DANVILLE, VA (Sunday, July 21, 2024) – SKI Autosports’ Johnny O’Connell has jumped into the championship lead for GT America powered by AWS after a fighting victory today at VIRginia International Raceway.
Starting from pole, O’Connell made a great jump to take his Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II straight into the lead and managed to lead every lap en route to victory.
The victory came after the veteran came under intense pressure from rival Justin Rothberg, who eventually finished only .118 of a second behind O’Connell. The result turned the tables on Saturday’s result when Rothberg made contact with O’Connell after the SKI Autosports driver made a move into the lead around the outside in turn four late in the race.
O’Connell had impressed in wet conditions and should have come away with a clean sweep for the weekend had he not been hit. Today’s victory, combined with his eventual third place on Saturday, pushes O’Connell to the championship lead after ten rounds with an eight-point advantage.
SKI Autosport’s remarkable run of consistency has pushed O’Connell onto the podium in nine out of the ten races contested to date. Six races remain on the 2024 calendar – two each at Road America, Barber Motorsports Park, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Today’s victory for O’Connell was his third for SKI Autosports and the team’s fourth win since debuting in the series in 2022. O’Connell won last year in Nashville and earned his second victory at Sonoma earlier this year due to a rival’s penalty.
“We’ve been working very hard to get a handle on what our new Audi really likes this year, but we’re now starting to get the car to Johnny’s liking,” SKI Autosports team owner, Kent Hussey said.
“We would have loved to come away with a pair of wins this weekend, but coming away with the championship lead with only six races to go is very rewarding.
“Everyone on the team has worked extremely hard, and Melissa (Hussey) and I are very proud of everyone’s hard work and dedication.
“We’re already counting down the days before we get to Road America. That was where the team had its first-ever win, and we’d love to do it again at that amazing venue.”
Rounds 11 and 12 of GT America powered by AWS will take place at the Elkhart Lake venue on August 16-18.
JOHNNY O’CONNELL
“First off – I’m going to be 62 next week, and I have to thank God I can still do this,” O’Connell said.
“I thought we were going to get one yesterday and really wanted this for the team. This weekend’s been a struggle getting this car right, but we got it really good today – I’m just so just grateful to everybody at Ski Autosport.
“Now we have this win; we want to go and get some more. It’s going to be a really tight battle, and I’m just looking forward to finishing the season strong.
“At 62, I still love what I do and appreciate that I still get paid to do something I love. I still have goals ahead of me, and the championship is certainly one of them. I’m just really appreciative of everyone that supports us, especially Ken and Melissa Hussey.
“Justin drove me really hard today, and I think if he had been able to clear me, he would have walked away. So, it was all about me being precise. I was trying to change what I was doing every lap so he couldn’t pick up a rhythm.”
