Lisa Clark represents USA in Motorsport Games' first Single Make GT final

Lisa Clark represented the USA at the FIA Motorsport Games, finishing eleventh in the new Single Make GT discipline, showcasing solid improvement throughout the event, where she was the only female entry in the GT categories in Valencia.

Photo credits: SRO / JEP

Ferrari Challenge regular Lisa Clark represented the USA at the third edition of the FIA Motorsport Games in the newly added Single Make GT discipline, where she drove the Ferrari 296 Challenge to an eleventh-place finish in the final at Circuito Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.

Clark, an experienced Ferrari sportscar racer, contested a double campaign in 2024, competing in both the Ferrari Challenge European Series—where she finished 18th overall in the Shell Cup AM classification and won the Lady title—and in the Ferrari Challenge North America, where she placed fifth with 333 points in the Shell Cup. Clark was also the 2023 North American Shell Cup champion, a season highlighted by three race wins and four pole positions.

Over the past year, Clark has expanded her participation in European racing, developing significantly as a driver, learning new circuits, and steadily closing the gap to the leaders.

Just one week after the Ferrari World Finals in Imola, Clark, driving the #127 Ferrari 296 Challenge operated by Pellin Racing, made her first appearance in the FIA Motorsport Games, where she was the only female driver in the GT categories for this edition.

Lisa made good progress on the first day of practice, finding her rhythm with a time of 1:40.277 in the first practice session and an improved 1:37.952 in the second, which earned her a place in the top ten.

In Saturday morning’s damp qualifying session, she went out on wet tyres, reaching P10 on her first flying lap. As track conditions improved, some teams switched to slicks, but progress remained limited, and Clark ultimately qualified P11 with a time of 1:47.294. In Q2 on Saturday afternoon, now in dry conditions, Clark set a 1:36.470, securing P10.

After both qualifying sessions, Spain's Ivan Velasco claimed pole, edging out Georgia's Davit Kajaia in the final minutes. However, Kajaia was disqualified from the first session, promoting Team UK's James Owen to the front row alongside Velasco.

Photo credits: SRO / JEP

Sunday’s final determined the medals in the inaugural Single Make GT discipline at the Motorsport Games, in partnership with Ferrari.

Clark lined up in tenth place. At the start, UK’s Owen executed a bold move around the outside of Turn 1, overtaking Velasco. Kajaia charged up the order from last on the grid, passing Clark on the first lap and demoting her to P11, where she then kept pace with the pack, battling with Portugal’s Ramos for a top-ten position.

Velasco regained the lead from Owen on Lap 2, with the pair pulling a second clear of third-placed Fontana Olivero from Venezuela. Clark continued to pressure Ramos, with the two maintaining a gap of under a second throughout the early stages, with Italy's Scudieri and Lebanon's Shair not far ahead. Ramos began to pull away by Lap 3, while Velasco extended his lead on Owen.

The most intense action unfolded in the midfield, as Kajaia carved his way up, overtaking Sweden’s Kinch and forcing his way past Germany’s Sartingen to reach fifth by Lap 5. As Kajaia attempted to close on Hurni, he slid off-track, rejoining just behind but incurring a drive-through penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

Clark continued to lap steadily, closing slightly on Ramos by Lap 6 and maintaining a three-second gap through the race's midpoint. In the second half, Lisa fell back a few seconds but continued logging solid lap times.

A fierce battle emerged between the UK and Venezuela for second place, with Owen managing to fend off his rival until the final six minutes when he began closing in on leader Velasco.

Owen gained over half a second per lap, setting up a final showdown for the gold. With three minutes to go, he passed Velasco at Turn 1. On the final lap, Velasco fought back, with both drivers making contact under braking but managing to finish.

Velasco crossed the line first, but post-race penalties, including a starting procedure violation for Velasco, awarded the British driver the gold medal. Switzerland’s Christophe Hurni claimed silver, and Velasco was relegated to bronze.

Lisa Clark took the checkered flag in P11, completing a memorable experience at the Motorsport Games, representing her country in the final.

"Cool to represent Ferrari Challenge North America and the USA", Clark said. "Will take this special memory with me. Last race of the season in Europe. Time for the rest, recuperate and reset."ce of the season in Europe. Time for the rest, recuperate and reset."

Photo credits: SRO / JEP