The temperatures in Indiana may be dropping, but the championship battles are only heating up. With the season finale event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway fast approaching, many titles are on the line, and champions will soon be crowned.
This includes the likes of the Pirelli GT4 America series, which has seen fierce battles all year long. In the Pro-Am class, championship contenders ACI Motorsports and the Heart of Racing Team are going head-to-head in the final two races of the year in order to decide who will come out on top. As the teams’ respective Pro drivers Kay van Berlo and Roman De Angelis explained, racing at the Brickyard is no small feat.
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The pressure is mounting, not only because of what’s at stake, but because the prestige of winning at IMS, and kissing the most famous bricks in the world is a dream all drivers wish to achieve.
“Indy is one of my favorite places to go to for several reasons,” said Kay van Berlo. “For one, it's one of the most iconic tracks in the world. It’s always special to drive there, especially when you’ve grown up watching the Indy 500. Coming into the final races of the season here, this is where we truly fight for the championship. It’s an incredibly important weekend for us.”
“I think Indy is a super fun event,” echoed Roman De Angelis. “It's the last race of the year, so everybody is going for it as a final hurrah to decide the championship outcome. We're in a good position this year, and we’re ready for the fight. We’re second in the points at the moment, so there are more emotions going into a weekend like this.”
“I always look forward to going to the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” he added. “In terms of motorsports venues and events, Indianapolis is definitely one of the pinnacles. Coming to this circuit is very special, and I think it’s pretty cool that SRO America is able to take us there.”
Beyond its rich history, part of what makes this circuit so enjoyable to drive is the fast-paced nature of the road course layout.
“It’s a super short track,” stated van Berlo. “It's not too difficult, relatively speaking, so qualifying and the racing tends to be quite close. Because of that, your performance and ability to do well really comes down to the final details. It usually results in a very competitive field, which makes it ultimately one of the most fun weekends of the year.”
This very same closeness and competitiveness is equally tied to the importance of ensuring a complete understanding of the car’s setup.
“A lot of it comes down to making sure you’re within the performance window in terms of the car’s setup,” explained the championship leader. “If you miss the mark, you’re going to have a really difficult weekend. Even if you’re within that window, it’s still going to be tough because the whole field is super tight. This is definitely one of the most crucial elements, and this is what makes it one of the most important weekends to prepare for.”
Another particularity of the event is the weather. While the majority of the season unfolds throughout the summer months in the sweltering heat, the final race weekend, held in early October, comes with a cooler climate to switch things up further.
“Since the Aston Martin performs well in colder temperatures, IMS has been a good track for us historically,” expressed De Angelis. “Usually we are racing in the middle of the summer in locations that are typically very hot and humid. Indy always presents a bit of an added challenge because it’s the opposite, but that also tends to suit our car, so we’ll see if that benefits us this time around.”
Purchase your tickets now and witness the full field in action at Indianapolis Motor Speedway from October 4th to 6th!