For the second event in a row, a Wright Motorsports driver stepped onto the podium following an IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama series race Friday at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). The last time it was Andrew Longe who took the accolades, but this time it was young McKay Snow of Lehi, Utah, who finished third in the UIS #63. He almost had two top-five finishes in Texas, as he placed sixth in the second 45-minute race on Saturday.
Another Wright Motorsports driver, Anthony Imperato of Brooklyn, N.Y., is getting closer to a podium finish all the time. He placed seventh on Friday and fifth on Saturday with his Henry Repeating Arms #91, but ran as high as second.
Longe, of Naples, Fla., was involved in an incident in Friday's twilight race and finished 11th in the Platinum class, but he placed eighth on Saturday morning with his Trianon Hotels #47.
Rookie Charlie Luck of Richmond, Va., recorded two top-10 finishes in the Gold Cup class with a seventh and a ninth.
Another Wright Motorsports driver, Phil Bloom of New York City, escaped serious injury on Friday in an accident. His car was too damaged to make Saturday's race, but it will be back in great shape for the next doubleheader June 29 to July 2 during the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen program at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, N.Y.
Snow started seventh in Friday's 45-minute contest, but he was fifth at the end of the first lap around the 3.40-mile, 20-turn road course that hosts America's Formula 1 race. He passed the fourth-place driver on lap nine, and got third working lap 11 of the 19-lap race. He posted the second-fastest lap of the race, just 0.350 off the top time.
The Sinclair Broadcast Group airs the series' races on TV in numerous American markets. The Sebring show is coming up May 13; the Barber doubleheader will air June 17. Check local listings for the COTA date. The broadcasts will also be available internationally on YouTube 24 hours after they air on TV.
For more information on Wright Motorsports, see WrightMotorsports.com and follow it on Facebook and Twitter. For more information on the series, see imsa.com.
Post-race quotes follow:
Anthony Imperato, Brooklyn, N.Y.: "Once again there were positives and negatives to this weekend. I showed decent but not great pace in qualifying and started P6 in the first race with a decent back-up lap to put me P4 in Race 2. Without any testing the team still had a really good set-up for the car. I had a strong start in Race 1 and made it up to third, and stayed there for most of the race. I started dropping off at the end and losing pace. Then I made a mistake in Turn 11 and spun, and wound up finishing P7. That was really disappointing. I tried to shake it off for Race 2. Due to the unfortunate incident in Race 1 I gained a position for the start. At the start I had a good jump and was able to stay on the polesitter's bumper. I tied to make a pass to the inside of Turn 1. I almost made it stick through Turn 2 for the lead, but it didn't happen. After more mistakes I was in fourth. I lost pace and got passed again on the last lap, and finished fifth. I need to be more consistent. I wanted to have better results for the team. We are going to keep working at it and the results will come. I'm looking forward to Watkins Glen."
Philip Bloom, New York, N.Y.: "There's not much to say. I believe I crashed on the third lap. I have to thank the amazing medical staff at Circuit of the Americas and to Wright Motorsports for looking after me. I'm doing OK. I'm really looking forward to getting back to it at Watkins Glen."
Charlie Luck, Richmond, Va.: "This was my first race weekend at COTA and my third race weekend in the series. I came into the weekend wanting to learn and also wanting to see myself correct some mistakes from Barber, such as learning not to abuse the tires. One of my big opportunities was going deeper into the corners and then applying my brake pressure, which was good. I generally learned and ran the proper line pretty well and did a good job of moderating brake pressure and avoiding flat-spotting my tires, which had been a problem at Barber. I'm looking forward to The Glen!"
