Alton, VA (Sunday, June 18, 2023) – SKI Autosports has enjoyed a successful opening weekend with the team’s new Audi R8 LMS – taking a podium and Masters’ class win today in GT America at VIRginia International Raceway.
Today’s success mirrored Saturday’s result with Johnny O’Connell swapping from the team’s Ferrari to the Audi for the remainder of the season.
Johnny O’Connell put in a great qualifying session to line up fourth on the grid for race one. However on the third corner of the first lap O’Connell was hit by another competitor, cutting a tire and forcing an early pit stop.
“Not only were we hit on lap one, we were a long way from the pit lane so lost a lot of time limping the car back to the pits. However the SKI Autosports crew did a great job getting the car back into the race quickly,” said team owner Kent Hussey.
For race two on Sunday the team started fifth position and O’Connell climbed through the pack to finish on the podium in third place and take another win for the Masters’ Class – accumulating valuable points toward the championship.
“VIR has been a good track for us in the past and although we were very disappointed about yesterday I’m so proud of the entire team for bouncing back and having a great race today,” Hussey said.
“This team is phenomenal and we are all excited about the performance of the Audi. It was a big decision to switch cars but today proved it was a good choice. We have always said podium finishes are our goal and today we checked that off.”
The next for the team is the GT America race on the streets of Nashville on August 4-6.
Follow SKI Autosports at:
Twitter @AutosportsSki
Instagram @skiautosportsofficial
JOHNNY O’CONNELL
“It was a great morning here for SKI Autosports. We got a third place with the number three car! A nice Father’s Day gift for everyone on the team. It feels so great to just be racing again. The guys on the team and Rossella gave me a great car.
“Thanks to Kent and Melissa (Hussey) for letting me drive their hotrod. This was our first race with this car and if we can continue on the trajectory we’re on, and we get a bunch more podiums and our first win will come very soon.”
