Bad Luck Plagues Mid-Ohio 120 for TeamTGM

Bad Luck Plagues Mid-Ohio 120 for TeamTGM

 

Lexington, Ohio (4 May 2019) – It was a tough race day for TeamTGM’s two car lineup during the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Mid-Ohio 120 on Saturday. A mechanical issue brought the No. 46 Jayne Koskinas Ted Giovanis (JKTG) Foundation / Camp Boggy Creek Mercedes-AMG GT4 behind the wall in the early stages of the race while the No. 4 JKTG Foundation / Camp Boggy Creek Mercedes-AMG GT4 fought back after suffering contact to finish 20th.

Hugh Plumb and Owen Trinkler paired in the No. 46 Mercedes while Ted Giovanis and Guy Cosmo combined in the No. 4 Mercedes.

It was a slow start to the race weekend as the skies opened up and rain poured for the majority of the day on Friday. TeamTGM opted out of Friday’s two practice sessions as race day was looking to be dry. Qualifying proved to be tricky as a heavy mist coated the track. Trinkler went out on slicks while Giovanis went out on rain tires resulting in a P21 and P18 starting position, respectively.

The start of the race saw Trinkler make a quick charge to improve 11 positions before a broken alternator belt brought the No. 46 behind the wall on Lap 18. At the one hour and ten-minute mark, Trinkler reentered the track in the No. 46 machine after crew members worked to replace the alternator belt in an effort to secure as many points as possible. After only nine laps, a second alternator belt was thrown and Trinkler brought the car in, resulting in a 23rd place finish.

“The car was really fast this weekend and we knew that we just made that mistake in qualifying going out on slicks,” said Trinkler. “I felt pretty confident that we would come through the field and we did, but one decision leads to another and we just didn’t have it today. The car threw the belt twice and had it not been for that I felt like we had a car that could have been fighting for the win.”

Giovanis started the race in the No. 4 Mercedes and held position during a hectic first few laps and settled into a rhythm but unfortunately was hit by an overly ambitious TCR car in the Carousel and left stranded in the grass. Eventually getting pulled out, Giovanis pitted under yellow for a driver change, putting Cosmo behind the wheel to close the race.

“It was complicated with the TCR cars and unfortunate that we had that incident that put us back in the field,” said Giovanis. “It wasn’t our weekend for us as a team. We did learn things throughout the weekend and we know that the car has pace so there are some positive takeaways.”

Fighting until the very end and making a last lap pass for position Cosmo brought home the No. 4 Mercedes to finish 20th.

“Ted had a great start and was doing a great job with the mixed conditions and unfortunately he got tagged and wound up off track and that put us back a bunch,” said Cosmo. “We just wanted to run the car and get as many points as we could salvage. I really enjoy mixed conditions like that, I love being able to see where you can maximize grip. And I had some great racing despite not really being in the race. Hopefully we can turn our luck around the rest of the season.”

The next IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race will bring TeamTGM to Watkins Glen International for the Tioga Downs Casino Resort 240 on June 27-30.