Porsche Is Key To success for BGB, RS1 in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge
If you want to be at the pointy end of the field in IMSA’s most diverse class, get a Porsche.
“BOP” Its not an onomatopoeia. It’s IMSA‘s Balance of Performance. You either absolutely love it – when it’s working in your favor – or you despise it. If you’re BGB Motorsports or RS1 you’re happy with the current BOP in Grand Sport class.
IMSA’s most recent race at Virginia International Raceway showcased how the No. 28 of RS1 and No. 38 of BGB – both Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsports – taking the two top spots on the podium. In fact, the 28 when piloted by Stevan McAleer snagged the Motul Pole Award.
Competition is still fierce for the Stuttgart crew, as shown by the #59 Ford Mustang GT4 finishing just 0.790 behind the leading 718, and 0.417 behind the other Porsche. Aston Martin has their Vantage GT4 in the fight. Porsche has several German rivals in the BMW M4 GT4 and AMG has their GT GT4 to rouse up some mirror glances as well.
The drivers and teams matter, too. Especially in a 2 hour race. Pit stop strategy from ultimately helped the winning #38 Porsche of Spencer Pumpelly secure the lead. Caution laps can either be your best friend or your worst enemy, and Pumpelly managed to be on the favorable side of that scenario.
Virginia International Raceway is not typically known as a “horsepower” track, meaning the next round could go a totally different direction for the teams fielding the 718. With relatively lower weight, and subsequently lower power, the Porsche’s most favorite tracks have tight technical turns and heavy braking zones. Just like VIR. A track like Circuit of the Americas? That’s a power track. And when it comes to straight line speed, BMW’s are loudly whispered to be quite dominant.
The best part about the series is that all of the cars are based on road cars. Race cars here are not modified for racing beyond the point of recognition. For those of us with track day dreams, we can pretend like we are an IMSA driver the next time we take a 718 around the local track quicker than that pesky slow Aston Martin.
Photos courtesy of IMSA
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