Oscar Tunjo has won the title in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge with GEBHARDT Motorsport. This marks the team’s second title in the American sports car series.
The season finale of the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge took place as part of the supporting programme for the legendary Petit Le Mans, one of the biggest sports car races in the USA. Around 100,000 spectators flocked to the spectacular Road Atlanta circuit over the weekend for the ten-hour race. GEBHARDT Motorsport fielded two Duqueine D09 LMP3 prototypes for Oscar Tunjo and Texan Danny Soufi.
The Colombian Tunjo, regarded as one of the world’s best LMP3 drivers, arrived at the historic circuit in Braselton as the clear championship leader. With a controlled performance in the first race, which he finished in second place, the 30-year-old secured the title on Thursday in the American racing series, in which LMP3 and GT4 cars compete.
Tunjo thus won the championship in both the Sprint and Overall classifications, which encompass the Sprint and Endurance races of the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge. In the team standings too, the #1 Gebhardt Motorsport USA Inc. Duqueine secured the title in both classifications.
“First and foremost, I’m over the moon,” Tunjo exclaimed after winning the title. “This is an important title for my career. It means a great deal to us and I’m incredibly proud of the team.”
Tunjo also achieved a strong result in the second race on Friday morning, with the Colombian finishing the race in second place. His team-mate Danny Soufi also enjoyed a positive end to the season, having retired from the first race whilst in second place due to a problem with the fuel pump. Following a strong performance, he finished the race in third place and thus ended the championship in second position. “We are absolutely delighted to have won the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge championship and to have successfully defended last year’s title. The standard in the series has risen significantly this year, so this victory means a great deal to us. Congratulations to Oscar on the title and many thanks to everyone who played a part in this success. Our team worked professionally and hard throughout the year and didn’t let setbacks get them down; instead, they remained consistently focused and goal-oriented,” said team owner Fritz Gebhardt on the success of the Sinsheim-based team in the USA.
