# 2024 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR

The 2024 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR was a sports car race held at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia, on August 25, 2024. It was the ninth round of the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship.

## Background
### Preview

International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) president John Doonan confirmed the race was part of the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship (IMSA SCC) in August 2023. It was the eleventh consecutive year the IMSA SCC hosted a race at Virginia International Raceway. The 2024 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR was the ninth of eleven scheduled sports car races of 2024 by IMSA. The race was held at the seventeen-turn 3.270 mi (5.263 km) Virginia International Raceway on August 25, 2024.

### Balance of performance

Ahead of the event, IMSA published a bulletin regarding the latest balance of performance (BoP) changes in the GTD Pro and GTD classes. The Acura was given a 1-liter increase in fuel capacity to accommodate the 11.5 horsepower gained across all power levels. Additionally, the Lamborghini saw an increase in weight of 15 kilograms. This was countered by an increase of 5.3 horsepower across all power levels, and a 2-liter fuel capacity increase. Finally, the Ferrari saw an increase of 10 kilograms in weight, with no adjustments to the power level.

### Standings before the race

Preceding the event, Laurin Heinrich led the GTD Pro Drivers' Championship with 2256 points, 76 points ahead of second-placed Ross Gunn. Ben Barnicoat and Jack Hawksworth sat in third place, a further 97 points behind. The GTD Drivers' Championship was led by Philip Ellis and Russell Ward with 2396 points. They had lead of 268 points over second-placed Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher. Parker Thompson sat in third, 526 points behind Ellis and Ward. The Manufacturers' Championships were led by Porsche and Mercedes-AMG, respectively, whilst AO Racing and Winward Racing led the Teams' Championships.

## Entry list

The entry list was revealed on August 14, 2024, and featured 23 entries: 9 entries in GTD Pro, and 14 entries in GTD. Klaus Bachler replaced Julien Andlauer in the No. 77 AO Racing Porsche, to race alongside Laurin Heinrich. Furthermore, Kyle Marcelli re-joined Danny Formal in the No. 45 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Lamborghini, after missing the previous round due to an arm-related injury. Both the No. 023 Triarsi Competizione and No. 35 Conquest Racing Ferraris did not appear at the start after one-off appearances at Road America.
| No. | Entrant | Car | Driver 1 | Driver 2 |
| GTD Pro (GT Daytona Pro) (9 entries) |||||
| 1 | Paul Miller Racing | BMW M4 GT3 | Bryan Sellers | Madison Snow |
| 3 | Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports | Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R | Antonio García | Alexander Sims |
| 4 | Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports | Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R | Nicky Catsburg | Tommy Milner |
| 9 | Pfaff Motorsports | McLaren 720S GT3 Evo | Oliver Jarvis | Marvin Kirchhöfer |
| 14 | Vasser Sullivan | Lexus RC F GT3 | Ben Barnicoat | Jack Hawksworth |
| 23 | Heart of Racing Team | Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo | Ross Gunn | Alex Riberas |
| 64 | Ford Multimatic Motorsports | Ford Mustang GT3 | Mike Rockenfeller | Harry Tincknell |
| 65 | Ford Multimatic Motorsports | Ford Mustang GT3 | Joey Hand | Dirk Müller |
| 77 | AO Racing | Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) | Klaus Bachler | Laurin Heinrich |
| GTD (GT Daytona) (14 entries) |||||
| 12 | Vasser Sullivan | Lexus RC F GT3 | Frankie Montecalvo | Parker Thompson |
| 13 | AWA | Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R | Matt Bell | Orey Fidani |
| 27 | Heart of Racing Team | Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo | Roman De Angelis | Zacharie Robichon |
| 32 | Korthoff/Preston Motorsports | Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo | Mikaël Grenier | Kenton Koch |
| 34 | Conquest Racing | Ferrari 296 GT3 | Albert Costa | Manny Franco |
| 45 | Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti | Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 | Danny Formal | Kyle Marcelli |
| 55 | Proton Competition | Ford Mustang GT3 | Giammarco Levorato | Corey Lewis |
| 57 | Winward Racing | Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo | Philip Ellis | Russell Ward |
| 66 | Gradient Racing | Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 | Stevan McAleer | Sheena Monk |
| 70 | Inception Racing | McLaren 720S GT3 Evo | Brendan Iribe | Frederik Schandorff |
| 78 | Forte Racing | Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 | Misha Goikhberg | Loris Spinelli |
| 86 | MDK Motorsports | Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) | Anders Fjordbach | Kerong Li |
| 96 | Turner Motorsport | BMW M4 GT3 | Robby Foley | Patrick Gallagher |
| 120 | Wright Motorsports | Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) | Adam Adelson | Elliott Skeer |
| Source: |||||

