AMG Customer Racing Dominates IMSA Season Opener At Daytona
IMSA’s Michelin Pilot Challenge saw AMG Customer Racing the podium at the season opener at Daytona International Speedway.
It was a good weekend for AMG at the Daytona International Speedway. IMSA’s sports car series, the Michelin Pilot Challenge saw a full podium sweep of AMG Customer Racing AMG GT GT4 racers. Sportscar365 reports the four hour endurance race was won by the No. 35 Riley Motorsports AMG GT, with drivers Dylan Murry, Jeroen Bleekemolen, and Jim Cox. Phillip Ellis and Bryce Ward piloted the No. 57. Winward Racing AMG GT to a well earned second place. The podium was wrapped up by another Winward Racing entry. Car No. 4 was driven by Indy Dontje and Russell Ward.
Interestingly, the cars that finished in 1st and 2nd started the race deep in the field. Reiley Motorsports drove to the win after starting 15th. Winward’s second place car started even deeper, in 18th. Ellis could have driven to the win but was thwarted by a yellow flag finish.
In fact, Ellis also set the race lap, with a time of 1:54.295. Murry, in the winning car, was just a bit slower with a fastest lap of 1:54.572. Those were the fastest two laps of the race, with an Aston Martin squeaking in to 3rd fastest. Fourth fastest went to Indy Dontje with a time of 1:54.587. This gave AMG Customer Racing a very respectable result of 1st, 2nd and 4th fastest times. IMPC’s next race is in mid-March at Sebring International Raceway.
The big race, however, was the legendary Rolex 24 at Daytona. Here, Riley Motorsports’ luck didn’t carry over. This race was also the AMG GT GT3’s North American debut race. As the sole AMG GT3 entry, Riley Motorsports didn’t have a sister car to gain data from, and they were up against the might of Lamborghini, Audi and Porsche. Unfortunately for drivers Lawson Aschenbach, Ben Keating, Felipe Fraga, and Gar Robinson, the car had an issue on pit lane Sunday morning which set them back significantly. Despite finishing the race thereafter with no other issues, they finished 11th in class, 25 laps down from the class leader. Riley Motorsport will have another chance to seek a podium at the 12 Hours of Sebring on Saturday, March 21.
Photos: Daimler AG
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