Erika Hoffmann returns to GT4 America with 6th in class at Indianapolis
Erika Hoffmann returned to the Pirelli GT4 America field for the season finale at Indianapolis, completing her rookie campaign with a solid sixth-place finish in the Silver class in race 2.
Erika Hoffmann returned to the Pirelli GT4 America field for the season finale at Indianapolis, completing her rookie campaign with a solid sixth-place finish in the Silver class in race 2.
Returning to the championship after missing the Barber Motorsports Park round, the Canadian driver was joined by new teammate Eric Filgueiras in the Kellymoss Porsche Cayman, with the new pairing showing encouraging pace throughout the weekend.
Hoffmann arrived at Indianapolis looking to build on the progress she had shown earlier in the campaign, particularly at Sebring, where she enjoyed one of her most competitive weekends of the season. Her most recent appearance at Road America had also brought encouraging signs, as she and Riley Dickinson demonstrated strong pace in the #73 Porsche Cayman. The pair earned the Hard Charger award in Race 2 after recovering 20 positions. At Indianapolis, the return to the series with Filgueiras offered a fresh opportunity to wrap up her rookie season on a high.
The Kellymoss pairing made an encouraging start to the weekend. Hoffmann and Filgueiras recorded a 1:31.504 in the opening practice session to finish ninth in the Silver class, before making a significant step forward in FP2, as Filgueiras lowered the benchmark to 1:30.404, placing the Porsche third in class and sixth overall.
Hoffmann took the wheel for the first qualifying session, which was interrupted by a red flag before any driver had completed a representative lap following an off-track excursion for Geraci. When the session resumed, she posted a 1:32.143 to qualify ninth in Silver and 27th overall. The second qualifying session was subsequently cancelled because of a timing and scoring failure at the circuit, with the Race 2 grid instead determined by the second drivers' fastest times in FP2.
Hoffmann took the start of Saturday's opening race from ninth in Silver and 27th overall, facing a busy opening sequence as the field funnelled into Turn 1. Despite the traffic, the drivers negotiated the first corner without a major incident, although further chaos followed at Turn 6, where several cars were forced to find their way through the congestion. Hoffmann emerged safely and began to make progress, moving up to 26th overall while retaining ninth in the Silver class.
The race was soon interrupted when Travis went off heavily in the Nolasport Porsche at the chicane, hitting the barriers and triggering a full-course yellow. With 39 minutes remaining, the neutralisation came close to the opening of the pit window, reducing the first stint's racing time.
Once the pits opened, Hoffmann came in from eighth in the Silver class to hand the Porsche over to Filgueiras. The American driver rejoined the race and immediately began working his way forward, running consistent laps in the 1:31s as he looked to recover the positions lost earlier in the stint.
Filgueiras steadily advanced through the field, moving into seventh in Silver while continuing to improve his lap times.
He passed the #11 Mustang of Lee to gain another overall position, then capitalised during the final moments of the pit-stop cycle to climb further up the order. As the race progressed, he reached 15th overall, with Luca Mars, his closest rival in the Silver-class battle, running only three seconds ahead.
Continuing to improve his sector times, Filgueiras closed in and passed two additional Pro-Am entries, making further progress during the second half of the race. His recovery drive brought the Kellymoss Porsche back closer to the top ten, and he ultimately crossed the line 12th overall and seventh in Silver.
The final race of the season began in tricky conditions after rain earlier in the weekend left the circuit damp. With the track continuing to evolve, teams opted to start on slick tyres, but grip remained limited in the opening laps, leaving drivers with little margin for error.
Filgueiras started third in Silver and sixth overall, making a strong opening sequence to move up to fifth overall while maintaining his position in the class. The early laps were particularly demanding, with drivers negotiating the slippery surface and attempting to avoid trouble as cars ran wide and struggled for grip.
An incident soon disrupted the race when the championship-contending #028 RS1 Porsche was spun around by Neugbauer's RAFA Racing Toyota before being collected by the Random Vandals BMW. Several other cars were forced to take evasive action, but the #98 BMW and #028 Porsche were both out of the race, prompting the deployment of the full-course yellow.
The field returned to green-flag racing with 50 minutes remaining, and Filgueiras resumed his charge near the front of the Silver class. He battled Michael Cooper for fifth overall, with both drivers passing Yardley as the leading group began to form a tightly packed train. Filgueiras then closed in on Leist's Nolasport Porsche, with the cars at the front running nose to tail while Cooper's McLaren moved into the overall lead.
Filgueiras continued to apply pressure and made a decisive move on Estep in the #7 ACI Motorsports Porsche, advancing to second in Silver and fourth overall. He set a purple first sector during the charge, putting the team into contention for a class podium as the pit window approached.
With the opportunity to extend his stint, Filgueiras stayed out longer than some of his rivals and continued to push, setting a personal best of 1:31.231 as he attempted to open a gap before the driver change. He eventually pitted on lap 20, handing the Porsche over to Hoffmann with the team in a strong position.
Hoffmann rejoined third in Silver and fourth overall, initially holding a margin of almost 10 seconds over the next car in class. She focused on maintaining her position in the Silver battle, even as she lost a couple of places in the overall order. Ellahi however began to close from behind, reducing the gap to around four seconds as the race entered its final stages.
With 12 minutes remaining, Hoffmann eventually lost third place in class to Ellahi. The pressure continued when Boehm moved ahead to take fourth, leaving Hoffmann with Loni Unser in the sister Kellymoss entry behind her. The Canadian driver continued to fight and found more pace in the closing laps, running in the 1:34s as she sought to keep the remaining challengers at bay.
Although she could not recover the lost positions, Hoffmann brought the car home sixth in Silver, completing a weekend in which the team had shown encouraging potential. Hoffmann's closing drive secured a solid points finish to end the season.
Hoffmann finished eighth in the final Silver-class championship standings with 92 points, despite missing a round. The Canadian nevertheless completed a promising rookie campaign, gaining experience in GT4 machinery and showing fighting spirit in her return to the series.
