This past weekend Seth Lucas took on rounds three and four of the Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS at the famed NOLA Motorsports Park. Joining Trenton Estep in the #53 Motul USA-backed MDK Motorsports Porsche, Seth Lucas and Estep drove to a fourth-place result in a rain-soaked race on Saturday before returning to the podium Sunday with a strong second-place finish.
It was a weekend that saw long delays and changing track conditions as a spring storm pounded the NOLA facility for two straight days. Practice one and practice two were hosted on Friday with the MDK Motorsports machine finishing with fifth and third in class.
Saturday brought on qualifying for both drivers where both Seth and Trenton took their turns behind the wheel to set a time and position for race one and two. Claiming the fifth and fourth fastest laps in their respective qualifying runs, the Motul USA entry started on the inside of row three Saturday afternoon and the inside of row seven on Sunday. As drivers headed into the afternoon, the weather took a drastic turn causing a delay of over an hour for race one but once drivers hit the track, it was all about staying out of trouble.
Both luck and the weather played into the strategy for race one as drivers started the wheel-to-wheel action with treaded tires as they looked for maximum grip on the slippery surface. Seeing the track soaked from the rain, Seth knew it was going to be a challenge.
“I experienced a slip in the wet grass on lap four where we were lucky enough to come out with no damage,” explained Lucas. “As the race continued, we saw the leaders come into the pit and we stayed out until the next lap before making our mandatory pit stop and driver change to try and gain some track position.”
Further into the race, and after experiencing several yellow flags, the race would go back to green conditions. Fighting hard for every position, the MDK Motorsports Porsche crossed the line fourth in class and sixth overall.
Sunday came and along with it came better weather. During a moment near the start of the race, the car dipped off track which caused the #53 car to drop one place overall. The mandatory driver change was completed with ease as Lucas and Estep gained time on their competitors. Racing to the checkered flag, the duo was able to stand on the podium with a second-place result, their second podium finish of the young 2023 race season.
Lucas added, “We faced a few challenges this weekend, but we don’t let that bother us. Two podiums in two events are great, but we will be gunning for the win at the next one.”
Next up for Seth Lucas is a trip to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas in mid-May.
2023 Schedule for Seth Lucas March 15-18 – Sebring Raceway – Sebring, Florida March 30-April 2 – Sonoma Raceway – Sonoma, California April 28-30 – NOLA Motorsports Park – New Orleans, Louisiana May 19-21 – Circuit of the Americas – Austin, Texas June 16-18 – Virginia International Raceway – Alton, Virginia June 22-25 – Watkins Glen International – Corning, New York June 27-July 2 – 24 Hours of Spa – Spa, Belgium August 4-6 – Road America – Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin August 18-20 – Road America – Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin September 22-24 – Sebring International Raceway – Sebring, Florida October 5-7 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Indianapolis, Indiana October 11-14 – Road Atlanta – Braselton, Georgia