# 2018 IMSA Michelin Encore

The 2018 IMSA Michelin SportsCar Encore was the inaugural edition of the non-championship sports car race held at Sebring International Raceway on 9 November 2018. The race was contested with LMP3 cars, GT4-spec cars and TCR-touring car. The event was organized by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA).
The race was won by Roman De Angelis and Kyle Kirkwood, driving a Ligier JS P3 entered by ANSA Motorsports. Kirkwood and teammate Dakota Dickerson signed up at the last minute, given the opportunity by Onroak Automotive North America as a reward for respectively winning the F3 Americas Championship and Formula 4 United States Championship. The event marked Kirkwood's sports car debut.

## Report

The race was held as a standalone event, open to Pro-Am teams and drivers regardless of whether they had participated in any IMSA sanctioned events in 2018. Continental would not be providing tyres for the 2019 IMSA SportsCar Championship, leaving Michelin as the sole supplier going forward. For this event, Michelin tyres were mandated to give teams the opportunity to sample them.
Pole position went to the #26 K2R Ligier, qualified by Kay van Berlo in his first race in the United States, from the #13 ANSA Ligier of Roman De Angelis. Van Berlo pulled away from De Angelis in the early phase of the race. The first round of pit stops started on lap 24. Van Berlo extended his stint, but the caution came out on lap 28 when Dean Baker touched the kerb with the underbody of his #4 ANSA Ligier. The cars that had stayed out were forced to pit under yellow and lined up at the tail end of the field. To add insult to injury, the #26 car was caught speeding on pit road and its second driver James McGuire was forced to take a drive-through penalty.
The #2 ANSA Ligier retired with engine issues on lap 51, leading to the race's third caution period. The #13 car had only just pitted and De Angelis inherited the lead as the other cars pitted under yellow. Lance Willsey lost control of his #33 ESM Ligier while warming his tyres and stalled his car on the grass, which brought his race to an end.
The #19 Performance Tech Ligier stopped at the end of pit lane on lap 60. The #25 P1 Ligier suffered a heavy crash on lap 87 when Kenton Koch lost the rear on entry to Turn 3. Koch escaped unharmed. All cars had already made their final pit stop, so the ensuing caution served to compress the field ahead of a 26-minute sprint finish.
At the final restart, the #13 car of De Angelis led from the #26 of Matthew Bell. Bell kept within two seconds of De Angelis but was unable to make an overtake, and the victory went to De Angelis and Kyle Kirkwood. The #11 car of Nico Rondet and the #40 car of Katherine Legge battled hard for the final step on the podium until, with four minutes to go, Rondet hit the back of Legge's car at Turn 15 and span.
The only non-Ligier LMP3 car in the field was the ADESS-03, the car making its racing debut at the event in the hands of the Atlantic Racing Team. Mechanical issues forced it into the pits after roughly 30 minutes of racing. After an extended repair period, the team were able to get the car out on track again just before the halfway point of the race. They used the remainder of the event as a test session and reached the finish albeit 33 laps down.
The GT4 class was controlled by the #60 and #59 KohR Ford Mustangs, the two cars holding first and second from the #22 GMG Audi R8. The Audi managed to take second place by the end of the race, but victory went to the #60 Ford of Nate Stacy, Kyle Marcelli and Dean Martin.
The TCR class became a battle between the two Audi RS3s after the #31 Rumcastle Volkswagen Golf lost two laps in the pits with a rear wing replacement. The #82 Mark Motors Audi led the class for most of the race but the #54 JDC-Miller Audi was ahead at the final restart. The #82 retook the lead with a lap and a half remaining, but the #54 car ran out of fuel anyway on the final lap. In the end, the all-Canadian entry driven by Marco Cirone and Remo Ruscitti were able to cruise to victory.
The Encore proved popular, and was renewed for a second edition in 2019.

