Michael Valiante got his first victory of the season for the Spirit of Daytona Racing team.
The North Burnaby pro driver shared a podium finish with co-driver Richard Westbrook at Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen at Watkins Glen, New York on Sunday.
The win was the fourth International Motorsports Association Daytona Prototype victory for the sportscar racing team and the second for Valiante and Westbrook, who took the checkered flag two years earlier at Mid-Ohio.
The team also had a podium finish at the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic in Detroit, finishing runner-up on the Belle Isle street circuit last month.
“Richard and my approach for the last couple of races was to keep the car safe and be in a position that would allow us to take a podium or possibly the win,” said Valiante in an IMSA.com press release.
Westbrook took the lead from Alex Brundle after a late-race caution and drove the final five laps in the No. 90 Visit Florida Corvette DP, holding off Brundle in a Nissan Morgan on the final lap to take the checkered flag by 0.877 seconds.
Valiante started the race in the front row and rotated with Westbrook through the six-hour race, while leading for 53-car field a total of 100 of the 191 laps on seven separate stages of the race on the 3.4-mile circuit.
“Well done to Michael (Valiante), added Westbrook, “his stints were incredible – fast and still saving fuel. I’m just so thrilled for everyone. … It’s just a massive achievement.”
Last season, the Spirit of Daytona team had two podium finishes, including a second-place at Watkins Glen.
Next up in the Tudor United Sportscar Championship series is at Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ont. July 12 to 13.
