Johnny O’Connell secures Masters title for SKI Autosports

Indianapolis, IN (Sunday, October 8, 2023) – With a fourth-place finish in today’s 2023 season finale race for GT America Powered by AWS, Johnny O’Connell wrapped up the Masters Drivers’ Championship.

SKI Autosports and O’Connell put his Audi R8 LMS (an older car than most of the field) in second place on the grid, and the veteran held serve in race one, finishing behind overall series champion Memo Gidley.

In Sunday’s final battle, O’Connell started fourth (based on fastest lap times in race one) and finished in the same position – a result that confirmed him as the 2023 Masters Champion. A herculean accomplishment after SKI Autosports sat out the first two races of the year.

“We’ve had our sights set on the Masters Drivers’ Championship knowing that the overall championship was out of our reach, missing two of the races this year,” said team owner Kent Hussey.

“The entire team did a fantastic job in securing this championship. Melissa and I are so proud of everyone. We love Indy and are grateful to race here. It’s a track that suits our team well, and Johnny did an amazing job.

“With two International GT championships in the past few years, and now the GT America Masters Drivers’ Championship, we have had a great run the past four years.

SKI Autosports will enjoy a champion’s banquet tonight in Indianapolis before returning to home base outside Atlanta to focus on the 2024 season.

JOHNNY O’CONNELL

I spent 27 years racing for different factories – so much of that with GM – and now to be with a tiny family-run team, there is such a good vibe.
“Kent and Melissa are so dedicated, and their love for the sport and the team is unmatched. “The season has almost all highs except when the series took away my win away at COTA, I will struggle with that all winter.
“It brought me back to life this year, getting to race again. Rossella, Phil, Alton, Raphael, and Will – they do such a great job. I’m just so honored to be part of the program.”