## Practice

There were two practice sessions preceding the start of the race on Sunday, one on Friday afternoon and one on Saturday morning. The first session on Friday afternoon lasted 90 minutes while the second session on Saturday morning lasted 105 minutes.

## Qualifying

Saturday's afternoon qualifying session lasted 15 minutes, with one combined session for the GTD Pro and GTD cars. The rules dictated that all teams nominated a driver to qualify their cars. The competitors' fastest lap times determined the starting order.

### Qualifying results

Pole positions in each class are indicated in bold and with ‡.
| Pos. | Class | No. | Entry | Driver | Time | Gap | Grid |
| 1 | GTD Pro | 1 | Paul Miller Racing | Madison Snow | 1:43.206 | — | 1‡ |
| 2 | GTD Pro | 3 | Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports | Antonio García | 1:43.346 | +0.140 | 2 |
| 3 | GTD Pro | 64 | Ford Multimatic Motorsports | Harry Tincknell | 1:43.630 | +0.424 | 3 |
| 4 | GTD Pro | 65 | Ford Multimatic Motorsports | Joey Hand | 1:43.729 | +0.523 | 4 |
| 5 | GTD Pro | 4 | Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports | Tommy Milner | 1:43.745 | +0.539 | 5 |
| 6 | GTD | 55 | Proton Competition | Giammarco Levorato | 1:43.900 | +0.694 | 6‡ |
| 7 | GTD | 32 | Korthoff/Preston Motorsports | Kenton Koch | 1:44.106 | +0.900 | 7 |
| 8 | GTD | 120 | Wright Motorsports | Elliott Skeer | 1:44.118 | +0.912 | 8 |
| 9 | GTD Pro | 14 | Vasser Sullivan | Jack Hawksworth | 1:44.177 | +0.971 | 9 |
| 10 | GTD Pro | 9 | Pfaff Motorsports | Oliver Jarvis | 1:44.297 | +1.091 | 10 |
| 11 | GTD | 27 | Heart of Racing Team | Zacharie Robichon | 1:44.362 | +1.156 | 11 |
| 12 | GTD | 96 | Turner Motorsport | Patrick Gallagher | 1:44.392 | +1.186 | 12 |
| 13 | GTD Pro | 77 | AO Racing | Klaus Bachler | 1:44.417 | +1.211 | 13 |
| 14 | GTD Pro | 23 | Heart of Racing Team | Alex Riberas | 1:44.499 | +1.293 | 14 |
| 15 | GTD | 45 | Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti | Kyle Marcelli | 1:44.504 | +1.298 | 15 |
| 16 | GTD | 12 | Vasser Sullivan | Frankie Montecalvo | 1:44.541 | +1.335 | 16 |
| 17 | GTD | 78 | Forte Racing | Misha Goikhberg | 1:44.793 | +1.587 | 17 |
| 18 | GTD | 57 | Winward Racing | Russell Ward | 1:44.855 | +1.649 | 18 |
| 19 | GTD | 70 | Inception Racing | Brendan Iribe | 1:45.020 | +1.814 | 19 |
| 20 | GTD | 66 | Gradient Racing | Sheena Monk | 1:45.069 | +1.863 | 20 |
| 21 | GTD | 34 | Conquest Racing | Manny Franco | 1:45.348 | +2.142 | 21 |
| 22 | GTD | 86 | MDK Motorsports | Kerong Li | 1:46.754 | +3.548 | 22 |
| 23 | GTD | 13 | AWA | Orey Fidani | 1:47.306 | +4.100 | 23 |
| Sources: ||||||||

## Race
### Post-race

The final results of GTD Pro meant Heinrich continued to lead the GTD Pro Drivers' Championship, but his advantage was reduced to 17 points by third-place finisher Gunn. Sellers and Snow jumped from fifth to third. Ellis and Ward's third-place finish allowed them to extend their advantage over Foley and Gallagher in the GTD Drivers' Championship. Porsche and Mercedes-AMG continued to top their respective Manufacturers' Championships while AO Racing, and Winward Racing kept their respective advantages in their of Teams' Championships with two rounds remaining.

