SVRA U.S. Vintage Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International – August 22nd through 25th Race Report

The Enhanced Performance, Good Cars Only, Gabo Solutions #77 Formula Mazda Team had a great race weekend at the 2024 SVRA U.S. Vintage Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International.
We ran in Group 9 – Monoposto Wings and Slicks.  The weather was absolutely beautiful with temperatures ranging from the mid to high 20’s °C. Over the course of Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we were on track a total of 8 times; 3 on track practices during the Thursday test day, followed by 1 practice, 2 qualifying sessions, Race 1, and Race 2.  There was a large speed differential within the qualifying group!!  We definitely had our work cut out for us, as most everyone in our group had much more horsepower than we did. Lots of beautiful race cars!!

In the first qualifying session, we placed 9th of 15 race cars, 1st in our 9F4 class with a time of 1:57.601. In the 2nd qualification session, we qualified 10th out of 15 cars, 1st in our class with best lap time of 1:58.083.

For Race 1, on the afternoon of the 24th of August, our race Group 9 included 16 high powered open wheel race cars, including Lola’s, Elan’s, Ralt’s, Swift’s and a number of F5000’s.  The weather was perfect for racing, clear and mild, about 24 Celsius. We finished in 11th position, 1st in our class, with a best lap time of 1:58.072. Here is the YouTube video link to our first race -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV3WBtWhn2Q – our race begins at time mark 5:02.10.
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In Race 2, on the 25th of August, we started in P11 and finished in P12, 1st in our class, with a best lap time of 1:58.560. Here is the YouTube link for our second race - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BejZTIFGuxY – our race begins at time mark 2:47.29. All in all, a fantastic race weekend!!!  

Stay tuned to our website www.subjectmotorsports.com and our YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkrPKqGp6WSukj3qKzMiKhw, for further updates!! A special thank you Bill and Shirley Vallis of Vallis Motor Sport for their trackside support.
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A very big thank you to the SVRA for hosting such a great event!!  And last, but certainly not least, once again we want to thank our long suffering and tormented family which follows us from racetrack to racetrack and allows us to continue to do the racing thing…….