Turner Motorsport has had a bit of an off year in the Michelin Pilot Challenge series. After finishing second in the GS-class championship in 2021, the driving duo of Bill Auberlen and Dillon Machavern was expected to be a contender in 2022, but have had some bad luck that set them back in the championship. Auberlen and Machavern bounced back to get their first win of the season at Watkins Glen, after Bill Auberlen passed a Mercedes to get into the lead late in the race.
It didn’t look like a win was in the cards, as Auberlen got a flat tire around five minutes before their last pit stop. Luck was on their side in this race, as a full course caution was called right after Auberlen came in for the flat tire. “What an amazing day!” said Auberlen on social media after the race. “We had a fast BMW for the last two days. Dillon did a great job as usual, and Don Salama was on his game with the strategy. My Turner guys and girls made perfect pit stops so all I had to do was let it rip.”
The second Turner Motorsport M4 GT4 of Robby Foley and Vin Barletta finished in ninth, while the #43 Stephen Cameron Racing M4 GT4 of Greg Liefooghe and Sean Quinlan finished well down the order after suffering two flat tires during the race.
The Michelin Pilot Challenge series competes at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park this weekend. —David Haueter
[Photos by David Haueter]