The SCCA Pro Racing-sanctioned Global Time Attack persevered through the curveballs that 2020 tossed its way and completed a record-setting flying lap by any metric.
Though only three events were run (Super Lap Battle at Circuit of the Americas; and regular season events at Road Atlanta; Ridge Motorsports Park and Buttonwillow Raceway Park), the 2020 season still showed growth.
Take the livestream data, for example. Each event featured a livestream broadcast that, over the course of all four events, reached 836,360 viewers with an average watch time of more than six minutes at each event, stretching to more than nine minutes at Buttonwillow!
The Super Lap Battle at COTA was, as every year, Global Time Attack’s premier event. A whopping 154,354 unique viewers, with a reach of 604,290 fans, tuned in for a part of the two-day event back in February – even before the country reached its current social distancing restrictions. An additional 2500 paid spectators were at the track to watch the competition.
When combined with the 109,000 Facebook and 101,000 Instagram followers that Global Time Attack carries, it certainly represents the SCCA brand in a positive way.
But the off-the-track metrics are just a part of the growth of Global Time Attack, and the Time Trials industry at large.
Drivers and cars continue to improve. Need proof? A host of track records were set in 2020, even with the limited season.
At Circuit Of The Americas:
*Unlimited Class RWD: Ryan Schimsk, Performance Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3, 2:15.020
*Limited Class Overall: Feras Qartoumy, Qar Optics Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 2:17.142
*Limited Class AWD: JC Meynet, Subaru WRX STI, 2:18.590
*Limited Class FWD: William Au-Yeung, PZ Tuning Acura RSX, 2:19.368
*Street Class Overall: Jackie Ding | Alex Li, PhD Racing Toyota Supra, 2:22.508
At Buttonwillow Raceway Park:
*Unlimited AWD: David Haagsma, Will Wattanawongkari/H & M Motorsports Nissan GTR, 1:37.761
*Limited FWD: Cory Wells, Will Drees/WRD Racing Honda Prelude, 1:48.312
*Limited RWD: Feras Qartouny, Qart Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 1:44.292
*Street AWD: Shawn Krebsbach, RS Motors Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, 1:46.071
*Street FWD: Jose Mejia, Art of Attack Honda Civic Type R, 1:50.674
*Street RWD: Amir Bentatou, RS Future Honda NSX, 1:44.768
Enthusiast FWD: Noah Gaither, Reyes Racing Civic Type-R, 1:59.364
At Road Atlanta:
*Limited RWD: Eric Fleming, Fleming Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 1:25.868
*Street RWD: Jackie Ding, PhD Racing Toyota Supra #TA90, 1:27.923
At Ridge Motorsports Park:
*Street RWD: Amir Bentatou, RS Future Honda NSX, 1:44.134
(*) designates the run was made on Yokohama Tires, an official partner of Global Time Attack
In addition to individual battles, Tamer Ozkaraoglu (Unlimited Class), Amir Bentatou (Street Class), Chris Reber (Enthusiast Class) earned season-long point championships in Pro Classes, while Ben Williams and Eric Fleming shared the Limited Class title with an equal number of points earned.
Global Time Attack competitors, however, are already making plans for the 2021 season. GTA returns for Super Lap Battle COTA 2021 (March 6-7), makes a west-coast swing with a return to Ridge Motorsports Park (April 3-4) and follows the coastline to Buttonwillow Raceway Park (April 10-11), and then crossing the country to Road Atlanta (May 7-8). Independence Day is covered at Palmer Motorsports Park (July 3-4), and a return trip to Ridge Motorsports Park (July 24-25) before the annual GTA Finals at Buttonwillow, November 12-14, 2021.
For more information on the SCCA Pro Racing-sanctioned Global Time Attack, visit GlobalTimeAttack.com or follow them on Facebook (Facebook.com/GlobalTimeAttack) and Instagram (@GlobalTimeAttack).
Photo by JTM Media Jack Thomas