## Classes

* Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3)
* Grand Sport (GS) (run to GT4 regulations)
* Touring Car (TCR) (run to TCR regulations)

## Entry List
### LMP3

| Team | Car | Engine | No. | Drivers |
| ANSA Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 2 | Jon Brownson |
| ANSA Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 2 | Dakota Dickerson |
| ANSA Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 2 | Neil Alberico |
| ANSA Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 4 | Dean Baker |
| ANSA Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 4 | Michal Chlumecky |
| ANSA Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 4 | Zacharie Robichon |
| ANSA Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 13 | Roman De Angelis |
| ANSA Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 13 | Kyle Kirkwood |
| Atlantic Racing Team | ADESS-03 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 6 | Jim Antunes |
| Atlantic Racing Team | ADESS-03 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 6 | Tazio Ottis |
| Atlantic Racing Team | ADESS-03 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 6 | Robin Shute |
| Simraceway Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 11 | Nico Rondet |
| Simraceway Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 11 | Maurice Smith |
| Simraceway Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 11 | John Schauerman |
| Performance Tech Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 19 | Bradley Baker |
| Performance Tech Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 19 | Jan Heylen |
| Performance Tech Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 19 | Bruno Junqueira |
| P1 Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 25 | Joel Janco |
| P1 Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 25 | Jonatan Jorge |
| P1 Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 25 | Kenton Koch |
| K2R Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 26 | Matthew Bell |
| K2R Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 26 | James McGuire Jr |
| K2R Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 26 | Kay van Berlo |
| K2R Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 64 | Alex Barron |
| K2R Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 64 | Naveen Rao |
| Extreme Speed Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 33 | Max Hanratty |
| Extreme Speed Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 33 | Lance Willsey |
| Polestar Motor Racing Inc. | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 40 | David Grant |
| Polestar Motor Racing Inc. | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 40 | Keith Grant |
| Polestar Motor Racing Inc. | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 40 | Katherine Legge |
| JDC-Miller Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 84 | Guy Cosmo |
| JDC-Miller Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 84 | Patrick Byrne |

### Grand Sport

| Team | Car | Engine | No. | Drivers |
| GMG Racing | Audi R8 LMS GT4 | Audi 5.2 L V10 | 22 | Jason Bell |
| GMG Racing | Audi R8 LMS GT4 | Audi 5.2 L V10 | 22 | James Sofronas |
| GMG Racing | Audi R8 LMS GT4 | Audi 5.2 L V10 | 22 | Andy Lally |
| KohR Motorsports | Ford Mustang GT4 | Ford 5.0 L Coyote V8 | 59 | Rod Randall |
| KohR Motorsports | Ford Mustang GT4 | Ford 5.0 L Coyote V8 | 59 | Kenny Wilden |
| KohR Motorsports | Ford Mustang GT4 | Ford 5.0 L Coyote V8 | 59 | DJ Randall |
| KohR Motorsports | Ford Mustang GT4 | Ford 5.0 L Coyote V8 | 60 | Kyle Marcelli |
| KohR Motorsports | Ford Mustang GT4 | Ford 5.0 L Coyote V8 | 60 | Dean Martin |
| KohR Motorsports | Ford Mustang GT4 | Ford 5.0 L Coyote V8 | 60 | Nate Stacy |
| NOLAsport | Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR | Porsche 3.8 L Flat-6 | 72 | Jason Hart |
| NOLAsport | Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR | Porsche 3.8 L Flat-6 | 72 | Matt Travis |
| NOLAsport | Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR | Porsche 3.8 L Flat-6 | 72 | Mike Vess |
| Carbahn Motorsports | Audi R8 LMS GT4 | Audi 5.2 L V10 | 93 | Sameer Gandhi |
| Carbahn Motorsports | Audi R8 LMS GT4 | Audi 5.2 L V10 | 93 | Mark Siegal |
| Carbahn Motorsports | Audi R8 LMS GT4 | Audi 5.2 L V10 | 93 | Jeff Westphal |

