Grenier: JMF Has Improved “Everything” Race by Race
Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO
Mercedes-AMG factory driver Mikael Grenier said JMF Motorsports has improved “everything” race by race after the Canadian outfit stepped up to GT3 racing for the first time this season in GT World Challenge America powered by AWS as part of a largely expanded effort in the SRO America paddock.
The John Farrow-owned team significantly increased its footprint this season, growing from a Pirelli GT4 America campaign in 2024 to a two-car effort in both the GT4 America and TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School grids, alongside its single Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo in GTWC America.
This season, the team delivered Toyota Gazoo Racing North America its first-ever race win with the new GR Corolla TC, took its first GT4 America wins since its switch to Aston Martin Vantage GT4 Evos and won twice overall in its first season of GT3 racing in SRO America’s flagship series.
JMF won overall in its GT3 debut race at Sonoma Raceway to kick off the season and recently picked up its second GTWC America win at Road America after Stephens survived a green, white, checkered restart late in Race 2.
Of the team’s win in its first-ever GT3 outing in Sonoma, Grneier said: “That was actually a very good race to start the season.
“There is not much strategy you can do in this championship because it’s only one stop, but we still had a better strategy than the others. We went from P2 to P1 in the stop.
“We improved everything race by race. The mechanics know the AMG more now. We also have a new car since two races [ago], and that helped quite a lot. The first one was quite good, but we had some issues here and there. It was quite an old car. So on that side, it’s quite decent.
“Obviously, Michai is new to GT3, but he’s been doing a very good job and improving every weekend. Especially the last win we had.
“There was a lot of pressure on the last lap with the restart. I think we still have some things to improve, but we are at a good level already.”
Grenier felt that despite the team’s success this season, he still feels that there is room for improvement heading into the final two rounds of the season at Barber Motorsports Park and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Specifically, he highlighted qualifying as a place for potential growth.
“We’ve always been between second and P4, but we still haven’t gotten a pole position, even if it was close,” said Grenier. “I think that would help to have a clean start of the race and win more races.
“Otherwise, not to get a penalty like we did in COTA, which was my mistake, actually. Little things here and there to score more points, but I think in general, we are not making any mistakes. The pit stops are great, the car is fast.
“Now it’s just about trying to optimize and put a strong weekend together and get speed quickly in the weekend… Find the right setup for the weekend. That’s what we’re trying to do. But we are in a very good window, I think.”
Nevertheless, Grenier said that the team’s focus remains on securing as many wins as possible as its heads into the final regular-distance races of the season this weekend in Barber ahead of the season-ending Indianapolis 8 Hour powered by AWS in October.
Currently, Grenier and Stephens trail the Pro class points-leading Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO of Kenton Koch and Connor De Phillippi by just 16.5 points on the back of three class wins, including their pair of overall triumphs.
“We will try to win both races here and try to outscore the BMW,” he said. “[There’s] Double-points in Indy.
“I think we will have a good lineup as well, with someone else coming from AMG [for Indianapolis]. The last few years, I think the BMW was too strong there, so hopefully this year, it’s more on our side.
“To be in the fight for the championship in Indy would be a great achievement.”
Source: Sports Car 365