CTSC: Davis, Liddell win COTA in Camaro,

Stevenson Motorsports took a giant step towards the 2015 Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge Grand Sport (GS) championship at Circuit of The Americas, with Robin Liddell and Andrew Davis taking their fourth victory of the season to open up a wide advantage with only one race remaining.

Team manager Mike Johnson gambled on the final pit stop under caution with one hour remaining, taking on only left-side tires on the No. 6 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28R, and rejoined the race in second behind Ford Shelby driver Jade Buford, who did not pit. Meanwhile, race leader Matt Plumb took on four tires on the No. 13 Billfish Foundation/Rum Bum Film & HD Studios/RumBumGear.com Porsche 911, dropping to fifth in the order.

Liddell got around Buford to take the lead with 40 minutes remaining. Moments later, Plumb pulled off course on the front straight with a fan belt failure, ending the team’s three-race winning streak and late-season charge to title contention.

Liddell went on to win by 1.292 seconds over Billy Johnson and TOTAL Pole Award winner Scott Maxwell, unofficially opening a 28-point lead, 286-258. With 35 points for a victory, their chances of taking the championship are strong heading into the season finale at Road Atlanta on Oct. 2.

“We had to get track position – that’s the only game we have right now,” Mike Johnson said of his call. “I was really surprised to see Rum Bum take four tires, because they had the dominant car all day. When I saw that, I knew we had to beat them out of pit lane. I was just hoping we got enough fuel in. I’m sad for the Rum Bum guys, but really happen for Stevenson today.”

“I fought really hard but clean with Jade Buford,” added Liddell. “Then I really concentrated on getting the hammer down and getting the best gap I could. I’m absolutely delighted at the results- but those last few laps were tricky.”

Doran Racing’s Nismo GT Academy Nissan 370Zs took the next two positions. BJ Zacharias and Brad Jaeger took third in the No. 14 entry, followed by Nick McMillen and Nicolas Hammann in the No. 41.

Plumb was running fourth when he radioed his team, “We’re finished – something catastrophic.” He and his brother Hugh had dominated the event up until that point. Hugh took the lead on lap two and led 19 circuits, with Matt leading 12 laps prior to his final pit stop.

Source: IMSA