- FORD Performance debuts FORD Shelby GT350R-C earning two poles in two races
- Austin Cindric becomes the youngest winner in Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge history in a FORD Shelby GT350R-C with teammate Jade Buford
- Andrew Aquilante clinches first Pirelli World Challenge win at Road America
- Chip Ganassi Racing finishes second at Watkins Glen in Tudor United Sportscar Championship
Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge
On Friday, June 26, the Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge took to the 3.4 mile road course at Watkins Glen International. Multimatic Motorsports two car team along with FORD Performance and Roush Yates Engines debuted the new Shelby GT350R-C. Scott Maxwell in the No. 15 would set a blistering time of 2:01.38 with an average speed of 100.859 mph earning the pole in the debut.
“The Shelby feels like a completely different car,” said Maxwell, “It was nice to win the pole. We came here last month and learned a lot.”
The Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge took to the track on Saturday, June 27 for their 2 hour and 30 minute race on a very wet track. Maxwell would jump out to the early lead for the first six laps. As the rain fell, IMSA officials brought the field in for a 17 minute red flag. The cars hit the track with 17 minutes left in the race but that was short lived as the race would end under caution for rain.
Both FORD Shelby GT350R-C cars for Multimatic Motorsports would finish in the top 10 as Jade Buford and Austin Cindric in the No. 158 finished fourth and the No. 15 of Scott Maxwell and Billy Johnson finished seventh. The FORD Mustang team of Racers Edge Motorsports with drivers Bob Michaelian and Nick Galante finished tenth.
FORD Shelby GT350R-C Powers to First Victory
On July 10, both Multimatic Motorsports cars would qualify first and second at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. Billy Johnson was fastest with a lap of 1:26.461 and Jade Buford was second with a time of 1:27.181.
On Saturday, July 11, the Multimatic Motorsports cars ran 1-2 for the first 39 laps until driver changes took place. The teammates would be shuffled to mid pack and began their charge to the front. Cindric would pilot his FORD Shelby GT350R-C for the final shift. After pit stops, Cindric would come out inside the Top 10. It took just a matter of minutes for him to race his way through the field and regain the lead.
By the end of the race, Cindric was out to a 4.703 second lead in the No. 158 FORD Shelby GT350R-C of Multimatic Motorsports as he crossed the finish line.
“Wow, what a day,” said Cindric, “Proud to be a part of the first ever win for Ford Performance and Multimatic Motorsports with the Shelby GT350R-C. Phenomenal Group, thanks to all.”
Pirelli World Challenge
On Saturday, June 27, Aquilante in his Phoenix American Motorsports FORD Mustang came into Road America third in the Pirelli World Challenge driver points. His FORD Mustang teammate Kurt Rezzetano was leading the point’s standings and fellow FORD driver Dean Martin from Rehagen Racing was second. Round 9 took place on Saturday as Aquilante was the highest finishing FORD Mustang driver in fourth place as six Mustangs finished in the Top 10.
On Sunday, June 28, the FORD Mustangs excelled in qualifying as four Mustangs qualified in the top five. When the green flag waved on the field, Martin launched to the lead from the start in his No. 50 FORD Mustang leading the first three laps with Aquilante on his rear bumper. Aquilante made his move on lap 3 in turn 1 passing race leader Martin and building a gap of .670 seconds by turn four and would lead the rest of the race for the win. With the victory, Aquilante gained the lead in Pirelli World Challenge driver points in the GTS class.
Tudor United Sportscar Championship
On Sunday, June 28, the Tudor United Sportscar Championship’s Sahlen’s Six Hours at The Glen field was set by Driver Championship Points after qualifying was rained out on Saturday. The 01 EcoBoost of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sebates turned the fastest lap of the early stages of the race in the rain and made their way up to third by the second hour. With 4 hours and 23 minutes left, teammate Scott Pruett gained the lead after pit stops and jumped out to a two second lead.
With an hour left to go, Hand was running second in the heavy rain. The No. 10 prototype was leading when they spun and bounced off the wall in-between turns 10 and 11, Hand went to the inside to avoid the spinning the car but would spin himself and nudge the 10 car. Hand was able to keep going and stay in second place. He would regain the lead again a few minutes later until an extended caution for heavy rain. The green flag would wave with 16 minutes to go as Hand was running low on fuel and would pit with 10 minutes to go for a splash of fuel. A couple minutes later, a full course caution came out for a spin as the race would end under caution due to the heavy rains. Hand was able to race his up to the second position for the teams second top two finish of the year.
“We ran dry, we couldn’t have done our last lap,” said Hand, “We did as much as we could leading up to the yellow and we decided to try and build a gap and they told me to build one as big as possible. We had the car to win today.”
Roush Yates Engines would like to thank our partners FORD Performance, Mahle Clevite, Cometic Gasket, Del West, Rottler Manufacturing, Mitee-Bite, Mitsubishi Materials U.S.A. and Safety Kleen. Roush Yates relies on these products each week in our engines as they play a vital role in our success.
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