By alley - Oct 1, 2016, 8:49 PM ET

IMSA: Starworks Motorsport takes PC title

Renger van der Zande and Alex Popow had a nightmare race at Road Atlanta, but with a healthy points lead coming into the 10-hour season finale, the drivers of the No. 8 Starworks Motorsport PC were able to endure an early exit from the event and hold onto their championship lead.

Holland's van der Zande and Venezuela's Popow were the dominant drivers in IMSA's WeatherTech SportsCar Championship PC category in 2016. The Dutchman, in particular, demonstrated his readiness to lead a Prototype program in the future after helping Starworks secure four wins from 11 races, including the most recent round at Circuit of The Americas.

“Winning a championship over 11 races says you did really well, especially with two DNFs, but one was just a single bolt failure," van der Zande said. "Our focus was to win a lot of races and not focus on the championship. Alex did great in the car every time, he was very smart and very aggressive.

"What I like about IMSA is the multi-class series, there is a lot of overtaking from the front and behind. I think its a bit like war, really, working the strategies. It fits me very well. obviously today, PLM is one of the greatest races to do, I would have liked to finish with a win, but altogether happy to be going back home.”

His teammate couldn't help but smile after celebrating an overdue championship with team owner Peter Baron.

“Its really special," Popow said. "Renger has done an awesome job the whole year. He’s just been killing it. It's been a great feeling fighting with all those kids. I’m already 40 years old, and now clenching the championship.”

As the 2016 PC title winners, the teammates earned their first professional sports car championships and, after a remarkable five-year run, Starworks Motorsport broke CORE autosport's vice-like grip on the class.

Victories at COTA, Detroit, Watkins Glen and Lime Rock complemented podiums at Sebring, Long Beach, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, and with their eight combined finishes inside the top three, van der Zande and Popow were the class of the field and the rightful owners of the PC championship hardware.