Dismal day for both TF Sport Corvettes in WEC at CoTA

Both the # 81 and the # 33 Z06 GT3.R Corvettes finished outside the top ten after persistent rain in the WEC 6-hour race at CoTA on Sept 7.

It was especially galling for Texas native Ben Keating who owns a string of auto dealerships, some of which are rumored to sell Fords, hush hush!

A 13th place finish sapped the momentum of the # 81 Corvette which was pursuing third place in the LMGT3 standings.

Keating qualified fifth and gained 3 spots after a safety-car period, only for the fuel system to conk out on the exchange to Jonny Edgar.  They completed only 76 laps when the right rear suspension broke with Daniel Juncadella at the wheel in the 4th hour, resulting in 16th place out of 18 spots in LMGT3.

Tom Van Rompuy led following early race chaos, but the team lost time in the pit lane to replace a broken sensor on the accident data recorder (a device required by the FIA) that cost Rui Andrade a lap after the driver change.  Following nearly 2 hours behind the safety car, it was too late for factory driver Charlie Eastwood to make a difference, even with a switch to slick tires as the rain finally let up.

# 95 McLaren United Autosports team 720S LMGT3 EVO piloted by Darren Leung, Sean Gelael, and Marino Sato won the LMGT3 class, completing 115 laps on the 3.4-mile circuit.

There are 2 more races ahead in Japan on Sept 28 and Bahrain on Nov 8.

Photos by Richard Prince.