SAMAX - Mid-Ohio race

SAMAX/ Doncaster Racing scored its best Rolex Sports Car Series finish of the season, taking fourth place in the GT class at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Saturday evening. Dave Lacey and Greg Wilkins, both of Toronto, combined for a strong performance, despite driving without a clutch for most of the two-hour 45-minute race.

Lacey started the No. 17 SAMAX/ Doncaster Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car ninth on the 18-car GT grid. He lost ground in the early laps, but moved back up to seventh in the first hour of the two-hour 45-minute race. Wilkins took over at 1h7 during a caution period and moved to sixth on the restart. He gained another position but lost it just before the two-hour mark as he pitted for a splash of fuel and tires. He regained fifth with five minutes to the finish and moved to fourth at the checkered flag.

The team's next race is at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., a one-day event on June 29, with morning practice, afternoon qualifying and an evening race.

race report
time driver action
start Lacey
1h7 Wilkins in pit – driver change, tires, fuel
1h56 Wilkins pit – fuel, tires

Dave Lacey: "We started with a few issues at the start. We had a big vibration before the race even started, during the two warmup laps. Then our clutch started to go away, so shifting became a real problem, but we drove through it. Greg did a great job without a clutch. He ran some really quick times and brought us up to fourth place. We're happy with fourth and we're on to Daytona with a clean car."

Greg Wilkins: "It was our best finish of the season. Dave did a really good job – he got knocked back a little bit on the start, then recouped the positions. We were in seventh place by the time I got in. The car was handling pretty well; we got by a few guys and had a good strong run, we were consistent and the times were pretty good. I ran my fastest [lap] times of the weekend. Fourth place – not bad, I'm pretty happy about that."

online
samaxmotorsport.com