From Michael Harker; Grand-Am
Andy Lally won his second straight Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series Grand Sport (GS) race Sunday and in the process gave co-driver Marc-Antoine Camirand a record-tying eighth circuit victory in the 39th annual Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres. The duo averaged a race record 71.910 mph.
Lally and Camirand combined to lead 74 of the 80 laps - including the final 49 - in the No. 79 BMW M3, with Lally winning by 0.372 seconds over James Gue.
It marked the team's first ever KONI Challenge victory, Camirand's second - both coming at the 1.521-mile Trois-Rivieres temporary circuit - and Lally's fourth.
Lally came under fire from Gue late in the race when fellow Iowa Speedway co-winner Scott Schroeder stopped on the track. But Lally held his line and didn't allow the JBS Motorsports driver - who ran second for much of the event - past, and he held off a three-car train behind him.
Camirand started from the pole and led the opening 25 laps before diving into the pits for the team's only stop. When leader Joe Foster - who ran second to Camirand before pacing six laps - pitted under a full course caution on Lap 32, Lally obtained the lead and pushed the No. 79 ahead to more than a four-second advantage before the final caution.
In addition to his second KONI Challenge victory at Trois-Rivieres, it was the eighth victory for Camirand, of St. Leonard d'Aston, Quebec, on the Trois-Rivieres streets, tying Jacques Bienvenue for the most victories ever. Bienvenue set the mark in 1985.
For Gue and Bret Seafuse, it was the team's second podium finish in three races and third this season, and first of three Mustangs in the top five at Trois-Rivieres.
Gue and Seafuse also pulled to within 10 points (190-180) over leaders Jep Thornton and Jeff Segal, who finished 12th at Trois-Rivieres.
Johnson and co-driver Ray Mason were third in the No. 52 Ford Mustang GT - only 0.941 seconds.
Trois-Rivieres brothers Jean-Francois and Louis-Philippe Dumoulin finished sixth despite a small fire from under the car during the team's pit stop.
Marc-Antoine Camirand (No. 79 BMW M3): "It's a great event. I have eight wins up here, tying the record for the most wins at Trois-Rivieres. This one is special. We worked hard to tie the record. I was pretty close to tying it last year. This year the team worked really hard to give a good car to me and Andy. I'm happy to be on the podium and win."
Manufacturer Championship Even Tighter:Only five points separated leaders Ford, Porsche and BMW (188-185-183)heading into the race, and the race remains tight. Ford still holds thelead with 220 points, but is now two points ahead of new second-placemarque BMW with 218. Porsche dropped to third with 212 points.
KONI Challenge participants return to action Sunday, Aug. 31 at theThunderbolt Raceway at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, N.J.
Andy Lally won his second straight Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series Grand Sport (GS) race Sunday and in the process gave co-driver Marc-Antoine Camirand a record-tying eighth circuit victory in the 39th annual Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres. The duo averaged a race record 71.910 mph.
Lally and Camirand combined to lead 74 of the 80 laps - including the final 49 - in the No. 79 BMW M3, with Lally winning by 0.372 seconds over James Gue.
It marked the team's first ever KONI Challenge victory, Camirand's second - both coming at the 1.521-mile Trois-Rivieres temporary circuit - and Lally's fourth.
Lally came under fire from Gue late in the race when fellow Iowa Speedway co-winner Scott Schroeder stopped on the track. But Lally held his line and didn't allow the JBS Motorsports driver - who ran second for much of the event - past, and he held off a three-car train behind him.
Camirand started from the pole and led the opening 25 laps before diving into the pits for the team's only stop. When leader Joe Foster - who ran second to Camirand before pacing six laps - pitted under a full course caution on Lap 32, Lally obtained the lead and pushed the No. 79 ahead to more than a four-second advantage before the final caution.
In addition to his second KONI Challenge victory at Trois-Rivieres, it was the eighth victory for Camirand, of St. Leonard d'Aston, Quebec, on the Trois-Rivieres streets, tying Jacques Bienvenue for the most victories ever. Bienvenue set the mark in 1985.
For Gue and Bret Seafuse, it was the team's second podium finish in three races and third this season, and first of three Mustangs in the top five at Trois-Rivieres.
Gue and Seafuse also pulled to within 10 points (190-180) over leaders Jep Thornton and Jeff Segal, who finished 12th at Trois-Rivieres.
Johnson and co-driver Ray Mason were third in the No. 52 Ford Mustang GT - only 0.941 seconds.
Trois-Rivieres brothers Jean-Francois and Louis-Philippe Dumoulin finished sixth despite a small fire from under the car during the team's pit stop.
Marc-Antoine Camirand (No. 79 BMW M3): "It's a great event. I have eight wins up here, tying the record for the most wins at Trois-Rivieres. This one is special. We worked hard to tie the record. I was pretty close to tying it last year. This year the team worked really hard to give a good car to me and Andy. I'm happy to be on the podium and win."
Manufacturer Championship Even Tighter:Only five points separated leaders Ford, Porsche and BMW (188-185-183)heading into the race, and the race remains tight. Ford still holds thelead with 220 points, but is now two points ahead of new second-placemarque BMW with 218. Porsche dropped to third with 212 points.
KONI Challenge participants return to action Sunday, Aug. 31 at theThunderbolt Raceway at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, N.J.