It was a super busy Victoria Day weekend for Gateway Racing Inc, fielding a total of 5 cars, 4 in the SCCA Pro Trans-Am race and one in the 3 hour Sundowner Enduro event. A big thanks to all the staff and mechanics who got every car out for every session, and produced a couple of podium finishes!

Andrew Romocki, piloting his #291 Panos drove a brilliant, well-planned race to win the 3-hour endurance race overall and first in class. He went into fuel conservation mode from lap one, and was able to make the 3 hours on just one pit-stop. He also drove the entire race, no small feat considering the heat and speed of his GT Panos. Congratulations Andrew!

The SCCA Pro Trans-Am weekend started off very well for the four cars fielded by Gateway Racing. Elmer Shannon, Ian Patterson, Gregg Clifton, and Blaise Csida all dug deep, producing their best lap times in qualifying Sunday morning, Blaise with a 1:18.077 for second place. Special mention must also be given to Ian Patterson, who put in an incredible lap of 1:19.8 and is now a proud member of the very exclusive sub-20 second sedan club. And this was in legal Trans-Am configuration and with a pump-gas engine that is down at least 60-80 HP compared to his competitors!

Weather unfortunately ruined the race for Ian and Elmer, both of whom were involved in a first lap crash, the result of rain and slick tires. Blaise Csida, however, survived the mayhem, and drove a clean, uneventful, and fast race, finishing second behind Tony Ave and only 14 seconds down after 100 miles. It was Blaise’s career best Pro racing finish.

Gregg Clifton suffered a broken oil pump belt while running in 7th place and was not able to complete the race. Watch for the Gateway serviced cars at the next Ontario GT event.