It was time for NASA Mid Atlantic’s first time to Summit Point for 2012. The weather yet again was threatening with some rain but temperatures were good and as long as the rain stayed away track records would be made. Six cars was signed up for Spec3 this weekend; McAvoy, D’Abreu, the two O’Connels, Skandsen and Hilburger. Hilburger showing for the first time, his beautifully vinyl wrapped car.

Saturday was a beautiful day with fast times. Skandsen qualified on pole followed by McAvoy and D’Abreu. Skandsen kept the lead at the start of the race and gapped the field setting fastest lap and track record while winning the race. Second place went to D’Abreu followed by McAvoy which battled back and forth throughout the entire race giving the spectators watching great entertainment. The race finished with Colin O’Connel in fourth followed by Sean O’Connel and Hilburger.

Qualifying on Sunday showed wet to damp condition from overnight rain. Several areas like the braking zone into T1 and T10, as well as most of T9 were tricky. Unfortunately Colin O’Connel could not slow his car into T1 and went straight off making a hard impact with the wall. Colin was airlifted to the hospital with back injuries but has since then had successful surgery and is now in recovery. We all wish Colin a speedy and well recovery!

With a somber feeling throughout the paddock and the Spec3 field the race started with D’Abreu on pole followed by McAvoy, Skandsen and Hilburger filling in the back. D’Abreu got a good start but was quickly involved with traffic ahead. Skandsen had to take evasive actions at the start and fell back to fourth as Hilburger capitalized. McAvoy managed to get by D’Abreu on the first lap and Skandsen regained third from Hilburger on braking into T5. The field was then spaced out by a couple of seconds between each car and that’s how it remained pretty much to the end with McAvoy taking the win, followed by D’Abreu, Skandsen and Hilburger.

This weekend showed yet an improvement in Spec3 speed around the track. The new track record of 1:26.882 is showing that the Spec3 cars are being developed along with the drivers in them. This development has yet to flatten out and we are most likely to keep seeing the track records broken. Over the last six races there have been three different winners in the Mid-Atlantic Spec3 Regional Championship. With an expected strong showing at Hyperfest 2012 at Summit Point in June, yet another winner could be appearing.

Photo by Justin Taylor.

The last race weekend of 2011 is over after a spectacular weekend at VIR. Absolutely amazing weather and a great track. Qualified 4th, but knew there was more speed in both car and driver especially. However, an embarrassing mistake during the start of the first race dropped us far back in the field. Worked back up to fourth and stayed there for the remainder of the race. Race number 2 went a lot better! Got a good start and had third after the first lap but went wide in turn 1 and lost third. The pace was good and the car felt great so I started pushing pretty hard, making it to P1 with a bit of a gap to number two. Kept that gap pretty much to the end and won the race. My best race, great fun, with a great result!

This also means I won the NASA Mid Atlantic Spec3 Championship 2011!! Something none of us would have dreamt of at the beginning of the year. We have been lucky, worked hard and tried to enjoy our first year in racing. It's been a blast, and there are lots of people to thank for supporting us. To make a great weekend and a great year even better, I was awarded the "Rookie of the year" award from NASA Mid Atlantic. It's a true honor to receive such an award.

We are the Champions! Wohoo! :)