Heavy rain mars Akhil's debut podium finish at IMSA Series

Bengaluru : The wet and slippery track conditions during the Michelin Pilot Challenge Series at the Road America course this weekend deprived debutant Bengalurus Akhil Rabindra and his team from continuing their lead run.

Earlier this year, Indian racer Akhil bagged a spot at the Aston Martin Junior Driver's Academy. Rabindra joined Kris Wilson for the weekend race in the new Vantage platform for the first time in the IMSA Series, where the duo of the Automatic Racing team, qualified P3 for the Saturday morning session.

The race was delayed for 60 minutes and the duration was reduced to 75 minutes from the original 120 minutes due to a downpour and even a brief hailstorm that halted all activity at the legendary road course.

The twenty three year old Rabindra, started the race from P3 on a wet but rapidly drying racetrack and finally ended his stint position running P1 before heading to the pit lane.

This was the first time Akhil had raced on this track with minimal testing in these weather conditions, yet was determined to put Aston into the lead.

Wilson picked up where Rabindra left off, moving the No. 09 Aston back toward the front from 9th when he took the wheel on Lap 14 back up to third by Lap 19 but unfortunately it started raining again in the area with 35 minutes remaining to the race.