86 Challenge Round 10 Results
Thunderhill 5 Mile – Dec 14, 2024
For the last round of 2024 season 86 Challenge participants gathered at the longest race track in North America — Thunderhill 5 Mile, aka Thunderschleife. For some of them it was just a fun day and a chance to get extra GT Radial tire points, but for others — a deciding step which could change the outcome of the year-long battle. While double bypass made the track slightly shorter and easier to drive, the weather didn’t cooperate. With pouring rain, puddles the size of a small lake at some apexes, and constantly changing grip our participants had to apply all their skills and knowledge to not only set a good time, but to also do it safely and without accidents. At the same time the promise of dry-ish conditions in the afternoon made the outcome undecided until the last session of the day.
In GT Radial Stock Class, overtaking 3 cars and setting a lap time of 3:35.063, Ivan Larionov and his gen.1 BRZ once again claimed 1st place. Only 87 milliseconds behind, with an adjusted time of 3:35.150, Nico Iskos in his gen.2 BRZ got 2nd, not without the weight reduction due to the loss of one of his racing numbers along the way. Finishing 3rd, with an adjusted time of 3:36.246, Saurabh Kulkarni and his GR86 with an exquisite smell of burnt OE brake pads. Fun fact — Aris Perez was 1st during the wet conditions, before the track began to dry in the final sessions of the day.
In GT Radial Street Class, Haowei Wu set a lap time of 3:33.407 and got 1st place, despite a dramatic off track excursion in the morning. With an astonishing 7 millisecond difference, clocking in at 3:33.414, Timur Iskhodzhanov claimed 2nd, yelling at a slow Porsche getting in the way. In 3rd, with a lap time of 3:49.440, first time participating in 86 Challenge — Brian Kao. Sometimes it helps to be in the right class at the right time!
In Touring Class, for the last time utilizing the BoP system advantage, Will Lorne set an adjusted time of 3:32.938 and got 1st place. Patrick Chio participated for the 1st time, and immediately claimed 2nd with an adjusted time of 3:36.289. Tor Anderson was probably driving sideways too much and finished 3rd, with an adjusted time of 3:40.061.
In Unlimited Class, driving a highly modified GR86, finishing last, but also first, Gary Wong set a new lap record of 3:17.725.
Thanks to all the participants for making this a great time on track and in the pits. And thanks to the sponsors for their unwavering support:
GT Radial
SpeedSF
Annex Suspension
See you in 2025!
Published by Ivan Larionov on December 21, 2024 17:53