GIMPLE: MOSPORT RACE REPORT

Kyle Gimple followed up his IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge race-winning performance two weeks ago at Watkins Glen International with another strong outing in the No. 75 Honda Civic Si Children’s Tumor Foundation/HPD/Racing4Research.org for Compass360 Racing.

Racing at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park outside of Toronto, Gimple and co-driver Ryan Eversley raced to a hard-fought fourth place finish on Saturday as the duo continue to pick up momentum in the IMSA championship battle. The legendary Canadian track is the home facility for Compass360 Racing. 

 

 

Gimple opened the race from third on the grid and ran in podium position through over an hour of green flag running. 

 

“At the start, people behind us were trying to jump and just kept hitting us,” said Gimple.  “Then we finally got settled in, just clicking off laps before the tires started falling off. By the end of our stint, I was struggling for exit grip coming out of the slow corners. It was still okay through the fast sections.”

 

As the race took on its first caution period, Gimple dove for the pits as Eversley jumped in to take the car to the finish.  

 

“I turned it over to Ryan and he held second, but we just didn’t have anything for the top three,” continued Gimple. “We were the highest finishing front wheel drive car by several positions, and I think it was another Compass360 Racing Civic. The Mazdas are quick and we’ve been saying for a while that the Porsche was looking to convert their speed into a result, and we saw that happen today. They are in a world of their own.”

 

 

While some of the speedier ST cars launch to the top of the podium, Gimple and Compass360 Racing will continue to focus on what they have control over, targeting as many points as possible each time out. 

 

“After Kansas, and then winning at Watkins, we’ve really boosted our points,” said Gimple. “Coming into this, we were tied for eighth in points. This fourth place will help, and there were a few other cars ahead of us that didn’t do well today. So it was a really good points day and we’re definitely back in the championship hunt.” 

 

 

The next stop for Gimple on the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge schedule is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, July 25th.

 

(Originally posted on http://www.imsa.com/articles/gimple-keeps-championship-momentum-fourth-canadian-tire-motorsport-park?invalidate-cache=1400879038#sthash.KyBlsoHg.dpuf">IMSA.com)