Championship Drama Builds as Wild VIR Returns for Pilot Challenge Round 8

August 19, 2025

by IMSA Wire Service // from sportscar365.com

• Virginia International Raceway has earned its reputation as chaos central for the Pilot Challenge, delivering wild finishes for three straight years including last-lap fuel drama, three-car battles ending in contact, and outside passes that decide championships. The track’s knack for late-race mayhem has literally determined title fights – just ask Turner Motorsport, who snatched the 2023 GS championship by 10 points thanks to VIR fallout affecting their rivals at the season finale.
• The GS championship picture has tightened dramatically as Jan Heylen and Luca Mars watched their once-commanding 340-point lead shrink to just 90 points after back-to-back off-podium finishes. Their closest challengers, Jenson Altzman and Nate Cicero, are riding high after winning at Road America and securing three straight poles in their Ford Mustang GT4, while BMW’s recent surge has created a dead heat in the manufacturer standings with Porsche.
• TCR’s title fight remains a Bryan Herta Autosport family affair with teammates Harry Gottsacker and the duo of Denis Dupont/Preston Brown separated by just 20 points in their Hyundais. The Montreal Motorsports Group Honda pairing of Karl Wittmer and LP Montour are making their move though, sitting just 90 points back after four consecutive podium finishes that prove the Korean brand’s recent dominance isn’t unbreakable.

gs, imsa michelin pilot challenge, tcr, virginia international raceway