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Grand-Am: Last lap drama in Montreal, Wilkins and Frisselle take victory

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Khatir Soltani
Source: Grand-Am Media Service

Canadian Mark Wilkins, a native of Toronto, passed another Toronto-born driver Darren Law and Spanish driver Antonio Garcia on the final of 69 laps when Law ran out of fuel on the main straightaway.

It was the first career victory for Wilkins and co-driver Brian Frisselle, whose margin of victory - 0.064 seconds - was the closest in series history. It also marked the third straight race where the top two drivers were separated by less than a second at the checkered flag.

Frisselle jumped from third to first on the opening lap but contact between him and point leader Scott Pruett sent the No. 61 AIM Autosport Ford Riley spinning and to the rear of the field. However, he marched the car quickly into the top 10, and Wilkins took over on Lap 23.

Law took the lead from Pruett's co-driver and fellow point co-leader Memo Rojas on Lap 57 and held off first Joey Hand - who led a strong charge before retiring after running out of fuel on the final lap - then Garcia and Wilkins. Later in that lap, Law's No. 58 Brumos Racing Porsche Riley slowed as it approached the checkered flag.

Garcia, co-driving for the first time this season with Christian Fittipaldi, tried to go left and then right when he saw Law slow, but Wilkins was already making the pass.

Wilkins shot past both drivers, taking the checkered flag first, the only lap the AIM Autosport team led all race. Garcia, in turn, kept second over Law, who co-drove with David Donohue. Donohue also led four laps.

It marked the third straight race the margin of victory was less than a second. Only 0.654 seconds separated the top three drivers.

Robin Liddell and Andrew Davis won the GT portion of the race, their third of the season in the No. 57 Stevenson Motorsports Pontiac GXP.R, after leader Dirk Werner ran out of fuel on the final lap. It marked the only lap either Liddell or Davis led all race.

Werner led a race-high 42 laps and was attempting to give himself and Bryce Miller their first victory of the season when the No. 87 Farnbacher Loles Racing Porsche GT3 slowed on the main straightaway. They went on to finish fourth.

Montreal-born Sylvain Tremblay and co-driver Nick Ham finished second in the No. 70 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8, while Diego Alessi and Matt Connolly took third in the No. 21 Matt Connolly Motorsports Pontiac GTO.R.
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
As a car enthusiast, he tests and compares vehicles from different categories through the eyes of the consumer, ensuring relevant and objective reviews.
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada