In October, Big Rock Racing made its debut in the Gran Turismo World Series (GTWS) Exhibition 3 Nations Cup, where we scored four podiums to take home 4th in state, 80th in country, and 110th in region. But we’re just getting started! After a week of recovery and reflection, it’s time to get after it. Next week, the GTWS Exhibition 3 Manufacturer’s Cup kicks off the first of a six-race series at Spa-Francorchamps and Big Rock Racing will be there!

Big Rock Racing’s inaugural entry in the Gran Turismo World Series Exhibition 3 Nations Cup has ended. Time to look back and reflect on a journey filled with exhilarating highs, challenging lows, and invaluable lessons learned. This season has been a testament to perseverance, skill, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

The sixth and final round of the Nations Cup was held at Le Mans in a selection of group 1 prototypes. Race settings and practice conditions suggested a strong chance of rain over the condensed 24-hour simulated race length. Le Mans at night in the rain is scary and I was not feeling confident. But we race anyway, and this one was a good one.

Round 5 takes us to Lago Maggiore West for 20 sunny laps in Group 3 race cars. I qualified 2nd in the Alfa Romeo 4C Group 3 car, only 0.184 seconds behind the pole sitter, Jackrabbit_75 from Canada in the Peugeot RCZ Group 3 car. They say in NASCAR, “rubbing is racing”. This one had its fair share of rubbing intermixed with great, hard racing. In a race where everyone has elbows out, we all got a little bruised.

I’m not a fan of the Red Bull X2019 so I was less than enthusiastic about my round 4 chances at Grand Valley Reverse. Battling for an outright win didn’t seem possible and a podium would be unlikely. My goal was simple— be clean, be consistent, and race the best race I can.

Round 3 brings more Porsche love with a high-speed blast at sunny Monza in the legendary Porsche 962C Group C race car. The setup couldn’t be simpler— 16 identical cars, 12 laps, no stops for tires or fuel, no chicane, and no rain. This one would emphasize outright pace and race craft.

After a great qualifying session leaves me starting in P2, I elect to start on intermediate tires despite dry conditions, hoping the dark clouds in the distance bring the rain. I get eaten alive by the competition starting on slicks in the first sector of lap one. Building on lessons learned from round one at a soggy Red Bull Ring I try my best to be patient and let the race come to me. Eventually, the heavens open and the rain comes. It. Is. On.

You know it’s going to be a great day when the sun is shining, top is down, and you’re headed to the racetrack. On Wednesday, October 15th I took the 2006 Mazda Miata to Pacific Raceways for its first and only time on track in 2025. The car received a slew of track-focused upgrades since its last outing, and it was finally time to put the car on track.

Round one of the Gran Turismo World Series - Exhibition 3 Nations Cup series kicked off Wednesday, October 15th with a 30-lap race in the Red Bull X2019 at a slippery Red Bull Ring.