VIRginia International Raceway Site of Eighth Michelin Pilot Challenge Race of 2024
By Mark Robinson
Entry List (Click Here)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It’s getting down to crunch time in the 2024 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season. Three races remain, starting with the Virginia Is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix at VIRginia International Raceway on Saturday.
Thirty-one cars – 21 in the Grand Sport (GS) class and 10 in Touring Car (TCR) – are on the event entry list for the two-hour race. The championship frontrunners hold leads of 200 (GS) and 220 points (TCR) heading to VIR, but each leader has a host of other competitors in hot pursuit.
Here’s what else you need to know about the eighth race on the 2024 schedule.
Fast Facts
Virginia Is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix
VIRginia International Raceway – Alton, Virginia
Aug. 23-24, 2024
- Race Day/Time: Saturday, Aug. 24, 2:15 p.m. ET
- Peacock Streaming Coverage: LIVE – Flag-to-flag beginning at 2:10 p.m. (available outside the U.S. on IMSA.tv and youtube.com/IMSAOfficial)
- CNBC Encore Telecast: Noon ET Saturday, Sept. 14
- IMSA Radio Coverage: LIVE – Flag-to-flag beginning at 2:10 p.m. on IMSA.com and RadioLeMans.com
- Circuit Type: 3.27-mile, 17-turn road course
- Classes Competing: Grand Sport (GS), Touring Car (TCR)
- Race Length: Two hours
Michelin Pilot Challenge Track Records
- GS: Ross Gunn, Aston Martin Vantage GT4, 1:52.740 / 104.416 mph, August 2019
- TCR: Chris Miller, Audi RS3 LMS TCR, 1:55.240 / 102.151 mph, August 2023
2023 Virginia Is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix Winners
- GS: Frank DePew/Robin Liddell, No. 71 Rebel Rock Racing Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R
- TCR: Chris Miller/Mikey Taylor, No. 17 Unitronic/JDC-Miller MotorSports Audi RS3 LMS TCR
Storylines
- GS Title Battle Tightens: Matt Plumb and the No. 46 Team TGM Aston Martin Vantage GT4 were the model of consistency through the first six races – winning once and never finishing lower than sixth place in GS to take the class points lead. Last time out at Road America, however, the No. 46 finished 11th. Meanwhile, co-drivers Trent Hindman and Stevan McAleer won at Road America, their second straight victory in the No. 28 RS1 Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport to close the deficit to the No. 46 Aston to 200 points. And just 30 points behind the No. 28 Porsche sits Rory van der Steur and the No. 19 van der Steur Racing Aston Martin.
- JDC-Miller Duo Holding off Trio of Herta Entries in TCR: The No. 17 Unitronic/JDC-Miller MotorSports Audi RS3 LMS TCR shared by Chris Miller and Mikey Taylor has been in control of the TCR lead from the start of the season, bolstered by four wins. But three Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian Hyundai Elantra N TCR entries – the No. 76 (co-drivers Denis Dupont and Preston Brown), No. 33 (Harry Gottsacker and Robert Wickens) and No. 98 (Mark Wilkins and Mason Filippi) all remain within striking distance. The JDC-Miller Audi is aiming to end the Herta team’s run of five straight TCR team and driver championships, as well as a four-year run by Hyundai in the manufacturer battle.
Who’s Hot?
- No. 28 RS1 Porsche, No. 19 van der Steur Aston Martin: As mentioned, Hindman and McAleer have put together back-to-back wins to move into second in the GS standings and reinvigorate the class championship chase. Van der Steur has also logged finishes of fourth, second and third in the last three races, and is paired again this week with co-driver Scott Andrews. They drove to the runner-up finish at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in July.
Who’s Good Here?
- Rebel Rock in New Ride: Rebel Rock Racing is the defending GS race winner at VIR, but that came in the Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R last year. Co-drivers Frank DePew and Robin Liddell are wheeling an Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 Evo this season.
- “Even” Money on Herta: Bryan Herta Autosport cars grabbed the TCR win at VIR in 2020 and 2022. If the even-year trend continues, watch out for one of the Hyundais again on Saturday. The No. 17 Unitronic/JDC-Miller Audi is the defending class winner and also won in 2021.