GTC US Tour (RW 3/6)
Laguna Seca, California — It was a sun-drenched afternoon filled with thunderous roars and tire smoke as round three of the US GTC Championship rolled into the legendary Laguna Seca Historic circuit. With a gripping championship battle already shaping up, fans gathered expecting fireworks - and they weren’t disappointed.
Qualifying: A Tight Duel for Pole
Saturday’s qualifying saw SDH-M ~ HappyKojot in his Shelby Cobra 289 Hardtop clinch pole position with an astonishing 1:13.978, narrowly edging meisterJaeger by just 0.089 seconds. Nat Stevenson completed the tightly packed top three, setting the stage for a fierce race day.
Race Day: Kojot Holds Firm, Celárek Charges Forward
As the lights turned green, Kojot made a clean getaway from pole, maintaining the lead through Laguna Seca’s notorious twists. Adam Celárek, starting fourth in his agile TVR Griffith 200, showed tremendous pace, swiftly moving up into podium contention. A determined drive saw Celárek finish second, just behind Kojot, and set the fastest lap of the day with a blistering 1:13.920.
Nat Stevenson held steady, bringing home valuable points by securing third place, reinforcing his championship ambitions.
Valiant Battles and Astonishing Drives
Further down the field, the race unfolded dramatically. Florian Masse showcased stellar skill, gaining three positions to finish fourth, while Brandon Hawkin's powerful Corvette 1967 rumbled up one position to round out the top five.
However, the standout performance belonged to Valentin Knechtel. Starting deep in the field, Knechtel drove a masterclass race in his Ferrari 250 GTO Series II, overtaking an astonishing 18 cars to finish ninth - a heroic effort warmly applauded by the crowd.
Conversely, meisterJaeger had a day to forget. After a great race he got involved into and incident with a lapped driver in lap 33. His Shelby Cobra 289 Hardtop took severe damage and meisterJaeger had to give up the race. Emil Magnussen and Ingroover similarly struggled, navigating multiple collisions that severely hampered their race outcomes.
Incident-Strewn Race Highlights Challenges of Laguna Seca
The tricky circuit proved treacherous, claiming victims through numerous collisions with barriers and curbing. Laguna Seca’s demanding layout, particularly the infamous Corkscrew turn, caught out even seasoned drivers.
Championship Intensifies: A Dead Heat at the Top
This thrilling race has created a nail-biting deadlock atop the championship standings, with SDH-M ~ HappyKojot and meisterJaeger now tied at 77 points. Stevenson remains just behind with 74 points, keeping the title fight fiercely competitive. Adam Celárek’s impressive drive at Laguna Seca boosted him to fourth, just 9 points off the leaders.
Next Stop: Paramount Ranch
With the championship finely balanced, all eyes turn to the historic Paramount Ranch for round four. Drivers know each point is crucial. Expect the gloves to come off and tensions to rise even higher as this extraordinary vintage racing season continues to captivate.
