Courtney Crone scores top-5 finish, Cecilia Rabelo returns to the IMSA VP Challenge at Mid-Ohio
- LIAM REDFORD
- 2 hours ago
- 7 min read
After topping both free practice sessions at Mid-Ohio, Courtney Crone battled changeable conditions on her way to a top-5 finish in the IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge at Mid-Ohio. Brazilian racer Cecilia Rabelo returned to the series securing a best result of sixth.
After topping both free practice sessions at Mid-Ohio, Courtney Crone battled changeable conditions on her way to a top-5 finish in the IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge at Mid-Ohio.
Brazilian racer Cecilia Rabelo returned to the series with the Panam Motorsport driver securing a best result of sixth while making consistent progress during the course of the event.
Crone arrived at Mid-Ohio looking to continue her excellent start to the season. Since switching from single seaters to GT4 machinery, Crone has been a consistent frontrunner and now she was seeking her maiden victory in the IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge. After securing a highest-finish of fourth in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway, Crone drove superbly at Circuit of the Americas as she claimed a pair of runner-up finishes. Now sitting in second position within the overall GSX championship, Crone was aiming to consolidate this spot while closing the gap to leader Westin Workman.
Rabelo also made her GSX class debut at Daytona International Speedway in a weekend of progress for the Panam Motorsport driver. The Brazilian racer missed the second round of the season and she was now aiming to push towards the podium as she tackled another new circuit. Rabelo’s improvements across her first weekend was admirable and she was now targeting further progress as she returned to the IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge grid.
The first free practice session of the weekend took place early on Friday morning with both Crone and Rabelo gaining valuable track time. At the end of the session, Crone topped the times in the GSX class with a fastest time of a 1:27.673. It was a learning-oriented session for Rabelo who did a nice job to set her quickest lap in the closing stages. The Brazilian racer ended the first free practice session in 10th within the GSX class on a time of a 1:31.456.
Friday’s action concluded with the second free practice session and once again Crone impressed. Improving to a fastest time of a 1:26.200, Crone led the way in the GSX class by a margin of almost four tenths of a second from championship leader Westin Workman. Rabelo’s progress was remarkable with the Panam Motorsport driver finding over three seconds from the morning session as she finished in fourth position in the GSX class with a 1:28.269.
Qualifying took place early on Saturday morning and a change of conditions brought a new challenge for the drivers. Overnight rain had led to a wet track with all the drivers fitting the grooved rubber. For both Crone and Rabelo it was a session of improvement as they acclimatised to the slippery track surface. Crone qualified in third position within the GSX class with a fastest lap of a 1:41.843. Rabelo improved in the closing stages to set the seventh fastest time as she lapped Mid-Ohio in a quickest time of 1:44.621.
The first race of the weekend took place on Saturday afternoon and following another heavy rain shower, the track was extremely wet. All drivers fitted the wet weather tyres with Crone lining up from third on the GSX class grid and Rabelo in seventh position.
As the drivers accelerated away down the back straight, Crone drew level with Justin Di Benedetto. Although she could not complete the move on the Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS machine, Crone was looking confident in the early stages. The CarBahn Motorsports driver ended the first racing lap in third position, while Rabelo maintained seventh spot in GSX.
Crone continued to apply pressure to Di Benedetto in the opening laps with race leader Westin Workman opening out a small margin. After settling into a good rhythm, Rabelo was on the move and after passing Ray Mason on lap four for sixth position, she quickly caught the CSM machine of Ismaeel Ellahi. After Ellahi overtook Rob Walker on lap five, Rabelo followed him through and the Brazilian driver quickly pulled out a gap on the Bronze Cup leader.
As the track continued to dry, the lap times improved and Crone was consistently faster than Ellahi and Rabelo behind as she maintained a provisional podium position. Rabelo’s speed through the middle sector was particularly impresssive as she began to match Crone through this part of the circuit.
By lap eight, Crone was beginning to be caught by Ellahi who was showing improved pace as a drying line began to form. On lap 10, Crone was forced to defend from the CSM driver with Ellahi searching for different racing lines in order to make a move. After a spell of sustained pressure, Ellahi got a good run down the back straight and he was able to pass Crone with the CarBahn Motorsport driver now in fourth position.
