The outlook for the GT race on Friday looked great initially, but then turned sour about 1 hour before the race. “Clouds were streaming in and the temperatures were dropping fast. We all lined up in pre-grid watching and waiting. Of course, once the cars were pulled onto the track to line up for their grid positions, the heavens opened up” stated Bob Miller, team owner for At Speed Motorsports.

The rain caused SCCA to cancel the standing start and go to a “rolling, single-file start”. Phillip, who had been practicing his standing starts wonderfully all week, had to quickly adapt back to a traditional start. By turn 1, there was a major crash and the race went to a full course yellow. The rain continued and there was a slow stream in and out of the pits with teams opting to swap rain tires for their shaved Toyos. Martien stayed out on the track, gambling that the rain would slow. After multiple yellows, Martien headed into the pits for rain tires and a swaybar adjustment to aid in handling on the soaked track. 

Phillip continued to run in the downpour, spinning several times and tearing his front splitter, which was then dangling off of the front bumper as he continued around the track. The crew, worried that the splitter would come off completely and puncture a tire, advised Phillip to come into the pits and have it removed. However, by the time he made it down pit lane, the crew realized the broken piece had fallen off on the track with no ill affects to the car, so they sent him straight through without stopping. 

Martien gained several positions back after his final pit and finished the race in 17th, three places higher from where he started. He was the top rookie finisher in the opening race for the World Challenge GT season, which earned him 41 points in the driver standings. Both Phillip and the At Speed Crew were pleased with the performance and result at Sebring and are looking forward to the next race in Long Beach, CA on April 20th.