Brichacek, Workman Convert Poles to Wins in Race 1 at COTA

Photo: Geoff Miller/IMSA

Wyatt Brichacek and Westin Workman converted the pole positions in Friday night’s qualifying sessions into victories in the first race of an IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Saturday doubleheader at Circuit of The Americas.

Driving the No. 30 Toney Driver Development Ligier JS P325 Toyota, Brichacek earned his first career victory in the series, leading a 1-2 sweep for the team ahead of Titus Sherlock in the No. 95 Titus Driver Development Ligier.

Brichacek moved out into a fairly comfortable lead from the drop of the green flag in the 45-minute race before the race’s first full-course caution was displayed around the halfway point in the race when Jon Hirshberg crashed in Turn 3 aboard the No. 86 Forte Racing Ligier JS P320 Nissan.

Hirshberg was evaluated and released from the infield care center shortly after the incident.

Brichacek had Sherlock in his tire tracks for the ensuing restart with 13 minutes remaining but the full-course caution quickly returned when Jeremy Siffert in the No. 31 Gebhardt Young Driver Academy Duqueine and Brian Thienes in the No. 77 Forte Racing Ligier JS P320 Nissan crashed in Turn 2.

Both drivers were also evaluated and released from the infield care center, with Siffert earning a drive-through penalty for incident responsibility.

The race finished behind the safety car due to the incident, with Brichacek recording the first victory in VP Racing Challenge competition for the latest-generation LMP3 car.

Third place went to Oscar Tunjo in the No. 1 Gebhardt Motorsport USA Duqueine.

Travis Hill finished fifth overall and won the LMP3 Bronze Cup class in the No. 2 Shopify Racing Ligier.

Workman Goes Three-for-Three to Start GSX Season

Whereas Brichacek was never challenged for the lead in LMP3, Workman had his hands full at the start of the race in the GSX class when second-place starter Courtney Crone found her way past and into the lead in Turn 1.

Crone’s lead would be short lived, however, as Workman reclaimed the top spot in Turn 13 before the first lap was completed.

Workman wouldn’t be challenged the rest of the way, bringing home his third consecutive GSX victory in the No. 8 RAFA Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2.

Crone came home second in the No. 35 CarBahn Motorsports BMW M4 GT4 EVO for her best result of the season, topping a previous best of fourth last time out at Daytona.

Third place in GSX went to Texan Marc Austin in the No. 22 Mad Joker Racing by Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4. Austin – who hails from nearby Buda, Tex. – also earned the Bronze Cup class victory.

The second race of Saturday’s doubleheader at COTA is scheduled to follow the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at 5:30 p.m. CT (6:30 p.m. ET). Live streaming will be available on Peacock and the IMSA YouTube Channel.

RESULTS: Race 1

Source: Sports Car 365