SUZUKA, Japan (August 29, 2018) – Taking part in the third round of Intercontinental GT Challenge competition, Black Swan Racing would enjoy a fourth-place finish during Sunday’s Suzuka 10 hour. Debuting in their No. 54 Black Swan Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R at the famed Japanese circuit, drivers Tim Pappas, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Marc Miller would enjoy a trouble-free run with zero mistakes.

With the field in front also enjoying running without incident, the team had to rely on outright pace which was heavily compromised by the current balance-of-performance regulations with all Porsche machinery. Adding to the challenge, not only was the overall finish a blow to Tim Pappas’s pursuit of the bronze cup, but the overall standings would also highlight a major flaw in the structure of the championship.
 
“As a team, we can walk away satisfied with our weekend,” stated Black Swan Racing team owner and co-driver Tim Pappas. “Overall, it was a flawless performance by everyone within Black Swan. We should all be proud of the effort, and with a little more attrition it could have been a podium. The problem, however, is that attrition is literally the only way we could have prevailed. It was a challenging weekend for all Porsche teams if you look down the order. I’d say we collected good points as well, however with the recent discovery that bronze drivers can run in all-pro entries, we now are at a deficit in the championship for something that could easily be rectified. Regardless, the enthusiasm of the crowd was unlike anything we’d ever experienced, and it was a fantastic memory for everyone involved. Suzuka is a really fun and challenging circuit, and the heat and humidity of the weekend only added to the challenge.”

With co-driver Marc Miller taking the green flag, the frantic pace of the 3.6-mile circuit became immediately evident. As a circuit known for only a few straights and an endless series of flowing and switchback patterns, the ability to pass was at a premium, with all three drivers doing their best to exercise patience throughout the 10-hour event.
 
With only one caution period throughout the entirety of the race, the focus on pace was at a premium. Unfortunately, every Porsche competitor on the grid appeared to struggle for outright pace over the weekend, with the best finish of any Porsche team, including all-pro teams, being 11^th overall.

Doing their best to stay in the mix, the key to the team’s result was a completely mistake-free run. With no major off-course excursions, no penalties, and no major pit errors, both drivers and crew settled in to a pace to ensure a strong result, hoping for attrition to carry the rest of the way.
 
With a vast majority of the cars finishing the race, the team seemed settled in to their position by the end, eventually crossing the finish line in a comfortable fourth-in-class.
 
Unfortunately, for driver Tim Pappas’s pursuit of the prestigious Bronze Cup, awarded to the highest points-finishing bronze driver after all four rounds of the championship, a significant blow was dealt after the revelation that a rival contender was allowed to retain points earned in a different class. With the title being awarded to the top points-earning bronze driver overall, the assumption has always been that bronze drivers would compete in the bespoke Pro-Am category, retained specifically for bronze drivers who want a fair shot at winning. The rule neglected, unfortunately, to exclude points from bronze drivers in the pro category, which means a bronze driver can finish in in a higher overall position, and therefore take more points, by running in the pro ranks with an unrestricted co-driver lineup.
 
For Marc Miller, a satisfying weekend was one to remember.
 
“It was a great weekend, we just came up short of the podium,” stated Miller. “It was a very difficult race. 100+ degrees, 90% humidity and great competition! We were in the hunt for a podium but just didn't quite have enough to fight for it. It was a great experience, with over four hours behind the wheel. Truly a blessing to have the opportunity to race a Porsche GT3R in Japan. Always a dream of mine, thanks to the entire Black Swan team and my teammates Tim Pappas and Jeroen Bleekemolen. Looking forward to the next one!”
 
For Jeroen Bleekemolen, a similar sentiment is shared.
 
“Suzuka was great!” stated Bleekemolen. “We had a good race, running close to the podium. This track in the dark was a cool experience. A big thanks to Black Swan Racing for all the hard work, I’m looking forward to Laguna Seca next.“
 
With the team packed up and the car now traversing the Pacific Ocean, the next round of competition will be in two months’ time, returning to the California 8 Hour for the second-ever running. Serving as the event that Black Swan made its IGTC debut in 2017, hopes are high for a return to their winning ways on home soil. Practice begins on Friday, October 26, with the eight-hour race taking place on Sunday, October 28.