ANNA CECCHI Bounces Back With Double Podium After Contact at Watkins Glen

September 2, 2025

GRRL! SUMMARY:

ANNA CECCHI turned a weekend that started with contact-induced retirement into a statement about resilience, claiming second and third place finishes in the Cayman Pro/Am class at Watkins Glen. After Erika Hoffmann’s questionable move sent her spinning in race one, CECCHI demonstrated the kind of defensive driving that championship contenders need, holding off multiple challenges from Loni Unser while consistently running faster lap times than points leader Jens Hantson.
The Charlie Hayes Racing driver’s race two performance was particularly impressive – pulling off a stunning outside pass at turn one to jump from fourth to second, then spending the entire race managing pressure from behind while closing a three-second gap to the leader. Her ability to defend position while simultaneously hunting down Hantson showed the tactical awareness that separates good drivers from great ones, especially when you consider her limited experience at the challenging New York circuit.
CECCHI’s weekend highlighted both the promise and frustration of women’s motorsport – her pace was undeniable (she regularly set sector times faster than the overall leaders), but external factors beyond her control shaped the results. The fact that she bounced back from significant car damage to deliver two podium performances speaks to both her mental toughness and her team’s preparation, setting up an intriguing season finale at Road Atlanta where she’ll look to capitalize on this momentum.