Atlantic Championship VIR Weekend Preview
Salem, NH - Coming into VIR, Keith Grant leads the Atlantic Championship Series point standings after four strong finishes between Road Atlanta and Watkins Glen. Behind Grant is young gun K-Hill driver Conner Kearby. Both Kearby and Grant have a win under their belt for the season, meaning a competitive weekend is ahead of the two drivers.
Although holding the seventh spot in the point standings, newcomer and driver of the No. 47 car, Keyvan Andres stole the show at Watkins Glen with back to back wins for the weekend. With a debut to the season like that, Andres is sure to continue to show his driving force on the track at VIR.
Grant represents Polestar Racing Group on the track and is also the brother of F2000 Series competitor David Grant. His recognizable Swift 016/Mazda took a fourth place finish in race one, and then stepped up to the podium with a second place finish in race two of the weekend.
C. Kearby scored a second place finish in race one at WGI. In race two however, he unfortunately had mechanical issues and ended the race in thirteenth place. Kearby did very well earlier in rounds one and two at Road Atlanta in his Swift 016/Mazda. In race one the No. 56 driver stood second on the podium, he then moved up in race two and walked away with first place finish.
Along with Andres, Garth Rickards did well during season debut at Watkins Glen. The former F1600 driver had consistent rounds three and four with a third place finish in both races two and three. Rickards was a part of the large push K-Hill had at Watkins Glen. Rickards can be seen behind the wheel of the No. 83 Swift 016/Mazda.
Comprent driver Rich Zober is sitting just below the top three at fourth in the overall point standings. Zober will be looking to score a podium at VIR after consistent top ten finishes at Watkins Glen.
Comprent will also have Chris Ash and Bob Corliss at VIR. Corliss had an Atlantic Challenge second place podium finish in race two at Watkins Glen, and will be headed to VIR to continue his push in the Atlantic Challenge in his No. 17 Swift 014/Toyota.
Third in the points is K-Hill teammate Gaston Kearby, who drives the No. 69 Swift 016/Mazda. G. Kearby also adds to the Atlantic Challenge division competition and was able to stand on top of the podium after race one for the Atlantic Challenge.
With nearly ten drivers on the track K-Hill was in a good position to do well and they did just that, coming out of the weekend with podiums and wins in both races.
The VIR weekend kicks off Friday June 5 and will run until June 7with a full weekend of practice, qualifying and racing in between. There will be two practices held on Friday of the weekend followed by morning qualification and afternoon races on both Saturday and Sunday.