Igor De Oliveira Rodrigues has been unstoppable in every race this season, and further asserted his dominance over the field to secure the win once more in the fourth round of the Mobileye GTWC Esports America Sprint Series championship at Watkins Glen. With only one round remaining, the Williams Esports driver will be challenging for a clean sweep of the championship.
Cody Sherratt picked up back-to-back wins in the Silver category, which has also moved him into the championship lead.
After claiming the overall and Pro class pole position, Igor De Oliveira Rodrigues’ front row start allowed him to get a clean run into the inside line in Turn 1 in his No. 124 Audi R8 LMS Evo II, keeping Jyeed Hutchinson just behind in the No. 26 Automobili Lamborghini Esport Team Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2. The two were showing very rapid pace, and the two frontrunners were even tied for fastest lap in the early stages of the race before Rodrigues went on to claim it for himself.
Rodrigues and Hutchinson remained close together for the entirety of the race, with Hutchinson opting to come through pit lane to perform his mandatory pit stop at the same time as Rodrigues in order to keep him within his sights. As the two returned to the track to pick up where they left off, Rodrigues momentarily ran wide, allowing Hutchinson to creep ever closer.
Rodrigues fended off the pressure and went on to cross the finish line first, scoring his fourth consecutive win of the season. Hutchinson followed in second place, with Renan Nigrini rounding off the Top 3 in the Pro class in his No. 2 Asetek SimSports Visceral Audi R8 LMS Evo II.
In the Silver category, Sherratt drove a very controlled and smooth race. After starting from pole position in class, the driver of the No. 22 Genisus Esports Ferrari 296 GT3 not only maintained his lead, but also began to challenge the overall Top 3 runners as well. He went on to race side by side with Pro class competitor Renan Nigrini across multiple laps, with the pair exchanging positions back and forth before Sherratt went on to move into third overall.
Sherratt was also in good company as he had Leandro Werle attempting to close the gap to the leader in his No. 40 Arnage Competition Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3. Championship contender Mérick Lévêque was also charging through the field in his No. 88 Asetek Simsports Visceral Ferrari 296 GT3, making up ground as he maneuvered through Pro class cars standing between him and his fellow class competitors.
Sherratt went on to win the race in the Silver category, in addition to finishing third overall. Werle claimed second place in class, with Lévêque following suit in third. The championship battle remains tight, with Sherratt and Lévêque now separated by a mere 11 points.
The final round of the Mobileye GTWC Esports America Sprint Series takes place at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 2nd.
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