### Race results

Class winners are in bold and ‡.
| Pos | Class | No | Team | Drivers | Chassis | Laps | Time/Retired |
| Pos | Class | No | Team | Drivers | Engine | Laps | Time/Retired |
| 1 | GTD Pro | 1 | Paul Miller Racing | Bryan Sellers Madison Snow | BMW M4 GT3 | 86 | 2:40:49.112‡ |
| 1 | GTD Pro | 1 | Paul Miller Racing | Bryan Sellers Madison Snow | BMW P58 3.0 L Turbo I6 | 86 | 2:40:49.112‡ |
| 2 | GTD Pro | 64 | Ford Multimatic Motorsports | Mike Rockenfeller Harry Tincknell | Ford Mustang GT3 | 86 | +3.368 |
| 2 | GTD Pro | 64 | Ford Multimatic Motorsports | Mike Rockenfeller Harry Tincknell | Ford Coyote 5.4 L V8 | 86 | +3.368 |
| 3 | GTD Pro | 23 | Heart of Racing Team | Ross Gunn Alex Riberas | Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo | 86 | +4.199 |
| 3 | GTD Pro | 23 | Heart of Racing Team | Ross Gunn Alex Riberas | Aston Martin M177 4.0 L Turbo V8 | 86 | +4.199 |
| 4 | GTD Pro | 65 | Ford Multimatic Motorsports | Joey Hand Dirk Müller | Ford Mustang GT3 | 86 | +11.688 |
| 4 | GTD Pro | 65 | Ford Multimatic Motorsports | Joey Hand Dirk Müller | Ford Coyote 5.4 L V8 | 86 | +11.688 |
| 5 | GTD | 32 | Korthoff/Preston Motorsports | Mikaël Grenier Kenton Koch | Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo | 86 | +16.103‡ |
| 5 | GTD | 32 | Korthoff/Preston Motorsports | Mikaël Grenier Kenton Koch | Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8 | 86 | +16.103‡ |
| 6 | GTD Pro | 9 | Pfaff Motorsports | Oliver Jarvis Marvin Kirchhöfer | McLaren 720S GT3 Evo | 86 | +16.404 |
| 6 | GTD Pro | 9 | Pfaff Motorsports | Oliver Jarvis Marvin Kirchhöfer | McLaren M840T 4.0 L Turbo V8 | 86 | +16.404 |
| 7 | GTD Pro | 14 | Vasser Sullivan | Ben Barnicoat Jack Hawksworth | Lexus RC F GT3 | 86 | +18.620 |
| 7 | GTD Pro | 14 | Vasser Sullivan | Ben Barnicoat Jack Hawksworth | Toyota 2UR-GSE 5.0 L V8 | 86 | +18.620 |
| 8 | GTD | 78 | Forte Racing | Misha Goikhberg Loris Spinelli | Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 | 86 | +19.086 |
| 8 | GTD | 78 | Forte Racing | Misha Goikhberg Loris Spinelli | Lamborghini DGF 5.2 L V10 | 86 | +19.086 |
| 9 | GTD Pro | 77 | AO Racing | Klaus Bachler Laurin Heinrich | Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) | 86 | +19.754 |
| 9 | GTD Pro | 77 | AO Racing | Klaus Bachler Laurin Heinrich | Porsche M97/80 4.2 L Flat-6 | 86 | +19.754 |
| 10 | GTD | 57 | Winward Racing | Philip Ellis Russell Ward | Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo | 86 | +20.017 |
| 10 | GTD | 57 | Winward Racing | Philip Ellis Russell Ward | Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8 | 86 | +20.017 |
| 11 | GTD | 96 | Turner Motorsport | Robby Foley Patrick Gallagher | BMW M4 GT3 | 86 | +20.311 |
| 11 | GTD | 96 | Turner Motorsport | Robby Foley Patrick Gallagher | BMW P58 3.0 L Turbo I6 | 86 | +20.311 |
| 12 | GTD Pro | 4 | Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports | Nicky Catsburg Tommy Milner | Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R | 86 | +22.410 |
| 12 | GTD Pro | 4 | Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports | Nicky Catsburg Tommy Milner | Chevrolet LT6 5.5 L V8 | 86 | +22.410 |
