Quick Recovery Drive Achieved after Pace Lap Issue
By Tony DiZinno
ALTON, Va. – Westin Workman’s name can’t be spelled without “W-I-N,” and in Sunday’s second IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Grand Sport X (GSX) 45-minute race of the weekend at VIRginia International Raceway, his name couldn’t be spelled without “work,” either.
Workman was due to start from pole in his No. 8 RAFA Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2, but a small spin on the pace lap dropped him to fifth to start the race. Nonetheless, by the time he got to the Esses (Turn 5) on the opening lap, Workman had already made it past the rest of the field.
It marked his second inadvertent first-to-last-to-first drive of the year. In the second Daytona International Speedway race in the rain, mechanical gremlins on the opening lap dropped him to the rear before he carved his way through back to the win.
With a smooth and consistent drive up front, Workman netted roughly 1.5 seconds per lap on second place to drive to his ninth victory of the season in 10 races. His margin of victory today in a caution-free race was 30.983 seconds.
Workman reflected on the pace lap issue but described his quick recovery en route to his fourth two-race sweep of five GSX weekends this season.
“It was a mistake, yes, but it’s always good experience to come through the field like that,” Workman said. “I haven’t had much experience passing GT4 cars this year, so that was pretty fun.
“We worked on fuel saving that session, and the team lifted my spirits so I could put it behind me and I could keep trucking,” he added. “I always work to give 100 percent. I want to be better, and I want to be in (IMSA Michelin) Pilot Challenge next year. So, I’m working on learning more techniques like fuel saving and tire management in longer races.”
Courtney Crone was second in her No. 35 CarBahn Motorsports BMW M4 GT4 EVO ahead of Bronze Cup winner Jon Brel in third, in his No. 81 Kingpin Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2.
Though Workman has not yet wrapped the GSX title, he can do so one race early provided he starts the first of two races at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in October. The GSX field will race alongside the Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3) field for the two-race season finale weekend on October 1-2.