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The IMSA SportsCar Championship race at Mosport delivered a mix of unexpected results and hard-fought victories across multiple classes. Several teams overcame early setbacks or executed smart strategies to come out on top, while others celebrated important milestones after long waits.
It was a weekend that showcased the unpredictable nature of sports car racing and the importance of teamwork, skill, and quick thinking.
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AO Racing’s breakthrough LMP2 win
AO Racing finally achieved their first win in the IMSA LMP2 class. Their #99 ORECA, known as “Spike the Dragon,” showed strong pace all weekend.
Dane Cameron delivered another standout performance, adding to his already impressive IMSA resume. With his aggressive yet controlled driving, Cameron expertly handled traffic and tire wear, making key passes when it counted.
His co-driver PJ Hyatt complemented him perfectly, with consistent and clean stints, keeping the car in strong contention throughout the race.
'I woke up on the right side of bed this morning, I suppose,' said Hyett, who led his entire stint as the No. 99 AO Racing car led 97 of the 113 total laps. 'I absolutely love this racetrack and driving an LMP2 car around here. It’s such a phenomenal experience.
Phil Oakley
'When you’re sort of in the zone, you’re in the zone. I was having the time of my life driving out there today. It was really fun. I’d say when you get it on the pole and don’t convert it to a win, it’s a tough lesson to learn.
'So, we’ve learned a lot of those lessons over the years, and to be able to pull away with a win today is sort of this magical moment for the team and everybody who works so hard. For the times we don’t get on the podium, it all makes it worthwhile. So, you have to savor these, that’s for sure.'
With this result, Cameron and Hyatt moved to within 78 points of the LMP2 championship leader, Daniel Goldburg, setting up a tight battle with just three races left on the calendar. For Cameron, a fifth IMSA championship title is now well within reach.
WTR’s remarkable GTD comeback
Wayne Taylor Racing’s GTD race was one of the weekend’s most unlikely stories. Their Lamborghini started the day with a setback, after contact from another GTD competitor caused a spin on the opening lap, dropping them far down the order. Most would have written them off after such an early incident.
But the WTR team didn’t panic. They stuck to their fuel and tire strategy while making small adjustments to adapt to race conditions. They banked on a late caution, which came not once but twice inside the final 30 minutes of the race, helping them avoid the risk of running out of fuel during the closing stages.
'Started off to be a tough day, and the incident on lap 1 turned it into a strategy race for us,' explained Travis Houge, WTR vice president and general manager.
'The team put their head down and stayed focused to get the result at the end.'
Drivers Trent Hindman and Danny Formal kept their composure and drove a strategic recovery, steadily moving through traffic and making precise overtakes without risking further incidents.
Phil Oakley
Their efforts paid off as they ultimately took the win, marking Hindman and Formal’s first career IMSA SportsCar Championship victories. While both have enjoyed success in other IMSA series, this win was a significant milestone in their GTD campaign.
'I am very proud and excited for the whole team, our drivers, and our partners at DEX Imaging and Lamborghini,” said Wayne Taylor, team owner.
'This is a win that has been a long time coming and one we have been waiting for. The team’s execution was fantastic, and the grit and strategy called for show the passion that everyone in our team brings to this program. It is a great day!'
DragonSpeed fuel strategy delivers victory
In the GTD Pro class, DragonSpeed pulled off a smart and disciplined fuel-saving strategy to claim victory. Despite being the slowest qualifier on Saturday, with drivers Giacomo Altoe and Alberto Costa at the wheel of the #81 Ferrari 296 GT3, they turned things around on race day.
The team topped off their fuel tanks at the halfway point and avoided any late-race splash-and-go refueling stops, choosing instead to trust their strategy and the occurrence of a late caution.
Their gamble paid off when two cautions came in the final 30 minutes, preventing them from running out of fuel and allowing them to maintain their lead without an extra pit stop.
'We woke up this morning and said, ‘We need to make a gamble.’ We were lucky for once,' said Alberto Costa.
This marked Ferrari’s first GTD Pro win since last year’s Road America race, as well as DragonSpeed’s first win since Mid-Ohio in 2022. The win came in the first season of a technical partnership between DragonSpeed and Risi Competizione, with Risi’s last IMSA win also coming at the 2023 Rolex 24 in GTD Pro.
Final thoughts
The Mosport race weekend was packed with memorable moments. AO Racing finally getting their first LMP2 win was a major highlight, propelled by Dane Cameron’s veteran skill and PJ Hyatt’s steady drive.
Wayne Taylor Racing showed incredible resilience to bounce back from a lap one spin and take the GTD victory. Meanwhile, DragonSpeed’s patient fuel strategy delivered an unexpected GTD Pro win for the Ferrari team.
Each of these wins was a first in SportsCar Championship competition for the respective teams in their classes this season. This race showed that in IMSA, winning takes more than speed—it requires strategy, consistency, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
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