ALTON, VA., (July 25, 2024) – Following a new race season with several new and upgraded efforts in their sports car racing program, the fruits of the labor by Flying Lizard were shown last weekend at VIRginia International Raceway. The team celebrated four podium finishes between its seven entries, the most cars Flying Lizard has run at a professional racing event.
“All in all, it was a great weekend for us,” said Program Manager Darren Law. “We saw not only our first podiums of the season but were able to bring home lots of hardware by reaching a total of four podiums during the weekend. The cars were fast and running well, and we are looking forward to continuing this trend at the next race.”
In GT America, Jason Bell opened the weekend with a strong fourth-place qualifying result in his Aston Martin Vantage GT4. The first race of the weekend started under heavy downpour, under dangerous race conditions. The first 25 minutes of the race ran under caution and went to green with 15 minutes remaining. Though the rain had stopped, and the track had dried some, incidents still interrupted the race. Bell kept his cool and drove to second place, earning his first GT3 podium of the season. He started race two from second place, but the No. 2 Aston Martin Vantage unfortunately had a spin during a battle for fourth place mid race. He put up a good fight, finishing race two in eighth.
Damir Hot also expanded his GT4 America program to also include GT America, celebrating his most successful weekend in the series to date. He started the first GT America race from third place, also surviving the early-race deluge. He slid into to fourth on the start and was able to make a strong final lap charge to take the position back, earning his first podium of the season. He repeated his third place run in race two on Sunday, putting in another clean and consistent drive to celebrate a back-to-back podium performance. In GT4 America, Hot started the No. 5 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 from third place, and ran a clean run, closing it out at the halfway point in fifth place. Rodrigo Baptista took over to finish and charged forward to take third place by the end of the checkered flag. Their team effort brought then their first podium together in just two races.
Looking to get additional seat time in his No. 8 Aston Martin Vantage GT3, Elias Sabo joined the series and started from seventh place. He survived the early race monsoon, avoiding multiple incidents to finish race one in sixth place. He enjoyed clear conditions in race two on Sunday, again finishing in sixth place after a clean drive.
Sabo started the first GT World Challenge America race from seventh and advanced to fifth place on the damp track. The No. 8 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 had a spin near the end of the stint, needing a tow out of the muddy circuit’s grass. Andy Lee took over at the halfway point and regained the lost ground to finish in fifth place. Following an internal discussion regarding the inconsistency in Balance of Performance regulations surrounding the Aston Martin Vantage between SRO America and SRO Europe, Sabo chose to withdraw entry for the remaining race of the weekend.
Todd Parriott started GT America race one from sixth position and sailed through the monsoon to maintain his position until the checkered flag. He followed it up the following day with another sixth-place finish, closing out a consistent racing weekend. In GT4 America Parriott and co-driver Tom Dyer had a solid weekend running as high as fifth in race two on Sunday and closing out the event with a pair of eighth-place finishes.
The Lizards will ride the momentum of their quadruple podium weekend into the next rounds of the three championships, held at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin August 16-18.
About Flying Lizard Motorsports
Based out of Sonoma, California, Flying Lizard Motorsports is one of the most iconic sports car teams in motorsports, having celebrated ten driver and team championships, as well as competed internationally at the 24 Hours of Le Mans eight times.
The Lizards burst on the American Le Mans Series scene in 2004, competing in the GT class until 2012. In 2013, the team moved to the GTC class, still competing in legendary events such as the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Daytona. In 2014, the team expanded its program to include running two Audi R8 LMS in the TUDOR Championship, and in 2015, again expanded the program to include two Porsches in Porsche Club racing. Flying Lizard closed out the season with a dominating win at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill with Toyo Tires, a win they repeated in 2016, 2017, and 2018. The 2020 season proved the team’s most successful to date, earning four titles in the GT4 America championship. Flying Lizard Motorsports has proven to be a championship contender no matter the race series or race car. For more information, visit lizardms.com.
About 5.11
With offices around the globe, 5.11 ABR Corp. and its subsidiaries, including 5.11, Inc., work with end users to create purpose-built apparel, footwear and gear designed specifically to enhance the safety, accuracy, speed, and performance of tactical professionals and technical enthusiasts worldwide. 5.11 products exceed rigorous standards, which have allowed the brand to establish a reputation for innovation and authenticity, and become the premier choice for those who always have to be ready. 5.11 products can be purchased online, through authorized dealers and retailers, as well as at 5.11 company-owned retail stores.
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About Apex Motor Club
Apex Motor Club is Arizona’s premier motorsports club located just 35 miles southwest of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and the only private motorsports club located within a major metropolitan area. APEX is the ultimate country club for automotive enthusiasts where car culture, racing and country club lifestyles converge. Enjoy an hour of track time in your latest acquisition, drive off track, into your privately-owned garage and join like- minded enthusiasts in the clubhouse for food, beverages, and activities.
To learn more about the newest racing circuit in the country, visit https://apexmotorclub.com
