The early spring weather at VIR can present a surprise or two and this weekend was no exception. With 70 degree temps and sunny skies during Friday’s test and tune things were shaping up to be a great weather weekend, or not. By Saturday morning the beautiful spring day was replaced with a dramatic drop in temperatures and overcast skies.

The cooler temps had little impact Saturday’s events as the rain held out. The qualifying run claimed GTS3 point leader Olivier Raoust #711 for the weekend due to overheating issues paving the way for an overall GTS pole and easy GTS3 victory for Douglas Pascarella #145. Eric Wong #199 and Robert Turgeon completed the GTS3 podium with a second and third respectively. In GTS5 Paul Fusco #100 took first with a blazing lap time of 2:07.6 with Allen Cohen #674 a distant second. Derek Schwarz #815 took first in GTS 4 with Scott Harvard #427 and Paul Goldman #50 not far behind.

The big battle on Saturday was in GTS2 with 4 drivers leading the pack with near identical lap times. The showdown ended with Tim Costa #19 on top with Jeff Curtis #64, Jason Weaver #118, and Chip Stabler #112 on his heals until the bitter end.

By the time Sunday rolled around rain was the operative word leaving those fortunate enough to have rain tires scrambling to get them installed. Several drivers braved the conditions on the dry tires but many packed it in for the weekend including all GTS 4 & 5 drivers. Robert Turgeon #340 sliced through the water and traffic on his rain tires for an easy GTS3 victory. Pascarella #145 and Scott Gerard #170 slid their way on their dry tires to a respective second and third place. In GTS2 three of the four drivers from yesterday’s race continued their battle in the rain. Jeff Curtis #64 was able to splash out a first place over Chip Stabler #112 with Jason Weaver a near third. The Mid-Atlantic GTS Challenge crew is looking forward to the next event at Carolina Motorsports Park.