Champions Already Crowned in the Inaugural HSR Prototype Challenge at Daytona
The penultimate round of the HSR Prototype Challenge took place at the iconic Daytona International Speedway from October 30 to November 3. By the end of the event, Alex Koreiba and James French (Ligier JS P320 #25, Wolf Motorsport), along with Tobias Lutke and Travis Hill (Ligier JS P320 #22, TWOth Autosports), emerged as champions of the series' debut season, despite one round remaining on the calendar.
A Hard-Fought Win for the Ligier JS P320 #25
Starting from pole position, Alex Koreiba faced an early setback when a transmission issue caused him to lose ground. However, he quickly regained the lead. As the race drew to a close, the Ligier JS P320 #25 came under intense pressure from its closest competitors, John Reisman and Eric Curran in the JS P320 #74 (Hudson Historics).
Reisman and Curran, who started second on the grid, crossed the finish line just 2.5 seconds behind Koreiba and French. Their performance secured them second place in the Pro/Am class, while their teammates Bob Neapole and Guy Cosmo (#47) completed the overall podium in third.
This marked the third victory of the season for Koreiba and French, following wins at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta and Watkins Glen. The result also clinched the championship title for the duo.
“I was thinking at the start that we were going to have to go to Sebring to win a championship with our shifting issue. I went into Turn 1 and I couldn't get out of sixth gear. I just did everything I could, even heel-and-toeing at one point trying to make a downshift, but when we got some temperature in there the problem cleared itself.”
Am Class: A Title Earned Through Consistency
The Am class saw its fourth different winning lineup in five races, as Mirco Schultis and Lucas Lasserre claimed victory in the Ligier JS P320 #70 of Mishumotors. They finished fourth overall.
Meanwhile, Tobias Lutke and Travis Hill, driving the Ligier JS P3 #22 for TWOth Autosports, leveraged their season-long consistency to secure the Am class title. Despite finishing fourth in class at Daytona, their earlier wins made them the only multiple victors in the category this season.
The Season Finale Awaits at Sebring
The sixth and final round of the 2024 HSR Prototype Challenge is set to take place from December 4 to 8 at Sebring International Raceway in Florida. As the birthplace of American endurance racing for over 70 years, Sebring offers the perfect backdrop for the thrilling conclusion of this inaugural season.
For more information on the HSR championship, CLICK HERE
For more information on the Ligier JS P320, CLICK HERE
For more information on the Ligier JS P3, CLICK HERE
Photo credit: HSR