This battle also allowed Rabelo to close in and after lapping around one second faster than both Ellahi and Crone while they fought for position, the Brazilian racer gained three seconds on Crone during lap 13. The GSX drivers then encountered LMP3 traffic for the first time as the faster prototypes were keen to move through. By lap 15, Rabelo had cut the margin to less than two seconds with Crone searching for speed during the middle portion of the race.
Following a mistake from Ellahi while trying to pull clear of Crone, both Crone and Rabelo closed back in on the CSM driver as the battle for the final spot on the podium resumed. This error for Ellahi was followed by a personal best time from Crone as she began to edge away from Rabelo once again.
As Rabelo mounted a late-race charge, the Panam Motorsport driver went off the road at turn five and this moment dropped her back behind Walker who was consistently the second fastest driver within the GSX class. Crone’s fourth position now looked secure as the pressure from Rabelo was eased, while Ellahi remained five seconds ahead.
Now following Walker, Rabelo immediately ran her personal best lap of the race and she maintained a strong pace right to the chequered flag. Finishing race one of the weekend in sixth position within the GSX class, it was a promising returned to the IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge for Rabelo.
Crone also enjoyed a promising end to the race as she finished just one second behind Ellahi after an excellent final lap. Narrowly missing out on the podium, Crone banked valuable championship points as she maintained second position in the GSX class standings.
Race two at Mid-Ohio took place on Sunday morning and the grid positions were based upon the fastest race lap times from Saturday’s contest. Therefore, Rabelo lined up from sixth on the grid with Crone in seventh position. All drivers fitted the slick tyres, however the track was damp away from the racing line and ambient temperatures were low.
As the green flag was displayed, it was a clean start throughout the GSX class field while the LMP3 machine of Brian Theines spun into the grass. Both Rabelo and Crone held their positions on the opening lap before the CarBahn Motorsport driver passed Rabelo for sixth on lap three.
Crone immediately caught Daniel Ammann with the American racer keen to make progress after showing excellent speed in both dry free practice sessions. After applying pressure to the VRC Motorsports Group machine, Crone shaped for a move on lap six. Contact was made between Crone and Ammann with both drivers returning to the pits to assess the damage.
After quick work from her crew, Crone rejoined the race to gain valuable track time while looking for a full course yellow to catch the rear of the field. Shortly after, Crone was assessed a drive-through penalty for the contact with Ammann and therefore she dropped off the lead lap.
This incident between Crone and Ammann benefited Rabelo who climbed to sixth and she was now aiming to close the gap to Jon Brel. Five seconds separated the two Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO machines following the incident ahead and Rabelo was consistently improving her times. By lap 11, Rabelo had cut the margin to two seconds, however her task was made more difficult with the lapped car of Ammann separating herself from Brel.
Meanwhile, Crone’s pace was extremely strong following her unscheduled pit stop and on lap 12, she set the second fastest lap of the race. Two laps later, Crone was the quickest driver on track as she underlined her pace in her CarBahn Motorsport machine.
As Rabelo continued to apply pressure to both Ammann and Brel, she left the circuit at high-speed at turn four with the Panam Motorsport driver doing a nice job to avoid both of her rivals. Rabelo’s car became beached in the gravel trap and as a result, the race entered its first full course yellow period.
The race resumed on lap 21 with Crone now up to seventh in GSX while Rabelo was pulled out of the gravel and she retired to the pits. Crone’s pace remained strong in the closing stages of the race as she banked crucial points with a seventh-place finish in a weekend of promise for the American racer.
Crone’s impressive pace went unrewarded at Mid-Ohio as changing conditions and difficult circumstances saw her leave round three with a best result of fourth. Her speed from practice was nonetheless notable and this will give the CarBahn Motorsport driver added confidence heading into the remaining rounds.
It was a welcome return to the series for Rabelo who showed good promise despite her limited experience in GT4 level machinery. The next round of the IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge will take place at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park on the weekend of July 11th/12th.
