Ligier Sports Prototype crowned winner at Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge

Staff
By Staff Writer
Oct 5, 2021 | UTCC, Ultimate Track Car Challenge, VIRginia International Raceway, Tire Rack

Photography Credit: Ken Neher

VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAYALTON, Va. (October 4, 2021)—A field of over 35 of the country’s fastest machines on four wheels took to the track at Virginia International Raceway October 1 for the Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge to answer one simple question: Who has the Ultimate Track Car?

After a full day of drivers pushing their cars to the limit–and in some cases, beyond–Clayton Eley took the win in his 2018 Ligier JS P3, achieving a top lap time of 1.47.727. Besides a full feature in Grassroots Motorsports magazine, Clayton receives a $1000 Tire Rack gift certificate.

Saturday’s Knockout Finals presented by KW Automotive, a post-event, winner-takes-all race featuring the event’s top cars, once again saw Clayton Eley take the win and receiving a $500 gift certificate from KW Automotive.

Honorable mentions go out to the following competitors:

Clayton Eley, LIgier JS P3, 1.47.727

  • Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car presented by Tire Rack: The fastest car gets a big trophy, $1000 Tire Rack gift certificate, and tons of ink in Grassroots Motorsports.
  • Fastest RWD, open tire presented by Mantic Clutch: The fastest rear-wheel-drive car wins a trophy and a prize from Mantic.
  • Fastest on Hoosiers presented by Hoosier: Trophy and a gift certificate for four free Hoosier tires.

Jackie Ding, Toyota Supra, 1:55.23

  • Fastest Car on 200tw Tires presented by Tire Rack: The fastest car running 200tw or higher tires gets a $1000 Tire Rack gift certificate.
  • Fastest RWD, 200tw tire: The fastest rear-wheel-drive car running tires with a minimum manufacturer treadwear rating of 200 wins a trophy.

Trevor Degioanni, Honda Civic Type R, 2:02.955

  • Fastest FWD, open tire: The fastest front-wheel-drive car wins a trophy.
  • Fastest FWD, 200tw tire: The fastest front-wheel-drive car running tires with a minimum manufacturer treadwear rating of 200 wins a trophy.

Arul Angamuth, Audi RS3, 2:24.161

  • Fastest AWD, 200tw tire: The fastest all-wheel-drive car running tires with a minimum manufacturer treadwear rating of 200 wins a trophy.
  • Fastest on Falken presented by Falken Tire: Trophy and prize from Falken Tire. 

Kyle Carrick, Nissan GT-R, 1:49.178

  • Fastest Production Car presented by HP Tuners: The fastest car with a substantially unmodified firewall and floor pan wins a HP Tuners MPVI2+ as well as merch and apparel worth $500. Holes for suspension links, roll cages, etc. are allowed.
  • Fastest Car on DOT-Approved Tires presented by Tire Rack: The fastest car running DOT-approved tires gets a $1000 Tire Rack gift certificate.
  • Fastest AWD, open tire presented by XClutch: The fastest all-wheel-drive car wins a trophy and a prize from XClutch.

Devin Jones, BMW M4 GTMore, 1:58.753; Runner up was Roberto Crescencio, BMW M3, 2:00.039

  • Fastest BMW presented by BimmerWorld: Trophy and $250 BimmerWorld gift certificate.

Kendall Samuel, Subaru Impreza, 2:02.956

  • Fastest Subaru presented by Mach V Motorsports: Trophy and $250 gift certificate from Mach V Motorsports.

Patrick Kite, Camaro ZL1

  • Safety Award presented by SPA Technique: Trophy and prize from SPA Technique.

The Ultimate Track Car Challenge is an annual competition held by Grassroots Motorsports for the sole purpose of finding America’s fastest track cars. Anyone can join with any type of car. The event has been hosted at VIR for the last 15 years.

Grassroots Motorsports magazine is celebrating 35-plus years of publication. To enjoy full coverage of the Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge and many more events, subscribe to Grassroots Motorsports magazine today. Complete UTCC coverage, plus race results, will highlight the February issue. 

The 2021 Grassroots Motorsports Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is presented by Tire Rack in association with Wilwood Engineering, HP Tuners, XClutch, SPA Technique, KW Automotive and FCP Euro with trophies from BimmerWorld, Mantic Clutch, Falken Tire, Hoosier Tire and Mach V Motorsports.

The Mid Atlantic Region of the National Auto Sport Association, run by Chris Cobetto, sanctions the event. NASA has been the market leader for amateur road racing in the region for many years.

For more information and results, visit the official event website: ultimatetrackcar.com.

Join Free Join our community to easily find more UTCC, Ultimate Track Car Challenge, VIRginia International Raceway and Tire Rack news.
Comments
Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/4/21 9:58 a.m.

"I can do this all day. Literally."

Kreb (Forum Supporter)
Kreb (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
10/4/21 10:11 a.m.

It's good to see the category awards. Otherwise it's a little silly running street cars on street tires against all-out racers on track slicks.

I imagine that it's a pretty entertaining event.

 

Robbie (Forum Supporter)
Robbie (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/4/21 10:59 a.m.
Kreb (Forum Supporter) said:

It's good to see the category awards. Otherwise it's a little silly running street cars on street tires against all-out racers on track slicks.

I imagine that it's a pretty entertaining event.

 

I find it incredible that a GT-R is less than 1.5 seconds behind that Ligier 

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/4/21 11:00 a.m.
Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:
Kreb (Forum Supporter) said:

It's good to see the category awards. Otherwise it's a little silly running street cars on street tires against all-out racers on track slicks.

I imagine that it's a pretty entertaining event.

 

I find it incredible that a GT-R is less than 1.5 seconds behind that Ligier 

Let's check back at 3 AM and see how it's doing.

Junghole
Junghole SuperDork
10/4/21 12:23 p.m.

Meh. Calling that a "car" is like calling the space shuttle an "airplane". 

ProDarwin
ProDarwin MegaDork
10/4/21 12:26 p.m.

I'm disappointed.  I was expecting something like this:

 

Junghole
Junghole SuperDork
10/4/21 12:57 p.m.

Yeah after looking at the results, it looks like Kyle Carrick, Nissan GT-R, 1:49.178  Was the fastest CAR there. Nice job. 

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/4/21 12:59 p.m.

What is your personal definition of a CAR? The Ligier has AC :)

Robbie (Forum Supporter)
Robbie (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/4/21 1:11 p.m.
Junghole said:

Yeah after looking at the results, it looks like Kyle Carrick, Nissan GT-R, 1:49.178  Was the fastest CAR there. Nice job. 

I was gonna ask what makes a Supra a car but not a GT-R? cheeky

Cooter
Cooter UberDork
10/4/21 1:20 p.m.
Junghole said:

Meh. Calling that a "car" is like calling the space shuttle an "airplane". 

First I find out the Ridgeline isn't a truck and now this.



I just don't know what to believe in anymore.

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