7 Corvettes close out the 2021 Trans Am season at CoTA
Three Corvette customers of GSpeed in Cresson TX journeyed south to race in the Trans Am finale at CoTA.
GSpeed, headed by Louis Gigliotti, prepares Corvettes for street, slalom, NASA and pro series like the Trans Am. You might call the operation a modern-day version of LG Racing founded 30 years ago by his dad Lou Gigliotti, one of the most prolific builders of Trans am and World Challenge Corvettes.
The leading GSPeed entrant was Justin Oakes from Houston TX in the # 11 C6 ZO6 that had already locked up the SGT title. Started from pole before a glitch ended his race 8 laps shy of the 30-lap checker flag.
It was a good outing for # 48 Jason Hart, driving coach from Flower Mound TX, second in the XGT class close behind series champ Erich Joiner’s Porsche 991 GT3R.
GSpeed entrant Paul Costas # 13 from Bryan TX was second in the GT class.
The popular Amy Ruman from Stow OH lasted just 8 laps in an appearance to benefit her long time sponsor The McNichols Company, a nationwide industrial metals distributor and its customers.
Richard Grant from Germantown TN did better lasting 23 laps as patriarch of his family of Porsche and formula Mazda racers.
Randy Hale from Old Saybrook CT traveled to CoTA, aided by Ted March, builder of this C6 ZO6 # 31 ex Whelen WC Corvette XGT, but completed only 11 laps.
Jose Chocron, a Corvette racer enthusiast from Panama has run this C5 GT1 Riley & Scott chassis/Derhaag body in SCCA and hooked up with Simon Gregg’s Camaro to run the Trans Am race at CoTA. He managed 21 laps at about 2 seconds off the best pace of Gregg who finished 6th overall, still about 4 seconds per lap behind the winning speed.
The race ended in a thriller with Matt Brabham, third generation offspring of Formula 1 Jack Brabham’s family stealing the checkered flag from Ernie Francis Jr in the final 50 feet of the race. It was Matt’s first time in TA, invited by series champ Chris Dyson to drive the # 20 Mustang.
Photos thanks to Chris Clark
