17/06/2011  - MSV F3 Cup driver Aaron Steele improved his average point score to move perilously close to the lead in the Sunoco GRAND-AM 200 Challenge.

Steele, driving in the MSVR run MSV F3 Cup is just three points adrift of the lead in the challenge, after recording a third place finish and an outright victory at Spa Francorchamps last weekend.

The Sunoco GRAND-AM 200 Challenge is a new challenge developed to give more club racers the opportunity to race at the famous Daytona circuit in America. The driver with the highest average points finish at the end of the season wins the ultimate prize, a race-seat in the Continental Series GS class in the GRAND-AM 200 race at Daytona next year. MSVR run series' that are eligible to earn points for the Sunoco GRAND-AM 200 Challenge are as follows; MINI Challenge, MSV F3 Cup and the GT Cup Championship.

The MSV F3 cup held their next round at famous Spa Francorchamps circuit alongside the Austrian F3 cup, making a bumper 48 car field.

In race one Aaron Steele came home with a very credible third place and a first in class meaning maximum points toward the challenge. He also scored points for pole and fastest lap. Further down the field, Matt Draper took second place and the 75 points, while Dave Karakas rounded off the top-three taking 55 points.

Race two saw Steele produce the drive of his career to fend off the hard charging David and Gery Hauser to claim a hard fought outright victory and maximum challenge points. Chris Needham upped his average point score by coming home in second place and Kat Impey improved on her race one performance, edging out Draper by a tenth of a second to finish third in class.

GT Cup Championship driver Andy Ruhan is fifth in standings, while MINI Challenge racers Luke Caudle, Chris Knox and Jason Richardson are sixth, seventh and eighth respectively.  

The next MSVR events enabling registered racers to score GRAND-AM 200 Challenge points are the Lotus Festival on June 25-26 and the MSVR Brands Hatch Indy Weekend on July 16-17.

CLICK HERE for more information on the GT Cup Championship.

CLICK HERE for more information on the MINI Challenge.

CLICK HERE for more information on the MSV F3 Cup.

Sunoco GRAND-AM 200 Challenge  top 10 standings: