Elkhart Lake, WI (Monday, August 7, 2023) – The longest course on the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge schedule provided a tough battle for Team TGM at Elkhart Lake’s Road America.
The No.46 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 was impacted by mechanical issues, while an untimely pit stop hindered No.64.
While chasing for a podium position, Hugh and Matt Plumb experienced issues that turned out to be alternator-related and ended their race.
The No.64 of Ted Giovanis and Owen Trinkler had an unfortunately timed pit stop which put them a lap down when they stopped early. They fought back and were in contention for a top ten before becoming one of several cars forced to make a late pit stop for fuel.
“Our biggest problem has been a year-long difficulty with the BOP, specifically, we didn’t have enough fuel to make it to the end,” said team strategist/engineer Ed Snef.
“If we could have squeezed the fuel out, we would have been in the top five, but we are just at a disadvantage in the category.
“Although we were trying to conserve fuel, we had to do a splash and go toward the end of the race to make it to the finish, which put the No 64 down to mid-pack.”
Next up VIRigina International Raceway, August 25-27, 2023
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Ted Giovanis
”My stint was good, I was getting into a rhythm and making good times. We had to make a stop which was not pivotal, and to make it worse; the yellow came out just after I stopped.
“Owen did a great job, but we were a bit off schedule for pit stops. The challenge was fuel strategy which we had to manage and had to make a late-stage splash.”
Owen Trinkler
“It was a long weekend at Road America. We soldiered through, we’re a championship team, and we dug deep and came through, I think to finish 15th. But that doesn’t tell the story. We crashed our primary car in turn five on Saturday with a suspension failure. We pulled out the backup car, which we had some issues with the last time we ran it, but it ran strong today – the quickest Aston Martin in the field. However, the fuel BOP is not on our side, and we could not make it as far as some of the others and had to come in for a splash of fuel toward the end.
Hugh Plumb
“We were making strides in the field. Moving up the grid. We caught a break with the caution coming out at a good time and then the guys had a great pit stop I think we would have come out third from the pits. But then the car did not restart and ultimately, the issue was terminal. We could have easily been on the podium, but it wasn’t to be today.
Matt Plumb
“The car was running great and Hugh had a terrific stint but when I went to leave the pits the car wouldn’t start. Finally, we got it going however, once out on the track, systems started to shut down until it was obvious we had a major failure. I took the shortcut at turn five back to the pits and retired the car with what we think was an alternator issue.”
Ted Giovanis the author
FOCUS FORWARD: Life lessons from racing
Life comes at you fast when you’re traveling 180 miles per hour. For Ted Giovanis, it’s also where you can learn the most valuable lessons. Since becoming a race car driver three decades ago at age forty-six—a ride that is still in overdrive—Giovanis has discovered how the tools of racing and the teamwork within it are applicable to life and business. In forty-eight motivating and, at times, exhilarating chapters, he shares his experience and knowledge.
