6Hrs of Indy Race Recap
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Time to read 2 min
VPS Racing continued to build momentum this past weekend with a strong performance in the iRacing Special Event, the 6 Hours of Indy, piloting the Cadillac GTP Hybrid Prototype to a 6th place finish, the team’s best result to date. The team welcomed the expertise of real-life IndyCar shock engineer Anthony Aznar, who collaborated with Steven Hickham Jr. on a race setup designed to balance comfort with tire longevity. Returning to the cockpit after missing Spa, Hickham logged extensive R&D hours with Aznar to ensure the car’s competitiveness. “Working with Anthony gave us confidence,” said Hickham. “He helped us refine the setup so the car was quick, but more importantly, consistent over long stints.”
Qualifying placed VPS in 10th position, thanks to a strong effort from Edwin Litolff, who quickly advanced to 3rd place during his first race stint in wet conditions. “The car felt incredible in the rain,” Litolff explained. “I knew if I trusted the balance, I could push and move us forward, and that’s exactly what happened.”
Dylan Slonetsky then moved the team into 2nd before an incident with a lapped car forced an unscheduled pit stop for repairs. Despite losing the rear wing, Slonetsky delivered an inspired drive, clawing back time with the support of Crew Chief Dougy Trupski, who made the strategic call to minimize repairs. “It was a risk leaving some damage on the car,” Trupski admitted, “but we knew if we went for a full repair, our race was over. Sometimes you have to gamble.”
Slonetsky added, “Even without the rear wing, the car still had fight in it. I just focused on keeping us in the mix.”
Hickham closed the race in dramatic fashion, pushing for a top-five finish before contact with a lapped LMP2 car forced another trip to the pits. Showing grit and determination, he brought the car home safely in 6th place a milestone result for VPS Racing. “Crossing the line in sixth was emotional after running in 2 nd, in a good way,” Hickham said. “We’ve been building toward this for months, and to finally break through meant the world to the whole team.”
This race carried special meaning for Hickham, who dedicated his drive to his family friend Eddie, a longtime supporter of the team who passed away unexpectedly on August 28. To honor him, VPS carried a bold “For Eddie” tribute on the car, painted in the same colors as Eddie’s son’s sprint car livery. “I asked the team if I could do something to honor him on the car for the race, and the boys were extremely supportive,” said Hickham. “It was unanimous that I shouldn’t even ask… we were going to do it, and it needed to be big enough for him to see from the Heavens.”
With its best finish yet, VPS E-sports Racing continues to establish itself as a rising contender in endurance sim racing, backed by a dedicated team and a growing community of supporters. Be on the lookout for updates coming up for the 10Hr Petit Le Mans from Road Atlanta on October 4th!
