The sixth round of the American Le Mans Series has been highly contested in Mid-Ohio has been thrilling till the last minutes. There have been many fights throughout the four classes for 2 hours and 45 minutes and many different leaders, as well as many dramatic turns of events. In the end, Dyson Racing and pairing Dyson and Smith clinched the overall victory, the first ever for Mazda in ALMS. In the GT2 class, Ferrari and Risi finished first thanks to Bruni/Melo, half of a second ahead of the Beretta/Gavin Corvette. The 6th place car is only six seconds behind the winner one. Bouchut and Level 5 took another victory in LMPC, as well as Black Swan in GTC. The standings are here.

Race notes

No flag was given at the start line, but the clock started when the field passed the finish line, under yellow, and the green flag is taken on the back straight. The Intersport Lola-AER started from fourth on grid and led the field after a short fight with polesitter Drayson Racing Lola-Judd. Paul Drayson is also passed by Dyson Racing Lola-Mazda and Highcroft Racing HPD. In the LMPC, Intersport took the lead as Scott Tucker could not capitalize on pole clinched by Christophe Bouchut. In GT2, the Ferraris rules, with #62 car ahead of #61 one, and in GTC, Black Swan Racing lost the lead after being tapped by Orbit Racing.

The beginning of the race is hard for Lord Drayson, off at Turn 1. By chance he didn’t hit the barriers. In LMPC, Team Gunnar and Elton Julian are leading as the Intersport car sprays liquid on track. Wallace is now second in class. The fight for overall is tough as Guy Smith put the pressure on Clint Field, still leading. The GT2 class is also contested with 11 cars in less than 10 seconds. Both Ferraris are followed by the #4 Corvette and the #90 BMW. There are many duels on the track with the other C6.R fighting with the best Extreme Speed F430 and the other M3 with the Flying Lizard #45 car. Actually, the gaps are so tiny and the pace so fast that some teams complained to the race management about slower prototypes…

The fight goes on and on throughout all classes. Intersport is still leading ahead of Dyson while Highcroft is about 10 seconds behind and Drayson is about one lap behind after half an hour in the race. No major changes in the other classes.

With 45 minutes in the race, Paul Drayson is in the gravel bed at Turn 10 after contact with the Velox Motorsport Porsche GT3 Cup. The Intersport Formula Le Mans stopped on the track after the exit to the keyhole. Pitstop for #92 BMW and first safety-car period. All competitors pit and Intersport keeps the lead while Highcroft has been quicker than Dyson Racing. The Drayson Lola is back to the pits with a steering issue. Level 5 FLM is ahead of Team Gunnar one and in GT2, #62 Risi car is virtually second as the #92 BMW’s strategy pays off – the Roberston Ford is leading but still has to pit. 

The green flag is taken about one hour in the race, with no major change in the current standings. Clint Field takes advantage of the Lola-AER power to widen the gap in traffic with Simon Pagenaud. The show goes on in GT2 with Top 5 cars in less than one second! Bill Auberlen has to resist to Jaime Melo and both Corvettes, as well as in LMPC with the Top 4 cars in less than 3 seconds, and in GTC, with Orbit and Black Swan only a few thousands apart.

Field has to go around in the grass to avoid contact with a GT3 Cup and the #62 Ferrari is slow on track because of a fuel pump problem, which dropped him to sixth place. The #3 Corvette is in the pits with a technical gremlin and is one lap behind.

With 1 hour and 15 minutes in the race, Chris Dyson can pass and is now second at Highcroft’s expense. The Autocon Lola is fourth and four FLM are in a second. In two laps, Bouchut can pass three cars and takes the lead!

After 60 laps, there is a new leader in GT2. Oliver Gavin gets around Bill Auberlen for the lead in class. Auberlen is under Melo’s pressure whereas the other BMW has to fight with Bergmeister and Fisichella. Meanwhile, Bleekemolen takes the lead in GTC passing Orbit Racing car. Bryce Miller is off and back on. He pits and is now 4th in class.

Many dramatic turn of events took place at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge! Melo passes Auberlen in GT2 and is now second and catch up with Oliver Gavin. Two minutes later, the Lizard #45 Porsche and the Risi #61 Ferrari are door to door. The #90 BMW’s wheels goes around in the grass and the #92 spins and rejoins in 5th.

With one hour left, the leading Intersport Lola loses its rear right pad and pits, as well as the Dyson Lola. The leading Team Gunnar FLM is in gravel bed. The safety-car comes out and almost all the field is in the pits. The #62 Ferrari passes the #45 Flying Lizard and #4 Corvette, but both BMWs are leading.

Green flag with 45 minutes to go and the Dyson Lola-Mazda leads with old tires 3 seconds ahead of the Highcroft HPD and four ahead of the Intersport Lola. The GT2 field is more turbulent than ever as the Risi #62 Ferrari passes both BMWs thanks to a tremendous restart from Jaime Melo. The Lizard Porsche and the #4 Corvette are fighting and Gavin is able to pass Bergmeister. Both drivers catch up with both BMWs while the Jaguar has contact with the Alex Job Racing #23 Porsche GT3 Cup, 2nd in GTC.

This is the last half hour for all competitors, but the battle is not over yet. The Robertson Ford is back to the pits with a broken rear right suspension, and the #4 Corvette and the Lizard #45 Porsche are nose to nose and have contact to take third place in GT2. Chris Dyson leads by 6 seconds over Simon Pagenaud and more than 30 over Jon Field and the Lola-AER which has engine problems and has to go to the pits.

The Risi #62 Ferrari leads by 2 seconds in GT2, its rivals are fighting fiercely. Gavin passes Auberlen who now has Bergmeister right behind. The top 7 cars are within 7 seconds. Fisichella works his way to traffic and passes Hand and van Overbeek, but the Italian driver has contact with a slower car, which hits the barriers.

Third FCY period while the Highcroft HPD catches up on the Dyson Racing Lola-Mazda. There are only ten minutes to go when the safety-car is in. Chris Dyson keeps the lead ahead of Simon Pagenaud, as well as Jaime Melo in GT2.

Despite pushing, Simon Pagenaud can do nothing to thwart the Lola-Mazda’s power. Chris Dyson is a strong leader and brings – at last – the first victory to Mazda after so many disappointments for 5 thousands of a second. For the second time in a row, Highcroft Racing finishes second, but this is a good deal for Pagenaud/Barbham in the Series. Chirstophe Bouchut wins the LMPC with Scott Tucker and is three overall and clinches his 100th victory, ahead of Mathiasen Motorspotrs and Team Gunnar.

In GT2, Jaime Melo was able to keep the lead till the end so Ferrari and Risi could revive a victory. The #4 Corvette is less than six tenths behind and BMW finished third as Flying Lizard is fourth for… 4 tenths… In GTC, Black Swan takes another victory after a great race and despite a chaotic start. GMG climbs on the second step of the podium and Alex Job Racing on the third one.

The next round is Road American in two weeks from now…

Anthony Megevand and Cécile Bonardel