James | 1:45.274 | +5.011 | 14 |
| 15 | GTD | 66 | Gradient Racing | Till Bechtolsheimer | 1:45.662 | +5.399 | 15 |
| 16 | GTD | 19 | GRT Grasser Racing Team | Misha Goikhberg | 1:45.699 | +5.436 | 16 |
| 17 | GTD | 88 | Team Hardpoint | Rob Ferriol | 1:46.416 | +6.153 | 17 |
| 18 | GTD | 44 | Magnus Racing with Archangel Motorsports | John Potter | 1:46.959 | +6.696 | 18 |
| Sources:[10][11] | |||||||
Results[]
Class winners are denoted in bold and .
| Pos | Class | No. | Team | Drivers | Chassis | Laps | Time/Retired |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | |||||||
| 1 | GTLM | 4 |  Corvette Racing
|
Tommy Milner Nick Tandy
|
Chevrolet Corvette C8.R | 87 | 2:40:45.036
|
| Chevrolet 5.5L V8 | |||||||
| 2 | GTLM | 3 | Corvette Racing
|
 Antonio García Jordan Taylor
|
Chevrolet Corvette C8.R | 87 | +17.852 |
| Chevrolet 5.5L V8 | |||||||
| 3 | GTLM | 79 | WeatherTech Racing
|
Cooper MacNeil Kévin Estre
|
Porsche 911 RSR-19 | 87 | +38.655 |
| Porsche 4.2L Flat-6 | |||||||
| 4 | GTD | 9 |  Pfaff Motorsports
|
Zacharie Robichon Laurens Vanthoor
|
Porsche 911 GT3 R | 85 | +2 Laps
|
| Porsche 4.0L Flat-6 | |||||||
| 5 | GTD | 1 | Paul Miller Racing
|
Bryan Sellers Madison Snow
|
Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo | 85 | +2 Laps |
| Lamborghini 5.2L V10 | |||||||
| 6 | GTD | 14 | Vasser-Sullivan Racing
|
Aaron Telitz Jack Hawksworth
|
Lexus RC F GT3 | 85 | +2 Laps |
| Lexus 5.0L V8 | |||||||
| 7 | GTD | 16 | Wright Motorsports
|
Trent Hindman Patrick Long
|
Porsche 911 GT3 R | 85 | +2 Laps |
| Porsche 4.0L Flat-6 | |||||||
| 8 | GTD | 23 | Heart of Racing Team
|
Roman De Angelis Ross Gunn
|
Aston Martin Vantage GT3 | 85 | +2 Laps |
| Mercedes-Benz M177 4.0 L Turbo V8 | |||||||
| 9 | GTD | 27 | Heart of Racing Team
|
Ian James Alex Riberas
|
Aston Martin Vantage GT3 | 85 | +2 Laps |
| Mercedes-Benz M177 4.0 L Turbo V8 | |||||||
| 10 | GTD | 39 | CarBahn Motorsports with Peregrine Racing
|
Richard Heistand Jeff Westphal
|
Audi R8 LMS Evo | 85 | +2 Laps |
| Audi 5.2L V10 | |||||||
| 11 | GTD | 28 | Alegra Motorsports
|
Daniel Morad Michael de Quesada
|
Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo | 85 | +2 Laps |
| Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2L V8 | |||||||
| 12 | GTD | 19 |  GRT Grasser Racing Team
|
Misha Goikhberg Franck Perera
|
Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo | 85 | +2 Laps |
| Lamborghini 5.2L V10 | |||||||
| 13 | GTD | 88 | Team Hardpoint
|
Rob Ferriol Katherine Legge
|
Porsche 911 GT3 R | 85 | +2 Laps |
| Porsche 4.0L Flat-6 | |||||||
| 14 | GTD | 32 | Gilbert Korthoff Motorsports
|
Guy Cosmo Mike Skeen
|
Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo | 84 | +3 Laps |
| Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2L V8 | |||||||
| 15 | GTD | 96 | Turner Motorsport
|
Bill Auberlen Robby Foley
|
BMW M6 GT3 | 84 | +3 Laps |
| BMW 4.4L Turbo V8 | |||||||
| 16 | GTD | 12 | Vasser-Sullivan Racing
|
Frankie Montecalvo Zach Veach
|
Lexus RC F GT3 | 83 | +4 Laps |
| Lexus 5.0L V8 | |||||||
| 17 | GTD | 44 | Magnus Racing with Archangel Motorsports
|
John Potter Andy Lally
|
Acura NSX GT3 Evo | 72 | Did Not Finish |
| Acura 3.5L Turbo V6 | |||||||
| 18 | GTD | 66 | Gradient Racing
|
Till Bechtolsheimer Mario Farnbacher
|
Acura NSX GT3 Evo | 39 | Did Not Finish |
| Acura 3.5L Turbo V6 | |||||||
| Source:[12] | |||||||
References[]
- ↑ Lloyd, Daniel (March 4, 2021). "24H Le Mans Postponed to August". https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/24h-le-mans-postponed-to-august/.
- ↑ Lloyd, Daniel (March 4, 2021). "VIR, Petit Dates Changed in Response to Le Mans Clash". https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/vir-petit-le-mans-dates-changed-in-response-to-le-mans-clash/.
- ↑ Allaway, Phil (March 4, 2021). "IMSA Postpones VIR, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta Weekends to Avoid Le Mans Clash". https://frontstretch.com/2021/03/04/imsa-postpones-vir-michelin-raceway-road-atlanta-weekends-to-avoid-le-mans-clash/.
- ↑ Dagys, John (September 30, 2021). "Lexus RC F GT3 Gets Weight Break for VIR". https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/lexus-rc-f-gt3-gets-weight-break-for-vir/.
- ↑ Dagys, John (September 29, 2021). "Estre Rejoins WeatherTech Racing; 18 Entries for VIR". https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/estre-joins-weathertech-racing-18-entries-for-vir/.
- ↑ Dagys, John (September 23, 2021). "Alegra Mercedes Set for Return at VIR". https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/alegra-set-for-vir-return/.
- ↑ Dagys, John (September 21, 2021). "Skeen Joins Gilbert Korthoff Mercedes Entry for VIR". https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/skeen-joins-gilbert-korthoff-mercedes-gtd-entry-for-vir/.
- ↑ Dagys, John (September 29, 2021). "Compass to Forgo Sprint Cup Finale at VIR; Focus on Indy 8H". https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/compass-to-forgo-vir-focus-on-indy-8h/.
- ↑ Dagys, John (September 28, 2021). "Farnbacher to Fill in for Injured Miller at VIR". https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/farnbacher-to-fill-in-for-injured-miller-at-vir/.
- ↑ "03_Results_Qualifying-GTD-Points-GTLM-Position-and-Points.pdf". https://racer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/85/2021/10/03_Results_Qualifying-GTD-Points-GTLM-Position-and-Points.pdf.
- ↑ "03_Results_Qualifying-GTD-Position.pdf". https://racer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/85/2021/10/03_Results_Qualifying-GTD-Position.pdf.
- ↑ "03_Results_Race_Unofficial.PDF". http://results.imsa.com/Results/21_2021/19_VIRginia%20International%20Raceway/01_IMSA%20WeatherTech%20SportsCar%20Championship/202110091210_Race/03_Results_Race_Unofficial.PDF. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
| IMSA SportsCar Championship | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous race: 2021 Grand Prix of Long Beach |
2021 season | Next race: 2021 Petit Le Mans |
|
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