BHA Grabs Debut Win in Road Atlanta Race 1

Photo: Dan Bathie/McLaren

Bryson Morris and Daniel Hanley delivered a first victory for Bryan Herta Autosport in the first of two McLaren Trophy America races at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta this weekend.

BHA’s No. 98 McLaren Artura Trophy EVO survived an attritional closing phase of the 50-minute race to win on its maiden appearance in the championship by 7.705 seconds from Kaia Teo and Paul Holbert’s  No. 8 Forte Racing entry, as several contenders fell by the wayside.

Much of the race was dominated by Patrick Liddy and Tanner Harvey’s No. 24 Forte Racing entry, which took the lead when polesitter Jeff Cook’s No. 5 GMG Racing machine was issued with a drive-through for a false start.

Liddy handed over to Harvey with a comfortable lead, but this was gradually eroded by a chasing pack headed by the sister No. 53 Relapsing Polychondritis Motorsports/Forte entry of Kevin Madsen.

Madsen, sharing with team manager Jon Miller instead of Neil Lanberg this weekend, had just taken the lead from Harvey when he suddenly slowed due to an apparent lack of fuel.

That briefly handed the advantage back to Harvey, but he was powerless to defend as Morris dived up the inside a few corners later to wrest the lead away.

Harvey managed to defend from Holton for a few laps, but then dramatically slowed too and like Madsen was not classified.

The long-time Am class leader Cooper Broll in Forte’s No. 100 Artura was unable to capitalise as he too was forced to the sidelines by a technical problem, elevating Pro-Am class winner Oliver Webb and Ryan James to third overall in their No. 22 Greystone GT entry.

James Li and Sam Neser’s No. 74 RWE Motorsport Artura dropped back from running second in the early stages but were promoted to fourth and third of the Pro class contenders as problems befell their rivals.

Despite a spin at Turn 1 moments after passing Teo, Robby Stockard and Matt Bell’s No. 65 Hooper Street Racing with OMS machine finished fifth, ahead of the No. 47 RWE entry of Cody Kishel and Spencer Schmidt that took second in Pro-Am.

Broll’s unfortunate demise handed the Am class win to Fabio Grecco’s No. 15 OMS machine.

The second McLaren Trophy America contest is scheduled for 9 a.m EST with live coverage on McLaren Automotive’s YouTube channel.

RESULTS: Race 1

Source: Sports Car 365