| 13 | GTD | 34 | Conquest Racing | Albert Costa Manny Franco | Ferrari 296 GT3 | 86 | +24.110 |
| 13 | GTD | 34 | Conquest Racing | Albert Costa Manny Franco | Ferrari F163 3.0 L Turbo V6 | 86 | +24.110 |
| 14 | GTD | 13 | AWA | Matt Bell Orey Fidani | Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R | 86 | +24.433 |
| 14 | GTD | 13 | AWA | Matt Bell Orey Fidani | Chevrolet LT6 5.5 L V8 | 86 | +24.433 |
| 15 | GTD | 55 | Proton Competition | Giammarco Levorato Corey Lewis | Ford Mustang GT3 | 86 | +27.346 |
| 15 | GTD | 55 | Proton Competition | Giammarco Levorato Corey Lewis | Ford Coyote 5.4 L V8 | 86 | +27.346 |
| 16 | GTD | 120 | Wright Motorsports | Adam Adelson Elliott Skeer | Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) | 86 | +28.220 |
| 16 | GTD | 120 | Wright Motorsports | Adam Adelson Elliott Skeer | Porsche M97/80 4.2 L Flat-6 | 86 | +28.220 |
| 17 | GTD | 12 | Vasser Sullivan | Frankie Montecalvo Parker Thompson | Lexus RC F GT3 | 86 | +57.555 |
| 17 | GTD | 12 | Vasser Sullivan | Frankie Montecalvo Parker Thompson | Toyota 2UR-GSE 5.0 L V8 | 86 | +57.555 |
| 18 | GTD | 86 | MDK Motorsports | Anders Fjordbach Kerong Li | Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) | 85 | +1 Lap |
| 18 | GTD | 86 | MDK Motorsports | Anders Fjordbach Kerong Li | Porsche M97/80 4.2 L Flat-6 | 85 | +1 Lap |
| 19 | GTD | 45 | Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti | Danny Formal Kyle Marcelli | Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 | 85 | +1 Lap |
| 19 | GTD | 45 | Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti | Danny Formal Kyle Marcelli | Lamborghini DGF 5.2 L V10 | 85 | +1 Lap |
| 20 | GTD | 66 | Gradient Racing | Stevan McAleer Sheena Monk | Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 | 72 | +14 Laps |
| 20 | GTD | 66 | Gradient Racing | Stevan McAleer Sheena Monk | Acura JNC1 3.5 L Turbo V6 | 72 | +14 Laps |
| 21 DNF | GTD | 70 | Inception Racing | Brendan Iribe Frederik Schandorff | McLaren 720S GT3 Evo | 68 | Engine |
| 21 DNF | GTD | 70 | Inception Racing | Brendan Iribe Frederik Schandorff | McLaren M840T 4.0 L Turbo V8 | 68 | Engine |
| 22 | GTD | 27 | Heart of Racing Team | Roman De Angelis Zacharie Robichon | Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo | 86 | +17.000 |
| 22 | GTD | 27 | Heart of Racing Team | Roman De Angelis Zacharie Robichon | Aston Martin M177 4.0 L Turbo V8 | 86 | +17.000 |
| 23 | GTD Pro | 3 | Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports | Antonio García Alexander Sims | Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R | 57 | +29 Laps |
| 23 | GTD Pro | 3 | Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports | Antonio García Alexander Sims | Chevrolet LT6 5.5 L V8 | 57 | +29 Laps |
| Source: ||||||||
* ↑ The No. 27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin was moved to the back of the GTD class since non-homologated parts were used during the event. It originally finished 7th overall, and 2nd in class.

## Standings after the race

* Note: Only the top five positions are included for all sets of standings.
* Note: Only the top five positions are included for all sets of standings.
* Note: Only the top five positions are included for all sets of standings.