DragonSpeed driver Eric Lux capped his debut season of sprint racing in style to claim his first Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) win at the scenic Laguna Seca circuit. The 27-year-old from Williamsville, New York dominated the series finale to score maximum points by taking pole, leading from flag to flag, and setting fastest lap on the way to eighth overall in his Rembrandt Charms-backed Mercedes AMG SLS GT3.
Newly crowned GTA-class champion Frankie Montecalvo made it DragonSpeed’s third 1-2 result of the year after a fraught battle for second place with the Ferrari of Martin Fuentes. After Frankie spun at half-distance, Fuentes received a drive-through penalty for avoidable contact with another car, allowing the rapidly recovering Montecalvo to grab second. Tire problems relegated Henrik Hedman’s number 10 Mercedes to ninth in GTA at the finish.
“It feels great to break through with a victory today and stand on the top step of the podium,” said Lux. “The team chemistry is unbelievable and the car was quick right off the truck. I was able to run a smooth race from pole with the Mercedes AMG. It’s very satisfying to take my first win at a legendary track like Laguna, and add another win to the DragonSpeed column. Congratulations to Frankie and the team on winning both championships – I’m proud to have been a part of it.”
In the absence of Henrique Cisneros, whose car was commandeered for Ferrari’s GT- class title push, Montecalvo extended his points lead to 306 in the final standings. Lux ended up fourth in the rankings, scoring more points in the second half of the season than anyone except Montecalvo. Hedman finished 11th in the points table despite missing seven of 20 rounds while pursuing his European GT3 campaign.
DragonSpeed closed out its 2015 PWC account with eight GTA wins, more than any other team in the hotly-contested amateur class. The Delray Beach, Florida-based outfit topped the final team standings by a margin of 517 points, beating the Ferrari entries of Scuderia Corsa and NGT Motorsport.
The GT Cup entry of Victor Gomez IV was on the pace, lining up fifth in class on the grid. A brake bias issue saw the Puerto Rican teenager fall back to seventh at the start, but battling for fifth at the end. “It’s been a big learning year for me in my second year of racing,” said Gomez. “I’ve made progress every weekend. The Porsche also has its own unique character which takes getting used to. I’m looking forward to continuing with DragonSpeed and Porsche next season.”
“Today we were the only non-factory team in the top 13 with the only non-pro drivers in the top 14,” said DragonSpeed team principal Elton Julian. “And the talent we have on track is matched by the talent behind the pit wall. We’ll have great continuity with drivers and crew when we turn our attention to LMP2 after the Blancpain Endurance Series finale this weekend. But this season will always be special for winning our first races and first championships.”