### Touring Car

| Team | Car | Engine | No. | Drivers |
| Rumcastle, LLC | Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR | Volkswagen 2.0 L I4 T/C | 31 | Luke Rumburg |
| Rumcastle, LLC | Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR | Volkswagen 2.0 L I4 T/C | 31 | Tanner Rumburg |
| JDC-Miller Motorsports | Audi RS 3 LMS TCR | Audi 2.0 L TFSI | 54 | Michael Johnson |
| JDC-Miller Motorsports | Audi RS 3 LMS TCR | Audi 2.0 L TFSI | 54 | Stephen Simpson |
| Mark Motors Racing | Audi RS 3 LMS TCR | Audi 2.0 L TFSI | 82 | Marco Cirone |
| Mark Motors Racing | Audi RS 3 LMS TCR | Audi 2.0 L TFSI | 82 | Remo Ruscitti |

## Race results

Class winners denoted in bold and with ‡
| Pos | Class | No. | Team / Entrant | Drivers | Chassis | Laps | Time/Retired |
| Pos | Class | No. | Team / Entrant | Drivers | Engine | Laps | Time/Retired |
| 1 | LMP3 | 13 | ANSA Motorsports | Roman De Angelis Kyle Kirkwood | Ligier JS P3 | 107 | 4:01:53.298‡ |
| 1 | LMP3 | 13 | ANSA Motorsports | Roman De Angelis Kyle Kirkwood | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 107 | 4:01:53.298‡ |
| 2 | LMP3 | 26 | K2R Motorsports | James McGuire Jr Matthew Bell Kay van Berlo | Ligier JS P3 | 107 | +2.278 |
| 2 | LMP3 | 26 | K2R Motorsports | James McGuire Jr Matthew Bell Kay van Berlo | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 107 | +2.278 |
| 3 | LMP3 | 40 | Polestar Motor Racing Inc. | Keith Grant David Grant Katherine Legge | Ligier JS P3 | 107 | +22.356 |
| 3 | LMP3 | 40 | Polestar Motor Racing Inc. | Keith Grant David Grant Katherine Legge | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 107 | +22.356 |
| 4 | LMP3 | 11 | Simraceway Motorsports | Maurice Smith John Schauerman Nico Rondet | Ligier JS P3 | 107 | +46.180 |
| 4 | LMP3 | 11 | Simraceway Motorsports | Maurice Smith John Schauerman Nico Rondet | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 107 | +46.180 |
| 5 | LMP3 | 64 | K2R Motorsports | Naveen Rao Alex Barron | Ligier JS P3 | 106 | +1 Lap |
| 5 | LMP3 | 64 | K2R Motorsports | Naveen Rao Alex Barron | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 106 | +1 Lap |
| 6 | LMP3 | 84 | JDC-Miller Motorsports | Patrick Byrne Guy Cosmo | Ligier JS P3 | 106 | +1 Lap |
| 6 | LMP3 | 84 | JDC-Miller Motorsports | Patrick Byrne Guy Cosmo | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 106 | +1 Lap |
| 7 | GT4 | 60 | KohR Motorsports | Nate Stacy Kyle Marcelli Dean Martin | Ford Mustang GT4 | 99 | +8 Laps‡ |
| 7 | GT4 | 60 | KohR Motorsports | Nate Stacy Kyle Marcelli Dean Martin | Ford 5.0 L Coyote V8 | 99 | +8 Laps‡ |
| 8 | GT4 | 22 | GMG Racing | Jason Bell James Sofronas Andy Lally | Audi R8 LMS GT4 | 99 | +8 Laps |
| 8 | GT4 | 22 | GMG Racing | Jason Bell James Sofronas Andy Lally | Audi 5.2 L V10 | 99 | +8 Laps |
| 9 | TCR | 82 | Mark Motors Racing | Marco Cirone Remo Ruscitti | Audi RS 3 LMS TCR | 99 | +8 Laps‡ |
