Conti Challenge Race at VIR - Team Euro Motorworks Strategy

This weekend the Continental Tire Sports Car Challange will race at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, VA. As with the Homestead round, I calculated race and fuel strategy for Team Euro Motorworks, but will not be crewing at VIR. I will most likely only be able to attend 1 or 2 of the Conti Challenge races this year instead of 5 or 6 likes years past. For VIR, Team Euro Motorworks' drivers will be team-owner Terry Heath and Rene Robichaud.

For this race, I recommended a 2-stop strategy to Team EM for the following reasons: 1) VIR has tons of run-off especially compared to Rovals like Homestead, so it is less likely for an off to become a yellow situation 2) We have experience at VIR so we are more likely to be on-pace 3) VIR is a long track so as long as we don't pit under green, we should be able to stay on the lead lap. Obviously, the team needs to stay on the lead lap to compete for a podium spot. I think a 1-stop strategy presents too much risk for being hung out pitting on green lap. My 2-pit strategy gives us the following pit windows:

1st Pit Window
Open: 11
Close: 30

2nd Pit Window
Open: 42
Close: 61
These pit windows are assumming no yellow flag laps.


The car count is up to 63 cars so the 2.5 hours combined GS and ST race should be exciting. It broacasts on Speed on May 1st at 1PM. I will be rooting for Team Euro Motorworks and the #93 HART Civic driven by Chad Gilsinger and John Schmitt.

http://www.grand-am.com/schedule/event.cfm?series=k&eid=1504