LIME ROCK PARK, Conn. – Former Nissan GT Academy driver Ricardo Sanchez pulled off a pair of Pro/Am podium finishes in the latest Pirelli World Challenge SprintX round at Lime Rock Park.
Paired with Frankie Montecalvo aboard the Always Evolving / AIM Autosport Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, the duo scored second place in Friday’s first race, and then he backed that up with a brilliant fight back from an early pit stop to again claim the runner-up prize in Saturday’s event.
A turn-one, lap-one crash between the leaders in race two had left the Lime Rock track littered with debris, and while Sanchez was able to avoid the carnage, he collected a large piece of tire debris in the radiator intake.
The Mexican driver had to come into the pits early to remove the debris, but then he began a brilliant comeback drive from last place. Montecalvo continued the charge after the scheduled driver change pit stop at half distance, pushing the young stars back into second place again in the Pro/AM class.
“It was an amazing effort from the team,” said Sanchez. “Always Evolving gave us a better setup today. We were a little unlucky at the start. We had to pit and take off some debris. So, from last position we ended up P2 in class. Frankie did an amazing job, and the Nissan GT-R was really strong. We pulled out the result, and I’m really happy to collect some points and a podium. We’re ready to fight for a win at the next one.”
The pair currently sit in fifth place in the Pro/Am points. They will be back in the car on August 11-13 for the next round of the SprintX championship at the Utah Motorsport Campus.
Another race. Another @WCRacing podium. P2 for @RSanchezGP and @FMontecalvo at @limerockpark. Our @GTAcademy ace reports in from the podium. pic.twitter.com/uL7Nr0pZaM
— Nissan NISMO (@NISMO) May 27, 2017
Smile for the 📸: @RSanchezGP @FMontecalvo on the podum again https://t.co/wdwPQhGCdY
orhttps://t.co/WaXgUaiQrb
orhttps://t.co/IXtywit0kC pic.twitter.com/NqRG9ojfyS— Nissan NISMO (@NISMO) May 28, 2017
NISMO Calendar
June 3-4
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Belle Isle, Detroit, Michigan, USA
24 Hours of Le Mans Test Day, Le Mans, France
June 17-18
24 Hours of Le Mans, Le Mans, France
Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
June 24-25
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, Circuit Paul Ricard, France
Pirelli World Challenge, Road America, Wisconsin, USA
July 1-2
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Watkins Glen, New York, USA
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