| 9 | TCR | 82 | Mark Motors Racing | Marco Cirone Remo Ruscitti | Audi 2.0 L TFSI | 99 | +8 Laps‡ |
| 10 DNF | TCR | 54 | JDC-Miller Motorsports | Michael Johnson Stephen Simpson | Audi RS 3 LMS TCR | 98 | Out of fuel |
| 10 DNF | TCR | 54 | JDC-Miller Motorsports | Michael Johnson Stephen Simpson | Audi 2.0 L TFSI | 98 | Out of fuel |
| 11 | GT4 | 59 | KohR Motorsports | Kenny Wilden Rod Randall DJ Randall | Ford Mustang GT4 | 98 | +9 Laps |
| 11 | GT4 | 59 | KohR Motorsports | Kenny Wilden Rod Randall DJ Randall | Ford 5.0 L Coyote V8 | 98 | +9 Laps |
| 12 | TCR | 31 | Rumcastle, LLC | Luke Rumburg Tanner Rumburg | Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR | 97 | +10 Laps |
| 12 | TCR | 31 | Rumcastle, LLC | Luke Rumburg Tanner Rumburg | Volkswagen 2.0 L I4 T/C | 97 | +10 Laps |
| 13 DNF | LMP3 | 4 | ANSA Motorsports | Dean Baker Zacharie Robichon Michal Chlumecky | Ligier JS P3 | 94 | |
| 13 DNF | LMP3 | 4 | ANSA Motorsports | Dean Baker Zacharie Robichon Michal Chlumecky | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 94 | |
| 14 DNF | LMP3 | 25 | P1 Motorsports | Kenton Koch Joel Janco Jonatan Jorge | Ligier JS P3 | 87 | Accident |
| 14 DNF | LMP3 | 25 | P1 Motorsports | Kenton Koch Joel Janco Jonatan Jorge | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 87 | Accident |
| 15 | LMP3 | 6 | Atlantic Racing Team | Robin Shute Jim Antunes Tazio Ottis | ADESS-03 | 74 | +33 Laps |
| 15 | LMP3 | 6 | Atlantic Racing Team | Robin Shute Jim Antunes Tazio Ottis | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 74 | +33 Laps |
| 16 DNF | LMP3 | 33 | Extreme Speed Motorsports | Lance Willsey Max Hanratty | Ligier JS P3 | 67 | Stalled |
| 16 DNF | LMP3 | 33 | Extreme Speed Motorsports | Lance Willsey Max Hanratty | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 67 | Stalled |
| 17 DNF | LMP3 | 19 | Performance Tech Motorsports | Bradley Baker Jan Heylen Bruno Junqueira | Ligier JS P3 | 60 | |
| 17 DNF | LMP3 | 19 | Performance Tech Motorsports | Bradley Baker Jan Heylen Bruno Junqueira | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 60 | |
| 18 DNF | LMP3 | 2 | ANSA Motorsports | Jon Brownson Dakota Dickerson Neil Alberico | Ligier JS P3 | 51 | Engine |
| 18 DNF | LMP3 | 2 | ANSA Motorsports | Jon Brownson Dakota Dickerson Neil Alberico | Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 | 51 | Engine |
| 19 DNF | GT4 | 72 | NOLAsport | Mike Vess Matt Travis Jason Hart | Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR | 30 | |
| 19 DNF | GT4 | 72 | NOLAsport | Mike Vess Matt Travis Jason Hart | Porsche 3.8 L Flat-6 | 30 | |
| 20 | GT4 | 93 | Carbahn Motorsports | Sameer Gandhi Mark Siegal Jeff Westphal | Audi R8 LMS GT4 | 95 | +12 Laps |
| 20 | GT4 | 93 | Carbahn Motorsports | Sameer Gandhi Mark Siegal Jeff Westphal | Audi 5.2 L V10 | 95 | +12 Laps |
| BOX SCORE ||||||||
The #93 Carbhan Motorsports Audi R8 LMS GT4 was moved to the rear of its class for failing to meet the minimum required driving time.