Endurance racing is a massive challenge, both on and off the track. Cars and drivers have to stay sharp for hours on end, crews work relentlessly to perform flawless pit stops and make repairs on the fly, and even luck plays into the results. On Sunday, RVA Graphics Motorsports put all the pieces together to claim victory in the ChampCar Endurance Series, marking the team’s first win in nearly two years.
The race weekend was held at Virginia International Raceway’s North Course, and the win was extra special since it’s the home track for RVA Graphics Motorsports. As the ChampCar series has become more and more competitive, RVA Graphics Motorsports has had to keep up, and recent updates to the team’s two BMW E30s resulted in more power and improved suspension. Still, there were a lot of other factors involved in getting both of the RVA Graphics Motorsports BMW E30s on the podium at VIR.
There was plenty of pressure to get a top result for the #411 entry. The #311 had already qualified for the National Championship Race, but the #411 was on the outside looking in. The team went into the weekend knowing it had to bring home two top-six finishes for the #411 to have a chance to qualify for the National.
The driver lineup in the #311 was led by Taylor Harcum and Sandy Wiggins, and the #411 included Travis Litchford and Farran Davis. The team also had GR Cup standouts Austin Dodge and Will Robusto piloting both cars throughout the weekend’s two events.
Overall, the #311 ran flawlessly in both Saturday’s 8-hour race and Sunday’s 7-hour enduro, bringing home P3 and P4 finishes. That success and consistency is a credit to smooth driving and proper pre-race prep.
The #411, on the other hand, had a little more drama. An early spin in Saturday’s 8-hour race put the team behind, but thanks to its incredible pace, the car was eventually driven back into the lead. Unfortunately, with an hour to go, an exhaust bracket broke and the car was black-flagged. Team manager, Donnie Girard, and crew member, Teo Conrad, jumped into action, creating a solution that would hold through the balance of the contest so the #411 could bring home a well-earned second-place finish.
The team rallied together on a VERY cold post-race Saturday night to repair the #411 after damage during the 8-hour. Maintenance also needed to be performed on the #311 to make sure it was ready, as well. After a long day, with temperatures in the low 30’s and the wind blowing, it was not an easy task. The team stuck together and got it all done, and it’s the little things like this that make the difference on the track. In addition to the regular crew, Chris Robusto was pitching in throughout the event, and our unofficial mascot, Winston the dog, kept up team morale!
Sunday’s 7-hour race proved a little less dramatic but still quite eventful. A strong strategy call at the 3-hour mark put the #411 BMW in the lead. After that it was about managing fuel consumption, staying out of trouble, and getting the car to the finish line first. Finally!
Not only did RVA Graphics Motorsports get the win, but it also qualified the #411 for the National Championship Race, which will be held at the National Corvette Museum in March of 2025. RVA Graphics has earned 5 wins there in the past, and the team is excited for a return to that fantastic facility with both of its cars.
