Thaze Competition proved to be hometown heroes as they scored a stunning podium finish on their race debut in the Detroit Sports Car Classic on Saturday afternoon.
Marc Miller – a Michigan native himself – and Michael di Meo finished a sensational third aboard their #78 Mercedes-AMG GT4, less than three seconds from victory, in what was the fourth round of the 2023 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC).
Having qualified an excellent fifth for his debut in North America’s premier series for GT4 race cars, di Meo was in determined mood early on and searched for an elusive opening that would help him seize another position or two.
A small error at Turn 1 before one-quarter distance caused the loss of three positions, but the Toronto-based driver kept his composure and redoubled his efforts.
It was this refusal to panic, or to throw in the towel, that was named Michelin Moment of the Race and resulted in the team winning a set of Michelin Pilot tires for a future event.
Di Meo was back into fifth place by the time he pitted to hand over driving duties to the vastly-experienced Miller, who exited the pits swiftly after a changeover that was flawlessly executed by Thaze pit crew.
Making the change at the earliest possible moment – with nearly 70 minutes still to run – proved a strategic masterstroke when the pits were closed just minutes later as the safety car was scrambled.
The affect was to elevate Miller to second place, which became third shortly after racing resumed. Try as he very much did, he could not find a gap to make further progress due to a robust and aggressive defence of position from his rival over the remaining 25 minutes.
Third place – just 2.8 seconds from victory – still represented a magnificent debut result for Faisal Ahmad and Brian Makse’s team.
Marc Miller, driver, said: “It’s a hometown team, I’m a Michigan driver and this is the Detroit Grand Prix. Does it get any better? Michael did a great job and the guys made a flawless pitstop – and we’ve only had one day together before Friday so we haven’t had much time to practice! We’ve had a quick car all event and I think I could have run with the winning car, but I just couldn’t pass the #28 car. I have history with the driver and we’re never going to give each other much room, but he never made a big enough mistake to let me really take it to him. I’m standing on the podium at the Detroit Grand Prix and I’m really going to savour every moment.”
Michael di Meo, driver, said: “I started fifth, tried to make a move for fourth but I got a little caught out in Turn 1 and that allowed three guys to go by. But I stayed patient, kept the car underneath me, tried to pick them off one-by-one and keep my laptimes as fast as possible because I didn’t want the leaders to disappear. That paid off because when Marc jumped in, he came out in second. Overall it’s been an unreal weekend for my IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge debut. We couldn’t have asked for more. It’s my series debut, the team’s first race ever – and in their home town. It’s an unbelievable feeling right now.”
Faisal Ahmad, team co-principal, said: “What a day! Michael did an amazing job in the first stint, kept things clean and was fighting. The pitstop was great and then that last 45 minutes, when we were really in the hunt was when I got nervous. I could not wait for that race to finish. The feeling is amazing. You always need a little bit of luck and for things to go your way, but this wasn’t a lucky result. We’ve built this team to perform like this, from the engineers to the tire and fuel personnel, the drivers… For the team to gel the way it has done, this is fantastic.”
Brian Makse, team co-principal, said: “The race ran flawlessly and everyone did what they had to do. I know it doesn’t happen like this, and yet here we are on our debut. Everyone’s, and I mean everyone, is new to working together, and this result is incredible. The race wasn’t so nail-biting because I know Michael and Marc and I knew they’d do exactly what they had to do, but to be on the podium is fantastic. Marc is a star and Michael di Meo is super-underrated. We’re delighted to have them both here.”